Re: Can't bootNetBSD 11 on RaspberryPi 4 from SDCARD - black screen (HDMI)

[Steve Rikli <sr%genyosha.net@localhost>]

On Thu, Oct 15, 2026 at 09:54:54PM +0200, Piotr Kolasiński wrote:
> OK I can do the configuration with serial console (I have to fine only
> USB to serial cable ;-) ). But does it mean that later (after reboot)
> HDMI will be working or not? And what about 3GB limit from UEFI (what is
> described in some places).

If you unpack the UEFI bundle into the right place on your rpi sysdisk,
the HDMI monitor should start working on next reboot. As I understand
it, the firmware needs to actually load during a power-on & boot for it
to activate.

The 3GB memory limit can be removed in the UEFI setup menu.

Similarly you can configure other things in the setup menu, e.g. console
device, boot device, etc.

Cheers,
sr.

> On Thu, Oct 15, 2026 at 09:48:53PM +0200, Ramiro Aceves wrote:
> > El 15/10/26 a las 18:55, Steve Rikli escribió:
> > > On Thu, Oct 15, 2026 at 06:27:52PM +0200, Piotr Kolasiński wrote:
> > > > On Thu, Oct 15, 2026 at 06:14:58PM +0200, Piotr Kolasiński wrote:
> > > >   Correction
> > > >   Of course I've downloaded NetBSD 11:
> > > >   https://nycdn.netbsd.org/pub/arm/NetBSD-11.0-release/NetBSD-11-aarch64--generic.img.gz
> > > 
> > > For HDMI monitors to work on rpi4 I believe you'll also need to add UEFI
> > > firmware to the NetBSD boot image.  Otherwise it's only serial console.
> > 
> > 
> > Yes, I confirm that. It has been always an "obscure" subject on the documentation.
> > 
> > https://wiki.netbsd.org/ports/evbarm/raspberry_pi/
> > 
> > it does not tell anything about NetBSD 11. On NetBSD 10 it states:
> > 
> > "RPI4 general support (UEFI firmware required)"
> > 
> > What does "general support" mean?
> > 
> > Without HDMI monitor you can use the serial console or blindly
> > entering the RPi4 using ethernet and following this chapter:
> > "Enabling ssh for installation without any console"
> > a bit tricky but works fine.
> > 
> > 
> > > At least, that was the case when I started with NetBSD 10 on my rpi4b,
> > > same behavior you get: i.e. the HDMI monitor "woke up", but blank display.
> > > 
> > > Last time I added RPI4 UEFI firmware from here to get started:
> > >      https://github.com/pftf/RPi4
> > > 
> > 
> > I had problems with pftf UEFI versions 1.51 and 1.52, so I am using now version 1.50 and it is working just
> > fine with NetBSD 11.0 on the RPi4. Solid rock (ethernet network,  WIFI not tested).