[MultiROM] [LINUX] [How-to] Rom installers for sdcard

xela92 · Jan 11, 2013

This is an (hopefully) updated collection of all roms (not android based, but other linux OS, like ubuntu, archlinux, fedora...) for nexus 7 (grouper and tilapia) available using the MultiROM system.
MultiROM is an amazing hack (I want to thank again its author, Tasssadar) that permits to boot different OS (multiboot) and different android roms. It starts between kernel and rom init, showing a sort of bootloader dialog to choose which system to boot.
It supports installing (and booting, of course) roms to USB drives.
To use MultiROM you need multirom installation zip , a modified TWRP recovery and kernels with kexec support. Relax, is not hard or long to do this.
More information and installation (of MultiROM, recovery and kernels) --> [ MULTIROM ]
PS: I need to specify I coded nothing, my only work was helping with issues, repacking roms, make them work. I want to say thank you to all devs are developing for Nexus 7, I'm doing this because I appreciate their work and I want MultiROM to rise. It deserves to.

HOW TO INSTALL A ROM.
Tasssadar provided also a zip template (see the [ WIKI ] for more info) that is incredibly easy to use.
To install a linux os to sdcard, you just need to download the zip and flash it like a normal update.zip.
It won't replace your internal rom, because it is going to install in /sdcard, not in /system or /data. And it WON'T wipe anything.
Remember that flashing ubuntu or android rom is DIFFERENT from flashing those zips. To flash ubuntu or another android rom you need to use MultiROM menu under ADVANCED voice in recovery (again, see wiki or multirom thread if you need more information).

ROM PACKS.
In the next post I'll share links for rom zips. If you have other zips or if you have built other zips, please share them. They will be (hopefully) added to the list. If not, please pm me. I can't read all posts.
If you want to share a zip, please try it first. I don't know if I'll be able to test everything real-time, and I don't want anyone to see his sdcard erased or strange things like this. MultiROM has a percent of risk, but nobody has lost his data till now. So please share zips consciously.

xela92 · Jan 11, 2013

ROM LIST (DOWNLOADS)
* [NEW] PLASMA ACTIVE 4.0 (20140121)
mirror: http://d-h.st/Khh
old version: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9ZvdqAbuJi2blQ0TDgweFFKTlU/edit
description: KDE for embedded devices. Very cool and interesting. 4.0 version is more stable, video codec is working as well. Little slow booting.
* BODHI LINUX 20130109
old version: INITIAL RELEASE
notes: old version passwd for root and armhf user is trustno1 (sorry for that, is my fault. In new release it is again bodhilinux)
description: Ubuntu with E17 (Enlightenment) with mobile GUI. Pretty stable and... veeery fast.
*ArchLinux 20130113-2
old version: -
description: ArchLinux. Simply. Not designed for basic users. Really powerfull, with already packed KDE, Gnome-shell, LXDE, XFCE, Enlightenment environments (and many others probably). Needs testing, and some love, as it's initial release.
*WebOS ALPHA
old version: http://www.mediafire.com/?3m58uuvysxiwypw
description: still in alpha stage, unstable. Interesting project. Needs love.

* [MANUAL INSTALL] Ubuntu Touch Tablet DEVELOPER PREVIEW
old version: -
description: developer preview, android-based, with the new Ubuntu Touch UI.

[NEW] Use MultiROM app to install the latest version in the easiest way

ROMS TO BE PACKED/MADE WORKING:
fedora4nexus7?

xela92 · Jan 11, 2013

PAY ATTENTION: NEW MULTIROM CHANGED THE ROM ZIP STRUCTURE!
NEW STRUCTURE HERE.
I GUESS YOU CAN USE OLD ZIPS, BUT I CAN'T TRY AND IT'S BETTER TO USE NEW METHOD (REPACK NEEDED)

STEPS TO CREATE A NEW ROM ZIP (EASY-WAY):
* first, download the template (reworked by me)
* then, unzip the template, put the root.tar.gz and rom_info.txt inside rom folder (if you don't know what I'm talking about, read again the wiki - link above)
* edit rom name inside of scripts/extract.sh script (it's the only thing you have to edit, unless you want it to do something else, but be careful in that case)
* select the 3 folders (META-INF, rom, scripts) and zip them in a zip called <DISTRONAME>-MultiROM-Installer-<VERSION>.zip (I think it's a good standard, if you don't like simply name it another way, but I reckon that using a standard would be a very good thing)
*when the zip is finished, upload your zip somewhere (I use google drive now, but I hope I'll have my storage sometime in the future) and share the link here. I will add it to the list.
If I don't, pm me.

[EDIT] new packing method for webos available https://github.com/Tasssadar/webos_multirom_packer [/EDIT]

xela92 · Jan 11, 2013

MORE INFORMATION.

