Database Users

Debian working niceley on Desire.

Debian for Desire.
If you are able to try this on another android device, please do as I will be very interested in the results.
Download
http://www.multiupload.com/79TSI1AAF9
You will need.
-Root access.
-Busybox (included in most custom roms)
-1.4gig free on SDCARD
-VNC Client (ie. AndroidVNC)
-Terminal Emulator (ie. ConnectBot)
-7zip
Instructions
-Extract the file deSIREbian.7z on your PC using 7zip.
-Copy the contents (debian.img and deboot) to root directory of SDCARD.
-On your phone in terminal emulator type
su
sh /sdcard/deboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should get a blank screen showing "localhost:/#" after a couple of seconds.
-On your phone in your VNC client log in using these details
Password - password
Port - 5901
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nickname and Address are not needed, call it what you want though.
Changing the colour to 24bit and enabling local mouse pointer and full screen bit map are not neccesary but reccomended.
-Thats it.
Notes.
-You can log in via ssh, (gives a much better terminal, ie works properly with aptitude). Use [email protected] and password "toor"
-The version of Debian is Armel Lenny, installed using debootstrap.
-It is just the base package with LXDE on top, you only get a desktop, a file browser, an internet browser, and a pic viewer.
-If you want more packages there's tonnes of room on the image. eg apt-get install openoffice.org or apt-get install abiword or apt-get install any flipping thing u want
-You can access the SDCARD from Debian at "root/sdcard" (read-write)
-You can access Debian filesystem from Android (When Debian is running) at "sdcard/debian" (read only)
-debian.img is mounted at "sdcard/debian" using "dev/block/loop5"
-So far the only rom i have come accross that this dont work with is one of the cyanogen nightlies from last week. apart from that, working on opendesire, cyanogen, defrost, leedroid, official 2.2 with busybox...
Issues.
Debian cannot be shut down. You need to reboot the phone to do this. (You can kill the VNC server with "vncserver -kill :1" there is an icon on the festoons to do this.)
Update log.
deSIREbain.
-First release.
deSIREbain2
Fixed
-Loading a second terminal no longer breaks vnc.
-You no longer need to create the folder debian on sdcard.
Added
-ssh server (login with root and toor)
Removed.
-The image has been downsized from 2 gig to 1.4

Hey,
thank you for your work, i will test it so far and will tell you the results
got this error:
Code:
# su
su
# sh /sdcard/deboot
sh /sdcard/deboot
mount: No such file or directory
mount: No such file or directory
mount: No such file or directory
mount: No such file or directory
mount: mounting /sdcard on /sdcard/debian/root/sdcard failed: No such file or di
rectory
net.ipv4.ip_forward = 1
chroot: can't change root directory to /sdcard/debian: No such file or directory
#
If you have the same problems try out
su
mkdir /sdcard/debian
losetup /dev/block/loop3 /sdcard/debian.img
mount -t ext2 /dev/block/loop3 /sdcard/debian
ls /sdcard/debian
thx to mercianary for help
greetings

I found this guide quite helpful at getting a bootstrapped Debian setup running.
http://www.saurik.com/id/10
I didn't need to insert the ext2 module as it's already loaded for me, I guess G1s didn't have that convenience back then.

blackstoneuser5 said:
I found this guide quite helpful at getting a bootstrapped Debian setup running.
www . saurik.com/id/10
I didn't need to insert the ext2 module as it's already loaded for me, I guess G1s didn't have that convenience back then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used parts of this for reference too. Its a great guide, explains things really well.

i've just updated this. link is in the first post.
Fixed
-Loading a second terminal no longer breaks vnc.
-You no longer need to create the folder debian on sdcard.
Added
-ssh server (login with root and toor)
Removed.
-The image has been downsized from 2 gig to 1.4

debian for desire--help please
hi
I spent much time for searching debian or ubuntu for desire, but nothin worked
know i found this and i have download everything and start to install over the terminal
but the " sh /sdcard/deboot" is not workin to
there's only this answer:
# su
su
# sh /sdcard/deboot
sh /sdcard/deboot
[: not found
losetup: not found
mount: No such file or directory
mount: No such file or directory
mount: No such file or directory
mount: No such file or directory
busybox: not found
sysctl: not found
chroot: not found
may somebody help me?
i really want to have it on the desire
thanks

It looks like you had not installed busybox
Which ROM do you use ?

oh i'm sorry
i'm a newbie and don't really know what a rom is
but i had problems with busybox and there was a somebody who said i can get the app titanium and let it install the busybox

could you please show me a tut how to install busybox
maybe a german tut
thanks

Getting error at: sh /sdcard/deboot
line 5: syntax error near unexpected token `else'

Rosi1337 said:
Getting error at: sh /sdcard/deboot
line 5: syntax error near unexpected token `else'
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dont know why that happened.. works on mine. syntax looks ok to me.
try with this one (attatched), it's the same but without the bit that's not working for you.
what rom are you using, i shall try to replicate the error so I can try to fix properly.

thepuechen said:
could you please show me a tut how to install busybox
maybe a german tut
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There should be a guide on installing busybox somewhere if you want to search for it, i know i remember seeing one a while ago.
Too be honest, your better off just flashing a rom that includes busybox, it would be MUCH easier.
have a look here and see what takes your fancy, I would recomend defrost, because it is stable and easy to overclock.

Thanks mercianary,
It works fine!,
I use customised DeFroST_0.9b_uvonly with USB-host patch.
By the way I would like to add more options to kernel line.
Where can I find like a menu.lst file ? or How to add it to kernel line.
There is no /dev/graphics/* in running Debian console.
I would like to use FrameBuffer on running Debian.
thanks,

Android VNC won't connect Trying to get a handshake, but then says that VNC connection failed

please paste at that time log
jacobtc said:
Android VNC won't connect Trying to get a handshake, but then says that VNC connection failed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please paste at that time log.
Maybe vnc server does not running.

tknv said:
Thanks mercianary,
It works fine!,
I use customised DeFroST_0.9b_uvonly with USB-host patch.
By the way I would like to add more options to kernel line.
Where can I find like a menu.lst file ? or How to add it to kernel line.
There is no /dev/graphics/* in running Debian console.
I would like to use FrameBuffer on running Debian.
thanks,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should understand that this is not a really booted native linux. Instead you are working in a chroot environment. So there is no kernel running that can get parameters. Only the the stock kernel of your DeFroST. Also there is no FrameBuffer as the graphic hardware ist not accessible. Instead this approach uses a vnc-server to which you can connect via a local viewer.
The advantage of this approach is clear:
- run almost any linux package available in the debian repository
- use your phone as before with the nice android
The disadvantage:
- no graphic output, so no 3D-games (which are rare under linux on the arm platform ;-)
- you can crash your android by eating up to much ram (not such a problem - it restarts on its own and if not you just have to reboot)

Thread is dead?
It seems this thread is dead. The problems many users seem to have come from a dirty setup. The image is broken in many terms:
- wrong file permissions on important binaries, like su
- wrong file permissions on many device files under /dev, so the ttys are only accessible by root
- wrong permissions on other places so there are always errors when installing additonal software (e.g. with the man pages)
- wrong setup that uses the root user for the desktop - instead an unprivileged user should be used
- missing packages for timezones and locales so the time is only right, if you are in a UTC region and console programs having trouble displaying anything else then plain english
I can not recommend using this setup image. It is better to use one of the instructions available online to get a clean setup.

Su doesn't work because your allready root.
Getting anything but root to work would be a real pain.
As you said its a chroot environment, its never going to be perfect.
The image was made using debootstrap just like all the other 'clean' ones.
Yep, it is broken as hell, but it works for what most people would need it for...make,gcc,python,a proper web browser,torrents, and some emergency word processing on the train to work.
The problem most people have is not being able to mount the image, this is due to fro-yo a2sd taking up all the loop devices.

