Use Embedded Multimedia Card (eMMC) Storage Device on Intel® NUCs.

Use the embedded MultiMedia Card (eMMC) in your Intel® NUC as the:

• Main 32Gb storage device with Windows* OS preinstalled, or
• Small 4GB storage option for small-footprint operating systems (OS), typically used for thin-client and light-embedded applications
  • To enable eMMC settings, update the Intel® NUC to the latest BIOS available.

Refer to these guidelines if you plan to install Linux* or other small-footprint OS on the eMMC storage device.

• Make sure the Linux OS* supports the mmc_block kernel module, most modern distributions do.
• The eMMC storage device is identified in the Linux environment as: /dev/mmcblk0.

  Caution

  As a flash-based storage device, excessive drive access, particularly write commands, reduces its useful life. WE strongly suggest you NOT create a swap partition on the eMMC device.
• Stock releases, installing directly from a distribution ISO image:
  • OS size after installation must be small enough to fit as-is on the eMMC storage. For example, Linux Lite NUC Edition* or Debian, with low-footprint graphical environments.
  • The OS installer must allow package selection in order to reduce the footprint of the installed image.
• Custom builds, preparing a custom image:
  • Stock OS releases, requiring more than the available storage, must be installed on another drive or system, then customized. The size must be reduced and confirmed to support the mmc_block kernel module. Then it can be installed onto the eMMC device.
  • Custom image builds, using Yocto Project or Android*, perform better on a separate build host, with higher processing performance, and larger storage.

  Note	Creating a single root / partition on the eMMC device results in a maximum amount of storage space for the OS installation. As a reference, product testing was done with a single root/partition, formatted with ext4fs and no swap partition.

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