How to Install Linux on GameBox G11 Pro S905X2 | Debian Linux Guide | By Arvind Kumar

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How to Install Linux on GameBox G11 Pro

The GameBox G11 Pro is an inexpensive Android TV box and retro-gaming console based on the Amlogic S905X2 platform. Although it is normally supplied with Android 9 and a microSD card containing EmuELEC and retro games, the hardware is capable of doing considerably more.

With a suitable Linux image, the GameBox G11 Pro can be transformed into a small Linux server, network utility, learning platform, home automation server or lightweight desktop computer.

In this guide, we will install Debian Linux on a separate 32GB microSD card, leaving the original Android installation on the internal 16GB eMMC untouched.

This makes the project particularly interesting because you can experiment with Linux without permanently modifying the original Android installation.

When you want to return to the original setup, simply remove the Linux microSD card.

Important: This guide is intended for the GameBox G11 Pro hardware using the Amlogic S905X2 platform, 2GB RAM and 16GB eMMC. TV boxes sold under similar names can contain different hardware revisions. Always verify your hardware before using a Device Tree configuration.

Table of Contents

  1. GameBox G11 Pro Hardware
  2. Why Install Linux on the GameBox G11 Pro?
  3. Requirements
  4. Preparing the Linux SD Card
  5. Configuring Linux for the S905X2
  6. Booting Linux on the GameBox G11 Pro
  7. First Login
  8. Updating Debian
  9. Installing the LXDE Desktop
  10. Installing Firefox, Gedit and Games
  11. Using the GameBox as a Linux Server
  12. Useful Linux Commands
  13. Limitations
  14. Returning to Android and EmuELEC
  15. Conclusion

1. GameBox G11 Pro Hardware

Before installing Linux, it is useful to understand what is inside this inexpensive TV box.

The GameBox G11 Pro is commonly found with an Amlogic S905X2 processor, 2GB of DDR3 RAM and 16GB of internal eMMC storage.

It was primarily designed as an Android TV box and retro-gaming console, but the S905X2 platform provides enough processing capability for a variety of Linux applications.

GameBox G11 Pro Specifications

FeatureSpecification
SoCAmlogic S905X2
CPUQuad-core ARM Cortex-A53
GPUARM Mali-G31
RAM2GB DDR3
Internal Storage16GB eMMC
Operating SystemAndroid 9.0
Ethernet100 Mbps
Wi-FiBuilt-in
BluetoothBuilt-in
microSD1 slot
USB2 × USB 2.0
Video OutputHDMI
Linux Storage32GB microSD recommended

The Mali-G31 GPU gives the GameBox reasonable graphics capability for its original retro-gaming purpose.

It is also a surprisingly capable media box. Under Android, the device can handle high-resolution video playback, including YouTube content up to 4K, depending on the application, codec and network conditions.

Ports and Connectivity

The GameBox G11 Pro provides the interfaces expected from a low-cost Android TV box:

  • 100 Mbps Ethernet
  • Wi-Fi
  • Bluetooth
  • microSD card slot
  • 2 × USB 2.0
  • HDMI output
  • DC power input
  • IR remote support

The 100 Mbps Ethernet interface is not particularly fast by modern standards, but it is perfectly adequate for many low-bandwidth server applications.

For example, a Pi-hole DNS server, lightweight web server, home automation controller or MQTT server does not require Gigabit Ethernet.

GameBox G11 Pro vs Raspberry Pi

One of the most interesting aspects of this device is its price-to-performance ratio.

A Raspberry Pi is designed as a general-purpose single-board computer. The GameBox G11 Pro, on the other hand, was originally designed as an Android TV box and retro-gaming console.

However, the GameBox already includes:

  • CPU
  • RAM
  • eMMC storage
  • Wi-Fi
  • Bluetooth
  • HDMI
  • USB ports
  • Ethernet
  • Power supply
  • Enclosure

This makes it an interesting low-cost Linux experimentation platform.

The GameBox also has one major advantage for this particular project:

We do not need to erase Android.

Linux will run from the removable microSD card.

2. Why Install Linux on the GameBox G11 Pro?

If the GameBox already runs Android and EmuELEC, why install Linux?

The answer is simple:

Experimentation and learning.

Running Linux on inexpensive hardware is an excellent way to learn about:

  • Linux administration
  • Networking
  • SSH
  • Web servers
  • DNS
  • File sharing
  • Docker
  • Home automation
  • System monitoring
  • Shell scripting
  • Python
  • ARM processors
  • Embedded Linux

And because Linux is installed on a removable SD card, the original Android system can remain untouched.

Linux Without Modifying Android

For this project, Linux is installed on a separate 32GB microSD card.

The internal eMMC containing Android remains untouched.

The basic idea is:

Linux SD card inserted → Linux boots

Linux SD card removed → Original system remains available

This makes the GameBox a particularly useful experimental platform.

Important: Do not modify the internal eMMC or bootloader unless you specifically understand the consequences. This guide is designed around booting Linux from removable storage.

What Can You Do With Linux on the GameBox?

There are many possibilities.

1. Linux Learning Machine

The GameBox can be used to learn:

  • apt
  • Bash
  • SSH
  • systemd
  • Linux permissions
  • Networking
  • Python
  • Web servers
  • Shell scripting

It is essentially a small ARM Linux laboratory.

2. Low-Power Web Server

Install:

  • Apache
  • Nginx
  • PHP
  • Python Flask
  • Node.js

and use the GameBox to host small websites, dashboards and internal applications.

3. File Server

Connect a USB hard drive or SSD and turn the GameBox into a small network file server using:

  • Samba
  • NFS
  • SFTP

4. Pi-hole DNS Server

The GameBox can be used to experiment with Pi-hole, which provides DNS-based advertisement and tracking blocking for devices on your network.

Its low power consumption makes this type of always-on application particularly interesting.

5. Home Automation Server

The GameBox can also be used as a home automation controller for projects involving:

  • Home Assistant
  • MQTT
  • Node-RED
  • ESP32
  • ESP8266
  • Smart switches
  • Sensors
  • Energy monitoring

6. Lightweight Linux Desktop

You can install the lightweight LXDE desktop environment and connect a USB keyboard and mouse.

This turns the GameBox into a small ARM Linux desktop.

However, it is important to understand that this is an experimental lightweight desktop rather than a replacement for a modern PC.

3. Requirements

Before beginning, gather the following equipment.

Hardware

  • GameBox G11 Pro
  • 32GB branded microSD card
  • SanDisk Class 10 or similar quality card
  • USB keyboard
  • USB mouse
  • HDMI cable
  • TV or monitor
  • Ethernet cable
  • Internet connection
  • Original GameBox power adapter

A good-quality SD card is strongly recommended.

Cheap or counterfeit cards can cause random boot failures, filesystem corruption and unexplained Linux problems.

PC Requirements

You also need a Windows, Linux or macOS computer with:

  • Internet access
  • SD-card reader
  • Enough free storage for the Linux image
  • Balena Etcher

4. Preparing the Linux SD Card

For this installation we will use the devmfc Debian-on-Amlogic project.

The project provides Linux images for Amlogic TV boxes and supports the S905X2/G12A platform.

Download the Linux Image

Download the latest suitable Debian image from the devmfc project:

Download devmfc Debian-on-Amlogic

Important: Image names and releases can change. Select the Debian image appropriate for your hardware and follow the boot configuration supplied with that release.

If the downloaded image is compressed, extract it first.

You should eventually have a disk-image file that can be written to the microSD card.

Step 1 – Install Balena Etcher

Download Balena Etcher:

Download Balena Etcher

Install it on your PC.

Balena Etcher is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.

Step 2 – Insert the microSD Card

Insert the 32GB microSD card into your computer.