Just thought I'd add my 2 cents.
I tried this on a MIUI rom and the scripy didnt do anything - ie i ran it using:
"# sh /sdcard/deboot"
.....and all it said was:
"#"
I entered all the lines in the shell script but the last one said it failed to launch VLC and no commands registered property (not even ls)
So i tried it on Defrost 5.1, and the script still didn't work.
But when i entered everything manually, it did work. Not too sure about the green theme though.
But thanks alot! Saves me spending a few hours trying to coax a working debootstrap out of my computer.
Thanks!
Josh.

mercianary said:
Su doesn't work because your allready root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. Actually su works only for root. It's missing the setuid root flag like all other binaries that should have it set.
mercianary said:
Getting anything but root to work would be a real pain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. I am always working as a normal, unprivileged user in my chroot. You just have to be in the proper groups. No need to work as root. Android works also with an unprivileged user.
mercianary said:
As you said its a chroot environment, its never going to be perfect.
The image was made using debootstrap just like all the other 'clean' ones.
Yep, it is broken as hell, but it works for what most people would need it for...make,gcc,python,a proper web browser,torrents, and some emergency word processing on the train to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what I do not understand. There is no need that it is broken, as mine works without any errors. So I think something went wrong in creating yours. For sure a chroot is no running OS but you can server almost any service with it and run anything you want (if your ram does not get exhausted ;-).
mercianary said:
The problem most people have is not being able to mount the image, this is due to fro-yo a2sd taking up all the loop devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Everyone with a good rom should have a2sd+ (aka the old a2sd) which saves more space than the froyo one and leaves your loop devices for you.
jo

Ubuntu Woes on Urukdroid

Following the instructions here, I attempted to install Ubuntu 10.10 on my Archos 70 running Urukdroid 1.5. I'm running it through the terminal emulator and not ADB. When I attempt to run ubuntu.sh I get a lot of errors, and then bootubuntu fails to work.
sh output:
Code:
mount: /system not mounted already, or bad option
FATAL: module ext2 not found.
TERM environment variable not set.
mkdir: cannot create directory '/data/local/mnt': File exists
TERM environment variable not set.
rm: invalid option -- '/'
Try 'rm --help' for more information.
cd: 26: can't cd to /sdcard/ubuntu
chmod: changing permissions of 'bootubuntu': Operation not permitted
(errors for all the other chmods as well)
TERM environment variable not set.
(Ubuntu Chroot Bootloader v0.1, etc.)
And naturally bootubuntu generates a big pile of errors as well. Any suggestions?

There are 3 leethal messages:
I'm not sure about the ext2 message - can't imagine that UD has no ext2 module - need to check it out myself...
"TERM environment variable not set." is obvious - means there is some (TERM) environment variable missing wich is propably set when use adb?!?!
As the variable is used in each command after the error - they fail ... so the folders that should be created or removed propably have the variable in its structure and should sound a bit different...
hard to tell from here need the script - downloading atm - but takes ages
cd: 26: can't cd to /sdcard/ubuntu sounds a bit strange too but again it seems that u can acces sdcar with /sdcard from adb but on UD runtime its mounted /mnt/storage/sdcard...
So either you try to fix those lines in the scriptand find it out - or try follow they guide - and use adb

Well, I decided to redownload the Ubuntu image and try again. This time it went off without a hitch; I guess I had some file corruption in the first download. But now I've done the essential steps (apt-get updates, setting up LXDE environment and VNC server) and when I try to connect to the VNC host I just get a gray screen with an "x" shaped cursor and nothing else.

Same here. X-Server seems to start (grey background, x-shaped cursor), but nothing else. Tried the 2 versions of the xstartup (with, and without the last 2 lines), no change. I had to increase the portnumber with every reboot (working with pocketcloud to connect to the vnc server).

hi guys, this seems to be a problem some people are having with the new 10.10 build, the problem is I cant seem to replicate the problem.
I would recommend trying a fresh ubuntu image without install lxde or the fixes, ie just boot into vncserver.
If this dosnt work then try installing lxde and adding the lines to the xstartup to makesure it uses that desktop.
Thanks

I'm having (unrelated, probably) problems running this on the stock ROM with Chulri's r/w root. I am unable to mount the provided image (or any loopback filesystem, for that matter), whether from the script, or manually from a root shell prompt.
It appears that the stock kernel does not include a loop device driver (built-in, or as module), as there's no 'loop' directory under /sys/module/ and no loop.ko under /lib/modules. The installed busybox is also lacking losetup and chroot, but that's almost beside the point.
To deal with this, I've built a fixed busybox, which works fine, and a custom kernel using Chulri's buildroot, which doesn't, so much. I've built custom kernels for the Archos 70 before, to add compcache and the interactive CPU governor, and they've worked fine. But in this case, I make sure CONFIG_BLK_DEV_LOOP is set to 'y' in linux.config/.config, but after flashing the kernel and rebooting, there still seems to be no loop driver (no loop directory under /sys/module -- it should show up even when compiled-in, which it does on my Fedora desktop). Needless to say, this confuses me, and it's where I stopped working on it.
Has anyone got this working on a Gen8 Archos tablet without Urukdroid?

jfmcbrayer said:
I'm having (unrelated, probably) problems running this on the stock ROM with Chulri's r/w root. I am unable to mount the provided image (or any loopback filesystem, for that matter), whether from the script, or manually from a root shell prompt.
It appears that the stock kernel does not include a loop device driver (built-in, or as module), as there's no 'loop' directory under /sys/module/ and no loop.ko under /lib/modules. The installed busybox is also lacking losetup and chroot, but that's almost beside the point.
To deal with this, I've built a fixed busybox, which works fine, and a custom kernel using Chulri's buildroot, which doesn't, so much. I've built custom kernels for the Archos 70 before, to add compcache and the interactive CPU governor, and they've worked fine. But in this case, I make sure CONFIG_BLK_DEV_LOOP is set to 'y' in linux.config/.config, but after flashing the kernel and rebooting, there still seems to be no loop driver (no loop directory under /sys/module -- it should show up even when compiled-in, which it does on my Fedora desktop). Needless to say, this confuses me, and it's where I stopped working on it.
Has anyone got this working on a Gen8 Archos tablet without Urukdroid?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would seem that loop devices only works well on the Urukdroid rom, so for now if you want ubuntu you will have to use this

