I have new instructions here that are much better, but require some amount of software compiling (mainly with the kernel): https://forum.xda-developers.com/iconia-a500/linux-acer-iconia-tab-a500-2020-edition-t4136023
I'm a latecomer to the scene of seeing GNU/Linux userland distros run on this tablet, as I only acquired mine from a friend since last year, and couldn't use it until I replaced the ac adapter and battery. I was this lucky as Android devices capable of running GNU/Linux distros natively are hard to come by, and moreso for getting it for free. But first, the tablet needed to be fixed up by software:
I upgraded the stock Android OS from 3.?.? to 4.0.3 by downloading Acer-provided updates to a microSD card.
Now I could retrieve the tablet's serial number and generate the SBK from it in order to flash Skrillax_CZ's custom bootloader with nvflash.
I flashed CWM 6.0.4.5 custom recovery first (to AKB partition), then OmniROM based on Android 4.4.4 (to LNX partition). I flashed an Open GApps package at first, but I had to remove it as those apps try to utilize the NEON extensions that this tablet's CPU lacks, causing them to crash. (4.4 is the minimum version the Open GApps supports anyways) Instead, I used F-Droid for an app store replacement, which sufficed for most of my needs.
Then I got to flashing a kernel that enables booting native Linux distros (to SOS partition). While I tried both sp3dev's 2.6.38 kernel and rogro82's 3.1.10 kernel (a modded version that loads the distro from the 2nd partition of a microSD card), I stuck with the 3.1.10 kernel, as it included the ASIX AX8817X USB 2.0 Ethernet driver which allows me an alternate method of internet connection in case I couldn't use wi-fi (both boot images are attached for preservation and convenience, renamed).
Now I was ready to experience running Linux distros natively on a mobile device for the first time. :fingers-crossed: From this point on, I would be using rootfs images to reach this dream of mine. With the new instructions posted above, I may have finally realized this dream! While I have more stuff working smoothly (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, 2D software acceleration), other minor things are still not, including the camera and 3D acceleration (due to such support not existing in mainline kernel).
Some notes I made for this time period:
I have found out that glibc versions 2.24 and later have removed support for Linux kernel versions < 3.2, which limits the choice of distros I can select from without additional work.
The minimum Linux kernel version that this version of the GNU C Library can be used with is 3.2, except on i[4567]86 and x86_64, where Linux kernel version 2.6.32 or later suffices (on architectures that already required kernel versions more recent than 3.2, those requirements remain unchanged). Linux 3.2 or later kernel headers are required on all architectures.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The workarounds to this are to use an alternate C library, or use older versions of glibc (Version 2.23 is used in Ubuntu 16.04, but it is compiled to only run with Linux 3.2 or later, so it must be recompiled by lowering the minimum kernel version to 2.6.32).
The file bcm4329-fullmac-4.bin can be found in packages of linux-firmware, but bcm4329-fullmac-4.txt needs to be obtained from the stock Android OSes, as the file "/system/etc/wifi/bcmdhd.cal" (original file attached for convenience, renamed).
Linux kernel version 3.1.10 is the latest one provided by NVIDIA, and new versions are unlikely to be ported to this tablet's CPU, according to https://developer.nvidia.com/linux-tegra-rel-16.
Other than the above three points, Linux distros will work almost flawlessly, but if the screen is turned back on, an external keyboard is needed to switch to one of six virtual terminals by using Ctrl+Alt+[1-6], and then switching back to Ctrl+Alt+7, where 7 may be replaced if the GUI is running in another virtual terminal location. This process is not needed if the NVIDIA proprietary drivers are being used, which can be found on this page: https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/nvidia-graphics-drivers-tegra/16.3-0ubuntu2/+build/4804631 (Beware that X11 ABI versions > 14 are not supported, so downgrade the xorg version somehow to the 1.14.x series to use this driver).
[Version 16.3] is the final release supporting Ventana. T20 support will not be included in future releases.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The internal storage is also detected by the kernel, but its contents cannot be normally accessed, as it has a special partitioning scheme that cannot be recognized. It is possible to format it, and partition it to hold accessible data, but I recommend not doing any partitioning for it, as it may require a longer restoration process that will not be explained here for now. However, using TestDisk to search for partitions using the GPT partitioning scheme allows four of them to be accessible. I recommend only copying data from those partitions; writing the detected partitioning scheme is risky for now.
Putting the tablet to sleep by use of pm-utils works, and the tablet will even power back up after the power button is pressed, but it may cause the BCM4329 SDIO card to stop working until the next reboot.
