MegaCloud Image Distribution BROKEN

strontium

Why oh Why does Orange Pi force us to use MegaCloud to download their images?

The images are large and easilly exceed mega clouds usage limits unless one pays for a "premium" account.

Is this an attempt to try and force me to subscribe to MegaCloud?  I REFUSE to be FORCED into using MegaCloud and paying them a fee to access OS images for board I have purchased from OrangePI.  ITS EXTORTIONATE.

My concern isn't that MegaCloud is an option for Download, My ISSUE is they ONLY use it, and don't offer any other means of accessing the images.  

What, a Torrent is too difficult?  Everyone else seems to be able to manage downloads without forcing one to subscribe to a "Premium" download provider.

OrangePi really need to improve support in this area.  Suggestions:
1. Post an image to news groups and put up a NZB File.
2. Use torrents.
3. GitHub: https://help.github.com/articles/distributing-large-binaries/
4. ALL OF THE ABOVE.

Seriously, MegaCloud sucks and forcing us to use it sucks more.

igorpec

You need to build this download infrastructure if you want to move away from a simple free cloud solution. In any case, most of the images are outdated.

https://www.armbian.com/download
Regularly updated and supported. All images are hosted on 1 Gbit line in EU and also on fast dedicated torrent servers all around the globe. Not perfect but ... try it.

strontium

You need to build this download infrastructure if you want to move away from a simple free cloud solution

This is simply not true.  Github does not require any infrastructure, just upload the file, done.  There are no limits, the only caveat being each file must be less than 2GB which is rarely exceeded anyway, and when it is, its easy to split the file.
Torrents require minimal infrastructure, being, a single PC seeding the files.  That PC doesn't need a fantastic internet connection either, as long as its online someone downloading the files will EVENTUALLY get it.  

MegaCloud simply refuses to let me download ANY of the RK3399 images without complaining they exceed my free quota AND if i want them I have to give them money.  Why OrangePI think this is an acceptable way to distribute files to end users is a mystery to me.

In any case, most of the images are outdated.

https://www.armbian.com/download
Regularly updated and supported. ...

In my SPECIFIC case, I am trying to get firmware images for the RK3399 board I purchased from OrangePI.  That is neither a stable nor work in progress board from Armbian, SO, it Seems like I will end up with a useless board.  I will never be able to get firmware for it without paying for a download service, which i point blank refuse to do, ever.  Especially as I feel like I am being unnecessarily forced to do it by OrangePi.  By the time Armbian supports it (which the Armbian devs are under no obligation to do) i will have lost interest.

Regardless, it is very bad form to force people to use a paid download service and is no way to encourage community.
I proposed two EASY and FREE ways of achieving this, USE GitHub or Post Torrents.  Neither are difficult, and Neither require Infrastructure.

igorpec

Infrastructure is more or less a logical term. Well, I know that distributing images via free cloud services simply sux and this is pointless to discuss.

That is neither a stable nor work in progress board from Armbian,

We don't provide unstable crap while board makers are forced to give you something. Bad download options are the last thing you need to worry about.
New boards are usually for hackers, initial software unfinished & unstable. If you are not one of them, shelf this board and forget for few months.

This way you can find images and more info:
https://forum.armbian.com/search/?&q=RK3399

strontium

We don't provide unstable crap

Nor would I expect Armbian to.  I don't expect the people who work on Armbian to do anything for me, and appreciate and respect the work they have done, and that it does exist, and is useful for some boards I have (OrangePi Zero for Example).  

Bad download options are the last thing you need to worry about.

I disagree, I DO expect OrangePI to distribute (at least one) somewhat working images and kernel source code when it sells a board.  And to do it in a way that doesn't require me to pay for it to download it.  That shouldn't be too much to ask.  Without that as a starting point, all I have been sold is an expensive piece of fibreglass and plastic.

I am a software engineer, can build kernels, write drivers, embedded systems, etc.  I have been a embedded systems engineer for 3 Decades, so tinkering was kindof the point of getting the board.  However, it seems its useless as I will have no way to get the firmware images, and it also looks like no kernel source is being distributed yet (although I don't know for sure, because I can't download anything.).

igorpec

I am a software engineer, can build kernels, write drivers, embedded systems, etc.  I have been a embedded systems engineer for 3 Decades, so tinkering was kindof the point of getting the board.  However, it seems its useless as I will have no way to get the firmware images, and it also looks like no kernel source is being distributed yet (although I don't know for sure, because I can't download anything.).

I agree that it is nice to have at least something to boot the board even things are not working very well yet.

IMO this board/chip has at least a good future. It has been well accepted by the community and every major board maker is having or working on its design. Software support is always behind and Xunlong is not very good in this, but they at least make great hardware for a good price.

Chinese have major holidays at the moment and will take some time to get an official answer or any action and until then ... an alternative is to ask people on our forum for the image. Personally, I didn't get my Rk3399 board yet and have ofc no image for it around.