Database Users

[PROGRAM] Heimdall - Open-Source Cross-Platform Flashing Suite (1.3.0 Available)

Original Thread:
What is Heimdall?
Heimdall is a cross-platform open-source tool suite used to flash ROMs onto Samsung Galaxy S devices.
How does it work?
Heimdall uses the same protocol as Odin to interact with a device in download mode. USB communication in Heimdall is handled by the popular open-source USB library, libusb-1.0.
Why “Heimdall”?
The flashing software Odin is named after the king of gods in Norse mythology. Loke, the software component on the Galaxy S that provides functionality to flash, may also to be named after an important character in Norse mythology, often translated as Loki. As such I have named my flashing software Heimdall, after the Norse god, and guardian of the Bifrost Bridge.
What platforms does Heimdall run on?
Linux, OS X and Windows (XP, Vista, 7 etc.)
Why use Heimdall when we can use Odin?
Odin is generally unreliable and only runs on Windows systems. Furthermore, Odin is leaked Samsung software that is not freely available or well understood by the community.
Is Heimdall safe?
No matter what method you chose, flashing firmware onto your phone has a lot of potential for disaster. We have tested Heimdall with a variety of phones flashing several different firmware versions resulting in a 100% success rate. As such we believe that Heimdall is generally reliable. However keep in mind, just like any flashing software, Heimdall has the potential to brick your phone if not used correctly.
How do Galaxy S phones get bricked when flashing?
Besides the inherent risks like power outs, accidental removal of the USB cable etc. The Galaxy S appears to be running extremely unreliable USB control software.
A failure to flash does not automatically equate to a bricked phone. However if you're extremely unlucky and the flash fails whilst transferring the primary boot-loader, secondary boot-loader or params.lfs (all quite small) than you've got yourself a paper weight that you're hoping Samsung will replace.
Please be extremely careful mixing files from different firmware releases. Don't do so unless you're certain it will work!
What Galaxy S variants has Heimdall been tested with?
We’ve tested Heimdall with a Galaxy S GT-I9000 (8 GB) from the United Kingdom and Galaxy S GT-I9000 (16 GB) from Australia. We don’t personally have access to any other devices to test with, however users have confirmed Heimdall functions correctly with the AT&T Captivate, Bell Vibrant, Telstra GT-I9000T, Epic 4G and the Galaxy Tab.
Enough talk, where can we get it?
The latest release is available here. Please read the instructions and README files included in the archives.
I love you, man. Will you have my baby?
No, but I will very gladly accept donations. If you appreciate my work and would like to support future development you can make a donation here. If you think you have something else to offer, then feel free to shoot me a PM or contact me via the contact form on the Glass Echidna website.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Haven't seen this thread get too much attention, but it is a really cool idea especially for non-windows users. Just to kick it off:
Phone Name: Samsung Captivate (JH3 Firmware)
Country: United States
Carrier: AT&T
Hardware IDs:
USB\Vid_04e8&Pid_681c&Rev_0400
USB\Vid_04e8&Pid_681c

It would be nice if someone was willing to see if the Captivate works with this app. Having a cross-platform standardized program is a good idea.
Right now there seems so be a number of different ways to achieve a goal. What we need is a standardized app that devs can make "packages" for where we can select what we want and a rom, zip file or whatever could be built on the fly. easy peezy I say.

Phone Name: Samsung Captivate (JH2 Firmware)
Country: United States
Carrier: AT&T
Hardware IDs:
USB\Vid_04e8&Pid_681c&Rev_0400
USB\Vid_04e8&Pid_681c

Phone Name: Samsung Captivate I897 (JF6)
Country: USA
Carrier: AT&T
Hardware IDs:
[email protected]:~$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 027: ID 04e8:681c Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
seems all of the captivate IDs are 681c, which mirrors the international version.