[WIP/DEV/GUIDE] Debian Linux armhf

So following a couple of tuts that I've found on the forums I've been able to install debian linux wheezy armhf build on my tablet in a dual boot configuration with it booting off of a second ext4 partition on the microsd card along with getting the drivers/codecs from Linux4Tegra to be installed and somewhat used on debian linux.
What works:
-Wifi
-USB
-Display (doesnt use tegra drivers)
-Buttons (power, vol, rot switch [acts as wifi switch])
-Touchscreen
What doesnt work:
-Bluetooth (Untested but apparently it finds it and sets it up.)
-Audio (Detects it in the kde info center. System Settings program only says that there's a dummy output. Playing any form of audio crashes the program.)
-HDMI (with the Tegra gfx drivers it finds it but says it's disconnected even when connected.)
-Cameras
-GPS
-Motion Sensing
-Light Sensor
With the display, whenever the tegra drivers are used, it finds HDMI (as HDMI-1) and the LCD screen (as LVDS-1) but says that there is no device on the lcd screen. With that being said, it is using the fbdev driver instead which shows pink and/or inverted colors in some instances but at least it shows a gui.
Guides used:
{HOW TO} Native Debian on A500 and building your own rootfs
[BOOTLOADER][DUALBOOT + RECOVERY][BOOTMENU] Patched ICS bootloader V8 (07/06/2012)
[Dev] Native linux on Iconia
Requirements:
-an A500.
-a 16+GB microsd.
-Linux OS (Debian, Ubuntu, etc.)
-Linux 4 Tegra: Download the Ventana files under "Additional Information" and "Driver Packages"/"Codec Packages".
Ok, so here's how I've done it.
1) Make sure you have a multiboot loader and have flashed the appropriate bootloader image to the second boot partition. get the boot image from the 3rd guide under "precompiled kernel image" and flash that to the second boot partition. (be sure to check the dualboot guide above on flashing the image if you are using the bootloader that is in the guide.)
2) Have a microsd card partitioned with two partitions, one for normal data (can be any format) and a second one that is in ext4. you can do 3 partitions by adding a swap partition but the ext4 partition must be the second partition.
3) Install qemu on the host system.
Code:
For Ubuntu - sudo apt-get install qemu-user-static
4) Mount the microsd's ext4 partition.
Code:
sudo mount -t ext4 /dev/<microsd 2nd partition> /mnt/Linux
5) Run:
Code:
sudo qemu-debootstrap --arch armhf wheezy /mnt/Linux
6) Chroot into the installed environment.
Code:
chroot /mnt/Linux /bin/bash
7) Add sources to /mnt/Linux/etc/apt/sources.list. you can get debian sources from http://debgen.simplylinux.ch/. Be sure to choose "Testing (wheezy)" and all the sources check boxes along with where you live to find the nearest repository.
8) Install the wifi drivers pt1.
Code:
apt-get update ; apt-get install broadcom-sta-common broadcom-sta-source firmware-b43-installer firmware-b43legacy-installer b43-fwcutter
9) Install the wifi drivers p2. In the "{HOW TO} Native Debian on A500 and building your own rootfs" guide, there is a download from mediafire for the firmware files for the drivers. Extract that and put it into /lib/firmware. I dont know if the individual files in the brcm should be in the /lib/firmware or not so i just copied the folder into it and the files within it into /lib/firmware.
10) Install the GUI:
Code:
apt-get install <gui>
List of GUI's (that i know of):
Code:
KDE (takes a long time to install): kde-full
XFCE: xfce4
11) extract the ventana_Tegra-Linux-R16.1.0_armhf.tbz2 file and the ventana_Tegra-Linux-codecs-R16.1.0_armhf.tbz2. you should get a folder called "Linux_For_Tegra" and a file called "restricted_codecs.tbz2". go into the "Linux_For_Tegra/nv_tegra" folders and extract the nvidia_drivers.tbz2 file. from there you should get 3 folders: etc, lib, usr. copy those to "/mnt/Linux" (you are going to have to do this as root). back out of those folders and extract the restricted_codecs.tbz2. you should get a folder called "lib" copy that to "/mnt/Linux". after that, it's time to make a hard link so that the X11 can find the tegra driver:
Code:
ln /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/tegra_drv.abi12.so /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/tegra_drv.so
Note: without using an xorg.conf file, by default it will use fbdrv instead of the tegra driver.
12) set the root password:
Code:
passwd root
13) add a normal user:
Code:
adduser <username>
14) exit chroot by typing "exit" and unmount /mnt/Linux:
Code:
sudo umount /mnt/Linux
15) pop that sucker into the the tablet and boot into it by holding power and vol down to get into the boot menu. select "boot into second partiton".
If everything went ok, you should be presented with a gui, if not and you are at a command line, log into root and type "startx". if that doesnt work then something wrong must have happened.
Untested easy script:
Code:
#! /bin/sh
set -e
#if there is a tegra_install.deb file.
hasTegraDeb=0
tegraDeb=acer-iconia-tab-a500+tegra+brcm+wheezy_1.0-1_armhf.deb
#change these if you do not like default install of kde.
arch=armhf
build=wheezy
rootDir=/mnt/Linux
guiEnv=kde-full
newUser=User
#setup the basics of debian linux using armhf and wheezy build.
qemu-debootstrap --arch $arch $build $rootDir
#copy the tegra_install.deb file for the tegra specific drivers.
if ["$hasTegraDeb" = "1"] then
cp $tegraDeb $rootDir/$tegraDeb
fi
#setup sources.list for apt-get.
echo "deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian testing main contrib non-free" >> $rootDir/etc/apt/sources.list
echo "deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ wheezy-updates main contrib non-free" >> $rootDir/etc/apt/sources.list
echo "deb http://security.debian.org/ wheezy/updates main contrib non-free" >> $rootDir/etc/apt/sources.list
#create the chroot_install.sh script and set it up.
echo "#! /bin/sh" > $rootDir/chroot_install.sh
echo "set -e" >> $rootDir/chroot_install.sh
#update apt-get inside the chroot.
echo "apt-get update" >> $rootDir/chroot_install.sh
#install the wireless card drivers inside the chroot.
echo "apt-get install broadcom-sta-common broadcom-sta-source firmware-b43-installer firmware-b43legacy-installer b43-fwcutter" >> $rootDir/chroot_install.sh
#install the desktop in the chroot. (note: this will take a long time)
echo "apt-get install $guiEnv" >> $rootDir/chroot_install.sh
#install the tegra specific drivers inside the chroot
if ["$hasTegraDeb" = "1"] then
#install the tegra drivers.
echo "dpkg -i $tegraDeb" >> $rootDir/chroot_install.sh
#hard link the tegra_drv.abi12.so as tegra_drv.so in /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/ to enable X11 to find the display driver.
echo "ln /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/tegra_drv.abi12.so /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/tegra_drv.so" >> $rootDir/chroot_install.sh
fi
#set the root password in the chroot.
echo "passwd root" >> $rootDir/chroot_install.sh
#add normal user in the chroot.
echo "adduser $newUser" >> $rootDir/chroot_install.sh
#execute the final stage of the install.
chroot $rootDir /chroot_install.sh
#cleanup
rm $rootDir/chroot_install.sh
if ["$hasTegraDeb" = "1"] then
rm $rootDir/$tegraDeb
fi
Script sets up everything along with installing kde window manager. Please note that the tegra_install.deb file does not exist, it is something that i am thinking of making in the future that has all the drivers and what not needed that is from the Linux 4 Tegra site. you are still going to have to manually install the tegra drivers in step 11.
Edit: Experimental copies of the deb files that has all the files needed from Linux 4 Tegra and the wifi drivers can be found at the bottom of the post.
xorg.conf to enable tegra driver (found in the Linux_for_Tegra/nv_tegra/config.tbz2/etc/X11 folder):
Code:
# This is the minimal configuration necessary to use the Tegra driver.
# Please refer to the xorg.conf man page for more configuration
# options provided by the X server, including display-related options
# provided by RandR 1.2 and higher.
# Disable extensions not useful on Tegra.
Section "Module"
Disable "dri"
Disable "dri2"
Disable "glx"
SubSection "extmod"
Option "omit xfree86-dga"
EndSubSection
EndSection
Section "Device"
Identifier "Tegra"
Driver "tegra"
# OverlayDepth is a 32-bit integer which is used to control overlay
# stacking order. The overlay with the lowest depth is in front of
# all others. This value has meaning only when multiple overlays are
# present on a display.
# Option "OverlayDepth" "255"
# ARGBHWCursor controls whether the X driver uses an overlay to
# display 32-bit "true-color" cursors, or whether such cursors are
# emulated in software. Valid values are "true" to enable hardware
# cursors, and "false" (default) to disable them.
# Option "ARGBHWCursor"
EndSection
At the moment, I have looked through the config.tbz2 file and may have to stick the stuff in there into the tablet's linux filesystem. will test this later.
NOTE:
I am not a linux developer, I have no idea how to create linux drivers. All I can do is mash things together and hope things work out.
In theory, this should work for all tegra2 and tegra3 (using cardhu drivers instead of ventana) devices with some minor differences.
Edit:
Apparently it is using kernel version 2.6.38. I'm going to see if I can update the kernel to 3.2.23-1 which is the latest version for armhf in the debian package list (http://packages.debian.org/wheezy/kernel/linux-headers-3.2.0-3-all-armhf).
Edit2:
Looks like updating the kernel from apt-get doesn't necessarily enable the kernel to load as it seems that the boot loader loads a prepackaged kernel that has been flashed into mmcblk0p7. Tried out kexec and the kernel doesn't support it so adding it to the /dev/inittab script is useless for loading up new kernels. I tried making the new kernel into a flashable image using mkbootimg that is found within the Linux 4 Tegra folder but it doesn't do anything and the image apparently isn't valid when i tried booting it from fastboot (black screen). along with that, apparently it changed my password on my encrypted /data partition's password (when i flashed it within linux using dd) so a word of caution with that. If anyone can help me out, i would like to try to create something similar to grub (or even port it) where it loads up new kernels from the microsd or a specified place based on a boot list.
deb Files (Install using "dpkg -i acer-iconia-tab-a500+tegra+brcm+wheezy_<version>_armhf.deb" within the linux environment of the tablet.):
1.0-1: acer-iconia-tab-a500+tegra+brcm+wheezy_1.0-1_armhf.deb
--takes care of steps 9 and 11 sans hard linking the X11 tegra drivers.
1.0-2: acer-iconia-tab-a500+tegra+brcm+wheezy_1.0-2_armhf.deb
--has pre-depends for the first part of the wifi driver installation so this should, in theory, install both part 1 and 2 of the wifi drivers.
--takes care of steps 8, 9, and 11 sans hard linking the X11 tegra drivers.
Update log:
10/17/2012: added updated version of the deb package.
10/16/2012: first version.

