In addition to GNU/Linux@N80XX topic, this one is a separate for Ubuntu users. Read below if you want to have native Ubuntu 13.10 wih Gnome/LDXE/XFCE at your Galaxy Note 10.1 device (2012 models only).
Screenshots:
Please be aware, that stuff I share with you is experimental, it does not work 100% correctly and there are some lags and bugs.
Some technical details:
The approach is based on using custom recovery (e.g. custom kernel and initrd image) which boots into Linux. All Linux files are stored at data partition (it is mmcblk0p12 when using standard firmware, which also is internal sdcard) in a separate folder. Initrd script mounts data partition and looks for the special file /media/rootdev - this file contains the path to the Linux root folder. Script sets the Linux root device to be this folder specified and invokes /sbin/init. You see Linux booting - Ubuntu in our case.
However I've also prepared the second folder with native recovery files. E.g. if you change rootdev content to point to recovery files folder, you will boot into recovery. Generally, you can boot any other recovery or Linux distro using this approach. And hosting it at sdcard in a folder much easier than re-partitioning tablet or using loop-device in a file. Free space for your Linux depends only of free space you have at data partition.
Prerequisites:
- Rooted GT-N80xx device
- Busybox tools installed
- Desktop computer with ADB tools
- Custom recovery image (with or without menu), native recovery, Ubuntu image files downloaded (see downloads section)
- Understanding of what are you doing
Downloads:
- Custom recovery image which boots to Linux (no menu) - recovery_nomenu.img
- Custom recovery image which boots to Linux (with menu) - recovery_menu.img
- Native recovery files archive - recovery.tar.gz
- Ubuntu 13.10 files archive - ubuntu.tar.gz
Steps:
- Connect your device to the desktop computer with USB cable. Make sure your device is visible when you run "adb devices"
- Rename downloaded recovery image to "recovery.img"
- Upload downloaded files to the internal memory:
Code:adb push recovery.img /sdcard/ adb push recovery.tar.gz /sdcard/ adb push ubuntu.tar.gz /sdcard/ - Now you need to get into device, so run "adb shell", then type the next commands (the lines beginning from # are the comments, you don't need to type it
):
Code:
# 4. become root user
su -
# 5. go to the internal sdcard real path, where you uploaded files
cd /data/media
# 6. write custom recovery to the special partition, by default it is mmcblk0p6
dd if=./recovery.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p6
# 7. unpack native recovery files, the "recovery" folder will be created
gunzip -c ./recovery.tar.gz | tar -x
# 8. unpack Ubuntu files, the "ubuntu" folder will be created
gunzip -c ./ubuntu.tar.gz | tar -x
# 9.1. Now, if you downloaded custom recovery without menu - set what to
# boot, in our case it is Ubuntu, and go to step #10
echo "/media/ubuntu" > ./rootdev
# 9.2. OR, if you downloaded custom recovery with menu - add menu entries
echo "Ubuntu=/media/ubuntu" > ./rootdev
echo "Recovery=/media/recovery" >> ./rootdev
echo "Reboot=reboot" >> ./rootdev
# 10. remove files that we don't need anymore and quit
rm ./recovery.img ./recovery.tar.gz ./ubuntu.tar.gz
exit
exitNow you should reboot your device to recovery mode. If you did all correctly (and I did not miss anything in steps) you should see Linux booting (and menu if you are using custom recovery with menu).
Please use your S-Pen as mouse, button on the pen works as "right-click".
The password for root user and android user is "q" (small q-letter without quotes).
Notes:
- The Ubuntu image I shared with you is v13.10 and Gnome-based (Unity does not work due to Compiz issues).
- Regular Gnome session works at most, but have some bugs, due to 3D acceleration support issues. For example, window dragging does not work and the session hangs (sorry, I have not found why, please fix if you can and share your workaround with us).
- Gnome Fallback works better, but might not start properly from the first time. E.g. you should boot to regular Gnome session, then log out and login to Fallback (also have no idea why it works like this, please help if have experience).
- Due to the issues with Gnome, I've also installed LXDE and XFCE, so you could try login to it. However I would recommend booting to regular Gnome session at least to configure your Wi-Fi connection.
- Internal and external sdcards are mounted to /mnt/intSdCard and /mnt/extSdCard paths.
Important notes:
- The Ubuntu image has ADB installed. E.g. if something goes wrong at the screen and you are not able to manage your device, connect it to the desktop with USB cable, run "adb shell", then "sudo su -" and you become root user. To restart graphical session you need to invoke "service gdm restart" command.
- If you are using custom recovery without menu and want to boot native recovery instead of Ubuntu, edit "rootdev" file at internal sdcard to contain "/media/recovery" path (without quotes). You can do that via ADB shell, using any Android text editor, or directly from Linux.
Not all is working from Ubuntu. Currently there is no 3G support and some other things. All of them are discussed in the parent thread
Please let me know if I have missed something and my steps do not work for you. Any other feedback will also be appreciated
Last edited:
