What’s Working (and What’s Not) in Ubuntu 24.04 on Tachyon
As of this early release of Ubuntu 24.04 for Tachyon, not all hardware features are enabled or stable. Below is a summary of the current status of various components and peripherals on Tachyon when running the 24.04 image. Use this as a guide to know where you might encounter limitations and where help is most needed. We encourage the community to contribute fixes for unsupported features!
Summary Snapshot
| Feature | Status | Notes/Details |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi (WLAN) | Working | 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi functional, good throughput. |
| Bluetooth (BLE) | Working | Basic Bluetooth works (data). Audio profiles untested. |
| USB-C (Host, port 2) | Working | USB2 host port ok; devices like Ethernet dongles work. |
| USB-C (OTG, port 1) | Working | Working and switches between host + device |
| Ethernet (USB dongle) | Working | Via USB adapter (since Tachyon has no built-in Ethernet). |
| Power Button | Working | Supports power on and shutdown. |
| LPDDR4 Memory | Working | Stable operation at full speed. |
| UFS Storage | Working | Internal storage (eMMC/UFS) is fast and stable. |
| GPIO Pins | Working | GPIO and I2C, SPI etc.. working |
| USB-C Display (DP) | Working. | Works over USB-C with desktop etc... |
| MIPI DSI Display | Working | DSI panel drivers working in the overlay |
| PCIe (M.2 slot) | Working | Tested with various HATs |
| Activity LED | Working | LED GPIO not configured in device tree. |
| RTC | Working | Works! |
| Camera (CSI) | Not working | Cameras working and overlays support for different models |
| 5G Modem | Working-ish | Modem is operational, but RF locked in latest build. |
Details
These components have been brought up and verified on the Ubuntu 24.04 build:
- Wi-Fi (WLAN): Working. The onboard Wi-Fi module is operational with good throughput. You should be able to connect to Wi-Fi networks using standard Linux networking tools. Firmware for Wi-Fi is loaded from the filesystem at boot.
- Bluetooth: Working. The Bluetooth radio and stack function correctly. You can pair devices and use BLE/Bluetooth features (assuming you install the userland Bluetooth tools like BlueZ). You can also play audio from the desktop!
- USB Type-C Port (USB2) – Host Mode Working. Tachyon has multiple USB controllers. The port designated for USB 2.0 (or the second USB controller) works in host mode. This means you can plug in USB peripherals (Ethernet adapters, flash drives, keyboards, etc.) and they are recognized. Standard USB 2.0 devices have been tested successfully.
- USB Type-C (Device Mode on primary port): Working (Device Mode). The primary USB-C port currently operates as a USB device (gadget). For example, you can put Tachyon in device mode to use it as an Ethernet gadget or serial gadget. By default, Tachyon enumerates as a USB device to the host (like for
particle tachyon setup). Note: See USB-OTG in the not working section for role-switching limitations. - Power Button & PMIC behavior: Working. The hardware power button functions as expected. You can turn on/off the device using it. The device can also perform a graceful shutdown or sleep when the power button is pressed, thanks to the System Controller firmware. Basic suspend/resume has been tested – Tachyon can enter low-power suspend and wake up again.
- Memory (DDR) and Storage (UFS): Working. The LPDDR4x memory and UFS 2.1 storage interface are fully operational at their expected performance. There are no known stability issues with memory or disk I/O on the 24.04 build.
- Display Output (HDMI/DP alt-mode/DSI displays): In headless mode, HDMI output shows a text console. In desktop mode, UI output via the USB-C DisplayPort shows the desktop. DSI works by overlays for some popular displays.
- General OS functionality: Working. Ubuntu 24.04 userland is running smoothly – you have apt package management, can install and run applications that don’t depend on missing hardware features, and the system is generally stable in headless use.
- GPIOs and Expansion Header: Working. General Purpose I/O pins and interfaces like I²C/SPI on the 40-pin header are enabled.
- PCIe Interface: Working. Working.
- LED Indicators: Working. The on-board status LED (activity/USER LED) works under 24.04.
- RTC (Real-Time Clock): Working. Needs external battery to work!
In the next pages, we’ll guide you through how to modify specific parts of the system – the bootloader, kernel, and device tree – which are the typical areas one might adjust to improve hardware support. If you’re interested in tackling one of the “not working” items, those guides will help you get started.