Ok, so since I cant post anything including into ongoing threads in the android development forum due to the 10 post required thing i'll just have to ask development questions here till i reach the 10 post requirement.
Can anyone point me into the direction for how the second boot image that you flash for the dual boot bootloader is created? Trying to figure out how to create an image so that it boots everything off the microsd card including the kernel. It seems that the kernel used in the guide is locked to 2.6.38 and if you update the kernel within the tablet's linux environment it doesnt load it up. so i need to figure out how to create a boot image so that it loads it up or create a boot image that has grub (or other bootloaders) installed on it to boot different linux images.

alatnet said:
Ok, so since I cant post anything including into ongoing threads in the android development forum due to the 10 post required thing i'll just have to ask development questions here till i reach the 10 post requirement.
Can anyone point me into the direction for how the second boot image that you flash for the dual boot bootloader is created? Trying to figure out how to create an image so that it boots everything off the microsd card including the kernel. It seems that the kernel used in the guide is locked to 2.6.38 and if you update the kernel within the tablet's linux environment it doesnt load it up. so i need to figure out how to create a boot image so that it loads it up or create a boot image that has grub (or other bootloaders) installed on it to boot different linux images.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are on the right track with mkbootimg. I have not figured it all out myself yet.
You have to compile your arm linux kernel then make a bootable image with mkboot
I don't know if you have seen this or if. this will help---Nethams kernel compile commands are;
make ARCH=arm menuconfig
make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=arm-linux-gnueable--j16
./mkbootimg --ramdisk dev/zero --kernel arch/arm/zimage -o ../recovery.img
I believe these are the commands he uses to compile his recovery image (boot.img)
It is my understanding that mkboot combines the kernel with a ram disk to make an image file that will boot the system
That image file can be placed in several places 1-primary boot position 2 recovery position 3 and if you have Skrilax dual boot secboot position
So it depends on what mkboot compiled as to what happens when that boot point is activated.
I am still trying to work out how Spdev and Netham combine or configure the kernel + initramfs+ ramdisk to create their bootable images.
I know these images boot and point to the file system which can be stored on internal or external sd card or even usb drive it all depends on how the boot image is configured.
Still learning myself
Here is a link I found explanes about Linux ram disk and initram
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/linux/library/l-initrd/index.html
And more info here downloads a PDF presentation on how to.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...poCoAw&usg=AFQjCNHLTHE3DaroC71FAjOjQWU2A61qEQ
All about that mkbooting after you get your kernel
http://android-dls.com/wiki/index.php?title=HOWTO:_Unpack,_Edit,_and_Re-Pack_Boot_Images

themechaniac said:
snip (freaking 10 post limit...)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, i did find some stuff with mkbootimg including the last link that you posted.
The kernel was already compiled when i downloaded it using apt-get and it is placed in /boot folder.
I did make a boot.img from that kernel using mkbootimg and looking at "/proc/cmdline" at the arguments that were passed to the kernel in the other kernel image and it made it, flashed it to secboot and it didnt do anything except use the same kernal as before, though i did flash the image via dd in linux. Apparently this sorta screwed up my /data partition or something in where it wouldnt recognize my password for de-encryption to mount it. (fixing it by just erasing "/data" [bye bye data... TT.TT]) So i tried booting it using "fastboot boot <kernel>" and it didnt boot, only showing a black screen, but using the other boot.img it would boot linux up.
So I'm thinking of somehow creating a kernel image that can use kexec to make a grub like bootloader kernel that you flash onto the secboot partition that has something similer to grub.cfg in which you can easily select which kernel to load.
As for looking for a grub.cfg file, it would look in a few different places:
-in internal storage (probably recovery partition or the "/system" partition as the "/data" partition can potentially be encrypted and not mountable.)
-sd card (has to be in first partition and in fat32 format)
-usb drive (same as sd card)
from these places it will load each grub.cfg. that way it'll make the grub like bootloader kernel extendable in which kernel to load (i.e. have a linux system on usb that you want to boot from.)

I may be wrong but it is my understanding that the compiled kernel is in the boot image packed by mkbootimg.
The kernel is compiled to look for the compatible root file system in a particular place.
So when you change or use a boot image you change the kernel you are using.
So we have a system that;
Has a modified Linux kernel that selects the Android file system from internal memory installed in the first boot position.
We can put a Linux kernel compiled to find a compatible root file system say on external sd card in the second boot position.
We can replace the recovery image with a Linux kernel that finds a compatible root file system on the internal sd card.
That gives us a hardware selective three different systems (triple boot)
With fastboot on the PC we can quickly change any of the Three boot images, replace the recovery image or repair system.
I think all we need is a 3.2.23 kernel compiled thee separate ways and packaged with mkbootimg.
1st find root file system internel, 2nd find file system externel 3rd find file system usb
We already have two 2.6.38 kernels. One from Spdev (external root file system)and One from Netham {internal file system)
They are different kernels as Nethams has added modules.
I believe the were both compiled from the same Git.
I have tried switching the two boot images in second boot position with both root file systems installed and when you boot the second position
it switches to it's own file system.
I haven't tried swapping the root file positions yet.

themechaniac said:
I may be wrong but it is my understanding that the compiled kernel is in the boot image packed by mkbootimg.
The kernel is compiled to look for the compatible root file system in a particular place.
So when you change or use a boot image you change the kernel you are using.
So we have a system that;
Has a modified Linux kernel that selects the Android file system from internal memory installed in the first boot position.
We can put a Linux kernel compiled to find a compatible root file system say on external sd card in the second boot position.
We can replace the recovery image with a Linux kernel that finds a compatible root file system on the internal sd card.
That gives us a hardware selective three different systems (triple boot)
With fastboot on the PC we can quickly change any of the Three boot images, replace the recovery image or repair system.
I think all we need is a 3.2.23 kernel compiled thee separate ways and packaged with mkbootimg.
1st find root file system internel, 2nd find file system externel 3rd find file system usb
We already have two 2.6.38 kernels. One from Spdev (external root file system)and One from Netham {internal file system)
They are different kernels as Nethams has added modules.
I believe the were both compiled from the same Git.
I have tried switching the two boot images in second boot position with both root file systems installed and when you boot the second position
it switches to it's own file system.
I haven't tried swapping the root file positions yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. Though i think it needs to be a specific type of kernel (i.e bzImage or uImage instead of vmlinuz) to actually run. also, the precompiled kernel in the guide that i had used in the opening post had a command line where one option was "root=/dev/mmcblk1p2" which pretty much says for the kernel to look for the linux file system in the second partition on the sd card.

Yes with the way the system is formatted you cannot change out the kernel on the fly. It is basically hard coded in the boot image. Skrilax has given us a way to change boot positions so we don't have to sacrifice recovery position to boot second kernel. I have not seen any pre configured 3.2.23 kernels yet. The one that Netham posted boots from internal SD but causes problems for some people as not all a500 have their internal SD card formatted in the same memory block. It works great for me I prefer to have my root file system on a fast external SD so would like to modify or compile a kernel like Netham's. I find I run out of space when I have it internal. Netham's kernel has USB sound and seems to boot differt than Spdev's.

themechaniac said:
Yes with the way the system is formatted you cannot change out the kernel on the fly. It is basically hard coded in the boot image. Skrilax has given us a way to change boot positions so we don't have to sacrifice recovery position to boot second kernel. I have not seen any pre configured 3.2.23 kernels yet. The one that Netham posted boots from internal SD but causes problems for some people as not all a500 have their internal SD card formatted in the same memory block. It works great for me I prefer to have my root file system on a fast external SD so would like to modify or compile a kernel like Netham's. I find I run out of space when I have it internal. Netham's kernel has USB sound and seems to boot differt than Spdev's.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, but this is how the linux boot loader is going to go with, instead of loading the linux system (sans kernel and initrd) from the sd card, we create a boot.img that has a linux system built in that has a sole purpose of loading other linux systems using kexec.
Edit:
Here's how the path is going to go:
Startup-->Bootloader-->Linux Bootloader (loads linux on external drives)-->Linux (on external drives)

Well I am happy with Ubuntu on my external SD card, I even ran a kernel compile on it and it ran pretty fast. I am stuck on the mkbootimg part. It can't be done on the tablet, has to be a PC. I tried unpacking the Two ready made boot images to see how they are configured but they don't seem to have a ram disk. Still working on that. It is learning how the system is put together that is half the fun, Getting it to work the way you want is the goal. When it is all squared away it will be time to move on to the next puzzle. I have enough computers that I could just put a system on each one and be done with it. Where's the fun in that. Most of them are dual booted already.

themechaniac said:
Well I am happy with Ubuntu on my external SD card, I even ran a kernel compile on it and it ran pretty fast. I am stuck on the mkbootimg part. It can't be done on the tablet, has to be a PC. I tried unpacking the Two ready made boot images to see how they are configured but they don't seem to have a ram disk. Still working on that. It is learning how the system is put together that is half the fun, Getting it to work the way you want is the goal. When it is all squared away it will be time to move on to the next puzzle. I have enough computers that I could just put a system on each one and be done with it. Where's the fun in that. Most of them are dual booted already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, even though mkbootimg is suppose to be run on linux, i don't think it was compiled for arm so you are going to have to use a pc for that program. as for the initrd, i did find a website that may help in creating an A.L.B.L. (Android Linux Boot Loader): http://www.thewireframecommunity.com/node/14
Essentially what is needed to create the A.L.B.L. is to create a kernel with kexec in it and an initrd that mounts the external drives along with an easy to use interface to be loaded before loading any kernels to allow for selecting kernels. with that said, how do you figure out how to use the volume buttons and the power button within linux using a c\c++ program?

