[DEV] Tutorial for installing ubuntu on Iconia

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rkaszala

Member
Mar 16, 2008
23
1
yea his used 2.36.29 kernel i am using 2.38.3 Chromeos Kernel , i have the ifup wlan0 showing its up i just get no network found scanning.

I can post my iwconfig and ifconfig wlan0. I tried using wicd to mange the wireless. are you using what to manage yours?

touchscreen works out of box.
 

rkaszala

Member
Mar 16, 2008
23
1
whats the wifi manager? help about what is it i have to manually add it to my minimal image :p

hmm i think my wifi is on just the wicd cant manage it. I get tx and rx on the output below.
_______________________________________________
i have wicd installed, i will try unstalling it,

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ lshw -c Network
*-network:0
description: Ethernet interface
physical id: 1
logical name: dummy0
serial: 0a:2a:7d:37:09:a5
capabilities: ethernet physical
configuration: broadcast=yes
*-network:1 DISABLED
description: Ethernet interface
physical id: 2
logical name: usb0
serial: 0e:3b:4e:2d:1a:93
capabilities: ethernet physical
configuration: broadcast=yes driver=g_ether driverversion=29-May-2008 firmware=fsl-tegra-udc multicast=yes
*-network:2
description: Wireless interface
physical id: 3
logical name: wlan0
serial: e0:b9:a5:50:7d:b1
capabilities: ethernet physical wireless
configuration: broadcast=yes driver=brcmfmac driverversion=0 firmware=brcm/bcm4329-fullmac-4.bin multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11abg
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo iwconfig
[sudo] password for ubuntu:
lo no wireless extensions.

dummy0 no wireless extensions.

usb0 no wireless extensions.

sit0 no wireless extensions.

ip6tnl0 no wireless extensions.

wlan0 IEEE 802.11abg ESSID:eek:ff/any
Mode:Managed Access Point: Not-Associated Tx-Power=1496 dBm
Retry long limit:7 RTS thr:eek:ff Fragment thr:eek:ff
Encryption key:eek:ff
Power Management:eek:ff

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo ifup wlan0
ifup: interface wlan0 already configured
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo ifconfig wlan0
wlan0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr e0:b9:a5:50:7d:b1
inet6 addr: fe80::e2b9:a5ff:fe50:7db1/64 Scope:Link
UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:60 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:219 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:3480 (3.4 KB) TX bytes:74190 (74.1 KB)

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

------------------------------------------
Whats in your /etc/network/interfaces ?
 
Last edited:

sirzen

Member
Jul 23, 2011
18
14
santa clara
I'm sorry but I just formatted my sdcard. Will tell you after I reinstalled the system. Perhaps this night I'll post it here.

In a word, after I patched the bcm4329-fullmac-4.bin and bcm4329-fullmac-4.txt, it works just in the system tray.

I see ur configuration and the interface is up but u need to manage it somehow.
 

sirzen

Member
Jul 23, 2011
18
14
santa clara
Version 0.2: More details - Part 1

I mainly explained the procedure not included in the links I referenced. So please reference to original post as I don't want to put duplicate code stuff here. If u feel confused pls mail me or original author.

Tools to prepare:
1. Ubuntu OS on PC with adb tool. See google's website about adb tools and how to use it.
2. A >=4GB microSD card and make sure iconia can identify it.
3. USB keyboard and USB mouse
4. rooted iconia with acer recovery installer, busybox, terminal emulator.
5. Perhaps more that I didn't listed

Files to download:
1. rootfs: http://www.dmmhosting.co.uk/tegra-rootfs.tar from Digitaldaz;
2. precompiled header: http://www.mediafire.com/?ucvk6x66129igzc from sp3dev;
3. itsmagic: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1121543&highlight=itsmagic from sc2k;
4. source code: https://github.com/astarasikov/iconia-gnu-kernel from sp3dev;
5. Perhaps more that I didn't listed