Any programs that utilize OpenGL during their operations are very likely to have poor performance, and will remain so, as this tablet model's GPU only supports OpenGL ES and EGL :crying: , unless those programs are altered by source code to include support one of these two APIs. Additionally, some colors may appear to be off during any OpenGL rendering (e.g. orange is rendered blue) However, the proprietary drivers may help with faster OpenGL ES and EGL rendering, but still, most programs are unable to utilize them.
I guess I can be blamed for sticking with too old hardware; people are moving onto newer hardware so quickly! However, there's still hope for having some sort of Linux tablet, but the road to getting there is not easy.
NEW: I have successfully cross-compiled this Linux 3.17.0-rc7 kernel, using the picasso config from rogro82's kernel source. When compiling this kernel, do not switch to any other branches, or prompts like this will appear upon invoking make:
Code:
Patch physical to virtual translations at runtime (ARM_PATCH_PHYS_VIRT) [N/y/?] n
Physical address of main memory (PHYS_OFFSET) [] (NEW)
I also created a boot image for it, but after flashing it, attempting to boot results in the bootloader being stuck at the loading screen, without hope for anymore activity unless powered off by force. Even inserting an initrd will not change anything but the size of the boot image (Max size for the SOS partition is ~5MB). :crying: This also seems to have happened a version of the 2.6.38 kernel from sp3dev that I have self-compiled, but that one was without an initrd. Either I'm not using the correct toolchain (I'm using the ones provided from the Ubuntu repositories), or non-manufacturer-provided kernels don't have the special code to support this tablet model. However, I really want to get this kernel to boot successfully, so that newer distro versions can be used (my results will appear in another post).
Supported Distros
Almost any distro will work out-of-the-box (OOTB), but some require software-level modifications that can only be done on a real armv7-based device or emulation, so here is a list of distros whose latest stable versions have an arm build, can successfully boot up, use glibc <= 2.23, and their image locations (all of them can at least boot to a terminal login screen, if a graphical desktop environment is not preinstalled, but this will require use of an external USB keyboard):
Devuan 1 Jessie (Mirrors for this distro are located in the directory "devuan_jessie/embedded/")
Slackware ARM 14.2 | http://ftp.arm.slackware.com/slackwarearm/slackwarearm-devtools/minirootfs/roots/
CentOS 7 | http://mirror.centos.org/altarch/7/isos/armhfp/
openSUSE Leap 42.3 | http://download.opensuse.org/ports/armv7hl/distribution/leap/42.3/appliances/
Unfortunately, for some reason, the BCM4329 wi-fi works OOTB only with older versions of some distros, including these:
Devuan 1 Jessie (already listed above)
Debian 8 Jessie and older (supported until May 2020)
Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty Tahr and older (supported until April 2019)
On newer versions of these distros, if I was able to boot them successfully, they will work, but when running
Code:
iwconfig wlan0 txpower auto
it results in input/output errors that are meaningless, and the kernel messages do not really help that much, even when using the supplied nvram file (do I need to get a different one, or support had been dropped entirely for this card?) For these cases, USB ethernet adapters are the only way to get an internet connection to this tablet model. I have never been able to get Bluetooth to work, unless I missed some other task that I have not yet heard of.
NOTE: To remove the root password, use this command on a Linux/BSD/other Unix OS:
Code:
sed -i 's/root:x:/root::/' /etc/passwd
"/etc/passwd" can be replaced with another location if needed. "/etc/fstab" may also need to edited to reflect the partition layout of the microSD card that a selected distro is installed to.
OOTB distro support for this tablet model is very limited at this time; support for it seems to be being dropped implicitly , unless I can compile and successfully get a newer kernel version to boot up. DistroWatch.com lists many more, but older versions of most distros will most likely have to be used. It's better to use the versions that are still supported, for that they will still receive software and security updates occasionally.
booted up slackware rootfs using thor2002ro installer successfully
Potential new kernel source
See the bottom of the first post for more information about this.
I'm working on trying to get us a newer kernel version than the NVIDIA-provided 3.1.10 one, located at https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/tegra/linux.git/. This one is at 3.17.0-rc7. It's better in that comes straight from kernel.org, the official source of Linux kernel releases. However, its last update was from 09/28/2014, so while it is considerably newer than manufacturer-provided sources, it's not as new as the 4.x series (I'm not sure if I'm even willing to try compiling this series due to the age of this tablet model's hardware), but at least this will allow the tablet to successfully boot up newer distro versions. The issues with the BCM4239 card are likely to carry over here, but I can compile more drivers, either built-in to the image, or as modules that need to be added to a rootfs. Doing this will open up more alternate methods of getting an internet connection, such as by USB wi-fi/cellular adapters, or by USB RNDIS tethering. For reference, here are the current two 3.x release series, both of which are receiving updates as long-term support series:
3.16.x, supported until April 2020.
