[KERNEL] Compiling a working kernel (android) - WIP

[GJayJayG]

Hi all,

This thread is to share my findings and have a place to ask when I'll get stuck.
As the title mention, I'm trying to compile an android kernel for this device, to get DVB-C support, and perhaps one day release a "tweaked" version

My preliminary 'research' :

http://linux-sunxi.org/SDK_build_howto

http://linux-sunxi.org/A80

http://linux-sunxi.org/Toolchain

http://linux-sunxi.org/Android

https://www.pollin.de/shop/downloads/D702359D.PDF

https://linux-sunxi.org/Linux_Kernel

http://forum.lemaker.org/thread-9867-1-1-.html

https://dl.linux-sunxi.org/users/gzamboni/%E8%8B%B1%E6%96%87%E7%89%88A80%20optimus%E5%BC%80%E5%8F%91%E7%B3%BB%E7%BB%9F%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E8%AF%B4%E6%98%8E_%E5%B7%B2%E6%9B%B4%E6%96%B0_.pdf

http://www.cnx-software.com/2014/08/26/allwinner-a80-linux-sdk-released/

http://www.mininodes.com/how-to-build-linux-for-the-allwinner-a80-optimusboard/

https://github.com/OP-TEE/optee_os

Learnings, steps taken & status update
Here's where I'm at this point (updated 19.01.2015):

* got SKD & android SKD from Tronsmart: http://www.tronsmart.com/support/dow...0/137-sdk-aw80
* using virtualbox
* installed lubuntu 12.04 (64bit)+ updates


PREREQUISITES

sudo apt-get install git-core gnupg flex bison gperf build-essential zip curl \
zlib1g-dev libc6-dev lib32ncurses5-dev ia32-libs   x11proto-core-dev libx11-dev \
lib32z1-dev libgl1-mesa-dev g++-multilib mingw32 tofrodos python-markdown \
libxml2-utils libglapi-mesa:i386

JAVA JDK

add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/java
apt-get update
apt-get install oracle-java6-installer

* copied android.tar.gz
* copied "Tronsmart Draco AW80_lichee_20141102.tar" inside virtual machine
* extracted android tar to home dir
* extracted lichee archive inside (see page 7 of https://www.pollin.de/shop/downloads/D702359D.PDF)
resulting in
/home/dov/android/lichee/


MKIMAGE
compiled and "installed" mkimage with sun9iw1p1_config

cd /home/dov/android/lichee/brandy/u-boot-2011.09
make sun9iw1p1_config
make
sudo cp /home/dov/android/lichee/brandy/u-boot-2011.09/tools/mkimage /usr/local/bin/mkimage
sudo chmod 777 /usr/local/bin/mkimage

GCC / G++
installed and changed default compiler to gcc 4.4 & g++ 4.4
By deleting thegcc-4.6 soft connection file/usr/bin/gcc (just delete the soft connection),
then build a soft connection, pointing to the gcc-4.4.

sudo apt-get install gcc-4.4 g++-4.4 g++-4.4-multilib gcc-4.4-multilib

sudo rm/usr/bin/gcc
sudo ln -s /usr/bin/gcc-4.4 / usr/bin/gcc
sudo rm/usr/bin/g++
sudo ln -s /usr/bin/g++-4.4 / usr/bin/g++

BUILDING KERNEL

cd android/lichee
./build.sh config

Options selected:

1. 0
2. android
3. jaws

which ran for quite some time and resulted in a successful build (or reported as such...)



BUILDING ANDROID

cd /home/dov/android
source build/envsetup.sh
lunch
extract-bsp
make -j 8

[GJayJayG]

1st tests -w00t

[GJayJayG]

any ideas?

Inserting resulting kernel and modules into my system resulted in a non-working machine,

freezing at boot logo

Any one with possible solution or ideas to try?

[abdul_pt]

Are you sure you changed all modules ? And have them all ? In boot.img also ?

Without a serial console might be troublesome to see where the kernel hangs.
Try to see if last_ksmg exists, restore to working state without wiping and check cache also, but I doubt that any useful info exists in there.

Tapatalked

[GJayJayG]

Are you sure you changed all modules ? And have them all ? In boot.img also ?

Without a serial console might be troublesome to see where the kernel hangs.
Try to see if last_ksmg exists, restore to working state without wiping and check cache also, but I doubt that any useful info exists in there.

Tapatalked

Thank you for your time and answer.

Yes, I was under the impression that I had included all modules.

I will double check and try again, kernel source & config should be fine, as I first attempt to compile without any modifications.

I'll try to also rework the boot.img.

Indeed, I'm progressing blindly.

[GJayJayG]

Tronsmart SDK is bloated with 3 android images

For those who have already downloaded the tronsmart SDK, have a look here:

\Tronsmart Draco AW80_lichee_20141102.tar\lichee\tools\pack

• sun9iw1p1_android_jaws-p1.img
• sun9iw1p1_android_jaws-p2.img
• sun9iw1p1_android_jaws-p2_browserOK.img

[abdul_pt]

Are you packing boot.img the right way ?
Try just opening and closing it without changes to check.
It passes a base value on mkbootimg, don't recall what and I'm mobile.