Procedure to install ubuntu:
1.0 Boot into ubuntu on your own desktop/laptop. Insert the microsd card into it. Identify the device name for the sdcard you have just inserted. Usually it would be 'sdb' if u have one hard disk. Make sure no partition of the sdcard is mounted on i.e. Eject the sdcard partition(s) in your file browser.
1.1 'sudo fdisk sdb'. If you get different device name on step 1, please use 'sudo fdisk [Your device name]'. after it enters fdisk, use 'd', choose a partition number, and delete all partitions.
1.2 Use 'n' to set up two new partitions: choose 'p' to set up primary partitions. First one: Partition number 1, First cylinder 1, last cylinder is (Total Cylinder Number)*(Partition Size)/(Card size). If u want Partition size to be 1GB, just calculate the Last cylinder number. Recommended minimum size for the first partition is 1GB.
1.3 Use 'n' again to set up another partition. For this partition, recommended minimum size is 3GB.
1.4 After u have set ur partition, use 'p' to print partition table. Make sure they're correct, Use 'w' to write them into disk. You should not get trouble in writing partiton info to disk.
1.5 Now in /dev you can see two more devices: sdb1 and sdb2. sdb1 should be the partition whose minimum size is 1GB, used as sdcard data partition for furtuer use; sdb2 use mkfs.vfat sdb1 to create fat32 filesystem on sdb1.
1.6 Make two directory in /media/, namely /media/vfat/ and /media/ext4/. Use 'mount /dev/sdb1 /media/vfat' and 'mount /dev/sdb2 /media/ext4' to mount the two partitions u have just created. Make sure you could create files under /media/ext4 and /media/vfat i.e. ubuntu could access the two partitions.
Now you have finished setting up filesystems and make ubuntu recognize them.
1.7 Use 'umount /media/vfat' and 'umount /media/ext4' to unmount partitions and insert sdcard into iconia. Use terminal emulator to see if you have '/dev/block/mmcblk1p1' and '/dev/block/mmcblk1p2'.

2.0 Back up all data using itsmagic: use the link above and use the automatic method. Seems the bat file only runs at windows. This would take a while so just let it go. it's not dead!
2.1 use adb tool to push itsmagic into /data/local/itsmagic, and change the itsmagic file property to 755: use adb shell and cd to /data/local: use 'chmod 755 itsmagic'.

3.0 use tools here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1126364 to flash the newrec.img file onto the /dev/block/mmcblk0p1, and use itsmagic to recalculate checksum.
3.1 on adb shell or terminal emulator, 'cp /system/etc/nvram.txt /mnt/external_sd/bcm4329-fullmac-4.txt'

4.0 Now get the microsd card back to your computer. We're now ready to copy ubuntu filesystem to microsd.
4.1 cd into the downloaded tarball 'tegra-rootfs.tar'. Get to know where the >3GB ext4 filesystem is mounted on your system. use 'sudo cp tegra-rootfs.tar /media/[YOUR DISK NAME]/'. cd to the latter folder. 'sudo tar -zxf tegra-rootfs.tar .' to unzip it here.
4.2 in the same directory, 'sudo gedit etc/fstab' (Pay attention not 'sudo gedit /etc/fstab'!!!), add one line after the first #-started line:
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
4.3 insert sdcard back to iconia
4.4 turn off iconia and restart, holding vol down key and power key to power up
4.5 and now, after bundles of command lines, you'd probably see ubuntu's desktop in one or two minutes!!!
 

vovams

Member
Aug 7, 2011
13
21
Hi. I want to try to install ubuntu on my tablet, but unfortunately i have got no microsd card and do not want to buy one, because i have my internal storage almost empty. So i have three questions:

First: Will ubuntu be able to see and mount android's internal storage partitions at all?

Second: Ok, as we can not repartition internal store, here is my idea: install ubuntu to mmcblk0p8 (/data) along with android's files. To avoid conflicts i will create a directory /data/android_data and move all android's file to it. Than i can edit the android's init scripts to make them mount mmcblk0p8 to /mnt/mmcblk0p8 instead of /data and than use "mount --bind /mnt/mmcblk0p8/android_data /data" for android's data. I am very new to it, so i am not sure whether it will work. Am i missing something?