BUMP!
any progress?
also
-Audio (Detects it in the kde info center. System Settings program only says that there's a dummy output. Playing any form of audio crashes the program.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But
Code:
cat /any/file/for/ex/bin/bash > /dev/dsp
works properly

Unfortunetly no.
Been to busy with other stuff to work on this.

tegra driver
I have ubuntu 12.10 armf runing on my a500 thanks to the "Linux on A500: The Future" thread. I am using the ferrariforzaleo mod of rogro82's kernel.
The problem I had was getting the xorg tegra module to load. I fixed this by getting the "https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/quantal/armhf/nvidia-tegra/16.0-0ubuntu1"]https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/quantal/armhf/nvidia-tegra/16.0-0ubuntu1 and installing with
sudo dpkg -i
after I rebooted it started using the tegra video driver.
Cheers

HardlyAbelson said:
I have ubuntu 12.10 armf runing on my a500 thanks to the "Linux on A500: The Future" thread. I am using the ferrariforzaleo mod of rogro82's kernel.
The problem I had was getting the xorg tegra module to load. I fixed this by getting the "https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/quantal/armhf/nvidia-tegra/16.0-0ubuntu1"]https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/quantal/armhf/nvidia-tegra/16.0-0ubuntu1 and installing with
sudo dpkg -i
after I rebooted it started using the tegra video driver.
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can you explain me the steps you done ? I also want ubuntu 12.10 running but I can't install any desktop on it ( show error and other error )

ubuntu 12.10
Forzaferrarileo said:
can you explain me the steps you done ? I also want ubuntu 12.10 running but I can't install any desktop on it ( show error and other error )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, I used the debootstrap and and qemu / chroot to setup my rootfs. i found post #61 in the "Linux on A500: future" very helpful.
Also, make sure you have a usb keyboard handy. After you run "apt-get install -d ubuntu-desktop" (assuming you have a pc running ubuntu to use) in a qemu chroot, you can move to the a500 and boot up and login as root and run "apt-get install ubuntu-destop". since the stuff is cached. I found this faster than installing the desktop while in the chroot. After that finishes, you should boot up with a desktop available. If something is wrong and you can't login, try doing "ctrl-alt-f1" to get to the getty command line login and look at the /var/log/ folder for clues in the logs.

How to compile the kernel?
I succesfully got debian running on my iconia a500 :laugh:
Building my own rootfs and getting the wifi to work were not that hard, but I still don't know how to compile the Linux kernel for the a500 from source.
I already found the git repository of rogru82 (https://github.com/rogro82/picasso-kernel) and I downloaded the source to my pc (running ubuntu 13.04). Can someone point me to a tutorial explaining how to compile this source?
Also, can someone explain what sort of partition table the internal memory uses? I am running the 3.0 kernel and I can see a block memory device in the /dev folder but there are no partitions. How can I mount the internal memory?

[Guide] Ubuntu 12.04 desktop on N7 2013 with LinuxOnAndroid

Hello,
I'm gonna describe here a method that can bypass the "loop device not found" bug with Android 4.3 and LinuxOnAndroid (also called Complete Linux Installer).
With that method, you will be able to run Ubuntu 12.04. It will not harm your device, since it's only an application and a "mount loop".
This is not from me, I found some loose informations on LoA's forum and just tried it out. Then I wrote this guide when I finally got it working. Credits are at the end of the post.
Informations :
- Any Kernel should work (I use ElementalX 1.4)
- Any ROM should work (I use ParanoidAndroid 3.99)
- Any 4.3 device should work (this has been seen working on Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 flo).
- This trick should work for any GNU/Linux armel distribution, but you'll have to change some things, like "startlxde" command and others. I can't help you for that.​
What do I need ?
- Root access(SuperSu is recommended)
- BusyBox
- a root file explorer (ES File Explorer is recommended)
- Android 4.3 or CustomROM based on 4.3
- A computer running GNU/Linux (Ubuntu is recommended, but this should work with any debian-based distro. LiveUSB should work)
- Internet access (Around 450Mb download is needed, so 3G or 4G is not recommended)
- ... some free time.​
What should I do ?
Step 1 : Install apk on your device
Download and install those 3 applications :
- Complete Linux Installer
- Terminal Emulator
- Android-VNC-viewer​
Step 2 : Prepare the .img ubuntu disk on your computer
- Start Ubuntu on your computer.
- Download the LinuxOnAndroid "ubuntu.img" from Sourceforge (you'll need the 'small' version : 396Mo)
- Create a new folder (anywhere you want, ext4 partition is recommended, so /home/user is good) and call it "loa" (for LinuxOnAndroid)
Code:
[I]Example : [/I]
mkdir /home/yourname/loa
- Extract the ubuntu1204-v4-small.zip in that folder
- Open a terminal and navigate to the directory where the ubuntu.img was extracted :
Code:
cd /home/yourname/loa
- Enter the following commands :
Code:
#Create the needed directories
mkdir ubuntunew ubuntuold
#Create a new empty .img
dd if=/dev/zero of=ubuntunew.img bs=1M count=0 seek=4096
#Format your new .img into ext4 (original is ext2 and bugs with Android 4.3)
mkfs.ext4 -F ubuntunew.img
#Mount the .img into the directories
sudo mount -o loop ubuntu.img ubuntuold
sudo mount -o loop ubuntunew.img ubuntunew
#Copy the content of downloaded ext2.img into created ext4.img (may process during some time)
sudo cp -r ubuntuold/* ubuntunew
#Unmount mounted .img
sudo umount ubuntuold
sudo umount ubuntunew
Step 3 : prepare your device for the new ubuntunew.img
- Copy the ubuntunew.img (4Go) from your computer to your device
- Place the ubuntunew.img in SDCARD/ubuntu/ubuntunew.img (you'll need to create the directory)​
Step 4 : prepare Complete-Linux-Installer for the new ubuntunew.img
- Open "ES File explorer", turn on the "root explorer" option
- Navigate to /data/data/com.zpwebsites.linuxonandroid/files
- Edit bootscript.sh with a text editor :
1) In "Set up loop device and mount image" :
The line :
$bbox mount -t ext2 /dev/block/loop255 $mnt
becomes
$bbox mount -t ext4 /dev/block/loop255 $mnt
2) In "Mount all required partitions" :
add the line :
$bbox mount -o bind /sys/fs/selinux $mnt/selinux
3) In "Unmount all user defined mounts if any" :
add the line :
$bbox umount $mnt/selinux
- Save changes in bootscript.sh​
Step 5 : Use Complete-Linux-Installer to boot ubuntunew.img
- Open "Complete-Linux-Installer
- Go to "Launch" > "Settings" > "Add"
Name : Droidbuntu
Image : /storage/emulated/0/ubuntu/ubuntunew.img
- Choose "Droidbuntu" from the list and "Start Linux"
- Proceed with the installation (terminal starts and ask you a few things) :
Code:
Example values I used on my N7 flo :
- resolution : 1920x1200 (I disabled navbar and statusbar, if you did not, you'll have to try acceptable values)
- run vnc : [B]yes[/B] (important! it will allow you to start the GUI)
- run ssh : no
- password : whatever you want
- You should now be in linux shell (you can tell by the [email protected]:/# in the terminal emulator)
- Enter the command :
Code:
#It will allow you to start the GUI by adding startlxde to the xstartup script
echo startlxde | tee /home/ubuntu/.vnc/xstartup
- Leave the terminal alone (don't close it) and open "androidVNC"
Values to use :
Code:
Nickname : Droidbuntu
Password : ubuntu
Adress : localhost
Port : 5900
Username : root
24-bit color (4 bpp)
Check the local mouse checkbox
- Clic on "Connect"​
You are now in Ubuntu 12.04 LXDE. :highfive:
You may want to change "entrymode" in settings, and use "Touchpad", it's better in my opinion.​
What's next ?
To start Ubuntu later, just open Complete-Linux-Installer and click "Start linux", then once you're in [email protected], open VNC and "connect". Yes, it's that simple.
The command lines need to be entered in terminal emulator, not in lxterm nor any terminal in Ubuntu.​
Credits :
LinuxOnAndroid Team
Canonical and partners
Following LinuxOnAndroid forum users : clb, Isei, RobbH
NOTE : My english surely isn't perfect. If I made any errors, or if you don't understand a step, please tell me.

