[DEV][WIP] xubuntu on tf300tg 0.1.2 (updated 130408)

*** ABOUT ***

This is an attempt to build a completely clean installation of xubuntu for the tf300tg (and probably tf300t). Most notably it does not reuse the ac100 ubuntu package.

I also want it to be as completely documented as possible starting from an official ubuntu repository and kernel source, until everything is working. Which does not mean it is for a complete beginner to reproduce...

It's not (yet) packaged : you at least need to be able to install a blob for the kernel, and a rootfs to a dedicated partition.

It's also not yet as cleaned up and documented as I would for the kernel side of things.

Everything is done on device on (and for) a tf300tg but as been reported to work on tf300t.

Most of the hard work was done by others. I mostly started from rabit's tf700 ubuntu, and added some insight from cb22 work on arch to get something working.

*** STATUS ***

What works :
- it boots into a clean xubuntu dm/desktop, with wifi (improved), 3g
- it also boots into android (stock, didn't try cm)
- 3g also works under android (new)
- touchpad / touchscreen
- 3d acceleration (version 16.3 of nvidia drivers)
- cpu and gpu overclock (respectively to 1,5 GHz and 446 MHz)

What I know doesn't work, isn't there yet :
- sound
- bluetooth
- some key remapping (esc, alt, ...)

Many other things I didn't check (sensors ?).

*** HOWTO install ***

0. of course you can break many things doing that ; you should have access to nvflash (never had to use it though) and with a recovery installed (I'm on twrp 2.4.3.0)

1. unpack xubuntu_tf300tg_rootfs-0.1.2.img.lzma to the internal storage and move / rename to linux/rootfs.img (/data/media/linux/rootfs.img)

1bis. you can change your keyboard layout in /etc/default/keyboard (replace "us" by whatever is your locale)

2. install the kernel blob using fastboot or "dd if=xubuntu_tf300tg_kernel-0.1.2oc.blob of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p4"

You should be able to reboot into xubunfu (or android).

3. log in as guest, from "user and groups" in the "settings manager", add one user, set password, change account type to administrator, add to sudo group (root password wil be asked : root)

4. logout, then login into your newly created user

5. open "language support" from the settings manager, and when it says missing locales, either choose install if you want "en" or "ask me later" if you want something else (in which case you can chose to install your own language, and configure them on the "regional format" page ; don't forget to apply system wide on both pages

6. change root password

Your second reboot should be more satisfying

*** HOWTO improve ***

1. find out what does not work and tell in the thread

2. understand what is documented bellow and propose correction / evolutions in the thread

3. don't hope for frequent updates : I do that alongside a more than full time job and tending to a two years old child. Still I will update.

*** DOWNLOAD ***

rootfs : http://d-h.st/vYf
kernel : http://d-h.st/UAy
misc config files : http://d-h.st/TEZ
nvidia drivers : http://d-h.st/pwQ

md5sum :
4f572c110c3f06f54699c826fed692f4 src-0.1.2.tar.lzma
249826271f4fadff4352217467e4ed2e xubuntu_tf300tg_kernel-0.1.2oc.blob
3263de707c2586d1e2177367f067361a xubuntu_tf300tg_rootfs-0.1.2.img.lzma
cf20b01281be3ef4b6d4631ae5cea67b R16.3.tar.lzma

*** HOW is it done / rootfs ***

I did it from ubuntu (rabits') on my tf300tg. Should be doable from another platform. Definitly doable from self.

As root.

# unset languages / locales
export LANG=C
unset LC_ADDRESS
unset LC_IDENTIFICATION
unset LC_MEASUREMENT
unset LC_MONETARY
unset LC_NAME
unset LC_NUMERIC
unset LC_PAPER
unset LC_TELEPHONE
unset LC_TIME

# mount a cleanly ext4 formated partition (futur root partition)
mount /dev/mmcblk1p2 /media/p1

# install initial minimal system
apt-get install debootstrap
debootstrap quantal /media/p1 http://ports.ubuntu.com/

# prepare to chroot
mv /media/p1/etc/apt/sources.list /media/p1/etc/apt/sources.list.orig
cp src/sources.list /media/p1/etc/apt/sources.list
mv /media/p1/etc/fstab /media/p1/etc/fstab.orig
cp src/fstab_chroot /media/p1/etc/fstab
mkdir /media/p1/run/user

# chroot into the new system and mount all special filesystems
chroot /media/p1
mount -a

# download xubuntu (avoiding unity which is recommended by lightdm)
apt-get update
apt-get upgrade
apt-get install xserver-xorg
apt-get --no-install-recommends install lightdm
apt-get install lightdm-gtk-greeter
apt-get install xubuntu-desktop