3.2.x, supported until May 2018.
That means in about two more years, this tablet model will effectively reach its end-of-life.
Do not flash the boot image attached here; it does not work yet. All of the attachments are provided for analysis, as they need more work before becoming usable. I try to learn most things on my own, but some things are not obvious to me as to what I should, so I need all the help I can get so that we can load new distro versions and give life to the remaining of these tablets for a few more years. At most, CentOS 7 is supported until June 2024 (enterprise-oriented distros tend to be supported for unusually longer amounts of time), if older kernels versions must be used or I fail to get this new kernel working at all, so this will be our only supported option if we can't get a new solution by the 1st half of 2020.
i found a thread with step how to install wifi drivers on deb-based distros
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1782549
we need packages: broadcom-sta-common broadcom-sta-source firmware-b43-installer firmware-b43legacy-installer b43-fwcutter
(i never tried it, idk if it even works)
still pursuing this project?
not sure if you are still pursuing this but if you are i would like to help
Aaron
adconway said:
not sure if you are still pursuing this but if you are i would like to help
Aaron
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I'm still looking for people to help me with this; it will happen for as long as I own this tablet model; I haven't made much progress as I haven't found enough people to help me. It's good that you would like to help me.
Hi!
Sorry for the noob question folks...
I really would like to try some linux distros on this tablet, I have the Skrillax_CZ's custom bootloader installed, also the latest OmniROM but how can I install / boot a linux distro?
Thank you!
Ladislav
The kernel that I used expects the root file system to be on
Code:
/dev/mmcblk1p2
. Images for the Raspberry Pi are usually formatted with two partitions: one containing the boot files; the other containing the actual filesystem. The latter is what the kernel expects to read.
I've been hoping for a thread like this since I wasn't getting anywhere with my own old A500. With Google support flaky as ever on my tablet, I've been itching to remove it entirely for a Linux distro. When I get time, I would love to tinker with the materials you've shared, Worldblender.
Do someone have headers for kernel 3.8.13.20-digetx-thor-01232-gfe12f92?
2019 Status
Finally, I've decided to try again to get something a little more recent onto here. Ubuntu 16.04 and one flavor, Ubuntu MATE 15.04, can currently be run. Ubuntu Mate is an Ubuntu flavor shipping with the MATE desktop environment, and the only flavor to produce images for the Raspberry Pi, hence their partition layout is compatible with the 3.1.10 kernel image.
Here's what I went through today (all versions require editing /etc/fstab to disable mounting of the first partition for them to complete booting. To get Wi-Fi working, use the text file from the very first post of this topic, and place it in the same location (/lib/firmware/brcm); no need to copy the BIN file as it will already be present on the images):
Ubuntu MATE:
15.04: Only version that successfully boots out-of-the-box. Unsupported version. Use this image for now, as all others listed here don't work out-of-the-box.
15.10: Crashes with a kernel panic. Unsupported version.
16.04: Crashes with a kernel panic. Requires replacing the libc6 package and everything that directly depends on it with the ones from 15.10. Supported until April 2021. Glibc version 2.23 is in 16.04, while 2.21 is in 15.04 and 15.10.
Ubuntu:
16.04: Preinstalled images for Raspberry Pi 2/3 available at http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/16.04/release/. Username and password is "ubuntu", and will prompt to change password upon logging in. Requires replacing the libc6 package and everything that directly depends on it with the ones from 15.10. Glibc version 2.23 is in 16.04, while 2.21 is in 15.04 and 15.10.
For Ubuntu 16.04, the following packages must be replaced prior to first boot with a chroot running on either an ARM virtual machine (the instructions at https://wiki.debian.org/QemuUserEmulation will also work), or another ARM computer (Android smartphones and tablets can be used here, as long as they have a microSD slot or support USB-OTG, where a USB SD card reader has to be used instead):
libc-bin
libc6
locales
perl
perl-base
perl-modules
After that, I recommend pinning/locking the packages "libc6" and "perl-base" to prevent the OS from becoming unbootable after an upgrade.
For all unsupported versions of Ubuntu, change the package repository URLs to point to http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ so that more packages can be installed.