Just to throw in my 2 cents:
I'm a linux user (have windows on dual boot on one machine, but hate going into it just to flash), so I really hope this project moves forward. I'd be willing to test any early linux builds once they're ready.
Phone Name: Samsung Captivate
Country: USA
Carrier: AT&T
Device ID: 04e8:681c Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd

If we had some documentation for the bml devices, it might be possible to provide a utility that could flash kernels from an update.zip. There its a flashing utility, vmlwrite, for the Moment, and it even runs on Galaxy S, but whatever mechanism it uses to map labels to partitions doesn't work. I've been looking for sources to see if they can be modified for our use, but I haven't found anything yet.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Just thought I'd drop by and let you all know a stable beta has been released. I've only personally tested with two GT-I9000's (UK and Australian models) so I'm not 100% certain what Galaxy S derivatives will work.
This release includes source code and Windows binaries. It compiles and runs brilliantly on Linux but unfortunately I haven't been able to get phones detected on OS X. If someone else would like to give it a try that would be great.
Please post any questions in the official thread so I can keep track of them.

---------- FORM ----------
Phone Name: Samsung Captivate i897
Country: USA
Carrier: AT&T
Hardware IDs:
USB\VID_04E8&PID_681C&REV_0400
USB\VID_04E8&PID_681C

I have been following and posting on the original thread. Windows 7 and Windows Vista pcs and a captivate-i897.
As i posted, i had a few problems at first,, but successfully used this to flash today. Will continue testing and reporting.

Always remember that bad things CAN happen when you mess with the areas this program messes with. Also, bad things can ALSO happen when you aren't VERY careful with beta releases in general. Therefore, if you put those things together, like you are doing with this program, you are doing a dangerous thing. YOU CAN KILL YOUR PHONE!!!
I'm not saying it WILL happen, just that it CAN..... so BE CAREFUL!! Don't be afraid to test, but carefully.....
And yes, I support this program, I just don't wanna see people willy-nilly jumping in and possibly damaging their devices, then saying it's not their fault.

Pulling from my phone directly to make own firmware odin using either Heimdall/odin
Hi, I tried to create this thread.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=15695721
The idea is how to make it own firmware after make custom ROM.
I'm still not sure for boot.bin and Sbl.bin if pulling from my phone will cause any problem or not.
Should I use from stock firmware to use your program while flashing?
Can I say Primary boot loader is boot.bin and while secondary boot loader is Sbl.bin?
It seem your program Heimdall will suitable to build package.
But I still having difficulties how to use your program to create a package firmware like stock firmware.

Heimdall Suite 1.3.0 is now available from the Heimdall product page.

heimdall saved me awhile back! Phone was really messed up, wouldn't connect to PC, windows didn't reckognize it so I booted up my linux install, downloaded heimdall and boom, phone is working well over a year down the road! Great for those who don't use windows or have problems with USB drivers on win 7

[Q] None Galaxy S Samsung devices?
Benjamin Dobell said:
Just thought I'd drop by and let you all know a stable beta has been released. I've only personally tested with two GT-I9000's (UK and Australian models) so I'm not 100% certain what Galaxy S derivatives will work.
This release includes source code and Windows binaries. It compiles and runs brilliantly on Linux but unfortunately I haven't been able to get phones detected on OS X. If someone else would like to give it a try that would be great.
Please post any questions in the official thread so I can keep track of them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get "Server not found" when clicking on the official thread link.
Nonetheless, I have a question: will this work with non-Galaxy S devices? I'd like to try it out on my Samsung Sidekick 4G, which should arrive this week.

Drat. Can't find heimdall packages for my Sidekick...

Is this the thread referred to above: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1104826 ?