PLASMA ACTIVE.
known bugs: https://wiki.merproject.org/wiki/Community_Workspace/Tegra3/Nexus7/PA_Known_Issues
username/password : mer/mer, root/mer
Interesting features : Plays 720p movies full screen with sound and 1080p full screen down scaled with sound.

BODHI LINUX.
known bugs: http://forums.bodhilinux.com/index.php?/forum/40-nexus-7/
username/password: armhf/bodhilinux
useful page (customization, add software, guides): http://wiki.bodhilinux.com/doku.php

ARCHLINUX.
armv7h images: http://os.archlinuxarm.org/os/ (see tegra directory)
username/password: arch/arch, root/root
useful link (bible): https://wiki.archlinux.org/
infos: needs an OTG keyboard or to use "sudo screen /dev/ttyACM0 115200" to connect via usb.
While you are connected you need to configure wifi. I use a script that simply uses iwconfig, wpa_supplicant.conf and dhcpcd to get a wifi connection.
The rest is up to you.
Enlightenment is preinstalled in build 20130113-2.

UBUNTU TOUCH.
infos: use MultiROM Manager app to install it.

GENERAL.

lintz said:
Recomended "fixes" after first install (Mer, Plasma ndr) :

Install custom keyboard (write this comands in terminal start with su and after the password for root by default mer)
1. zypper ar -G http://repo.pub.meego.com/home:/won...wonko:branches:Project:KDE:Trunk:Testing.repo
2. zypper up maliit-active libmaliit-quick
3. killall -9 maliit-server

Update the system (use su and root password first)
zypper ref && zypper up

Install GUI package manager (same here su and root password)
zypper in apper

Thanks to lintz for the suggestions.

xela92 · Jan 11, 2013

LATEST HOT NEWS.
-updated with latest Plasma version.
-updated with Ubuntu Touch
-updated with latest Plasma & WEBOS version (repacked for new MultiROM structure)
-updated with Ubuntu Touch Dev Preview
-updated OP with arch infos.

-Making zip for new BodhiLinux version, that now has correct passwd

Code:

bodhilinux

as it should be.

bonzer2u · Jan 11, 2013

xela92 said:
Making zip for new BodhiLinux version, that now has correct passwd

Code:

bodhilinux

as it should be.

thx xela, I'm still having trouble creating a zip with the template. perhaps you could post the steps you took to create the new bodhi release

xela92 · Jan 11, 2013

bonzer2u said:
thx xela, I'm still having trouble creating a zip with the template. perhaps you could post the steps you took to create the new bodhi release

Steps how-to done

Later (when upload ends) I'll share Bodhi new version installer link

killall · Jan 11, 2013

Nice thread. Can't wait to try some other distro's.

lintz · Jan 11, 2013

xela92 said:
ROM LIST (DOWNLOADS)
* PLASMA ACTIVE 20130109
old version: -
description: KDE for embedded devices. Very cool and interesting, but still an alpha.
* BODHI LINUX (uploading new version)
old version: INITIAL RELEASE
notes: old version passwd for root and armhf user is trustno1 (sorry for that, is my fault. In new release it is again bodhilinux)
description: Ubuntu with E17 (Enlightenment) with mobile GUI. Pretty stable and... veeery fast.

Needs more info.

Add following kategories
Plasma Active

Bugs : https://wiki.merproject.org/wiki/Community_Workspace/Tegra3/Nexus7/PA_Known_Issues

Username passwords : mer/mer, root/mer

Recomended "fixes" after first install :
Install custom keyboard (write this comands in terminal start with su and after the password for root by default mer)
1. zypper ar -G http://repo.pub.meego.com/home:/won...wonko:branches:Project:KDE:Trunk:Testing.repo
2. zypper up maliit-active libmaliit-quick
3. killall -9 maliit-server

Update the system (use su and root password first)
zypper ref && zypper up

Install GUI package manager (same here su and root password)
zypper in apper

Features : Plays 720p movies full screen with sound and 1080p full screen down scaled with sound.

Same thing for Bodhi. But I dont know the detales about it since I don't use it.

PS as it is now this thread feels as a start to a redundant thread to what is written in Tassadars first 3 posts in the MultiRom thread. Better if you focus on the current distros that don't have any "real" maintener here on xda.

xela92 · Jan 11, 2013

I will add those categories later

ganeshp · Jan 11, 2013

lintz said:
Needs more info.

Add following kategories
Plasma Active

Bugs : https://wiki.merproject.org/wiki/Community_Workspace/Tegra3/Nexus7/PA_Known_Issues

Username passwords : mer/mer, root/mer

Recomended "fixes" after first install :
Install custom keyboard (write this comands in terminal start with su and after the password for root by default mer)
1. zypper ar -G http://repo.pub.meego.com/home:/won...wonko:branches:Project:KDE:Trunk:Testing.repo
2. zypper up maliit-active libmaliit-quick
3. killall -9 maliit-server

Update the system (use su and root password first)
zypper ref && zypper up

Install GUI package manager (same here su and root password)
zypper in apper

Features : Plays 720p movies full screen with sound and 1080p full screen down scaled with sound.

