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Title says it all. No hand holding at this stage as this is really for people who know what they are doing. In a few days I'll post a proper Alpha with more/some support!
Folks, I can't stress this enough: these pre-Alpha releases are only for people who have already cross-compiled the Linux kernel for an ARM device and are used to having things not working out-of-the-box.
And no, it won't play movies nor will it run XBMC at this stage, and you can't play any games with it yet (no OpenGL support).
Also, please at least read this first post COMPLETELY before asking any questions in this thread!
Present version is pre-Alpha 0.2
It has been tested on the UG802, Rikomagic MK802 III and the MK808.
These are the features for the pre-Alpha 0.2 release:
Download links:
The kernel ug802recovkernel.img (<10MB) https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B-xyWOsjMDJPZjUwNzFjZ1lqMTg
The armhf Ubuntu 12.10 root filesystem linuxroot.tar.gz (<1GB) https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B-xyWOsjMDJPUnM4RlllWGpScXc
PLEASE MIRROR THESE FILES AND POST A LINK BELOW!
Requirements:
To install:
- Rooted Android stick and SuperUser.apk installed.
- Terminal emulator in Android.
- microSD card (4GB, 8GB or 16GB) or USB key (4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB).
- A Windows/Linux PC.
- RKAndroidTool v1.35 (Windows program to flash RK3066 devices). This is the program you need to flash the kernel!
If you have installed a Finless Android ROM on your Android stick using the Flash method then you already have everything you need to proceed with the installation.
The zip file that includes Bob's ROM also has the RKAndroidTools v1.35 and full, detailed installation instructions, so please get it!
To use Linux you'll probably need:
- USB 2.0 hub
- USB keyboard and mouse.
- HDMI monitor (Full HD capable i.e. [email protected] - 1080p).
- An inexpensive USB WiFi b/g/n or Ethernet 10/100 adapter dongle.
Kernel Installation
(there are many ways to do this, here is a simple one that should take less than a minute)
- Install RKAndroidTools v1.35 on your Windows PC following exactly the instructions provided by Bob Finless.
- Download the kernel.img file to your Windows PC. Rename it recovery.img.
- Connect Android stick to your PC and run RKAndroidTool v1.35.
- Open the terminal emulator and "su", then "reboot bootloader"
- RKAndroidTool should now detect Android stick.
- Flash only the new recovery.img to the recovery partition in the NAND. This takes 5 or 6 seconds, and your Android stick will immediately reboot into Android. THIS IS NORMAL.
Now that you have installed the Linux kernel in the recovery partition of your Android stick, you can dual boot Android or Linux.
To boot Linux, boot into Android, open the terminal emulator and "su", then "reboot recovery".
If you get the "dead Android bot" with red triangle, it means the Linux kernel image was not flashed correctly to the recovery partition.
Power off, power on, and repeat the procedure above paying attention to all details, and it should work.
Notes:
* There is only one user defined: user ubuntu password ubuntu. Needless to say, change the password ASAP!
* The kernel config is available in /proc/config.gz.
* The kernel source is in the home directory of user ubuntu.
* And you have the nbench benchmark in /root.
Rootfs Installation
(again there are many ways to do this, here is a simple one)
Requires a Linux PC.
If you don't have a Linux PC, you can use the GParted LiveCD: http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php
1. Use GParted to create an ext4 partition of at least 4GB on a USB key or a microSD card. Label the partition linuxroot.
2. As root, extract the tarball, and copy (using cp -a) all the files in the extracted directory to the partition labeled linuxroot. This will create a Ubuntu root filesystem on the USB key or microSD card with all the proper permissions.
If when you boot Linux, you don't get the LightDM login screen, it means you didn't copy the rootfs files properly (probably you weren't root) and they don't have the correct permissions.
Repeat the two steps above paying attention to the instructions!
Changelog
- pre-Alpha 0.1: Initial release, requires microSD card.
- pre-Alpha 0.2: Simplified boot requirements. Can now boot from a root partition labeled linuxroot on any mass storage device accessible at boot time e.g. a 4GB USB key, a 8GB SD card in USB card reader plugged into the USB hub, or a microSD card in the microSD card slot of your Android stick. Should even boot from a USB hard disk, but I haven't tested this.
Sponsors
- Thank you Slatedroid user gsandiego for sponsoring a nifty Infrared Digital Thermometer that will allow me to take precise temperature measurements on the RK3066 running different loads at different clock frequencies!
Folks, I can't stress this enough: these pre-Alpha releases are only for people who have already cross-compiled the Linux kernel for an ARM device and are used to having things not working out-of-the-box.
And no, it won't play movies nor will it run XBMC at this stage, and you can't play any games with it yet (no OpenGL support).
Also, please at least read this first post COMPLETELY before asking any questions in this thread!