Heimdall Kernel flash unreliable
I seem to have problems using Heimdall 1.3.0 on Mac OS X to flash my phone. I'm just trying to flash a kernel as follows:
Code:
heimdall flash --kernel zImage
But it often times can't find my phone even though it connected in Download Mode. When it does find my phone, it seems to get stuck at Kernel 0%. After that, it seems I need to restart Download Mode on my phone before I can attempt again, after getting stuck at Kernel 0% several times, I finally got it to finish the full flash, but it seems like it shouldn't take so much effort. Is this normal for Download Mode on a Samsung Captivate or might it just be a bad USB cable? I think I have the Gingerbread Captivate bootloaders currently installed, but do other bootloaders work better with Heimdall?
Here is the full log of a failure with Kernel 0%:
Code:
Initialising connection...
Detecting device...
Claiming interface...
Setting up interface...
Beginning session...
Handshaking with Loke...
Downloading device's PIT file...
PIT file download sucessful
Uploading KERNEL
0%
ERROR: Failed to send file part packet!
KERNEL upload failed!
Ending session...
ERROR: Failed to send end session packet!

penguin359 said:
I seem to have problems using Heimdall 1.3.0 on Mac OS X to flash my phone. I'm just trying to flash a kernel as follows:
Code:
heimdall flash --kernel zImage
But it often times can't find my phone even though it connected in Download Mode. When it does find my phone, it seems to get stuck at Kernel 0%. After that, it seems I need to restart Download Mode on my phone before I can attempt again, after getting stuck at Kernel 0% several times, I finally got it to finish the full flash, but it seems like it shouldn't take so much effort. Is this normal for Download Mode on a Samsung Captivate or might it just be a bad USB cable? I think I have the Gingerbread Captivate bootloaders currently installed, but do other bootloaders work better with Heimdall?
Here is the full log of a failure with Kernel 0%:
Code:
Initialising connection...
Detecting device...
Claiming interface...
Setting up interface...
Beginning session...
Handshaking with Loke...
Downloading device's PIT file...
PIT file download sucessful
Uploading KERNEL
0%
ERROR: Failed to send file part packet!
KERNEL upload failed!
Ending session...
ERROR: Failed to send end session packet!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I seem to have more issues flashing with Heimdall 1.3 then I did flashing with 1.1 as well. Similar issue as the one you're having granted I don't think it's ever failed a flash once Heimdall's seeing my phone...

Are you using heimdall front end 1.3.0, or are you using command line. In the front end version under utilities there is a detect device feature. I always check to insure it sees my phone before I flash. Also what version of OSX are you on, because I'm pretty sure its not compatible with lion just yet
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using xda premium

half way to restore and I'm stuck, and help?

Long story short, I was running Axura2.04, and I discovered I wasn't getting voice mail notification so I went to restore the phone to a backup rom I had made of the stock version using Clockwork Premium, and after it finished installing it got stuck on the Vibrant/Samsung screen.
I was unable to boot to recovery, and I now have the phone connected to my computer via USB and I got it into what appears to be download mode (there's a yellow triangle with a droid shoveling dirt) and I'm stuck.
I am on a mac and do not have access to a PC. Any advice on how to proceed?
(ps i am relatively new to all of this, I've only been at it for a a few weeks)
Thanks

If I'm screwed someone just tell me and I'll make a trip to the t-mobile store and bite the bullet.

Sounds like you need a kernel flash for a 2.1 Rom... try using odin if you can.

dav1dM said:
If I'm screwed someone just tell me and I'll make a trip to the t-mobile store and bite the bullet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're not screwed, but only providing you can either gain access to Windows somehow (for an Odin3 reflash) or are comfortable with using a command line tool similar to Odin3 that is available for the Mac, Heimdall.. Heimdall has no GUI..
Heimdall is available here..
http://www.glassechidna.com.au/products/heimdall/
The XDA thread on it is available here..
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=755265
General instructions for flashing firmware via Odin3 can be found in various links that link from the Vibrant Bible thread at the top of the dev section.
Best of luck

Isn't there a PC emulater that you can get on your Mac? If you can get that then get Odin and the right files and flash back to stock. Do a search around here for Odin.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Thanks for help guys, I'm meeting up with a friend tonight who has the software for a PC emulator so I'm going to try running Odin from there
I'll keep you posted

Get heimdall, it works on mac
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

I worked with Thegreat520 and we got the phone up and running again using the methods outlined in the stickie above. I tried using Heimdall, but that's too far beyond me, I can't code to save my life, took college courses for it and even that couldn't save me.
That said we did find out that using a virtual machine on a mac doesn't work, it has something to do with how the computer recognizes the device, and there is another thread here somewhere in which someone else ran into the same problem.
Thanks for not flaming me guys, the ultimate mistake happened because I was restoring a backup of a ROM and didn't clear the cache or the user data before hand. Lesson learned the hardway.