# install nvidia drivers and tuned nv.conf
tar xf R16.3.tar
update-alternatives --force \
--install /etc/ld.so.conf.d/arm-linux-gnueabihf_EGL.conf arm-linux-gnueabihf_egl_conf /usr/lib/nvidia-tegra/ld.so.conf 9000 \
--slave /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/tegra_drv.so nvidia_drv /usr/lib/nvidia-tegra/xorg/modules/drivers/tegra_drv.abi13.so
ldconfig -v
update-rc.d ondemand disable

# change root password to something of your chosing and exit chroot
passwd root

# configure touchscreen and touchpad
apt-get install xserver-xorg-input-multitouch
exit
cp src/mtev.so /media/p1/usr/lib/xorg/modules/input
mkdir /media/p1/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d
cp src/50-elan* /media/p1/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d

# change hostname
# edit /media/p1/etc/hostname and replace tf300tg with your chosen hostname
# edit /media/p1/etc/hosts and insert a line (second one) with "127.0.0.1 yourhostname"

# hide the partitions from mmcblk0 (thanks cb22)
echo 'ENV{ID_PATH}=="platform-sdhci-tegra.3", ENV{UDISKS_IGNORE}="1"' > /media/p1/etc/udev/rules.d/80-hide_tf300tg_partitions.rules

# change keyboard defaults
# edit /media/p1/etc/default/keyboard ; replace "pc105" by "asus_laptop" ; you can also change "us" to your locale

# create mountpoints for system and data
mkdir /media/p1/system /media/p1/data

# configure for loading wifi module
echo bcm4329 >> /media/p1/etc/modules

#
cp /media/p1/etc/fstab.orig /media/p1/etc/fstab

*** HOW is it done / kernel ***

The kernel source is default asus 10.4.3.9 from asus' website download section. Patched to add cpu overclock from faux's kernel and gpu overclock from motley's kernel (diff file in src.tar.lzma).

Initial kernel config file is taken from stock 10.4.3.9 android, with options added to support ubuntu and oc. path to the nvram for bcm4329 modified.

Ramdisk is mostly that from rabbits 0.8.0, with some modificaitons to enable modem support under android.

*** Todo ****

- modify config / kernel to use nvidia's R16.3 tool to patch wifi ;
- build initramfs anew from tf300t/tg stock android initramfs (currently rabbits modified tf700) ;
- bluetooth and sound ;
- key remapping.

reserved 2

Keshukas said:

Good job, I will tray luck to night when I back from work.

P.S. I heave no dock - that means no keabord and mouse

Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Thanks for your interest.

Although I would be happy to have some feedback, it may be a bit early if you don't have a dock : it's completely functionnal with a dock and mouse (I've been using it for work - and build - for a few days), without a keyboard and mouse, you will not go farther than xubuntu' login screen.

Anyway if you still wan't to try it, tell me if you reach xubuntu blue login screen.

Keshukas said:

On the rabbit Ubuntu for tf700 are virtual keabord (beside clock switch ) witch I use to login to Ubuntu

Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

I know that and it can be reproduced (look at rabits' /etc/X11/xorg.conf ; and needs packages xserver-xorg-input-multitouch and mtev).

But I have not yet abandonned all hope of doing it the ubuntu way (ie. with evdev).

TechyNut said:

Assuming this is a dual boot kernel, how does the kernel know where ubuntu is installed if not installed on internal sdcard? Also what's the minimum size partition that can be used?

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Rabits modified the boot image so that it checks /dev/sda*, then /dev/mmcblk1p*, then an img file on /dev/mmcblk0p8. The first which looks to be an ubuntu partition is used as root. He also activated vt (having a console during boot) in is kernel configuration. I reproduced both.

NRGZ28 said:

Moved the thread for ya...

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Thanks. Induced some noise on other threads

akurpiel said:

Ramdisk initrd.img in your kernel blob file is not a gzip !!!

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

No. It's lzma.

You can check rabits' git for details : https://github.com/rabits/tf700

Keshukas said:

Ok starting test
...
i hope to start Xubuntu

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

I hope too. Thanks for testing.

ColMustard said:

So I thought I'd give this a try. These are the steps I took to install this:

1. Formated 8gig SD card as ext4
2. Extracted rootfs to SD card.
3. Inserted SD in base
4. copy /system/vendor and /system/etc from your tf into /system on that partition ; copy /data/misc from your tf into /data on that partition
5. fastboot -i 0x0b05 flash staging xubuntu_tf300tg_kernel-0.1.0.blob
6. reboot
6. Kernel boots prompting option, select 1 (linux) and fails to mount partition and boots into android with no other problem.

What am I missing?

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

I have had some occurences of hitting return to fast at the prompt and init not detecting correctly the SD card. So maybe let it timeout into trying to boot linux.

If that does not work, you can choose "s" at the prompt, then from there check into /dev/ which disks / partitions are recognized. Provided that your linux partition is the first and only one on the SD card, you should have a /dev/sda and /dev/sda1. What do you see ?

Also remove any usb drive, which could appear as /dev/sda (and make the sd card appear as /dev/sdb).