WARNING: Writing the Linux image will erase the selected SD card. Make absolutely certain that you select the correct storage device in Balena Etcher.

Step 3 – Write Debian to the SD Card

Start Balena Etcher.

Select:

Flash from file → Select the Debian image

Then:

Select target → Select your 32GB microSD card

Finally click:

Flash

Wait for Etcher to complete both the writing and verification process.

Do not remove the SD card while Etcher is working.

5. Configuring Linux for the S905X2

After Balena Etcher has completed:

  1. Safely eject the SD card.
  2. Remove it from the PC.
  3. Insert it into the PC again.

You should now be able to access the boot partition.

Look for a file named:

boot.config

Open this file with a text editor such as Notepad.

The devmfc image uses this configuration file to select the appropriate Device Tree and hardware configuration.

Selecting the S905X2 Configuration

The GameBox G11 Pro used in this guide has:

  • Amlogic S905X2
  • 2GB RAM
  • 100 Mbps Ethernet

Select the appropriate S905X2 / 100M configuration from the boot.config file supplied with your particular image.

The exact configuration names can change between devmfc releases, so use the entry actually present in your downloaded image rather than copying a configuration from an unrelated tutorial.

The configuration will generally look similar to:

#box=...
box=s905x2_generic
#box=...

Enable ‘box=s905x2_generic’ by removing # at the begining of the line. Only the appropriate box= line should be enabled.

Save the file.

What Is a Device Tree?

A Device Tree Blob, commonly abbreviated as DTB, tells the Linux kernel about the hardware connected to the processor.

Two TV boxes can use the same S905X2 processor but have different:

  • Ethernet PHYs
  • Wi-Fi chips
  • Bluetooth chips
  • GPIO connections
  • LEDs
  • storage configurations
  • peripheral wiring

This is why selecting the correct Device Tree is important.

Step 4 – Safely Eject the SD Card

After saving boot.config, safely eject the microSD card from your computer.

Your Linux boot card is now ready.

6. Booting Linux on the GameBox G11 Pro

Now comes the interesting part.

Insert the prepared microSD card into the GameBox G11 Pro.

Connect:

  • HDMI → TV/monitor
  • Ethernet → router
  • USB keyboard
  • USB mouse

Then connect the GameBox power supply.

First Boot

Power on the GameBox.

On a correctly configured system, the box should begin loading Linux from the SD card.

You will see Linux boot messages scrolling across the screen.

Do not worry if there are many lines of text.

This is normal for a Linux server image.

Wait until the system reaches the login prompt.

If Linux Does Not Boot Automatically

Some Amlogic TV boxes require the reset/update button to be held during startup to trigger booting from removable storage.

Try the following procedure:

  1. Power off the GameBox.
  2. Insert the Linux SD card.
  3. Locate the reset/update button.
  4. Press and hold it.
  5. Power on the GameBox.
  6. Continue holding the button for approximately 5–10 seconds.
  7. Release the button.

On many TV boxes, the reset button is located inside or near the AV connector.

Do not repeatedly experiment with firmware flashing or eMMC modifications. The objective is to boot Linux from the SD card while preserving the original Android installation.

7. First Login

Eventually Linux should stop displaying boot messages and show a login prompt.

You should see something similar to:

Debian GNU/Linux

GameBox login:

At the login prompt enter:

Terminal login as: root Pre-authentication banner message from server: | | ############################################################################# | # ____ _______ ____ __ _____ ____ _______ __ ____ # | # | _ \| ____\ \ / / \/ | ___/ ___| |_ _\ \ / / | __ ) _____ __ # | # | | | | _| \ \ / /| |\/| | |_ | | | | \ \ / /__| _ \ / _ \ \/ / # | # | |_| | |___ \ V / | | | | _|| |___ | | \ V /___| |_) | (_) > < # | # |____/|_____| \_/ |_| |_|_| \____| |_| \_/ |____/ \___/_/\_\ # | # # | # ------------------------------------------------------------------------- # | # # | # WARNING: This is a private system! # | # Unauthorized access to this system is forbidden and will be # | # prosecuted by law. # | # By accessing this system, you agree that your actions will be # | # monitored and logged. # | # # | # ------------------------------------------------------------------------- # | # # | # Default login: root/tvbox It might be wise to change that immediately ;) # | # # | ############################################################################# | End of banner message from server root@tvbox's password:

Press Enter.