[Q] Install DJ05 via LINUX terminal (w/o Odin)

How might one apply the DJ05 update without using Odin v3?
Clearly the ROM and Kernel can be updated through CWM, but all searchable info seems to indicate that the modem file can only be altered via Odin on M$ Windoze. What is the methodology behind applying this kind of change using only tools available on a Linux platform?
Can I just overwrite a file on the Fascinate via adb?
cheers

I have only ever heard of modem.bin being flashed via Odin. I could be wrong, but I think it occupies its own partition, hence the need to actually flash rather than copy an individual file.
You can use redbend_ua to flash without Odin, but I recall (perhaps incorrectly) reading in IRC that redbend doesn't work for modem flashes in practice, at least not yet.
Hopefully someone can give more authoritative info, but I think you are stuck with Odin for good reasons. Just be nice to one of your friends with a PC. Don't have any? Shame! Windows users need love too ya know.
Swyped w/ XDA App. When in doubt, mumble.

Google search keyword: heimdall
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

Heimdall:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=755265
Awesome. That's a good question, why don't we just speak in terms of Heimdall in general... and use that instead? Strangely more soothing to say anyway, like "goos fraba"

You might find post 3 here useful as well.
That thread Soba49 posted is about 60 pages now, but reading through it all will give you a lot of good info on how it works. About page 56 or 57, you will see some specific questions I posed regarding flashing DJ05 modem.bin onto the Fascinate. It's almost too simple to use, so best to understand it as this is also the tool that will be saving your arse if you 'almost' brick your phone.
Heimdall actually emulates Odin in some areas & Kies in others and aims to eventually do more than either of those tools, w/o all the buggy Samsung coding. I believe the modem.bin is flashed using Kies methodology, FWIW.

So, I've been searching all over this forum and through the 60 pages of the Heimdall thread, but can't find an answer to this simple question - how do I just flash DJ05 onto my fascinate from OSX 10.6? When I try to connect in download mode and turn on Heimdall frontend, I just get "no compatible device connected" Do I need to flash bootloaders too or some other complicated stuff? Or am I just missing something easy?

SupraLance - What happened when you commanded: "heimdall flash --verbose --modem modem.bin"?

That command flashed the new modem for me. I am running DJ05 now and my phone has never been violated by a Windows device, lol.
I just re-read a bit of that thread regarding OSX, and it seems that Samsung released these phones with a crappy secondary boot loader. It will communicate with Linux and Windows, but not OSX. The only way around this is to flash a fixed boot loader through Linux or Windows, then you can use OSX from there out. Big problem is the only fixed boot loader verified to work with Heimdall & OSX is for the International Galaxy S. You need one specific for the Fascinate.
So this leaves American OSX users hoping that Samsung fixed this in the 2.2 Froyo code they have released. Heimdall & Odin cannot be made to work on OSX without it and boot loaders are not something you want to experiment with. Messing with the boot loader = quickest way to truly brick your phone.
If I was at your computer trying to do this, I would set up a dual-boot on your Mac with Ubuntu (completely free and similar to OSX interface) and do it through Ubuntu.

Heimdall Success!
fragmented post

Code
fragmented post

Notes on Code.
fragmented post

Next step.
fragmented post

fragmented post

Heimdall Success!
Installed Heimdall 1.1.0 for Debian.
http://www.glassechidna.com.au/products/heimdall/
Flashed modem using:
Code:
heimdall flash --verbose --modem modem.bin
Making sure that SF is in DL mode and the current directory contains "modem.bin" file.
Then flash ROM (and Kernel) via CWM.
Additional possibly helpful info here:
http://mobiletech.knguyentu.com/2010/12/fascinate-rom-dj05-and-beyond-all-you.html
Cheers

Linux tools for the S3?