I can upload an ext4 ubuntu.img (described in step 2), but only if it really is necessary. The image is 4.0 Gigabyte and it will take me a long time to upload this... (My upload internet speed is 40Ko/s so it will take 30 hours to upload, and I'll be glad not to^^)

Awesome guide thank you.
Sent from my HTC Desire HD

Could some one post the image prefered-large one because i do not have ubuntu and it seems complicated for a 'noob like me

bogii4 said:
Could some one post the image prefered-large one because i do not have ubuntu and it seems complicated for a 'noob like me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This will not work "as it" with the large image, because you are adding the command startlxde to Ubuntu, which will start LXDE, not Unity.
Do not forget that small image uses LXDE, when large image uses Unity. I don't know which command you should use to start Unity in the xstartup script for VNC.
But, if you want some programs that are inclueded in large-image, you can always use "apt-get install nameofthepackageyouwant" in the terminal-emulator while using Ubuntu. This command will download and install the program. But if you want Unity, I can't help you, maybe some else know...
And, by the way. You don't have Ubuntu on your PC but you want to use it on Android ? That's odd^^

can you verify this works on Flo? it's not clear that you have this on your Nexus
reading the working devices list on linuxonandroid.org, it says "It does not work when going to the mount step since there is a bug in 4.3. It should run perfectly after that is fixed."
have a link or two where someone has successfully installed this on their Nexus 7 (Flo)? or do you have screenshots of it on yours?

Midnight_Rider said:
can you verify this works on Flo? it's not clear that you have this on your Nexus
reading the working devices list on linuxonandroid.org, it says "It does not work when going to the mount step since there is a bug in 4.3. It should run perfectly after that is fixed."
have a link or two where someone has successfully installed this on their Nexus 7 (Flo)? or do you have screenshots of it on yours?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It works on flo, I posted here in "Neuxs 7 (2013) > Nexus 7 (2013) General" and the title of this thread is "on N7 2013".
I also explained in the introduction that this is a way to bypass the bug with 'mount loop'.
I also said in the "informations" box that it works with 'flo'
I also gave the credits to users from LinuxOnAndroid forum, who made this possible. There you'll find some testimony of people who were able to run it. You can also check RobbH's post on LinuxOnAndroid thread, here, on XDA.
Sorry, but I think that it's pretty clear haha

Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

sure, ok, seems odd though that you edited your OP after you tell me the info i was looking for was already in the OP
whatever, thanks anyway

Midnight_Rider said:
sure, ok, seems odd though that you edited your OP after you tell me the info i was looking for was already in the OP
whatever, thanks anyway
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I added this to OP :
Code:
Example :
mkdir /home/yourname/loa
I'm trying to help you and others here, I'm not here to be insulted and called a liar. Thank you.

anyway (workaround) we can boot the 'large image as in Unity the full desktop experience? or do we have to wait for an actual fix ?

Just thought I would pop in and say hi.
Thanks to @Vaykadji and everyone else in LoA land that helped get everything running on 4.3 we are finally sorting the bugs.
A beta version of the app featuring the edits needed in the boot script has been pushed to our beta test group and new ext4 images are being cooked as we speak.
Should not be much longer now and LinuxonAndroid will fully support 4.3

bogii4 said:
anyway (workaround) we can boot the 'large image as in Unity the full desktop experience? or do we have to wait for an actual fix ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as I said : the part in the guide where you add "startlxde" to the xstartup script is only for LXDE (so: small image of Ubuntu only). But if you find the same command for Unity, you will maybe be able to boot with Unity.
Note: Unity and LXDE are both "desktop environment", but different ones. Google it if you don't understand, I can't explain this with my poor English :/

I used this method,but in ubuntu 12.04,it's only X cursor and gray desktop.
in ubuntu 13.04,solved this problem. so we best use ubuntu 13.04.
now I have a problem:in ubuntu,I installed openjdk and run java application .if java application not close and run background.then I press power button to close screen,battery drain very quickly.I saw "android os " always awake.one hour maybe drain 5% battery.
if close the java application battery drain normal.and "android os " no longe awake.
this problem only found in nexus 7 (flo), I have run java application in other android device(like nexus 7 2012,htc evo 4g lte,htc incredible) all of them didn't appear this problem.
some people can test this problem?
and how can I resolved it?

sdwshlsdx said:
I used this method,but in ubuntu 12.04,it's only X cursor and gray desktop.
in ubuntu 13.04,solved this problem. so we best use ubuntu 13.04.
now I have a problem:in ubuntu,I installed openjdk and run java application .if java application not close and run background.then I press power button to close screen,battery drain very quickly.I saw "android os " always awake.one hour maybe drain 5% battery.
if close the java application battery drain normal.and "android os " no longe awake.
this problem only found in nexus 7 (flo), I have run java application in other android device(like nexus 7 2012,htc evo 4g lte,htc incredible) all of them didn't appear this problem.
some people can test this problem?
and how can I resolved it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The X cursor and gray desktop appears when you don't add "startlxde" to you xstartup script. I'll try with 13.04 if I have the time, I couldn't tell right know.

Works well on Ubuntu 13.04 small image (but in 13.04, you don't have to do the "echo startlxde | tee /blablabla" command)

a little off topic but.. i was able to boot Windows XP using Bosch it took 10-15mins to fully boot but it is not usable i expected more mouse seems smooth but clicking - the start menu, open something takes forever :/ worth it?

Vaykadji said:
I added this to OP :
Code:
Example :
mkdir /home/yourname/loa
I'm trying to help you and others here, I'm not here to be insulted and called a liar. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you're right, did not mean to insinuate anything or insult you, that was not my intent. please accept my apologies

Thank you ! We're good.
Now, since this guide will soon no longer be usefull (with LoA being updated), I'm willing to do some researchs on how to improve Linux ARM experience. Because I noticed that they were plenty of cool things that were not ported (or not officially though).
Some repo's are broken for example. Official repo's (I was planning to install LightSpark, a flash-player fork, but no can do). Maybe this will be more usefull for LinuxOnAndroid user's.
And Touch should be released soon for Nexus products (not including flo, but hopefully it'll come quick).

So, with this, it's not touch screen?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

[GUIDE][Dual Boot][TheEasyway] How to setup Linux RootBind Method [Updated May 16th]

