Testers Needed for Nexus 7 Kernel - NeowinBuild


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Hi All!!!

 

So I am after Testers, People who are not afraid to give things ago. 

 

So I am trying at the moment to compile the latest Linux Kernel to run on the Nexus 7. I am currently building the Kernel 3.13rc7. All the Kernels for Android seem to be quite old(ish). 

 

I am creating a ZImage which people can then flash or test and let me know if it works OK.

 

I will maybe post a guide how to do this and then post it on XDADevelopers.

 

So is anyone willing? Please Post here and then I will post the zImage when it has finished building. 

 

You need to be familiar with adb commands,rooting,custom ROM's and all that good stuff, For now I will just concentrate on the Kernel. You need to have adb installed. If you havent or dont know what this is then I am afraid this isn't for you. 

 

Assuming you already downloaded Android SDK and have it installed on your computer, place the zImage inside your AndroidSDK\tools folder.
Reboot your phone into FASTBOOT/bootloader mode.
Once you?re in FASTBOOT/bootloader mode, run the following commands (from your AndroidSDK\tools PATH):
 
fastboot boot zImage -- Your phone will automatically reboot

 

 

The command above will only temporarily boot the new zImage, meaning you can test and do whatever you want, but after you reboot your phone again ? your previous zImage will be reloaded, removing the current one you were testing (Recommended method for testing, until you?re sure you want to permanently flash).

 

If you all want I will post my guide just like I did with the CPU Optimisations Thread.

 

I don't think I am registered with XDA Developers so maybe I could collaborate with someone and they could post this zImage on there for me. I think you have to have 10 posts before you can post anything in the right part of the forum.

 

If by some miracle that it does boot you should see neowin appended in the build string in Android. 

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For those of you who are interested. I have created some quick and dirty notes....

 

  • Install All Build Essential Tools

  • Plus the ARM Cross Compiler apt-get install gcc-arm-linux-gnueabi

  • tar xvf linux-3.13-rc7.tar.xz (Or latest Kernel verison from Kernel.org)

  • tar xvf configs.tar.gz (Configs for ALL Android Devices) Flo = Nexus 2013

  • export ARCH=arm

  • export SUBARCH=arm

  • export CROSS_COMPILE=arm-linux-gnueabi-

  • mv flo_defconfig linux-3.13-rc7/arch/arm/configs/

  • git clone https://android.googlesource.com/kernel/msm.git ***NOT NEEDED NOW***
  • cd linux-3.13-rc7/

  • make flo_defconfig

  • make menuconfig

[*] Patch physical to virtual translations at runtime

() Cross-compiler tool prefix ? ?

? ? [ ] Compile also drivers which will not load ? ?

? ? () Local version - append to kernel release

  • make all

  • cd ..

  • arm-linux-gnueabi-gcc -static init.c -o init

  • echo init|cpio -o --format=newc > initramfs

  • /arch/arm/boot/zImage

 

This is your where your newly created zImage is created.

 

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Kernel: arch/arm/boot/Image is ready

  AS      arch/arm/boot/compressed/head.o

  GZIP    arch/arm/boot/compressed/piggy.gzip

  AS      arch/arm/boot/compressed/piggy.gzip.o

  CC      arch/arm/boot/compressed/misc.o

  CC      arch/arm/boot/compressed/decompress.o

  CC      arch/arm/boot/compressed/string.o

  SHIPPED arch/arm/boot/compressed/hyp-stub.S

  AS      arch/arm/boot/compressed/hyp-stub.o

  SHIPPED arch/arm/boot/compressed/lib1funcs.S

  AS      arch/arm/boot/compressed/lib1funcs.o

  SHIPPED arch/arm/boot/compressed/ashldi3.S

  AS      arch/arm/boot/compressed/ashldi3.o

  LD      arch/arm/boot/compressed/vmlinux

  OBJCOPY arch/arm/boot/zImage

  Kernel: arch/arm/boot/zImage is ready

 

 

With a bit of tweaking I have a zImage Ready.

 

http://www.jamessawyer.co.uk/zImage

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I'm just getting my feet wet with Android. Got a Nexus 7 (2013) and a Moto X. Not sure I'm ready to take the plunge on something like this yet. But good luck to you :).

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I posted on XDA but I cant post External Links and Also I cant post in the right area until I have more than 10 posts. I am not going to spam them so I posted if anyone is interested PM me. Maybe someone on XDA already could post for me? That would be swell. 

 

Its actually for the 2013 model. The snapdragon processor. I could make one for the previous version. 

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If I had a N7 to test this on, I'd be all over it. :/

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Hello,

You should get to 10 posts in no time but if you want drop me a PM and Ill leave a link to the XDA thread here.

I dont think its spam as its something noncommercial, that beind said, you are gonna have a lot more movement on XDA than on here.

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Hi!

 

Yeah I always knew that it would get more traction on XDA. The last time I did anything with XDA was more of a lurker a few years back in my HTC Sensation Days. I have 5 posts haha. All the the links are in this thread. Just posting a link to the thread would be good. We might even get a few more Neowin Members.

 

....

 

Sorry I should have said anything will be published here.

 

http://svm24652.vps.tagadab.com:8000/

 

At the moment everything is a bit disjointed. My guide has gone through several revisions. I should be able to post it so people can build for their own versions and own devices.

 

The thread over at XDA is

 

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=49228909

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Basically need someone to test that the Kernel boots on the Nexus 7 2013.

I provided a way you can temporarily boot the new zImage that I created. The details of this are in the first Post.

Once I can confirm its working or NOT then I can make a proper kernel image you can flash.

It might need a bit of tweaking here and there but the bulk of its done.

 

All the download links and flashing instructions are scattered throughout this post.

 

:laugh:

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I have done some more merging from latest Mainline and Flo Kernel from Google. Its building as we speak. Time to head to Tesco. 
 
Hopefully what I have done will get rid of a compile time error I was having. 
 
 
Has anyone got the ones I made previous to boot. I have my Nexus 7 on the way as of today so I will be testing it on my own sooooon!! :good:

 

 

.....

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