Present version is pre-Alpha 0.2
It has been tested on the UG802, Rikomagic MK802 III and the MK808.
These are the features for the pre-Alpha 0.2 release:
- Ubuntu 12.10 Quantal armhf based.
- Easy to install and dual-boot (does not erase your Android installation).
- HDMI 1920x1080 60Hz aka 1080p.
- XFCE desktop.
- Linux framebuffer consoles.
- HDMI sound support. USB sound support.
- Full array of cpufreq governors (I suggest the interactive governor).
- USB mouse, keyboard and USB storage tested. Webcam tested by Alok.
- Kernel source code and full compiler toolchain suite included (gcc-4.7.2), so the RK3066 device becomes an autonomous mini development system.
- nbench benchmark included (source code and binary) so you can check the real clock speed / performance of your Android stick.
- OpenSSH server included and installed so you can use the Android stick headless.
- Internal WiFi is not functional yet. You'll need a $4 Realtek or Ralink USB Wifi dongle or a $5 USB 2.0 10/100 ASIX or SR9700 Ethernet dongle to connect to your network.
Download links:
The kernel ug802recovkernel.img (<10MB) https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B-xyWOsjMDJPZjUwNzFjZ1lqMTg
The armhf Ubuntu 12.10 root filesystem linuxroot.tar.gz (<1GB) https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B-xyWOsjMDJPUnM4RlllWGpScXc
PLEASE MIRROR THESE FILES AND POST A LINK BELOW!
Requirements:
To install:
- Rooted Android stick and SuperUser.apk installed.
- Terminal emulator in Android.
- microSD card (4GB, 8GB or 16GB) or USB key (4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB).
- A Windows/Linux PC.
- RKAndroidTool v1.35 (Windows program to flash RK3066 devices). This is the program you need to flash the kernel!
If you have installed a Finless Android ROM on your Android stick using the Flash method then you already have everything you need to proceed with the installation.
The zip file that includes Bob's ROM also has the RKAndroidTools v1.35 and full, detailed installation instructions, so please get it!
To use Linux you'll probably need:
- USB 2.0 hub
- USB keyboard and mouse.
- HDMI monitor (Full HD capable i.e. [email protected] - 1080p).
- An inexpensive USB WiFi b/g/n or Ethernet 10/100 adapter dongle.
Kernel Installation
(there are many ways to do this, here is a simple one that should take less than a minute)
- Install RKAndroidTools v1.35 on your Windows PC following exactly the instructions provided by Bob Finless.
- Download the kernel.img file to your Windows PC. Rename it recovery.img.
- Connect Android stick to your PC and run RKAndroidTool v1.35.
- Open the terminal emulator and "su", then "reboot bootloader"
- RKAndroidTool should now detect Android stick.
- Flash only the new recovery.img to the recovery partition in the NAND. This takes 5 or 6 seconds, and your Android stick will immediately reboot into Android. THIS IS NORMAL.
Now that you have installed the Linux kernel in the recovery partition of your Android stick, you can dual boot Android or Linux.
To boot Linux, boot into Android, open the terminal emulator and "su", then "reboot recovery".
If you get the "dead Android bot" with red triangle, it means the Linux kernel image was not flashed correctly to the recovery partition.

Power off, power on, and repeat the procedure above paying attention to all details, and it should work.
Notes:
* There is only one user defined: user ubuntu password ubuntu. Needless to say, change the password ASAP!
* The kernel config is available in /proc/config.gz.
* The kernel source is in the home directory of user ubuntu.
* And you have the nbench benchmark in /root.
Rootfs Installation
(again there are many ways to do this, here is a simple one)
Requires a Linux PC.
If you don't have a Linux PC, you can use the GParted LiveCD: http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php
1. Use GParted to create an ext4 partition of at least 4GB on a USB key or a microSD card. Label the partition linuxroot.
2. As root, extract the tarball, and copy (using cp -a) all the files in the extracted directory to the partition labeled linuxroot. This will create a Ubuntu root filesystem on the USB key or microSD card with all the proper permissions.
If when you boot Linux, you don't get the LightDM login screen, it means you didn't copy the rootfs files properly (probably you weren't root) and they don't have the correct permissions.

Changelog
- pre-Alpha 0.1: Initial release, requires microSD card.
- pre-Alpha 0.2: Simplified boot requirements. Can now boot from a root partition labeled linuxroot on any mass storage device accessible at boot time e.g. a 4GB USB key, a 8GB SD card in USB card reader plugged into the USB hub, or a microSD card in the microSD card slot of your Android stick. Should even boot from a USB hard disk, but I haven't tested this.
Sponsors
- Thank you Slatedroid user gsandiego for sponsoring a nifty Infrared Digital Thermometer that will allow me to take precise temperature measurements on the RK3066 running different loads at different clock frequencies!