I have no objections to booting into my Windows partition if it'll help prevent bricks, but I'd like to have the flexibility of flashing or recovering from either OS.
I know programs like Heimdall are around, but are they as fault tolerant or informative as their Windows equivalents?

LLStarks said:
I have no objections to booting into my Windows partition if it'll help prevent bricks, but I'd like to have the flexibility of flashing or recovering from either OS.
I know programs like Heimdall are around, but are they as fault tolerant or informative as their Windows equivalents?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AFAIK, Heimdall isn't working 100% yet. I tested 1.3.1 and 1.3.2 for myself, and both versions failed. The developer is working on it, though
You really only need to use Odin or Heimdall ONCE, though, and from there on you can just use CWM to wipe and flash new ROMs (which won't trip the flash counter). With my old Captivate, I didn't actually need to use odin/heimdall at all, because I was able to flash a rooted update.zip directly from Samsung's own recovery (before it got replaced with ClockworkMod).
I'm not going to let Windoze touch my ATT SGS3 on principle.

[Q] Go Back to Touchwiz

Hey guys,
Right now I'm on a custom GPe rom (i9505G). I need to get back to Touchwiz.
You're probably wondering ... why...? Well, last night I bought a Fitbit Flex, and it's supported by GS4 (wireless syncing), http://www.fitbit.com/devices. Could it be because I'm on a custom rom?
Any feedback is appreciated.
Thanks,
gameriot

Yes, it doesn't work because you're on a custom Rom. Fitbit doesn't support it. You can flash the stock firmware in Odin.

Those fitbit's only work on stock or stock-based roms. There's some good ones in the Android Development section. Cheers

jd1639 said:
Yes, it doesn't work because you're on a custom Rom. Fitbit doesn't support it. You can flash the stock firmware in Odin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a Mac, so I can't get Odin.
xBeerdroiDx said:
Those fitbit's only work on stock or stock-based roms. There's some good ones in the Android Development section. Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll check it out. Could you link it?

gameriot said:
I have a Mac, so I can't get Odin.
I'll check it out. Could you link it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Best Touchwiz-based ROM, in my opinion, right here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2313469

gameriot said:
I have a Mac, so I can't get Odin. I'll check it out. Could you link it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
#1. The TW rom that I find best for me is Shostock2.1 It's already very mature, stable and zero issues.
Here's the link if you want another option:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2305752
#2. As to the Mac and no Odin thing. . . . I use a Mac (a couple of them, actually) and found that Heimdal can be made to work, but some folks feel it is not as user friendly/easy to use as Odin. (Btw, you should not need a custom driver to use Heimdal -its a mac and should see your phone w/o driver issues!)
I have used it, but maybe it's just my experience, there have been sometimes when you have everything set up correctly, Heimdal still seems to choke, or just not complete the task (or see the tar file that you want to use!).
Anyway, the newer versions seem better, please check out the current version of Heimdal and the Heimdal front end package?
Here is a Heimdal link in case you want to check: http://www.glassechidna.com.au/products/heimdall/.
The site should have instructions on how to get your file -the stock image or rom image that you want to load and make sure it's the right one and also that its in a form Heimdal can use. . .
Also, here is another very good, informative thread of someone's experience restoring his i337 using Heimdal! It might be helpful (and it is just a few posts down from yours
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2374441
#3. But even on a MAC you CAN use Odin! Odin generally works well and if Heimdal seems to complicated or you can't get it working, then you could open your options up significantly if you can either:
(1) use bootcamp and boot into a windows OS, or
(2) use Parallels/VM Ware Fusion and use windows in a virtual window.
Bootcamp is 100% windows running on your mac and is rock-solid, while the VM machine approach also is mature and pretty good, if occasionally temperamental...
If you can do this, then you can use Odin and work on phone with all the tools that most folks here have and use to good effect.
Good Luck!