To download any of the Ubuntu MATE image versions listed above, use the torrents attached below (should still work at the time of writing this post). The Internet Archive has saved copies of these torrents, as they can no longer be accessed from the current Ubuntu MATE download page. They can be found at https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://ubuntu-mate.org/raspberry-pi/*
This is the best that I can offer; either use Ubuntu 15.04 right away (and access some newer program versions, but have no access to the latest security updates), or tweak Ubuntu 16.04 post-install with the package names listed above (and access even newer program versions plus security updates until April 2021). It may be the last time we can get newer software on an aging tablet from 2011 [!], unless new ones are compiled from source.
digetx repository
TeTriNol said:
Do someone have headers for kernel 3.8.13.20-digetx-thor-01232-gfe12f92?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
digetx has a repository on bitbucket, might be there
Upgrade from 14.04 lubuntu by digetx
Thanks for posting the upgrade info, trying for a while but never found out the fix, until now.
After installing and upgrading 14.04 install as originally described on tegraowners I locked all the packages you mentioned eg:
libc-bin
libc6
locales
perl
perl-base
perl-modules
Then did a distrbution upgrade and presto, v16.04. Now I can install the latest versions of some programs I use.
Many thanks for sharing and kudos for finding issue. One day I hope to get back into linux seriously, changed a lot since the 14 floppy disk distributions. :good:
18.04 upgrade works so far
After the v16.04 upgrade I thought "go for broke" and try another dist upgrade and after a few warnings it worked.
Havent tried everything yet but Chromium works to get this typed, and system profiler but I can't upload image here.
Kicad 5 installed but eeschema crashed in 16.04 but it runs on 18.04 albeit a little slower than an i5
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X3yEyWYsCWyF6RXxgd4GpBkyIHBmIPlw/view?usp=sharing
beaka said:
After the v16.04 upgrade I thought "go for broke" and try another dist upgrade and after a few warnings it worked.
Havent tried everything yet but Chromium works to get this typed, and system profiler but I can't upload image here.
Kicad 5 installed but eeschema crashed in 16.04 but it runs on 18.04 albeit a little slower than an i5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi beaka, can you share rootfs and install files from tegraowners lubuntu 14.04 ? I'm looking for it but tegraowners is gone now.
rootfs and installer from tegraowners
pheex79 said:
Hi beaka, can you share rootfs and install files from tegraowners lubuntu 14.04 ? I'm looking for it but tegraowners is gone now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi pheex,
Here are links to the files I used to install lubuntu 14.04 then do the distupgrades to 18.04
installer:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13Gg7Xhyx_C1Ra7_rkD4G_3yoPbf-qvC5/view?usp=sharing
rootfs:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14YZ-_o2c-3afqD0PbppWod12p3xB5fs2/view?usp=sharing
I have skrilax v8 loader and install to sd card.
Hope that helps. :good:
thanks a lot !
Now wifi work, i can't figure it out with ubuntu debootstrap root fs
beaka said:
Hi pheex,
Here are links to the files I used to install lubuntu 14.04 then do the distupgrades to 18.04
I have skrilax v8 loader and install to sd card.
Hope that helps. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dist upgrade don't work for me, something broke dependencies, maybe the packages i freeze (libc...)
Do you remember how do you proceed ?
pheex79 said:
Dist upgrade don't work for me, something broke dependencies, maybe the packages i freeze (libc...)
Do you remember how do you proceed ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did a new install to card.
apt update
apt upgrade
reboot
open synaptic package manager and lock the versions of:
libc-bin
libc6
locales
perl
perl-base
perl-modulesby selecting then Package/Lock version from menu
reboot and make sure it works
open software updater and update (use gui version as apt doesnt seem to lock version)
reboot and make sure it works
open software updater and do dist upgrade to 16.04 (go to bed as slow dl on 3g)
reboot to see if it worked
then I did a dd of the sd as the upgrade takes hours over 3g
software updater to upgrade 16.04 security
after that I again used software updater to go to 18.04
dd sd card so never have to do it again
using apt from 18.04 doesnt seem to break anything so far that I use.
brief summary but hope it helps. once you get it to 16.04 it seems a bit more stable and on 18.04 it works and is a bit more responsive but I havent tried every feature, just web(chromium and ff v55, had to find old pre-neon vers) , samba, kicad, freerdp (works well) and I can even print to epson wifi x420 (just found it on network, almost thought I was in windows )
good luck let us know how you go
Related
Just like the title says, does anyone have any insight into installing a regular Linux distribution onto a Nexus One? It seems to use a fairly standard Linux kernel, so I imagine that one major obstacle has been cleared. The main problems are that I don't know how to tell it to go from the kernel into a normal Linux userspace (am I using the correct terminology?), and what sort of names would it use for its hardware devices -- would a regular Linux distribution be able to communicate with them without too much special configuration? (For example, would the MicroSD card be a standard sd* device, or would it have a different name?)