Third: How can i change the root device for ubuntu? As i understand, mmcblk1p2 is hardcoded in newrec.img. How can i change it? I have tried to unpack it with tools from here, but that did not work.
 

sirzen

Member
Jul 23, 2011
18
14
santa clara
First: Will ubuntu be able to see and mount android's internal storage partitions at all?

No. Mine cannot detect the android fs. Only see partitions on my sdcard.

Second: Ok, as we can not repartition internal store, here is my idea: install ubuntu to mmcblk0p8 (/data) along with android's files. To avoid conflicts i will create a directory /data/android_data and move all android's file to it. Than i can edit the android's init scripts to make them mount mmcblk0p8 to /mnt/mmcblk0p8 instead of /data and than use "mount --bind /mnt/mmcblk0p8/android_data /data" for android's data. I am very new to it, so i am not sure whether it will work. Am i missing something?

I even don't have idea about android's boot conf and structure so I don't know the answer.

Third: How can i change the root device for ubuntu? As i understand, mmcblk1p2 is hardcoded in newrec.img. How can i change it? I have tried to unpack it with tools from here, but that did not work.

You need to ask sp3dev for this question, as newrec.img is generated by him and it's his idea to hardcode like this.

Generally, sorry for your questions as I'm also a newbie in learning how to make things work.
 

Tautvaldas

Senior Member
Jan 4, 2011
141
12
For those who want a tutorial, here's my experience in installing the system:

(PS: FOR those who want a really simple command-by-command tutorial, please see #26 post. That's part 1 of the tutorial on how to boot ubuntu up without wireless. If you need wireless working and want a command-by-command tutorial on that, just reply and I'll make it. )
I mainly referred to sp3dev's thread: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1158260

I've make ubuntu run on my iconia, but I cannot let bluetooth run so you'd better have a usb keyboard and (if you could find the trick to use the touch screen, no need of) a usb mouse.

Tools to prepare:
1. Ubuntu OS on PC with adb tool.
2. A >=4GB microSD card and make sure iconia can identify it.
3. USB keyboard and USB mouse
4. rooted iconia with acer recovery installer, busybox, terminal emulator.
5. Perhaps more that I didn't listed

Files to download:
1. rootfs: http://www.dmmhosting.co.uk/tegra-rootfs.tar from Digitaldaz;
2. precompiled header: http://www.mediafire.com/?ucvk6x66129igzc from sp3dev;
3. itsmagic: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1121543&highlight=itsmagic from sc2k;
4. source code: https://github.com/astarasikov/iconia-gnu-kernel from sp3dev;
5. Perhaps more that I didn't listed

Procedure to install ubuntu:
1. Use your computer to format your microSD card into two partitions: one is in FAT32, to be used as normal external storage. Suggested minimum size is 1GB, to store backup file in step 2. The other is ext4, to store root filesystem of ubuntu. Suggested minimum size is 3GB. Tools: fdisk, mkfs.vfat, mkfs.ext4. Using sudo when making filesystem. Refer to rkaszala's post for further information: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1158260&highlight=itsmagic&page=12
(Comment: I use computer to format while he/she uses iconia to format.)
Make sure the formatted sdcard can be recognized by iconia as /dev/block/mmcblk1p1 and /dev/block/mmcblk1p2 .

2. Backup all data using itsmagic link above. Be familiar with usage of itsmagic, esp. use it to recalculate the checksum.

3. use tools here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1126364 to flash the newrec.img file onto the /dev/block/mmcblk0p1, and use itsmagic to recalculate checksum.

3.1. on android system, use terminal emulator to copy /system/etc/nvram.txt out as bcm4329-fullmac-4.txt .

4. USING SUDO to unzip the rootfs tarball referred in Files:1 into the ext4 fs mentioned in step 1. If you do not use sudo, some device nodes will not be able to be created.