Hello everyone ! I made this guide for all who want to try to dualboot Android and Ubuntu using the RootBind method.
But first, what is RootBind ?
Actually, the RootBind method consist to have a Linux file system, living in a folder of our Android partition.
The default location for this linux file system is /data/linuxroot.
The way to switch between Android and Linux is to flash an Android kernel or the linux kernel. That's all.
It means you'll be able to have a linux installation, without erasing Android ( Still available, not touched at all ) and it means that you can easily manage your Linux installation.
You dont want it anymore ? Just delete a folder. You want to try another version, but you dont want to lose your current data ? Just do a zip of the folder, and extract a new version instead.
Advantages :
No need to repartitionate your tab.
It works with all TF101.
It doesnt touch current Android Installation.
It has same free space as your /data Android partition.
You can easily access it from within Android.
It has good performances
Kernel has everything working
And you only need to flash an Android or Linux Kernel to boot desired OS.
Everything is possible thanks to @jrohwer and @DjDill and @TravellingGuy.
Dont forget to thanks them : jrohwer Kernel Thread - jrohwer 14.04 Kubuntu IMG / DjDill images thread / TravellingGuy Image thread​Of course, every manipulation is risky, Me, jrohwer, DjDill, Travelling Guy, my dog, or even my math professor, can NOT be responsible for any damage on your tab, use this guide at your own risk​First Post : Dualboot setup
Second Post : How to change the linux location / How to have multiple linux installations
Third Post : FAQ & Tips​
DualBoot setup. Linux installation
First of all, here is all what you'll need :
The last rootbind kernel : Download Here Take the zip version.
[*]WARING : Note that if you use the last kernel ( 15 one ) YOU MUST TAKE MODULES AND EXTRACT IT IN /lib/modules/ when installation is done
The last Linux IMG of your choice, DjDill made imgs for this method with everything pre working here : DjDill images thread / TravellingGuy Image thread / jrohwer 14.04 Kubuntu IMG
Kernel for booting back Android You can find the KatKiss kernel there for exemple : KatKernel
A terminal emulator in Android or ADB Shell
If you dont want to use one of DjDill img, you'll need the bcm4329 tar from there : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=43203818&postcount=569
You need to have a rooted device with a custom recovery. Check by here or by there
This method works on any TF101
Note that all command can be done with ADB shell aswell.
If you choose to install one of DjDill img :
Boot to Android as usual
Copy all download files to your tab. You can rename the kernel zip to Linux_Loader.zip and Android_Loader.zip to be clearer.
Now, I assume you have files in internal storage ( change sdcard0 by sdcard1 if it's on microSD )
We will now ensure terminal has root permissions :
Open Terminal emulator
Type su then Enter
SuperUser will ask terminal emulator root permission, allow it.
If you have an error with this command, your device may not be properly rooted.
Now we will setup installation location and extract our linux tar.gz ( Be aware it may take a while ) :
Code:
busybox mount -o remount,rw /
mkdir /data/linuxroot
chmod 755 /data/linuxroot
cd /data/linuxroot
tar -pxvzf /storage/sdcard0/yourubuntufilename.tar.gz
busybox mount -o remount,ro /
If you don't choose to install one of pre configured img :
Boot to Android as usual
Copy all download files to your tab. You can rename the kernel zip to Linux_Loader.zip and Android_Loader.zip to be clearer.
Now, I assume you have files in internal storage ( change sdcard0 by sdcard1 if it's on microSD )
We will now ensure terminal has root permissions :
Open Terminal emulator
Type su then Enter
SuperUser will ask terminal emulator root permission, allow it.
If you have an error with this command, your device may not be properly rooted.
Now we will setup installation location and extract our linux tar.gz ( Be aware it may take a while ) :
Code:
busybox mount -o remount,rw /
mkdir /data/linuxroot
chmod 755 /data/linuxroot
cd /data/linuxroot
tar -pxvzf /storage/sdcard0/yourubuntufilename.tar.gz
cd /data/linuxroot/lib/firmware
tar -pxvzf /storage/sdcard0/bcm4329.tar.gz
cp nvram.txt nvram_3429.txt
busybox mount -o remount,ro /
The setup is now complete.
In order to boot your linux installation, flash the linux kernel.
To get back to Android, flash the Android kernel.
​

How to change the linux location / How to have multiple linux installations
Here we are, so in order to have multiple linux instllations or change defaut linux installation location, you will need a Linux computer. ( Or a Virtual Machine, that's what I use, with Virtual Box for exemple.
You will need 3 tools to get it done too.
You can get it there abootimg, blobpack and blobunpack files at the end of first post ( Thanks to @shaola ).
I post the zip in attachement for mirror.
MORE INFORMATIONS ABOUT THESE TOOLS : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=13713619&postcount=3
Now you have to get in the Rootbind kernel, the blob file. Blob file in Asus ROM can contain any partition of the device ( System, kernel, recovery etc ). In this kernel blob, there is only the kernel partition. Soooo, here we go for some commands.
Open your linux computer
Place all four files in same place ( better to have a folder created for this ). I'll take exemple of ~/kerneltf/ It's a exemple, so adapt in consequencies of course.
Now you have your four files in same place, blobunpack, blobpack, and abootimg-i686 so let's start with commands :
Go to the desired place :
Code:
cd ~/kerneltf
Unpack the blob containing partition imgs
Code:
./blobunpack blob
This will create partitions img. The one that interest us is the .LNX partition. ( Here blob.LNX )
Now unpack the kernel parition img
Code:
./abootimg-i686 -x blob.LNX
This will create 3 files, bootimg.cfg, zImage and initrd.img
The file we want to edit is bootimg.cfg. so open it with a text editor.
You'll see the last line is a cmdline. At the end we have the location of linux system place.
For exemple here : root=/dev/mmcblk0p7 bind=/linuxroot that means, the folder takes place in mmcblk0p7 ( /data partition of device ) and is placed in /linuxroot folder. So with Android layout it means /data/linuxroot.
You can now change the location of your folder, so you have some choices :
1-Change the folder location or name. ( This can be used to have multiple linux systems )
So you have this part : root=/dev/mmcblk0p7 bind=/linuxroot
If you want to change folder place/name change this part : bind=/linuxroot into whatever you want
For exemple root=/dev/mmcblk0p7 bind=/linuxroot2 or root=/dev/mmcblk0p7 bind=/linuxroot3 ( To have more linux systems )
Or root=/dev/mmcblk0p7 bind=/Linuxroot/Linux1
ATTENTION as said in rootbind thread : Make sure, however, not to put the Linux rootfs to the "internal storage" (/data/media) or any subdirectories thereof. This plays havoc with the Android media scanner when re-booting into Android and your tablet may slow down to a crawl.
2-Change the folder location in order to have it on an other partition like SDCard
For this choice, a 2nd partition on your SDcard is greatly recommended and should be in ext4. ( Must be the second partition, it is better for general use of SDcard )
So root=/dev/mmcblk0p7 bind=/linuxroot will become root=/dev/mmcblk1p2 ( can be p3 p4 or more if you have more than 2 partitions in your sdcard to have several systems on your SDcard ) the bind argument must be deleted as it will not be used.
3-Change the folder location in order to have it on first partition on SDCard
The problem here if you want your linuxroot folder in you SDcard with your other files, is that sdcard MUST be formatted in ext4 and so will not be recognized directly by Windows ( Using MTP in the TF will work but not Storage Mount ) cause Windows doesnt support ext4 partition. It's definitively the worse choice IMHO. The precedent process is definitively better choice. More than that it could make MediaScanner in Android going crazy too ( a .nomedia can maybe do the trick but not sure ).
More again, it hasnt been tested at all so you're the only responsible, but if you want to do it :
For exemple, to put folder on SDcard, you should change root=/dev/mmcblk0p7 bind=/linuxroot to root=/dev/mmcblk1p1 bind=/linuxroot
This means your folder is in sdcard ( The one in the tab ) at root in /linuxroot folder. ( /storage/sdcard1/linuxroot in android )
THIS HAS NOT BEEN TESTED YET, I CANT TELL YOU IF IT WORKS OR NOT.
Sooo, now you seted up your new location ( BE SURE TO DONT TOUCH ANYTHING ELSE ON THE CMDLINE, ONLY THIS PART ):
We will now repack the kernel to get it flashable.
Once again, be sure that you didnt make mistake with the file, and you only edited root=/dev/mmcblk0p7 bind=/linuxroot this part without deleting something or got a typo error.
We will now update the new bootimg :
Code:
abootimg-i686 -u blob.LNX -f bootimg.cfg
Then we will rename old blob file to create a new one with our modified kernel:
Code:
mv blob blobold
Now, we will repack our blob in order to make a new flashable zip with our kernel:
Code:
./blobpack blob LNX blob.LNX
You're done, make a copy of the old zip, rename it as you wish ( avoid spaces in the zip title ) for exemple Linux_Loader_2.zip
Then open it, and replace the blob file with your new one.
Now you're good to flash. Be sure to install a linux system in desired location before flashing it of course. See post 1 for this !

And a last one !
Envoyé de mon Nexus 4 en utilisant Tapatalk

Nice does work with TF101 G model (3G+) ?
Envoyé depuis ma TF101G-B80 with Revolution HD 4.0 (3.6g release) by Mike _1986

stephane.papin said:
Nice does work with TF101 G model (3G+) ?
Envoyé depuis ma TF101G-B80 with Revolution HD 4.0 (3.6g release) by Mike _1986
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it works with all TF101
Si t'as besoin d'aide, hésite pas à me MP

Is a bootloader within the realm of possibility?
Thanks for the write-up.. I'm at the drinking my coffee while the untar keeps chugging stage, and it occurs to me that a bootloader would be very cool to have. Kernels flash so quickly, the recovery method isn't far off in terms of usability.. but it did motivate the question: is it possible?
So I'm just curious - is there any reason why we couldn't have the android and linux kernels both on disk to be loaded by a bootloader based on user choice?