I believe there's a thread on the Nexus One Dev board about installing Debian.
I wrote a howto on booting debian. It wouldn't be too far-fetched to apply this to something like ubuntu/gentoo ect...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=631389
Does anyone know if you're able to just flash an Angstrom image that you've made at the official angstrom website? I would be a VERY happy guy if someone could point me in the right direction as I'm very new to the Archos gen8 scene.
I would post a link to the website if I had enough posts, guess I'll edit one in later
AFAIK, no, you cannot. The SDE Firmware from Archos(http://www.archos.com/support/support_tech/_ppp.html?country=us&lang=en&p=gen8) is based on the Ångström distribution generated from a customized open embedded build (http://wiki.openembedded.net/index.php/Main_Page).
Unless I'm mistaken, alot of work went into the customization of Angstrom to make it run on Gen8s, but it wasn't done by Angstrom, so if you use the Angstrom site to build a custom image, it won't work.
Just FYI, what did you choose as the Device Base when you built? The only Archos devices they have listed are the 5 and 5it, and those are Gen7.
Well it's not THAT advanced. Basicially ARCHOS has provided an overlay for Angstrom found here: archos.com/support/download/firm_dev/archos-gen8-openembedded.tar.gz
So you download Angstrom through git, then untar the overlay over what you downloaded. This will put in new or altered files such as one for boards for our GEN 8. (Power is right though by default Angstrom only supports GEN 7.)
Once Angstrom now has the files needed to build for GEN 8 you can build your own image (.img) for your ARCHOS.
We don't really "flash" images with our ARCHOS, basically the SDE will boot (When choosing Developer Mode) whatever .img is on the internal memory named rootfs.img.
Unfortunately there isn't a lot of documentation for OpenEmbedded or rather it's hard to find and follow as it's mashed up in different documents.
My best piece of advice would be to use whatever version of BitBake comes with your system or package manager and not from source as the docs recommend as the one from source didn't seem to work well with python but the one I used for my distro did.
And sorry for the link. n00b restriction...
Whoops and it was msticninja who was right about the GEN 7 stuff.. Credit where it's due..
And for another piece of advice, if your build environment is an *buntu stick with version 10.10 or preferably 10.04 as a lot has changed with 11.04 and docs haven't caught up yet, not even for cyanogenmod. Plus 11.04 has this weird bug for me where it won't let me unmount my .img after chrooting into it...
Hi All,
The following is a custom setup based on LIV2's original tutorial, running Debian Linux with KDE 4 natively (no chroot) instead of Gnome and a few tweaks of my own.
Please follow LIV2's original tutorial and note my changes below:
I have posted the video on my Youtube page (can't add due to insufficient posts)
I will upload the boot.img image and files shortly.
What works
- Booting into KDE 4
- On screen keyboard based on xvkbd
- Wireless bcm4329 driver loads (must configure manually via wpa_supplicant)
- USB keyboard USB OTG cable (made by Motorola)
Instructions
1. Follow LIV2's original instructions until:
Code:
# echo “deb ftp.debian.org/debian/ squeeze main contrib non–free” > /etc/apt/sources.list
2. Also add this:
Code:
echo “deb backports.debian.org/debian-backports squeeze-backports main contrib non-free” >> /etc/apt/sources.list
3. Refresh repo:
Code:
apt-get update
4. Run this:
Code:
apt–get install xserver–xorg–video–fbdev xserver–xorg–input–evdev gnome initramfs–tools
Aptitude install kde-desktop
apt-get install bluez kdebluetooth xvkbd
(instead of this):
Code:
# apt–get install xserver–xorg–video–fbdev xserver–xorg–input–evdev gdm3 gnome initramfs–tools wpa-supplicant
Don't worry about wpa-supplicant, it will be installed as part of kde-desktop packages.
5. Edit the following files to make the on screen keyboard (xvkbd) work properly:
/etc/kde4/kdm/kdmrc
Code:
UseTheme=false
/etc/kde4/kdm/Xsetup
Code:
xvkbd geometry -300-100 -no-back-pointer &
6. Continue with LIV2's instructions
7. Make following directories under your chroot and copy the wireless firmware files:
Code:
/vendor/firmware for fw_bcm4329.bin
/system/etc/wifi for bcm4329.cal
Copy files above in the noted directories. I had to slightly alter LIV2's step here since the module wouldn't load when files where copied to those other folders mentioned in his tutorial.