5. SUDO EDIT the etc/fstab IN YOUR UNZIPPED ROOT FILESYSTEM NOT IN YOUR OWN UBUNTU SYSTEM to one line:
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0

6. compile source code using instructions by sp3dev here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1158260&highlight=itsmagic&page=9 in the middle part of the page.

7. copy the compiled bcm4329-fullmac-4.bin firmware (should be at lib/firmware/brcm/) to sdcard's root filesystem's location: /lib/firmware/brcm/ folder and copy the previous bcm4329-fullmac-4.txt here.

8. copy the compiled modules into sdcard's root filesystem's /lib/modules/ (I forget the name of the folder so be sure to name it correctly. )

9. insert the sdcard into iconia and reboot with wolume down key pressed (the way to boot into recovery img.)

and now, you should have reached what I have reached.

If you failed on some step please tell me. All I summarized is what I have done, so please refer to their original post for more information.

Can you make command-by-command tutorial how to boot ubuntu with wireless? sorry for english
 

rkaszala

Member
Mar 16, 2008
23
1
itworks.png


My Recovery Image 2.38.3

http://www.4shared.com/file/JpqANhiV/recovery.html

I think i tared my rootfs with wifi working.

http://www.4shared.com/file/O1fDCUyC/armbackuptar.html
 
Last edited:

laiho03

Member
Dec 21, 2007
17
3
before i try this i want to ask is this like a duel boot of android and ubuntu so you can go back to android just by turning on without holding the vol down?

If not how would i go back to android...
 

jm_rave

Member
Sep 8, 2010
37
6
Porto
Hi, I have searching for Linux install in Iconia A500 but I'm looking for kubuntu.
Do you think same process works?
Thanks,
 

duloz

Senior Member
Apr 4, 2010
144
39
Pittsburgh
great work

Now if only I had the patience to go through the whole process. I'd love to see someone come out with disk images that could be flashed to an SD card for those of us who are impatient, but then I don't think Linux is necessarily a good OS for impatient people. :p
 

matcatsc

Member
Aug 30, 2008
31
3
It would be nice if someone made an SD Card image and a simple script or app to prepare the tablet itself, make it real easy to setup ;)
 

nycbjr

Senior Member
Oct 10, 2006
622
1,016
New York
I've been messing around with this on and off for 2 weeks, I was closing in on a decent lubuntu 11.04 (ubuntu with LXDE), but was having allot of misc issues with networking, etc, but I feel I had made allot of progress in learning how to use rootstock, the switches, which is good for longer term projects.

I think Im going to mess with the posters tar (a few post earlier), what did you use as your base? 11.04 or 10.10?

Hoping for 11.04 as it seemed to have much much better touch screen support, but I could be dreaming that lol
 

nycbjr

Senior Member
Oct 10, 2006
622
1,016
New York
Never mind, that tar is missing allot of files,. back to the drawing board (again) what I don't get is why rootstock doesn't ever seem to listen to my switch to install ubuntu-desktop, it always just insatls minimal, then I have to go chroot, and install ubuntu-desktop or lubuntu-desktop or whatever so I never get the right packages for everything..

grrr
 

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  • 12
    For those who want a tutorial, here's my experience in installing the system:

    (PS: FOR those who want a really simple command-by-command tutorial, please see #26 post. That's part 1 of the tutorial on how to boot ubuntu up without wireless. If you need wireless working and want a command-by-command tutorial on that, just reply and I'll make it. )
    I mainly referred to sp3dev's thread: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1158260

    I've make ubuntu run on my iconia, but I cannot let bluetooth run so you'd better have a usb keyboard and (if you could find the trick to use the touch screen, no need of) a usb mouse.