When asked for the password, enter:

Terminal tvbox

Press Enter.

Security warning: The default password should not be retained on a permanently networked system. Change the password before using the device as a server.

Change the Root Password

Once logged in, change the default root password:

Terminal passwd

Linux will ask you to enter the new password twice.

Choose a strong password.

Your First Linux Shell

After successful login you should see a prompt similar to:

Terminal login as: root Pre-authentication banner message from server: | | ############################################################################# | # ____ _______ ____ __ _____ ____ _______ __ ____ # | # | _ \| ____\ \ / / \/ | ___/ ___| |_ _\ \ / / | __ ) _____ __ # | # | | | | _| \ \ / /| |\/| | |_ | | | | \ \ / /__| _ \ / _ \ \/ / # | # | |_| | |___ \ V / | | | | _|| |___ | | \ V /___| |_) | (_) > < # | # |____/|_____| \_/ |_| |_|_| \____| |_| \_/ |____/ \___/_/\_\ # | # # | # ------------------------------------------------------------------------- # | # # | # WARNING: This is a private system! # | # Unauthorized access to this system is forbidden and will be # | # prosecuted by law. # | # By accessing this system, you agree that your actions will be # | # monitored and logged. # | # # | # ------------------------------------------------------------------------- # | # # | # Default login: root/tvbox It might be wise to change that immediately ;) # | # # | ############################################################################# | End of banner message from server root@tvbox's password: _ _ _ _ _ _ / \ _ __ ___ | | ___ __ _(_) ___ | | | |_ __ | | ___ __ _____ __ / _ \ | '_ ` _ \| |/ _ \ / _` | |/ __| | | | | '_ \| |/ / '_ \ / _ \ \ /\ / / / ___ \| | | | | | | (_) | (_| | | (__ | |_| | | | | <| | | | (_) \ V V / /_/ \_\_| |_| |_|_|\___/ \__, |_|\___| \___/|_| |_|_|\_\_| |_|\___/ \_/\_/ |___/ _ __ | '_ \ | | | | |_| |_| Amlogic Meson G12A (Unknown) - Freebox Player Pop Welcome to Debian GNU/Linux 13 (Trixie) with Linux 6.18.38-meson64 on ARM64 Up time: 2 min Boot time: 9 s CPU usage: 0% Memory usage: 15% of 1822M CPU temp: __°C DDR temp: __°C Boot device: /dev/sda1 Usage /boot: 20% of 269M Root FS: /dev/sda2 Usage / : 8% of 31G IP address: 192.168.2.152 The programs included with the Debian GNU/Linux system are free software; the exact distribution terms for each program are described in the individual files in /usr/share/doc/*/copyright. Debian GNU/Linux comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by applicable law. Last login: Tue Aug 4 17:23:14 2026 from 192.168.2.126 tvbox:~# 
root@tvbox:~#

Congratulations!

Your GameBox G11 Pro is now running Linux.

8. Updating Debian

Before installing additional software, update the package database.

Run:

Terminal apt update

After the package list has been updated, upgrade installed packages:

Terminal apt full-upgrade -y

This can take several minutes depending on the number of available updates and the speed of your Internet connection.

After the upgrade is complete, clean up packages that are no longer required:

Terminal apt autoremove -y

Check Available Storage

Before installing a graphical desktop, check how much storage is available:

Terminal df -h

Check Memory

Check the available RAM:

Terminal free -h

Check the CPU

Display processor information:

Terminal lscpu

Check the Linux Kernel

Display the running kernel:

Terminal uname -a

These commands are excellent starting points for learning Linux.