8. Continue with LIV2's instructions but run this:
Code:
sudo make INSTALL_MOD_PATH=[PATH_TO_CHROOT_DIR] modules_install
(instead of):
# export INSTALL_MOD_PATH=[PATH_TO_CHROOT_DIR]
The original step above failed to install/copy the modules into the correct location.
9. Follow LIV2's instructions to the end
Please use the NDK mentioned in LIV2's tutorial, android–ndk–r5b and not newer otherwise it will not work.
These steps are based on the Tiamat 1.4.4 kernel (stock GPU)
Updates will follow...
Does sound work?
No sound support. I did not see any support in the kernel for the CPCAP 2.2TC22 SoC.
LE: Actually, it's gotta have something, just does not seem to work out of the bat. dmesg shows CPCAP info and plenty of related devices in /dev . Have to figure out how and if I can use them.
Cool. Love KDE 4! Would it be possible to add the Bodhi-repo and install E17 and use the Tablet-profile of E17?
Got it to work... but too many errors still. Need help.
Thanks for the great work and explanations.
I have setup Debian 6 (and also Ubuntu 10.10) from scratch + latest updates, to build it. But installing the packages (xserver etc...) produces lots of errors with qemu such as:
unsupported system call 341
many packages failed to install
...
The worse case is with gnome, complete failure to apt-get update. With KDE, I succeeded using aptitude and removing some recommended packages. Still the final system is not working as on the video.
After hours of googling, I came to the conclusion that you guys must use some customized system that I couldn't reproduce. Would you care sharing what is your environment, packages installed and patches?
Thanks
any progress done?
hi everyone,
i'm dying to move away from android to debian. i was wondering was there any progress done? is there a project going on? did anyone fix the sound+bluetooth not working?
NICE !
Awesome Project :good: :good:
The only thing that makes me wonder ist... android should be a openSource project based on Linux.
But we have to struggle and "fight" to make linux run on it?!?!?!
Can you give us an update on what works and what not and if you or who continues this project, please?
The XOOM ist still one of the best tabletts on the market since it has UMTS build in.
I would love to see Debian etc. running on it and most of the functions (camera, GPS, USB, WLAN) working fine.....
....don't leave us hanging now
At least leave full infos on how you approached the task and where you left it, oki.
thx
...
illuminate7 said:
Awesome Project :good: :good:
The only thing that makes me wonder ist... android should be a openSource project based on Linux.
But we have to struggle and "fight" to make linux run on it?!?!?!
Can you give us an update on what works and what not and if you or who continues this project, please?
The XOOM ist still one of the best tabletts on the market since it has UMTS build in.
I would love to see Debian etc. running on it and most of the functions (camera, GPS, USB, WLAN) working fine.....
....don't leave us hanging now
At least leave full infos on how you approached the task and where you left it, oki.
thx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
The overall goal is to run debian or a linux distribution with LXDE on a Samgsung Galaxy Tab 4 (8", SM-T330NU).
I've been doing some research for a last week but if there are readers who can point out any obvious pitfalls, any constructive feedback will be greatly appreciated.
Please shout out if I'm straying off in a wrong direction or a time wasting dead-end.
Device:
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 4, 8", SM-T330NU.
- Android 4.4.2
- Build number: KOT49H.T330NUUEU1AND4
- SE for Android status: Enforcing
- Knox Enabled device
- Boot loader is locked?
- device has been rooted with CF-AutoRoot, automatic updates disabled.
------------------------------------------------
The story up to now:
Of all the interesting debian install options out there, I'm interested in Sven-Ola's Debian on Android Kit, which allows Debian and Android to run "side-by-side" without chroot.
http://sven-ola.dyndns.org/repo/debian-kit-en.html
-> various Debian on Android options can't install, installer scripts fail, likely due to SELinux status set to Enforcing by Default.
->
Code:
setenforce 0
does not work.
Apparently the stock kernel was compiled with flag
Code:
EXTRA_CFLAGS += -DCONFIG_ALWAYS_ENFORCE=true
which prevents changing the SELinux status.
-> Proceeded to build the kernel from source (http://opensource.samsung.com/) according to online documentation and turn off the flag for enforcing SELinux.
http://graemehill.ca/compiling-permissive-android-kernel/
-> Kernel build was successful. Outputs:
Code:
zImage
and module drivers as
Code:
*.ko
-> I needed to repackage the new kernel into a boot.img to flash to device via ODIN.