    Tools to prepare:
    1. Ubuntu OS on PC with adb tool.
    2. A >=4GB microSD card and make sure iconia can identify it.
    3. USB keyboard and USB mouse
    4. rooted iconia with acer recovery installer, busybox, terminal emulator.
    5. Perhaps more that I didn't listed

    Files to download:
    1. rootfs: http://www.dmmhosting.co.uk/tegra-rootfs.tar from Digitaldaz;
    2. precompiled header: http://www.mediafire.com/?ucvk6x66129igzc from sp3dev;
    3. itsmagic: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1121543&highlight=itsmagic from sc2k;
    4. source code: https://github.com/astarasikov/iconia-gnu-kernel from sp3dev;
    5. Perhaps more that I didn't listed

    Procedure to install ubuntu:
    1. Use your computer to format your microSD card into two partitions: one is in FAT32, to be used as normal external storage. Suggested minimum size is 1GB, to store backup file in step 2. The other is ext4, to store root filesystem of ubuntu. Suggested minimum size is 3GB. Tools: fdisk, mkfs.vfat, mkfs.ext4. Using sudo when making filesystem. Refer to rkaszala's post for further information: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1158260&highlight=itsmagic&page=12
    (Comment: I use computer to format while he/she uses iconia to format.)
    Make sure the formatted sdcard can be recognized by iconia as /dev/block/mmcblk1p1 and /dev/block/mmcblk1p2 .

    2. Backup all data using itsmagic link above. Be familiar with usage of itsmagic, esp. use it to recalculate the checksum.

    3. use tools here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1126364 to flash the newrec.img file onto the /dev/block/mmcblk0p1, and use itsmagic to recalculate checksum.

    3.1. on android system, use terminal emulator to copy /system/etc/nvram.txt out as bcm4329-fullmac-4.txt .

    4. USING SUDO to unzip the rootfs tarball referred in Files:1 into the ext4 fs mentioned in step 1. If you do not use sudo, some device nodes will not be able to be created.

    5. SUDO EDIT the etc/fstab IN YOUR UNZIPPED ROOT FILESYSTEM NOT IN YOUR OWN UBUNTU SYSTEM to one line:
    proc /proc proc defaults 0 0

    6. compile source code using instructions by sp3dev here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1158260&highlight=itsmagic&page=9 in the middle part of the page.

    7. copy the compiled bcm4329-fullmac-4.bin firmware (should be at lib/firmware/brcm/) to sdcard's root filesystem's location: /lib/firmware/brcm/ folder and copy the previous bcm4329-fullmac-4.txt here.

    8. copy the compiled modules into sdcard's root filesystem's /lib/modules/ (I forget the name of the folder so be sure to name it correctly. )

    9. insert the sdcard into iconia and reboot with wolume down key pressed (the way to boot into recovery img.)

    and now, you should have reached what I have reached.

    If you failed on some step please tell me. All I summarized is what I have done, so please refer to their original post for more information.
    3
    Guys, please take this to PM. Thanks.

    Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

    Sorry, my bad. Now, back on topic. Would you care for me to write up a script to do all of the installation work?
    2
    Version 0.2: More details - Part 1

    I mainly explained the procedure not included in the links I referenced. So please reference to original post as I don't want to put duplicate code stuff here. If u feel confused pls mail me or original author.

    Tools to prepare:
    1. Ubuntu OS on PC with adb tool. See google's website about adb tools and how to use it.
    2. A >=4GB microSD card and make sure iconia can identify it.
    3. USB keyboard and USB mouse
    4. rooted iconia with acer recovery installer, busybox, terminal emulator.
    5. Perhaps more that I didn't listed

    Files to download:
    1. rootfs: http://www.dmmhosting.co.uk/tegra-rootfs.tar from Digitaldaz;
    2. precompiled header: http://www.mediafire.com/?ucvk6x66129igzc from sp3dev;
    3. itsmagic: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1121543&highlight=itsmagic from sc2k;
    4. source code: https://github.com/astarasikov/iconia-gnu-kernel from sp3dev;
    5. Perhaps more that I didn't listed