Tapatalked

[GJayJayG]

Are you packing boot.img the right way ?
Try just opening and closing it without changes to check.
It passes a base value on mkbootimg, don't recall what and I'm mobile.

Tapatalked

Thank you for the suggestion, will check this as well.


EDIT: ok, the above seem to require a full android build...

EDIT: gcc version could be an issue, while the cross-compiler tool used are 4.6, it does mention gcc-4.4 ==> post #1 edited to reflect new setup

https://www.pollin.de/shop/downloads/D702359D.PDF

"The cross-compiler tools we used is arm-linux-gnueabi-gcc-4.6.3"

similarly here http://linux-sunxi.org/Android"Unfortunately ICS don't compile with gcc (Ubuntu/Linaro 4.7.2-2ubuntu1) 4.7.2 already installed on (*)ubuntu"



Also, I do not have a male-male usb cable, so I have to use phoenixcard at the moment for sdcard preparation & flashing

[no_spam_for_me]

Only an idea:
Why cross compiling? Use the Linux Boot SD and compile it at the Draco... ok, it takes "a little bit" longer, but...

[GJayJayG]

Thank you for the suggestion, will check this as well.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9877[/ATTACH]
EDIT: ok, the above seem to require a full android build...

EDIT: gcc version could be an issue, while the cross-compiler tool used are 4.6, it does mention gcc-4.4 ==> post #1 edited to reflect new setup

https://www.pollin.de/shop/downloads/D702359D.PDF

"The cross-compiler tools we used is arm-linux-gnueabi-gcc-4.6.3"

similarly here http://linux-sunxi.org/Android"Unfortunately ICS don't compile with gcc (Ubuntu/Linaro 4.7.2-2ubuntu1) 4.7.2 already installed on (*)ubuntu"

Also, I do not have a male-male usb cable, so I have to use phoenixcard at the moment for sdcard preparation & flashing

new kernel built with the updated environment (possible that setting gcc-4.4 helped)
inserted into ROM
burned with phoenix card
All in order, working good,



apparently the issue was not with mkimage or with boot.img, but with either the kernel itself or the modules. Could not even try boot.img yet since android is taking ages to compile.
Meanwhile, inserted the kernel using good old & buggy dragonface, still have the "startup mode" crash bug, could not find a fix to that yet.

Now onto kernel experimenting. I wish I could port that for Android :

http://www.cnx-software.com/2015/01/02/3d-graphics-acceleration-in-linux-on-allwinner-a80-based-cubieboard4/

but I have no f*cking clue how to get there

[Finless]

new kernel built with the updated environment (possible that setting gcc-4.4 helped)
inserted into ROM
burned with phoenix card
All in order, working good,
[ATTACH=CONFIG]9903[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]9904[/ATTACH]

apparently the issue was not with mkimage or with boot.img, but with either the kernel itself or the modules. Could not even try boot.img yet since android is taking ages to compile.
Meanwhile, inserted the kernel using good old & buggy dragonface, still have the "startup mode" crash bug, could not find a fix to that yet.

Now onto kernel experimenting. I wish I could port that for Android :

http://www.cnx-software.com/2015/01/02/3d-graphics-acceleration-in-linux-on-allwinner-a80-based-cubieboard4/

but I have no f*cking clue how to get there

Dragonface while easier to use does not work for some things.
I use ImgRepacker. Give you full capability with no problems as all it is doing it packing all the files in the ROM. Any changes like replacing the kernel you do in Linux with the FEX tools.

Let me know if you want any tips on this process.

Bob

[abdul_pt]

[KERNEL] Compiling a working kernel (android) - WIP

Good.

Tapatalked

[no_spam_for_me]

:
Now onto kernel experimenting. I wish I could port that for Android :

http://www.cnx-software.com/2015/01/02/3d-graphics-acceleration-in-linux-on-allwinner-a80-based-cubieboard4/

:

Why do you want to port something from linux to android which, if I'm not wrong, is only a linux problem because already implemented at android...
(it's the same with linux at e.g. mali400 at rk3188... because the drivers are NP they had to do a lot of reverse-engineering to get the 3D working at GPU but no way for VPU support...)

[GJayJayG]

Why do you want to port something from linux to android which, if I'm not wrong, is only a linux problem because already implemented at android...
(it's the same with linux at e.g. mali400 at rk3188... because the drivers are NP they had to do a lot of reverse-engineering to get the 3D working at GPU but no way for VPU support...)

Ok I see, thank you.

Source a shit nevertheless, cannot do much until they (allwinner & tronsmart) release proper or better SKD / NDK, everytime I change something via makemenu config, resulting kernel wont boot...

[GJayJayG]

Dragonface while easier to use does not work for some things.
I use ImgRepacker. Give you full capability with no problems as all it is doing it packing all the files in the ROM. Any changes like replacing the kernel you do in Linux with the FEX tools.

Let me know if you want any tips on this process.

Bob

Dear Bob,

Thank you for your advices.

EDIT, REASON: found solution;
Would it be possible to also package TWRP inside ROMs, using ImgRepacker or other method. Do you have a few pointers on that?