Native Linux for Asus tf701t

[sudoaptget]

Is that what it looks like running on the Tf701t? if so, this is really exciting!!! Any simple ways to install this without any problems going back to android? is there currently a way to dualboot (because I ideally would love to have that). Thanks again for all your hard work guys!!! You guys are awesome!!!!!

Sent from my K00C using Tapatalk 2

hehe I wish...I'm actually using Linux Mint to unsquash (uncompress) a linux debian operating system to modify a few things....from there I hope to put it on the Tf701t.

I would love it if Linux Mint (simplified version) could be on the Tf701t but unfortunately I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon based on research I've done thus far (linux mint doesn't look to have any ARM support)

 

[Trel725]

If you wish, you can install cinnamon environment from Jessie repo. It will be pretty close to Mint.

 

[sudoaptget]

If you wish, you can install cinnamon environment from Jessie repo. It will be pretty close to Mint.

Cool, would you mind linking me the address where I can find that variant? I can check it out.

 

[Trel725]

You should enable jessie repo (add "deb http://http.debian.net/debian jessie main" to your /etc/apt/sources.list, update cache and install cinnamon as usual with apt-get. But I am not sure it will be works, perhaps cinnamon depends on newer version of Xorg, and it will broke GUI because there is no Xorg modules to newest versions. Maybe I will try install opentegra driver, but it needs much more time. Also I think it is not good idea because cinnamon is not light enviroment. I'd prefer Mate.

 

[sudoaptget]

OK
First download rootfs, unpack it to your stick, remove tf701.conf from /etc/init and copy files from configs archive. Be careful rootfs is squashfs-packed. Then download kernel from my first post (it packed) and boot it by command
fastboot boot zImage -c "root=/dev/sda1"

Ok I have done and followed the instructions. I removed tf701.conf from /etc/init and copied files from configs archive.

To make things easier, you can see my progress here: http://youtu.be/Wxz6wUAXq3E

After unsqashfs the rootfs and removing tf701.conf file I attempt to place the simple debian filesystem onto my usb ready to be booted on my device. However I seem to have lack of permission to transfer the whole thing. Am I supposed to be recompressing the rootfs? Or is there some special command for sudo?

 

[Trel725]

I am just released first version of linux! Read first post in thread. Maybe it will be simpler.

 

[Piglo]

Hello, Trel!

Great project!

Is it possible to use this to build every day? What do you think?
You listed some problems:

Still not working pretty much things.
1. Touchpad. I'm afraid it won't work because it use special android-only binaries.
2. Sound. Work in alsa-only. Alsa mixer don't works.
3. Graphical desktop use only software rendering. Just some apps can use hardware, like chromium.
4. Video. Only software rendering.

In principle, it is not so critical.
If there is a working kernel, then it is perfect! All the rest is not much of a problem(except normal dualboot).

I would like to clarify something:
- that to energy saving? how long did you hold Linux on the battery?
- What do you think, what are the real ways to make normal dualboot?
- That with stability? Wi-Fi, Screen... hardware?

As I understand it the main problem now is the normal dualboot?
Sorry for my english.

 

[sudoaptget]

I am just released first version of linux! Read first post in thread. Maybe it will be simpler.

That's awesome Trel725.

This is very exciting!

Did you happen to see my post above?

---------- Post added at 05:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:32 PM ----------

Hello, Trel!

Great project!

Is it possible to use this to build every day? What do you think?
You listed some problems:

In principle, it is not so critical.
If there is a working kernel, then it is perfect! All the rest is not much of a problem(except normal dualboot).

I would like to clarify something:
- that to energy saving? how long did you hold Linux on the battery?
- What do you think, what are the real ways to make normal dualboot?
- That with stability? Wi-Fi, Screen... hardware?

As I understand it the main problem now is the normal dualboot?
Sorry for my english.

Yeah the main problem to get past is the kernel. After that, its very simple. Although you would need to pick a distro that supports ARM architecture...and that distro would provide ongoing support programs and bundles for that distro.

Some people would like dualboot...though some of us like me prefer to get rid of android altogether and install linux on it alone. I do hope there's an option for both open to all of us.

 

[Trel725]

Linux is pretty stable, Once I used it (mostly LibreOffice) in about 5 hourse. it was stable.

You are not right, I'm sure. Kernel is pretty simple, because all works have done yet by Nvidia and Asus programmers. I just compiled it with some extra features (tty support, sysv ipc and fbcon if it interesting). The biggest problem is rootfs. There are a lot of libs, firmware and another strange things by nvidia. I have a build with this features, and some special programs like nvgstplayer are works great, but system is unstable.