markbc01 said:
#1. The TW rom that I find best for me is Shostock2.1 It's already very mature, stable and zero issues.
Here's the link if you want another option:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2305752
#2. As to the Mac and no Odin thing. . . . I use a Mac (a couple of them, actually) and found that Heimdal can be made to work, but some folks feel it is not as user friendly/easy to use as Odin. (Btw, you should not need a custom driver to use Heimdal -its a mac and should see your phone w/o driver issues!)
I have used it, but maybe it's just my experience, there have been sometimes when you have everything set up correctly, Heimdal still seems to choke, or just not complete the task (or see the tar file that you want to use!).
Anyway, the newer versions seem better, please check out the current version of Heimdal and the Heimdal front end package?
Here is a Heimdal link in case you want to check: http://www.glassechidna.com.au/products/heimdall/.
The site should have instructions on how to get your file -the stock image or rom image that you want to load and make sure it's the right one and also that its in a form Heimdal can use. . .
Also, here is another very good, informative thread of someone's experience restoring his i337 using Heimdal! It might be helpful (and it is just a few posts down from yours
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2374441
#3. But even on a MAC you CAN use Odin! Odin generally works well and if Heimdal seems to complicated or you can't get it working, then you could open your options up significantly if you can either:
(1) use bootcamp and boot into a windows OS, or
(2) use Parallels/VM Ware Fusion and use windows in a virtual window.
Bootcamp is 100% windows running on your mac and is rock-solid, while the VM machine approach also is mature and pretty good, if occasionally temperamental...
If you can do this, then you can use Odin and work on phone with all the tools that most folks here have and use to good effect.
Good Luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already tried hiemdall. It kept coming up with error whatever I did. Also my TWRP keeps failing when I'm trying to flash. I'm trying goomanager.
Sent from my GT-I9505G using Tapatalk 4

gameriot said:
I already tried hiemdall. It kept coming up with error whatever I did. Also my TWRP keeps failing when I'm trying to flash. I'm trying goomanager.
Sent from my GT-I9505G using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, I have been there! If Heimdall does not work, then:
a) find a windows machine for a while or
b) use your machine with bootcamp (if you're on a MBP) or
c) use your machine but install/open a virtual desktop (Parallels or VMware Fusion) to get a windows or linux environment.
Please BE CAREFUL when using goomanager (or Rom Manager, for that matter). These apps are useful, but they also are prone to suddenly creating havoc on the phone - usually when least expected . I have used both -but only very carefully and for limited functions. (I recently used GM to update my TWRP to the latest (I think 2.6?) -no issue --so try that at least!)
But for loading roms, initially loading recoveries or the like it is better to use the "manual" processes that we have available here.
Good Luck!

markbc01 said:
OK, I have been there! If Heimdall does not work, then:
a) find a windows machine for a while or
b) use your machine with bootcamp (if you're on a MBP) or
c) use your machine but install/open a virtual desktop (Parallels or VMware Fusion) to get a windows or linux environment.
Please BE CAREFUL when using goomanager (or Rom Manager, for that matter). These apps are useful, but they also are prone to suddenly creating havoc on the phone - usually when least expected . I have used both -but only very carefully and for limited functions. (I recently used GM to update my TWRP to the latest (I think 2.6?) -no issue --so try that at least!)
But for loading roms, initially loading recoveries or the like it is better to use the "manual" processes that we have available here.
Good Luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the help. I got Touchwiz on my phone and got the sync to work but I just hate Touchwiz and went back by restoring my nandroid. Can't wait till they get Bluetooth 4.0 on custom roms, then it'll work.
Sent from my GT-I9505G using Tapatalk 4

Great..and if you still need a TW Rom, you still can switch launchers to Nova or something like that...
Then you hardly see the Samsung footprint...yet have the TW needed for the device..
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium HD app