9. Installing the LXDE Desktop

The default devmfc image is a minimal Linux installation.

This is ideal for server applications because it avoids unnecessary graphical software.

But if you want to use the GameBox as a small desktop computer, you can install LXDE.

LXDE is a lightweight desktop environment and is much better suited to a 2GB RAM device than a heavyweight desktop environment.

Step 1 – Update Package Information

Terminal apt update

Step 2 – Install LXDE

Terminal apt install task-lxde-desktop -y

The desktop installation can download a substantial number of packages.

Depending on the Debian release, you may be asked to select a display manager.

If prompted, LightDM is a suitable choice for this lightweight system.

If necessary, install it separately:

Terminal apt install lightdm -y

Step 3 – Create a Normal Linux User

Although it is possible to operate Linux as root, this is not recommended for everyday desktop usage.

Create a normal user:

Terminal adduser gamebox

Follow the prompts and create a password.

Install sudo

Install the sudo package:

Terminal apt install sudo -y

Add the new user to the sudo group:

Terminal usermod -aG sudo gamebox

The user will now be able to perform administrative operations with sudo.

Step 4 – Reboot the GameBox

After the desktop installation has completed, reboot:

Terminal reboot

The GameBox will shut down and restart.

If your particular box requires the reset/update procedure to boot the SD card, use the same procedure that successfully started Linux during the initial boot.

Step 5 – Log Into LXDE

After reboot, LightDM should display the graphical login screen.

Select:

gamebox

Enter the password you created.

You should now arrive at the LXDE desktop.

Congratulations!

You have converted your GameBox G11 Pro into a small ARM Linux computer.

10. Installing Firefox, Gedit and Games

Now that LXDE is working, we can install some useful desktop applications.

Open a terminal from the LXDE desktop.

Install Firefox ESR

Update the package database:

Terminal sudo apt update

Install Firefox ESR:

Terminal sudo apt install firefox-esr -y

Firefox should now be available from the LXDE application menu.

Install Gedit

Gedit is a simple graphical text editor.

Install it with:

Terminal sudo apt install gedit -y

Gedit is useful for editing:

  • Configuration files
  • Shell scripts
  • Python programs
  • HTML files
  • Text files

Install Battle for Wesnoth

If you want to experiment with a Linux game, The Battle for Wesnoth is a good test application.

Install it with:

Terminal sudo apt install wesnoth -y

You can then launch the game from the LXDE application menu.

Performance note: Do not expect the same graphics performance that you get from Android. Mainline Linux graphics acceleration on these TV boxes can be considerably more limited than the vendor Android graphics stack.

11. Using the GameBox as a Linux Server

Once Linux is running, you do not actually need the graphical desktop for most server applications.

For server workloads, a minimal Debian installation is preferable because it consumes less RAM and has fewer unnecessary background processes.

Install SSH Server

SSH is one of the first services worth installing.

Run:

Terminal sudo apt update

Then install OpenSSH:

Terminal sudo apt install openssh-server -y

Find the GameBox IP address:

Terminal ip addr

Look for an address similar to:

192.168.1.25

From another computer on your network, connect to the GameBox:

Terminal ssh gamebox@192.168.1.25

Replace 192.168.1.25 with the actual IP address assigned to your GameBox.

You can now administer the GameBox remotely without keeping the keyboard, mouse and monitor connected.

Pi-hole

One particularly interesting application is Pi-hole.

Pi-hole acts as a DNS server that can block many advertising and tracking domains for devices on your local network.

The GameBox is well suited to this type of low-power, always-on workload.

Once Linux is working reliably, Pi-hole is an excellent next project.

Home Assistant

The GameBox can also be used as an experimental Home Assistant server.

You could connect it to:

  • ESP32 devices
  • ESP8266 devices
  • MQTT sensors
  • Smart switches
  • Temperature sensors
  • Energy meters
  • IoT devices

This makes the GameBox particularly useful if you are already experimenting with Arduino, ESP8266 or ESP32 projects.

File Server

Connect a USB hard drive or SSD to the GameBox and install Samba:

Terminal sudo apt install samba -y

This provides the basic software required to experiment with Windows-compatible network file sharing.

12. Useful Linux Commands

Now that Linux is running, the GameBox becomes an excellent Linux learning laboratory.

Here are some useful commands to try.

Monitor CPU and Memory

If htop is installed, run:

Terminal htop

Check Network Interfaces

Terminal ip addr

Check Routing

Terminal ip route

Test Internet Connectivity

Terminal ping -c 4 google.com

Check Storage Devices

Terminal lsblk

Check Kernel Version

Terminal uname -a

Check CPU Information

Terminal lscpu

Check Memory Usage

Terminal free -h

13. Limitations

The GameBox G11 Pro is impressive for its size and price, but it is important to understand its limitations.

It is not a Raspberry Pi 5.

It is not a modern desktop computer.

It is not a high-performance server.

The hardware has only:

  • 2GB RAM
  • 100 Mbps Ethernet
  • USB 2.0
  • 16GB internal eMMC

The mainline Linux graphics stack can also be more limited than the original Android/vendor graphics stack.

Therefore, the GameBox is best viewed as:

A low-cost ARM Linux laboratory rather than a full desktop replacement.

For server applications, however, its limitations are much less significant.

A Pi-hole server, DNS server, lightweight web server, SSH server or MQTT broker can operate comfortably on relatively modest hardware.

14. Returning to Android and EmuELEC

One of the best features of this project is that the original Android installation does not need to be erased.

Linux lives on the removable microSD card.

When you want to return to the original system:

  1. Shut down the GameBox.
  2. Remove the Linux SD card.
  3. Power the GameBox on again.

The internal Android installation remains available.

If you have an EmuELEC SD card, you can insert that card when you want to use the GameBox as a retro-gaming console.

This gives you several operating environments:

Android

Remove the Linux SD card and boot the original system.

EmuELEC

Insert your EmuELEC SD card.

Debian Linux

Insert your Linux SD card.

This is a remarkably flexible setup for such an inexpensive device.

15. Conclusion

The GameBox G11 Pro was originally marketed as an Android TV box and retro-gaming console, but its Amlogic S905X2 processor, 2GB RAM, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and USB connectivity make it an interesting little Linux computer.

The biggest advantage of this project is that you do not have to sacrifice Android.

By installing Debian on a separate 32GB microSD card, you can experiment with Linux while keeping the original Android system available.

You can use the GameBox to learn:

  • Linux administration
  • Networking
  • SSH
  • Web servers
  • DNS
  • File sharing
  • Bash
  • Python
  • ARM Linux
  • Home automation

Or turn it into:

  • A low-power web server
  • File server
  • Pi-hole server
  • Home Assistant server
  • MQTT server
  • Network laboratory
  • Programming machine
  • Lightweight Linux desktop

And if something goes wrong with your Linux installation, you can simply remove the SD card and return to the original system.

Get Your GameBox G11 Pro

If you don't already have a GameBox G11 Pro and want to experiment with this project, you can check the available model on ByteBlues:

Buy GameBox G11 Pro from ByteBlues

When purchasing, make sure that the model you select matches the hardware used in this guide, particularly the S905X2 / 2GB RAM / 16GB eMMC / 100 Mbps Ethernet configuration.

What Will You Use Your GameBox For?

This is where the project gets interesting.

Once Linux is running, the possibilities are limited mainly by your imagination.

Will you use your GameBox G11 Pro as a:

Pi-hole server?

Web server?

File server?

Home Assistant controller?

Linux learning machine?

Network monitoring system?

Tiny desktop computer?

Let us know what you build with it in the comments.

If you successfully install Linux on your GameBox G11 Pro, share your experience, Linux distribution, applications and configuration with other readers.

Happy hacking, and Peace!