Introduction: Install GNU/Linux on Your Android Mobile Phone
GNU/Linux has become one of the best operating systems , but it is known by its security and customization. In this tutorial we will set up few things that can automatically prepare and mount all of our systems. In this instructable , we will run Ubuntu distribution.
What you need:
- Android phone
- 3.5GB SDCard (or more)
- root access (there are instructables for that)
- full backup (this is SAFE , however you are moving big files and running lots of operations so you want to be 100% sure)
*DISCLAIMER* Even though this process does not make any damage , I am not responsible if anything happens to your Android phone during the process of installing or running Ubuntu.
So weready to start.
What you need:
- Android phone
- 3.5GB SDCard (or more)
- root access (there are instructables for that)
- full backup (this is SAFE , however you are moving big files and running lots of operations so you want to be 100% sure)
*DISCLAIMER* Even though this process does not make any damage , I am not responsible if anything happens to your Android phone during the process of installing or running Ubuntu.
So weready to start.
Step 1: Install Busybox Libraries
ENSURE that you have rooted your phone. Almost on every device you can do it by checking if you have the Superuser app. (However , in some procedures you might have rooted your phone without having that app).
We want the busybox libraries which can help us interact with the android system. You can download busybox installer from Play Store (or Android Market) by going here and downloading that. Navigate to the Install Busybox tab and press the "Install" button.
Once it is installed we are ready to continue to the next step , installing the terminal.
We want the busybox libraries which can help us interact with the android system. You can download busybox installer from Play Store (or Android Market) by going here and downloading that. Navigate to the Install Busybox tab and press the "Install" button.
Once it is installed we are ready to continue to the next step , installing the terminal.
Step 2: Installing Terminal , and Checking If Everything Is Properly Working
Before we install the terminal , we should tell Android that it should let us install app that is not coming from Play Store. At the moment , Play Store does not support terminals so you cannot find the app.
To tell Android that it should let us , navigate to Settings->Applications. Check the "Unknown sources" and agree if it asks you something.
Now we are ready to install the terminal. Press here and download the file. Click it and install it.
Once it is installed , you should open the Terminal app. Type the word "su". It will ask you for root access , and you should give it so it has rights to run scripts (which we will later use to launch Ubuntu).
To properly test if your terminal and busybox libraries work , type "busybox arping --help". If it prints some text and you see lots of parameters like -f -q -b it is working. If not , check if your phone is rooted , check if busybox is properly installed and check if terminal has permissions.
If it is OK we can continue.
To tell Android that it should let us , navigate to Settings->Applications. Check the "Unknown sources" and agree if it asks you something.
Now we are ready to install the terminal. Press here and download the file. Click it and install it.
Once it is installed , you should open the Terminal app. Type the word "su". It will ask you for root access , and you should give it so it has rights to run scripts (which we will later use to launch Ubuntu).
To properly test if your terminal and busybox libraries work , type "busybox arping --help". If it prints some text and you see lots of parameters like -f -q -b it is working. If not , check if your phone is rooted , check if busybox is properly installed and check if terminal has permissions.
If it is OK we can continue.
Step 3: Downloading the Scripts and the Ubuntu System
If you finished all the work from step 1 and step 2 you shouldn't be worrying. The next few steps are very easy. Start by plugging your phone on the computer. You should enable USB mount which will open your SD card on the computer (most of you who ever moved music/APKs from computer to Android know this).
You should create a folder called "ubuntu" in your SDcard. Then , you should download this and this. Those are zip files which contain 2 important stuff: the launching script and the ubuntu filesystem. If you open the first zip you will find img file , and if you open the second you will find sh file.
Uncompress both of the zips and move the files in the "ubuntu" folder. Now you should have 2 files in the folder. Most of the needed processes are finished.
You should create a folder called "ubuntu" in your SDcard. Then , you should download this and this. Those are zip files which contain 2 important stuff: the launching script and the ubuntu filesystem. If you open the first zip you will find img file , and if you open the second you will find sh file.
Uncompress both of the zips and move the files in the "ubuntu" folder. Now you should have 2 files in the folder. Most of the needed processes are finished.
Step 4: Running the Ubuntu System
Go back to the Terminal app and write "su' again. Then write "cd /mnt/sdcard". To confirm everything is working try to write "ls" and see if you can recognize your folders (you might find the ubuntu folder as well).
To start our ubuntu write "cd /ubuntu" and then "sh ubuntu.sh". This will execute many procedures which are trying to set your system. It will request to enter a resolution. Use numberxnumber format to express it. For example: 600x400 is the proper format. For the best appearence and performance i suggest 800x480. Now everything is done.
The ubuntu system is running , however we can't see it. To see it , we must use AndroidVNC. We can download it from Play Store. Set this info:
-nickname: user
-password: ubuntu
-adress: localhost
REMEMBER:
If you don't want to damage Ubuntu system , always write "exit" in terminal before you finish your work or shut down your phone.
Press connect and you are done. You can move and do what you want :)
To start our ubuntu write "cd /ubuntu" and then "sh ubuntu.sh". This will execute many procedures which are trying to set your system. It will request to enter a resolution. Use numberxnumber format to express it. For example: 600x400 is the proper format. For the best appearence and performance i suggest 800x480. Now everything is done.
The ubuntu system is running , however we can't see it. To see it , we must use AndroidVNC. We can download it from Play Store. Set this info:
-nickname: user
-password: ubuntu
-adress: localhost
REMEMBER:
If you don't want to damage Ubuntu system , always write "exit" in terminal before you finish your work or shut down your phone.
Press connect and you are done. You can move and do what you want :)