Kernel Packaging and Boot.img creation

Okay, so I have created and modified my own kernel name BionicSheep and have done couple releases (check my signature for link). My main question is how do I create a flashable zip with a boot.img I have asked a few people and they told me to use the kernel kitchen or google, but this is the only problem I haven't been able to solve after googling daily for the past 4 days. I figured I would ask here.

The reason I would like a boot.img is because I know in order to modify the kernelsplash with my own logo, I need to be able to unpack the bootimage to get the ramdisk and modify an rle file. The problem is I have no idea how to first make this bootimage. I understand to make the bootimage you need a the zImage (kernel binary) and the ramdisk. I have the zImage but I don't know how to make/get a ramdisk.

Currently I have been using this described method of packing my kernel into a flashable zip. I am pretty sure it just packs my modules and zImage into koush's AnyKernel. Thanks for any help, I need it.

Also try my kernel out and leave feedback if you are so inclined! It really is appreciated

zamcum said:

In linux:
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1477845

In windows:
http://technopyrate.blogspot.pt/2013/04/how-to-edit-android-bootimg-in-windows.html

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This is helpful for unpacking modifying and repacking, but I dont have a boot.img to unpack. Like I said, all I have is a zImage, i have no clue how to get a ramdisk. Can I just use one from another kernel or will that cause conflicts? Thanks for the help

CNexus said:

That's not necessary. You can make it so that your zImage replaces the zImage inside the boot.img and the initlogo.rle at the same time.

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Which step is not necessary? My biggest problem here was I didn't know i could take any old boot.img to make mine

zamcum said:

You can have it, in a stock rom:
Download a stock rom for your phone, open .tar.md5 file with winrar, extract boot.img and unpack it.

Inside you have, ramdisdk and zimage, with another name (boot.img-kernel)

rename your zimage, to boot.img-kernel, edit ramdisk if you want
repalce original boot.img-kernel with yours
and repack
Rename boot-new.img to boot.img

Enjoy


EDIT: To make a flashable Odin file, in Linux:

tar -H ustar -c boot.img > YOURKERNEL.tar
md5sum -t YOURKERNEL.tar >> YOURKERNEL.tar
mv YOURKERNEL.tar YOURKERNEL.tar.md5

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hahaha so I think that worked, I have a bootimage with my kernel!! hurrah, now how do I turn it into a flashable zip? Last question I promise

zamcum said:

the easiest way, is to download a custom kernel for your phone, open the zip with winrar and replace the bott.img by your boot.img

It is important that the exact custom kernel of your phone, so that, there are no incompatibilities in the installation script

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Hmmm, I tried this and it didn't boot. :/ then I booted to recovery restarted, and then it booted with my boot splash (yay) went to apps updating and then just got stuck at starting apps. I couldn't get it to fully boot :/

Any ideas whats up

EDIT: I can't thank you since I only get 8 per day, sorry I do appreciate it though

Problem solved, figured I would post a solution:

here are the tools: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/106865720/bootimg_tools.zip

extract them into any old folder. You also need to have perl installed (just google it)

1. You need to take your built boot.img (from a rom running your kernel successfully) and drag it into the folder.
2. Open up terminal and navigate to the directory with the tools and boot.img
3. First you need to split the boot image into its 2 parts (the ramdisk and the kernel zImage)
The "boot.img" part is just the name of your boot.img (I am assuming yours is called boot.img but you can change it as needed)
4. Okay what should have happened is the boot.img should have split into a 'boot.img-ramdisk.gz' and a 'boot.img-kernel' file. The first is a specially compressed ramdisk and the second is the zImage for the kernel
5. Now you need to unpack the ramdisk so that you can modify it. BE CAREFUL AND MODIFY ONLY IF NEEDED Use this code:
the "boot-img-ramdisk.gz" is the name of the ramdisk, you can change this as needed but it should be named that by default
6.Okay so what should have happened is a folder ramdisk was created (this is the unpacked ramdisk which you need).
7.Okay go back to your directory and delete your boot.img, boot.img-kernel and boot.img-ramdisk.gz files (you no longer need them)
8. Now you need to repack the ramdisk folder you modified so you can rebuild the boot.img use the following:
9. This will take the 'ramdisk' folder and pack it and name it 'boot.img-ramdisk.cpio.gz'
11. Find your built zImage for your compiled kernel and copy it into this folder with the tools. Rename it as "boot.img-kernel"
10. Sweet now you need to pack the new ramdisk file and your kernel you just stuck in into a new boot.img (this part took me forever to figure out)
11. Here is the code to rebuild
12. This should create a file named boot.img in the directory that will have your kernel and modified ramdisk (whoo)

Any further help can be directed to this thread or PMing me!

mukulsoni said:

While executing above code I am getting : -bash: mkbootimg: command not found. Whether the mkbootimg file is exist there,
could you please help

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Are you doing this is the same directory as the mkbootimg file? Otherwise you have to path it

Hmmm perhaps a bad download?

mukulsoni said:

but unpacking is fine, My downloaded zip file is in 66.4 Kb size. any way could you please try to compile the attached HP.zip into boot.img in your system. TIA

Edit: sorry downloaded file size is 290kb. please send me the final compiled boot.img file. Thanks so much

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What version of linux are you running? Ubuntu? what version number, and is it 32-bit or 64-bit

EDIT: try install 32bit packages "sudo apt-get install ia32-libs"

mukulsoni said:

I am running these scripts on window7 using Cygwin64. I guess these script should run on window 7 64 bit too.... please guide

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I have no clue how to fix that. Mkbootimg is for 32 bit instruction so you need the appropriate libraries. No clue how to do that in windows