Same thing for Bodhi. But I dont know the detales about it since I don't use it.

PS as it is now this thread feels as a start to a redundant thread to what is written in Tassadars first 3 posts in the MultiRom thread. Better if you focus on the current distros that don't have any "real" maintener here on xda.

thanks
this solved my onscreen keyboard problem (not working over browser) ... now only gui glitches was left

(multitasking bar )

bonzer2u · Jan 11, 2013

xela92 said:
STEPS TO CREATE A NEW ROM ZIP (EASY-WAY):
* first, download the template (reworked by me)
* then, unzip the template, put the root.tar.gz and rom_info.txt inside rom folder (if you don't know what I'm talking about, read again the wiki - link above)
* edit rom name inside of scripts/extract.sh script (it's the only thing you have to edit, unless you want it to do something else, but be careful in that case)
* select the 3 folders (META-INF, rom, scripts) and zip them in a zip called <DISTRONAME>-MultiROM-Installer-<VERSION>.zip (I think it's a good standard, if you don't like simply name it another way, but I reckon that using a standard would be a very good thing)
*when the zip is finished, upload your zip somewhere (I use google drive now, but I hope I'll have my storage sometime in the future) and share the link here. I will add it to the list.
If I don't, pm me.

Hi xela,

I understand the process except for creating the 'root.tar.gz' file from a compressed image (.img or .raw) file. Do you need to extract the image file to the /root folder and then recompress with a command similar to:

sudo tar --numeric-owner -zpcf root.tar.gz ./*

D-m-x · Jan 11, 2013

Nice Topic, i've tried your first Bodhi Zip and it seems very fast and stable to me. A few bugs, but nothing major.
I'm waiting for the new Version to finish uploading

xela92 · Jan 11, 2013

bonzer2u said:
Hi xela,

I understand the process except for creating the 'root.tar.gz' file from a compressed image (.img or .raw) file. Do you need to extract the image file to the /root folder and then recompress with a command similar to:

sudo tar --numeric-owner -zpcf root.tar.gz ./*

I couldn't find out how to mount those IMG files. I thought they were ext4 fs but they aren't. I tried to use dd to flash them on a drive but failure again. So to extract rootfs I install them with standard procedure (Ubuntu) and the repack roofs to tar.gz. It could be useful to find out how to directly extract rootfs, because it's the same method used by Ubuntu. With the difference that Ubuntu uses zsync to permit fast upgrade...!

bonzer2u · Jan 11, 2013

xela92 said:
I couldn't find out how to mount those IMG files. I thought they were ext4 fs but they aren't. I tried to use dd to flash them on a drive but failure again. So to extract rootfs I install them with standard procedure (Ubuntu) and the repack roofs to tar.gz. It could be useful to find out how to directly extract rootfs, because it's the same method used by Ubuntu. With the difference that Ubuntu uses zsync to permit fast upgrade...!

I could never get it mounted as well.... Is this why your having a delay in uploading the new bodhi release?

Rafase282 · Jan 11, 2013

bonzer2u said:
Hi xela,

I understand the process except for creating the 'root.tar.gz' file from a compressed image (.img or .raw) file. Do you need to extract the image file to the /root folder and then recompress with a command similar to:

sudo tar --numeric-owner -zpcf root.tar.gz ./*

If you can get the files from the .img files, you really dont need the zip to install it, just creat a dir with the name for the OS, then inside create a dir called root, then inside extract the .img

For the rom_info.txt file, just make the changes needed and put them on the same dir that ../root is and restart and you should be able to boot form it.

bonzer2u · Jan 11, 2013

Rafase282 said:
If you can get the files from the .img files, you really dont need the zip to install it, just creat a dir with the name for the OS, then inside create a dir called root, then inside extract the .img

For the rom_info.txt file, just make the changes needed and put them on the same dir that ../root is and restart and you should be able to boot form it.

Unfortunately we have been unable to mount/extract anything from the image although it appears it may install via the multirom/ubuntu method

xela92 · Jan 11, 2013

bonzer2u said:
I could never get it mounted as well.... Is this why your having a delay in uploading the new bodhi release?

I'm not at home right know, but in 30 minutes I'll post it

xela92 · Jan 11, 2013

shared the latest bodhi linux version

get the link in OP

xela92 · Jan 11, 2013

bonzer2u said:
Unfortunately we have been unable to mount/extract anything from the image although it appears it may install via the multirom/ubuntu method

I think zip solution is the best and most "standard". When I make a zip I know it will work, because it's the final, multiROM surely compatible, version. And I can test it immediately, fix it, reflash, and try without messing the world up. I think update zips are the most user-friendly way too. But that's only MHO.

[MultiROM] [LINUX] [How-to] Rom installers for sdcard

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