    Procedure to install ubuntu:
    1.0 Boot into ubuntu on your own desktop/laptop. Insert the microsd card into it. Identify the device name for the sdcard you have just inserted. Usually it would be 'sdb' if u have one hard disk. Make sure no partition of the sdcard is mounted on i.e. Eject the sdcard partition(s) in your file browser.
    1.1 'sudo fdisk sdb'. If you get different device name on step 1, please use 'sudo fdisk [Your device name]'. after it enters fdisk, use 'd', choose a partition number, and delete all partitions.
    1.2 Use 'n' to set up two new partitions: choose 'p' to set up primary partitions. First one: Partition number 1, First cylinder 1, last cylinder is (Total Cylinder Number)*(Partition Size)/(Card size). If u want Partition size to be 1GB, just calculate the Last cylinder number. Recommended minimum size for the first partition is 1GB.
    1.3 Use 'n' again to set up another partition. For this partition, recommended minimum size is 3GB.
    1.4 After u have set ur partition, use 'p' to print partition table. Make sure they're correct, Use 'w' to write them into disk. You should not get trouble in writing partiton info to disk.
    1.5 Now in /dev you can see two more devices: sdb1 and sdb2. sdb1 should be the partition whose minimum size is 1GB, used as sdcard data partition for furtuer use; sdb2 use mkfs.vfat sdb1 to create fat32 filesystem on sdb1.
    1.6 Make two directory in /media/, namely /media/vfat/ and /media/ext4/. Use 'mount /dev/sdb1 /media/vfat' and 'mount /dev/sdb2 /media/ext4' to mount the two partitions u have just created. Make sure you could create files under /media/ext4 and /media/vfat i.e. ubuntu could access the two partitions.
    Now you have finished setting up filesystems and make ubuntu recognize them.
    1.7 Use 'umount /media/vfat' and 'umount /media/ext4' to unmount partitions and insert sdcard into iconia. Use terminal emulator to see if you have '/dev/block/mmcblk1p1' and '/dev/block/mmcblk1p2'.

    2.0 Back up all data using itsmagic: use the link above and use the automatic method. Seems the bat file only runs at windows. This would take a while so just let it go. it's not dead!
    2.1 use adb tool to push itsmagic into /data/local/itsmagic, and change the itsmagic file property to 755: use adb shell and cd to /data/local: use 'chmod 755 itsmagic'.

    3.0 use tools here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1126364 to flash the newrec.img file onto the /dev/block/mmcblk0p1, and use itsmagic to recalculate checksum.
    3.1 on adb shell or terminal emulator, 'cp /system/etc/nvram.txt /mnt/external_sd/bcm4329-fullmac-4.txt'

    4.0 Now get the microsd card back to your computer. We're now ready to copy ubuntu filesystem to microsd.
    4.1 cd into the downloaded tarball 'tegra-rootfs.tar'. Get to know where the >3GB ext4 filesystem is mounted on your system. use 'sudo cp tegra-rootfs.tar /media/[YOUR DISK NAME]/'. cd to the latter folder. 'sudo tar -zxf tegra-rootfs.tar .' to unzip it here.
    4.2 in the same directory, 'sudo gedit etc/fstab' (Pay attention not 'sudo gedit /etc/fstab'!!!), add one line after the first #-started line:
    proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
    4.3 insert sdcard back to iconia
    4.4 turn off iconia and restart, holding vol down key and power key to power up
    4.5 and now, after bundles of command lines, you'd probably see ubuntu's desktop in one or two minutes!!!
    2
    We would all WORSHIP you like a god. Especially me :).

    Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

    Working on it now. Expect an alpha-level script by this weekend. I'm not too fond of the ubuntu rootfs supplied, so I'm getting one with 12.04 to run smoothly, etc.
    1
    you need download this http://www.mediafire.com/?ycq1ro22vrwks6z then unzthen tryip in your home directory in iconia ubuntu then open terminal and type:
    $ sudo -i
    ~# mkdir /lib/firmware/brcm
    ~# cp /home/your directory/brcm/bcm4329... all 4 files /lib/firmware/brcm


    if your dont understand this i will make some video later. And dont forget your screen lock on your iconia it should be turn on. sorry for bad english

    I did everything you posted but still no internet

    Then try type in terminal this:
    $ cd /lib/firmware/brcm
    $ ls
    You should see your 4 bcm... files.
    If you have them then type this:
    $ sudo rfkill unblock wifi
    Then you should have wifi.