Utilities that I found included:
- bootimg_tools_7.8.13.zip from xda forum
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2319018
- abootimg (from linux repository)
https://gitorious.org/ac100/abootimg/source/7e127fee6a3981f6b0a50ce9910267cd501e09d4:
- mkbootimg scripts by xiaolu
https://github.com/xiaolu/mkbootimg_tools
- The tools create a
Code:
boot.img
which I've made into a tar and attempted to flash to device.
-> So far, the only BOOT file that successfully downloaded was the one from stock. Any customized ones don't download properly.
-> Customized boot.img attempts results in "
Code:
Cannot do normal boot
" or "
Code:
Unsupported dev_type
" errors on the tablet screen in download mode.
So far I have not bricked the device. In all cases, I was able to re-flash with the stock boot.img and the device still works.
-> after a week of research and trying out different attempts, could it possible that the bootloader is locked?
I see QUALCOMM SECUREBOOT Enabled.
Is it true that new Samsung devices with Android 4.4.2+ come with locked bootloaders?
http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-s4/788644-knox-security-locked-bootloader-new-firmwares.html
----------------------
For those who've read the long story. Thanks
Is the bootloader indeed locked? Is this a real dead-end?
Any suggestions?
I have returned to square-one and started debugging lines in the Debian for Android Kit Installer scripts.
I am able to make baby-steps, altering lines of code to get incrementally closer to a Debian installation, but it will be pointless if userspace programs on Debian don't work in the end.
Can anyone provide insight if Debian on Android is possible on Samgsung Galaxy Tab 4 ?
Thanks,
garrooo said:
The overall goal is to run debian or a linux distribution with LXDE on a Samgsung Galaxy Tab 4 (8", SM-T330NU).
I've been doing some research for a last week but if there are readers who can point out any obvious pitfalls, any constructive feedback will be greatly appreciated.
Please shout out if I'm straying off in a wrong direction or a time wasting dead-end.
Device:
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 4, 8", SM-T330NU.
- Android 4.4.2
- Build number: KOT49H.T330NUUEU1AND4
- SE for Android status: Enforcing
- Knox Enabled device
- Boot loader is locked?
- device has been rooted with CF-AutoRoot, automatic updates disabled.
------------------------------------------------
The story up to now:
Of all the interesting debian install options out there, I'm interested in Sven-Ola's Debian on Android Kit, which allows Debian and Android to run "side-by-side" without chroot.
http://sven-ola.dyndns.org/repo/debian-kit-en.html
-> various Debian on Android options can't install, installer scripts fail, likely due to SELinux status set to Enforcing by Default.
->
Code:
setenforce 0
does not work.
Apparently the stock kernel was compiled with flag
Code:
EXTRA_CFLAGS += -DCONFIG_ALWAYS_ENFORCE=true
which prevents changing the SELinux status.
-> Proceeded to build the kernel from source (http://opensource.samsung.com/) according to online documentation and turn off the flag for enforcing SELinux.
http://graemehill.ca/compiling-permissive-android-kernel/
-> Kernel build was successful. Outputs:
Code:
zImage
and module drivers as
Code:
*.ko
-> I needed to repackage the new kernel into a boot.img to flash to device via ODIN.
Utilities that I found included:
- bootimg_tools_7.8.13.zip from xda forum
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2319018
- abootimg (from linux repository)
https://gitorious.org/ac100/abootimg/source/7e127fee6a3981f6b0a50ce9910267cd501e09d4:
- mkbootimg scripts by xiaolu
https://github.com/xiaolu/mkbootimg_tools
- The tools create a
Code:
boot.img
which I've made into a tar and attempted to flash to device.
-> So far, the only BOOT file that successfully downloaded was the one from stock. Any customized ones don't download properly.
-> Customized boot.img attempts results in "
Code:
Cannot do normal boot
" or "
Code:
Unsupported dev_type
" errors on the tablet screen in download mode.
So far I have not bricked the device. In all cases, I was able to re-flash with the stock boot.img and the device still works.
-> after a week of research and trying out different attempts, could it possible that the bootloader is locked?
I see QUALCOMM SECUREBOOT Enabled.
Is it true that new Samsung devices with Android 4.4.2+ come with locked bootloaders?
http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-s4/788644-knox-security-locked-bootloader-new-firmwares.html
----------------------
For those who've read the long story. Thanks
Is the bootloader indeed locked? Is this a real dead-end?
Any suggestions?
