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ChainedBox

Hardware

ChainedBox uses an RK3328 CPU with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage. It has a 3.5" SATA bay, a Gigabit Ethernet port, one USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0 port (the latter can serve as OTG).

Integrated Image Deployment

  1. Prepare the One-KVM integrated image and install Rockchip Dev Tool on your PC
  2. Short the MASKROM pads on the board while connecting the USB dual-headed cable to the USB 2.0 port; power on to enter MASKROM mode. The tool should detect the device
  3. Flash the One-KVM image using the Rockchip tool. After flashing, power on and it will boot into One-KVM

MASKROM pads

Flash image

Usage

Hardware safety warning

To avoid issues such as the target failing to boot or detect devices (and in rare cases hardware damage), take one of these precautions before using a dual-headed USB cable:

Option 1: cut/remove the red 5V (VCC) wire in the USB cable so only the data lines (D+/D−) and ground remain, breaking the power path.

Option 2: insert a USB hub with its own power switch into the USB link and keep that switch off while connecting.

Some low-power targets can back-power from the KVM via the OTG port before their main power is applied, leaving them in a bad state that persists even after you power them normally.

Unless you fully understand the risks, use one of the safeguards above to protect your hardware.

Data safety reminder

Avoid hard power-offs. Cutting power while eMMC writes are in progress can corrupt data.

If you must cut power, run sync after write operations. For shutdowns/reboots, prefer poweroff or reboot so the system flushes data cleanly.

SSH

Armbian enables SSH by default. Initial credentials: root/1234.

System upgrade warning

Do not run apt upgrade to upgrade the kernel/DTB. It may break OTG.

Connections

USB 2.0 is the OTG port for the dual-headed USB cable; USB 3.0 is for the USB HDMI capture card.

Connections