Energy saving - that is cpu governor and brightness changing support. That's it. Tablet are cold, even things like flash works, but battery is losing pretty fast. In my opinion, this problem connected with screen, nor CPU. In android you can very fast turn on and off screen, so you got more energy. In linux it is impossible .

Why do you think there is no normal dualboot? In my mind that is not bad way - get linux instead of recovery. If you want, I try to change initrd to load recovery or linux.

 

[Piglo]

While writing my previous post, Trel already answered some of my questions
Dualboot, as a rejection of recovery, nise idea! Linux will be a great recovery

install linux on it alone

I think it's not a good idea. Each system is designed carry out their tasks.
It is not yet clear to the stability of the situation on the Linux.

Although you would need to pick a distro that supports ARM

I think that would be optimal assembly Gentoo, with optimizations from Tegra 4 system.

 

[sudoaptget]

I am just released first version of linux! Read first post in thread. Maybe it will be simpler.

Would you be able to see where I am going wrong?

http://youtu.be/Wxz6wUAXq3E

 

[Trel725]

OK, sudoaptget, I have seen your problem. I think it is because your usb stick works via Windows driver, that don't support UNIX permissions. It is bad idea. You should forward USB port to your host system (google it) and copy files directly to usb stick. Don't forget, USB stick should be formatted in ext4 or 3 fs. Also you can make an archive with modified rootfs, copy it to tablet and unpack and copy here.

 

[Trel725]

Hm, Gentoo is good idea but I don't have any experience with source-based distros. Also it pretty interesting to try Fedora https://fedoraarm.wordpress.com/2014/08/14/installing-fedora-21-pre-release-on-the-nvidia-jetson-k1/

 

[ariadnejro]

I can't log in with user root and password 1234qwerty. I get the message login incorrect.

 

[sudoaptget]

I think I am up to the last part which is "fastboot flash recovery linux_ext.img".

I can't seem to start the linux distro on the usb from fastboot. http://postimg.org/image/8qyd3urjl/full/

I'm stuck at this point

 

[Trel725]

I have no idea. Maybe you can try use autologin.
___________________
2 sudoaptget
You just flash kernel and initrd. Now, just try boot to recovery

 

[sudoaptget]

I have no idea. Maybe you can try use autologin.
___________________
2 sudoaptget
You just flash kernel and initrd. Now, just try boot to recovery

Easier said than done Everytime I attempt to get to recovery, a message comes up "Unrecoverable bootloader error (0x00000002)"

I did try to put twrp onto it awhile ago but couldn't make it work.

 

[Trel725]

I think this problem associated with Windows. Try re-flash under your linux mint. Also, try do not flash, just boot.

Today I finally have done enabling 3d acceleration! Linux use mesa drivers which, in fact just software accelerated. I exchanged some libraries and got it! For example, glmark2-es2 show result in about 70-80. That is good, like most intel-gpu-based laptops. Unfortunately there is not much apps that can use OpenGLES/EGL

 

[Trel725]

I am going to release Linux build v 0.2
Changelog:
Video. It needed a lot of work, but I have done it! Video up to 4K works great .
OpenGL ES. It is great feature, but very little apps can use it.

Glshim. A great thing, partially solution for previous problem. It is wrapper between OpenGL and OpenGLES system calls. So even OpenGL only games can works on tablet. But not every game works. E.g. I can't run Minecraft nevertheless that is possible http://boards.openpandora.org/topic/16707-minecraft-launcher/

Some games: eduke32, prboom (clone of doom), gnome-games, etc.

 

[royredman]

I am going to release Linux build v 0.2
Changelog:
Video. It needed a lot of work, but I have done it! Video up to 4K works great .
OpenGL ES. It is great feature, but very little apps can use it.

Glshim. A great thing, partially solution for previous problem. It is wrapper between OpenGL and OpenGLES system calls. So even OpenGL only games can works on tablet. But not every game works. E.g. I can't run Minecraft nevertheless that is possible http://boards.openpandora.org/topic/16707-minecraft-launcher/

Some games: eduke32, prboom (clone of doom), gnome-games, etc.

First, I want to bring up how awesome this is and your awesome accomplishments towards this!! Thank you for all your work!!!!! Seriously. Second, do you this distro would be ready for a regular daily usage, or just for messing around with right now?

Finally, How difficult would it be to go back to android from there? YOU ARE THE MAN!!! Thanks for bringing more life to this tablet!!