I have returned to square-one and started debugging lines in the Debian for Android Kit Installer scripts.
I am able to make baby-steps, altering lines of code to get incrementally closer to a Debian installation, but it will be pointless if userspace programs on Debian don't work in the end.
Can anyone provide insight if Debian on Android is possible on Samgsung Galaxy Tab 4 ?
Thanks,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same device - Linux would be cool. What about Ubuntu? You should delete that Knox stuff??
Sent from my SM-T330NU using XDA Free mobile app
debian noroot offers some linux experience on Samsung Galaxy Tab 4
Thanks for your reply, rsktkr1,
I have installed the pelya's "debian no root" app in Google Play Store
It is not exactly what I am looking for, but it is one step closer.
From debugging the installation scripts of Debian on Android Kit, I've been executing the lines of the scripts in shell one by one. It is a good learning experience of learning linux commands. The line that fails is the busybox's "chroot" command, which is used to safely install the linux environment using "debootstrap". The command fails due to security constraints of SELinux=Enforcing.
That got me researching along the lines of chroot and fakechroot.
pelya's "debian no root" works using fakechroot, which doesn't need as many permissions and thus can be deployed on the T330NU with straight forward installation.
(an interesting video is hosted on the google play website as well)
Once the app is installed, it appears to be a Wheezy installation of Debian with a XFCE desktop. The app has some learning curve to it to make it easier to use (not many people have the patience for it, hence the 3.7 star rating at the time of writing).
If you use this app to get a running linux distribution on your Galaxy Tab 4, here are a few things to try:
- back button = onscreen keyboard.
- there are also onscreen buttons for special keys like Alt, Ctrl, etc
- use terminal and apt-get install <packages of your choice; (packages may be named slightly differently than Canonical's/ubuntu's repository)>
I personally got a text editor (leafpad) so that I can write into a text file and save in a known location than to write in Samsung's Memopad that saves to some unknown location on the device.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Plans to come:
- debian noroot is good but has some limitations that affect me: no audio support.
- fakechroot has a few things that aren't supported. I was unable to properly install openjdk and openjre as it still requires some high privileged backend features, unfortunately also blocked by SELinux=Enforcing.
Workarounds in mind:
- get a hold of another ARM-powered android device and unpackage debian by executing the "debootstrap" command on it, maybe onto an SDCard, then insert into my device.
- Cyanogenmods have been known to release custom mods even on top of locked bootloaders. I might wait for that, yet it might be a long while. Developers at Cyanogenmods must have lots of hurdles to overcome.
It's been fun looking at code for ARM processor (armel/armhf), though SELinux and locked devices are restrictive.
For now, I'm happy with running full Lubuntu Linux installation on x86 Acer Iconia.
Here is a tip: Use 'Complete Linux Installer'. It lets you run Debian, Ubuntu with LXDE. Everything works. Has everything you need and has instructions. It should work perfectly in the Tab 4 becuase last time I ran it, it was in my 1st Generation Kindle Fire and it has horrible specs compared to this tab, and it ran fine in the Fire with almost no hiccups
Sent from my SM-T230NU using XDA Free mobile app
hi all,
so , i've 4 old phones arm based uc :
htc wildfire, acer liquid e1 , thomson every40, and a ms lumia 640 ,
i would like to reuse them in a arm board project .
my goals are:
to set up one as "home nas" conneted in wifi to my providerbox and provide ssh(at least ) ,vpn and files server service.
And a second one set up as: a mobile hotspot (open wifi) where connected user can drop and drag files .
and add a webgui where I will able to turn the wifi card into a wifi repeater .
i don't need user interface (screen on the device) the goal is to turn on and get the system loaded and setuped
so guys , do you have some leads, advice or trick for load mini linux(openwrt or debian arm ) directly by the bootloader .
thx
I don't know about the Lumia, but you can easily run a Linux desktop distro on the Android phones. If you have experience with Linux, or just Google a bit, you can easily find tools that provide what you want. To get a desktop distro running, root the device. Then you can either chroot into a distro manually (plenty of guides on XDA for that), or use an app called Linux Deploy. Both methods will give you a complete, un-emulated distro. Both methods need booting into Android, but even such old phones should be able to handle a minimal Debian or Ubuntu ARM chroot pretty well. Just do not install a DE, do the initial set up over SSH. I don't think you can boot into something other than Android on those devices.
grip-it & rip-it
an even easier option (and better, imho) is to just download termux and yer set. You can download appropriate packages, dependencies, libs. etc... from inside the terminal. and that's all m8.
ch33rs