ROCKNIX formerly known as JELOS is the Linux distribution specialized in retro Rockchip consoles that brings many improvements for them.
The new open source system ROCKNIX offers an interesting alternative for compilations like EmuELEC. This distribution offers interesting features and is compatible with multiple consoles with Rockchip SoC and some also with AMLogic processors. Among its interesting points is the support for the Portmaster system that allows for example to run simple PC games, multiplayer support and touch screen, among other functions.
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what is ROCKNIX?
ROCKNIX (Rockchip Linux) was born as a fork of the very popular JELOS system among different consoles, its creators went on to form this new system by joining forces.
ROCKNIX is a community-developed Linux distribution for portable gaming devices. Our goal is to produce an operating system that has the features and capabilities we need, and to have fun while developing it.
Consoles supported by ROCKNIX
It is possible to run ROCKNIX on multiple consoles, we have system images for each of these machines that must be installed on a micro SD card.
- Official List of Supported Consoles.
| Consoles | SoC |
| Anbernic RG351P/M, Game Console R33S/R35S/R36S, ODROID Go Advance, ODROID Go Super, Magicx XU10 | Rockchip RK3326 |
| Anbernic RG353P/M/V/VS/PS, RG503, Powkiddy X55 / RK2023, RGB10 Max 3, RGB30 | Rockchip RK3566 |
| Gameforce Ace, Orange Pi 5 / Pi 5 Plus, Radxa Rock 5b, Indiedroid Nova | Rockchip RK3588 |
| Anbernic RG552 | Rockchip RK3399 |
| Hardkernel ODROID Go Ultra, N2/N2 /N2L, Powkiddy RGB10 Max 3 Pro | Amlogic S922X |
Installing ROCKNIX on a micro SD card
In order to install ROCKNIX we need the OS file prepared for our console, an SD drive, SD card reader and a PC to copy files.
- Download ROCKNIX IMG.GZ image file for your console.
- Download balenaEtcher to burn the image.
- We need a quality microSD card of at least 16 GB and a PC card reader.
- We start balenaEtcher, select the IMG.GZ file and the SD drive.
- Click on Flash! and wait for the process to finish.
ROCKNIX configuration and controls
To start up the ROCKNIX system we must insert the SD card we have prepared into slot 1 of our console.
- Basic Controls:
– Move = With crosshead, analogs and triggers.
– Start = Main menu with settings.
– Select= Shortcuts. - NOTE: Each console has different controls, see ROCKNIX Wiki > Devices.
ROCKCNIX Configuration
Press Start to get to the main menu where we can adjust how games are displayed, system settings, control settings, system network and connect to Moonlight to play via streaming.
- Performance: To control the processor power destined to each emulator we can enter with Start > Game Settings > Per System > System > System Options > CPU Scaling
In the Tools section between the emulators of the main screen we have a file explorer and the settings of each emulator. Here we can adjust in detail the PortMaster settings, backup / restore settings, as well as run the Hatari, PPSSPP, RetroArch and ScummVM emulators to configure them individually.
Copy ROMS, Games and BIOS to ROCKNIX
We can copy and manage our ROMS and BIOS files in several ways with ROCKNIX, we are going to explain in a simple way how to do it without getting too complicated using a PC.
- First: Create a backup of the SD cards that come with the console.
- Download ROMS and games.
- Download BIOS pack.
Create folder structure in ROCKNIX
We only have to insert a micro SD card in slot 2 of our console, it will automatically generate a folder structure in this card to work with it.
- Turn on the console and wait for it to boot.
- Put SD card in the slot 2 of our console.
- Take out SD card in a card reader in our PC.
- Inside the SD card we will find the Roms folder
- We have a folder for each console that can be emulated.
- The bios folder is for the BIOS files of the consoles
- The ports folder is for Portmaster.
- Other special folders, like screenshots, savestates, doom, mplayer… we have more information in the ROCKNIX WIKI to understand them.