Hello,
I have tried the "DjDill img" method.
When it finishes booting, it tells me that there are networks, and yhat I have to configure wifi.
I can't find how.
ifconfig shows lo and wlan0, and wlan0 is up but of course has no address.
if I try a iwlist scan, it tells me that wlan0 is an interface that doesn't support scanning.
In "settings manager/network connections", if I try to add a connection, it doesn't see my ssid.
Do you have any idea or point me to some doc/tuto.
Thanks in advance
nbenm

nbenm said:
Hello,
I have tried the "DjDill img" method.
When it finishes booting, it tells me that there are networks, and yhat I have to configure wifi.
I can't find how.
ifconfig shows lo and wlan0, and wlan0 is up but of course has no address.
if I try a iwlist scan, it tells me that wlan0 is an interface that doesn't support scanning.
In "settings manager/network connections", if I try to add a connection, it doesn't see my ssid.
Do you have any idea or point me to some doc/tuto.
Thanks in advance
nbenm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What kernel and what image did you used?
Tapatalké depuis mon Nexus 4 MIUI !

Couple questions
First, BIG thx to you and all the devs for hacking the tf-101!!
I've tried several of the images and they all worked as posted (Go figure ). I will be trying to compile a kernel for some custom work.
1 - Are the kernels compiled on the TF-101 and the tarballed?
2 - Any idea if Kali Linux 1.0.6 ARMHF Image, build will work?
I'll be using an external wifi dongle and not the internal.
Again much excitement to the tf-101 world!

Kingzak34 said:
What kernel and what image did you used?
Tapatalké depuis mon Nexus 4 MIUI !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using kernel:Ubuntu-3.1.10-12-rootbind-oc1.0GHz.zip from your rootbind kernel link
I use image:tf101-14.04-xubuntu-armhf.tar.gz which is a DjDill image.
Before you reply me, I wanted to try "TravellingGuy Image". On its page, it was told to create wlan0 entry in the interfaces file. I did this and it works now.
But I can't understant why:
- iwlist scan doesn't work
- network manager doesn't see any of the multiple essids tahere are here
When I try to iwconfig essid "my_ssid", it says "cannot read /proc/net/wireless". Does it need some module ?
Thanks
nbenm

nbenm said:
I'm using kernel:Ubuntu-3.1.10-12-rootbind-oc1.0GHz.zip from your rootbind kernel link
I use image:tf101-14.04-xubuntu-armhf.tar.gz which is a DjDill image.
Before you reply me, I wanted to try "TravellingGuy Image". On its page, it was told to create wlan0 entry in the interfaces file. I did this and it works now.
But I can't understant why:
- iwlist scan doesn't work
- network manager doesn't see any of the multiple essids tahere are here
When I try to iwconfig essid "my_ssid", it says "cannot read /proc/net/wireless". Does it need some module ?
Thanks
nbenm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ubuntu-3.1.10-12-rootbind-oc1.0GHz.zip doesnt exist ?
It's Ubuntu-3.1.10-12-rootbind-oc1.2GHz.zip
Or Ubuntu-3.1.10-10-rootbind-1.0GHz.zip
If you choose the Ubuntu-3.1.10-12-rootbind-oc1.2GHz.zip, wifi will works by default with defaut network manager without needing any cmd config or anything on pre installed DjDill img, IDK for Travelling guy img I didnt tested it, but you can try the other method if you're on Debian img and wifi doest work.
If you choose DjDill img, choose one of the lastest, This one http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=50335555&postcount=1
Or the 1.1 14.04 one, end of this post : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=50335574&postcount=2
Or the Lxde build from same post.
But I suggest to use the first for now, it's the newer and have a lot of fixes.

Updated !
With second post and added jrohwer 14.04 IMG !

image: Kubuntu 14.04 With Tegra drivers.
kernel: Ubuntu-3.1.10-12-rootbind-oc1.2GHz.zip also tried Ubuntu-3.1.10-10-rootbind-1.0GHz.zip
It boots into KDE fine now but initially had some warnings even after running depmod -a. I had to issue the comnmand depmod -a a few times and it black screened once on boot.
I cant seem to get the wifi networking working even though it finds local networks clicking on the networks in the GUI doesn't do anything. Any help here. This is my first linux boot on the transformer but I have used Ubuntu since gutsy. I have to admit I am a little confused after reading a couple of posts here about exactly comes with these premade images. For instance the nvidia drivers are they included as modules in these images. When i read jrohwer's thread for the image he includes his apt sources list and states that the it took a little to get the nvidia drivers working?

Like I said on the other thread to setup Wi-Fi you have to setup in cmd line. Search on the net to setup with nmcli command or you install another network manager
Tapatalké depuis mon Nexus 4 MIUI !

Kingzak34 said:
Like I said on the other thread to setup Wi-Fi you have to setup in cmd line. Search on the net to setup with nmcli command or you install another network manager
Tapatalké depuis mon Nexus 4 MIUI !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes sorry I was struggling with the command for nmcli. I should have elaborated ... Tried various commands .. and this was what worked.
Code:
nmcli dev wifi
to list off the possible availables ap's then to join what you want
Code:
sudo nmcli dev wifi connect "whatever ap u want to connect to"
much easier to hunt down answers with a working intenet connection
Sorry bout that. I suppose my other question about the nvidia drivers is most likely too silly to answer ??

dasbooter said:
Yes sorry I was struggling with the command for nmcli. I should have elaborated ... Tried various commands .. and this was what worked.
Code:
nmcli dev wifi
to list off the possible availables ap's then to join what you want
Code:
sudo nmcli dev wifi connect "whatever ap u want to connect to"
much easier to hunt down answers with a working intenet connection
Sorry bout that. I suppose my other question about the nvidia drivers is most likely too silly to answer ??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What question ?
You dont have to do anything with the driver as in 14.04 build from jrohwer, is pre installed.

Kingzak34 said:
What question ?
You dont have to do anything with the driver as in 14.04 build from jrohwer, is pre installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks i was reading jrohwer's thread for the 14.04 image and he was discussing the fact that it took alot of work to get the nvidia drivers up and running and then gives his apt sources list for download but after what u said it sounds like this is for people who want to get there own images together with working nvidia drivers. So compiling your own modules. Sorry I just wasnt sure. Anyways thanks for the trouble. I have connected to the ap but cant get a connection out to the internet. Oh well maybe I will try that lubuntu image on the first page. Thanks

dasbooter said:
Thanks i was reading jrohwer's thread for the 14.04 image and he was discussing the fact that it took alot of work to get the nvidia drivers up and running and then gives his apt sources list for download but after what u said it sounds like this is for people who want to get there own images together with working nvidia drivers. So compiling your own modules. Sorry I just wasnt sure. Anyways thanks for the trouble. I have connected to the ap but cant get a connection out to the internet. Oh well maybe I will try that lubuntu image on the first page. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds weird, you successfully connected but dont have access to internet ?
Correct command for connecting on AP with a password is
sudo nmcli dev wifi connect <ssid> password <password>
And yes, the files that jrohwer gave, is for those who want to create a 14.04 with nvidia driver working img.

Kingzak34 said:
Sounds weird, you successfully connected but dont have access to internet ?
Correct command for connecting on AP with a password is
sudo nmcli dev wifi connect <ssid> password <password>
And yes, the files that jrohwer gave, is for those who want to create a 14.04 with nvidia driver working img.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya its at a hospital with no wpa type encryption only a login web page with name and password. I am most certainly connected ifconfig shows I have pulled a IP address etc etc. I have been reading about similiar problems in other linux type threads where there is automatic redirection to the login page. I actually use an app hellowifi to automatically enter the info in katkiss 4.4.2 so I am actually having trouble getting the address of that login page lol. I will give it a try at home where i have a wpa2 encrypted connection

dasbooter said:
Ya its at a hospital with no wpa type encryption only a login web page with name and password. I am most certainly connected ifconfig shows I have pulled a IP address etc etc. I have been reading about similiar problems in other linux type threads where there is automatic redirection to the login page. I actually use an app hellowifi to automatically enter the info in katkiss 4.4.2 so I am actually having trouble getting the address of that login page lol. I will give it a try at home where i have a wpa2 encrypted connection
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ho yeah I see, sometimes I cannot get login at the university hotspot, cause it doesnt want to redirect to login page.
I dont think you'll got problem with a 'normal' router.