I came across this post which seemed to have the most comprehensive instructions on how to install Fedora on snapdragon.
When I attempt to install I get stuck in a boot loop, no visible errors or any other tactile feedback.
I spun up a Fedora 43 virtual box and followed the those instructions, below are the steps I followed:
Process
Secure boot was disabled in BIOS prior to attempting to install from the USB drive.
Mounting
[root@fedora ~]# xz -d Fedora-KDE-Desktop-Disk-43-1.6.aarch64.raw.xz
[root@fedora ~]# kpartx -av Fedora-KDE-Desktop-Disk-43-1.6.aarch64.raw
add map loop0p1 (252:0): 0 1024000 linear 7:0 34816
add map loop0p2 (252:1): 0 4096000 linear 7:0 1058816
add map loop0p3 (252:2): 0 24983519 linear 7:0 5154816
[root@fedora ~]# mount /dev/mapper/loop0p3 /mnt/
[root@fedora ~]# mount /dev/mapper/loop0p2 /mnt/root/boot
[root@fedora ~]# mount /dev/mapper/loop0p1 /mnt/root/boot/efi
Driver path
[root@fedora ~]# ll /mnt/root/boot/dtb/qcom/*dell*
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 198899 Oct 5 20:00 /mnt/root/boot/dtb/qcom/x1e80100-dell-xps13-9345.dtb
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 199121 Oct 5 20:00 /mnt/root/boot/dtb/qcom/x1e80100-dell-xps13-9345-el2.dtb
Bootloader modification
[root@fedora ~]# grep devicetree /mnt/root/boot/loader/entries/*
/mnt/root/boot/loader/entries/1e829fd112b94e4084ec05491139752f-0-rescue.conf:options rhgb quiet root=UUID=fe1a5809-2964-4049-804b-c6308eea9706 rootflags=subvol=root devicetree=/boot/dtb/qcom/x1e80100-dell-xps13-9345.dtb
/mnt/root/boot/loader/entries/1e829fd112b94e4084ec05491139752f-6.17.1-300.fc43.aarch64.conf:options rhgb quiet root=UUID=fe1a5809-2964-4049-804b-c6308eea9706 rootflags=subvol=root devicetree=/boot/dtb/qcom/x1e80100-dell-xps13-9345.dtb
[root@fedora ~]# cat /mnt/root/boot/loader/entries/1e829fd112b94e4084ec05491139752f-6.17.1-300.fc43.aarch64.conf
title Fedora Linux (6.17.1-300.fc43.aarch64) 43 (KDE Plasma Desktop Edition)
version 6.17.1-300.fc43.aarch64
linux /vmlinuz-6.17.1-300.fc43.aarch64
initrd /initramfs-6.17.1-300.fc43.aarch64.img $tuned_initrd
options rhgb quiet root=UUID=fe1a5809-2964-4049-804b-c6308eea9706 rootflags=subvol=root devicetree=/boot/dtb/qcom/x1e80100-dell-xps13-9345.dtb
grub_users $grub_users
grub_arg --unrestricted
grub_class fedora
Cleanup
[root@fedora ~]# umount /mnt/root/boot/efi
[root@fedora ~]# umount /mnt/root/boot
[root@fedora ~]# umount /mnt/
[root@fedora ~]# kpartx -d Fedora-KDE-Desktop-Disk-43-1.6.aarch64.raw
[root@fedora ~]# xz Fedora-KDE-Desktop-Disk-43-1.6.aarch64.raw
Image Install
[root@fedora ~]# arm-image-installer --image Fedora-KDE-Desktop-Disk-43-1.6.aarch64.raw.xz --media /dev/sdb --resizefs --showboot --args 'clk_ignore_unused pd_ignore_unused modprobe.blacklist=qcom_q6v5_pas rd.driver.blacklist=qcom_q6v5_pas'
=====================================================
= Selected Image:
= Fedora-KDE-Desktop-Disk-43-1.6.aarch64.raw.xz
= Selected Media : /dev/sdb
= Root partition will be resized
= Boot messages will be shown onscreen.
= Version: 5.3
=====================================================
*****************************************************
*****************************************************
******** WARNING! ALL DATA WILL BE DESTROYED ********
*****************************************************
*****************************************************
Type 'YES' to proceed, anything else to exit now
= Proceed? YES
= Writing:
= Fedora-KDE-Desktop-Disk-43-1.6.aarch64.raw.xz
= To: /dev/sdb ....
15426650112 bytes (15 GB, 14 GiB) copied, 757 s, 20.4 MB/s
3679+0 records in
3679+0 records out
15430844416 bytes (15 GB, 14 GiB) copied, 757.087 s, 20.4 MB/s
= Writing image complete!
= Resizing /dev/sdb ....
Checking that no-one is using this disk right now ... OK
Disk /dev/sdb: 115.45 GiB, 123964751872 bytes, 242118656 sectors
Disk model: USB DISK 3.0
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0x5f2a8cc6
Old situation:
Device Boot Start End Sectors Size Id Type
/dev/sdb1 34816 1058815 1024000 500M 6 FAT16
/dev/sdb2 1058816 5154815 4096000 2G ea Linux extended boot
/dev/sdb3 5154816 30138334 24983519 11.9G 83 Linux
/dev/sdb3:
New situation:
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0x5f2a8cc6
Device Boot Start End Sectors Size Id Type
/dev/sdb1 34816 1058815 1024000 500M 6 FAT16
/dev/sdb2 1058816 5154815 4096000 2G ea Linux extended boot
/dev/sdb3 5154816 242118655 236963840 113G 83 Linux
The partition table has been altered.
Calling ioctl() to re-read partition table.
Syncing disks.
Resize device id 1 (/dev/sdb3) from 11.91GiB to max
= No U-boot will be written.
= Adding optional kernel parameters for board :
= Parameter: clk_ignore_unused pd_ignore_unused modprobe.blacklist=qcom_q6v5_pas rd.driver.blacklist=qcom_q6v5_pas
= Installation Complete! Insert into the board and boot.
I’ve read in other posts about copying over dtb’s from the windows partition. I assumed when I obtained the image that the presence of dell xps 9543 drivers in the installer would have been sufficient enough to get a basic installation. The post I referenced above is 7 months old and with Fedora 43 just coming out I thought perhaps the solutions found there made their way into the latest stable.
Any suggestions would be nice. WLS works, but I would like to have a full blown installation.