Install newer kernel

pepijndevos · 10-15-2012, 10:59 AM

Is it possible to install a newer kernel on my Kindle 4?

The kernel that ships with the Kindle is too old to run my Arch chroot.

I wonder if I can run a normal linux kernel on the Kindle, or if Amazon has heavily modified it.

At first I would like to run my chroot on the Kindle, hopefully with a custom kernel.

If I can get some stuff to work, install Arch as my OS.

knc1 · 10-15-2012, 11:02 AM

Why don't you just grab the source files for the kernel that Amazon has posted and the source files of the desired kernel from kernel.org, diff them and answer that question yourself?

If you do merge the Amazon sources with a newer kernel, it would be nice if you published your merge in a public repository.

2.6.34.13 would probably be a good target.

twobob · 10-15-2012, 11:08 AM

It's really not so tough. Buildroot pretty much does all the hardwork for you.

Check out "Building a kernel with Buildroot", you may have to sort out your own little patches to get the headers all in place and any other niggles. (The reference is for a 3.3 you will have to make the adjustments)

But, in the main, that is probably the most user-friendly tool I found so far.
As a bonus you can make a better busybox if you can be bothered to jump the hoops.

HTH

knc1 · 10-15-2012, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pepijndevos

If I can get some stuff to work, install Arch as my OS.

A better choice would be Tizen.
There are a couple of threads here on that if you want to join that project.

twobob · 10-15-2012, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knc1

A better choice would be Tizen.
There are a couple of threads here on that if you want to join that project.

That does look very interesting indeed : )

pepijndevos · 10-15-2012, 12:16 PM

I don't want a QT HTML5 in my Kindle. Just a sane Linux toolchain and terminal on my framebuffer and I'll be happy. Maybe Debian is easier though.

twobob, you mean this one? https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=188031 Seems you still use the lab126 version, or am I mistaken?

I also found this about compiling the kernel: http://www.christian-hoff.com/?p=44

His sources van be found here, but are based on the Amazon kernel: http://www.christian-hoff.com/gitweb...git;a=shortlog

Freescale also provides somewhat current kernel sources, maybe they would be a better starting point than kernel.org: http://git.freescale.com/git/cgit.cg...git/refs/heads

knc1 · 10-15-2012, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pepijndevos

I don't want a QT HTML5 in my Kindle. Just a sane Linux toolchain and terminal on my framebuffer and I'll be happy.

Then why don't you just do that, rather than spend the time to replace the entire system?

We have lots of choices for both of those objectives already published.

This video might get you started in the correct direction if you just substitute site-names:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...&postcount=112

pepijndevos · 10-15-2012, 02:04 PM

Yes, a Debian chroot would be fairly easy, and I found a post explaining it. Native debian, not so much. I searched for general terms like "Debian"(lots of posts) and more specific "kindle debian armel debootstrap"(only the chroot post)

Christian Hoff about USB OTG support:

Quote:

I have used the OTG successfully on a Debian SID image that I also installed on the Kindle, but with the lab126 distro there seem to be some issues with the OTG.

How I arrived at the Arch idea is as follows. I wanted a terminal. KindleTerm. I wanted a compiler. Chroot. I wanted a keyboard. Custom kernel.

The Arch part is optional, but I thought that would be easy once I had to make a custom kernel anyway. I'll have a look into merging, but if that proves too hard, I will try Debian.

ps, can't say I find it easy to find *anything* in forums.

knc1 · 10-15-2012, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pepijndevos

Yes, a Debian chroot would be fairly easy, and I found a post explaining it. Native debian, not so much. I searched for general terms like "Debian"(lots of posts) and more specific "kindle debian armel debootstrap"(only the chroot post)

Christian Hoff about USB OTG support:

How I arrived at the Arch idea is as follows. I wanted a terminal. KindleTerm. I wanted a compiler. Chroot. I wanted a keyboard. Custom kernel.

The Arch part is optional, but I thought that would be easy once I had to make a custom kernel anyway. I'll have a look into merging, but if that proves too hard, I will try Debian.

ps, can't say I find it easy to find *anything* in forums.

You are a member here with permission to extend the index system with anything you find useful that isn't already indexed.

geekmaster · 10-15-2012, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knc1

You are a member here with permission to extend the index system with anything you find useful that isn't already indexed.

The "index system" can be found in the Dev Corner "Master Index" sticky thread. And please (everybody) add interesting links to the indexes. That is WHY I created them as wikis.

It was MUCH harder to find stuff before we had index wikis and prefixes.

eureka · 10-15-2012, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pepijndevos

The Arch part is optional, but I thought that would be easy once I had to make a custom kernel anyway. I'll have a look into merging, but if that proves too hard, I will try Debian.

Debian kernel doesn't know anything about specific Kindle board. It might work, but it will be crippled expirience for sure. As you've correctly noted, your best try (for OTG support) is merging Christian patches into Amazon sources.

knc1 · 10-15-2012, 03:30 PM

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...&postcount=511
and following posts.

Also:
http://yifan.lu/2011/04/02/recoverin...rupt-kindle-2/
http://yifan.lu/2010/07/26/compiling...amazon-kindle/

If you find any of that useful, add index entries for anything not already indexed.

pepijndevos · 10-16-2012, 08:03 AM

I looked at applying the Kindle 4 patches to an upstream kernel, but I clearly have the wrong version.

After applying 700+ patches and resolving all the conflicts to the best of my ability, it is very clear from the diff the Amazon v2.6.31-rt11 is not based on Kernel.org v2.6.31.11.

I also tried to apply the patches to Freescale v2.6.31 with a similar result. It does seem like the Freescale version has some of the patches already applied.

Special mention goes to drivers/net/fec.c for most rejections.

Any idea which kernel Amazon used for their version?

knc1 · 10-16-2012, 08:29 AM

The 'real time' kernel (-rt).
You should be able to get those sources (or at least the -rt patch) from the Real Time Linux web-site.

And you can't use just any old "upstream kernel"
You did not say **which** upstream kernel you used, but seems most likely it was not the one that was recommended.

pepijndevos · 10-16-2012, 03:40 PM

Which one was recommended?

You talked about 2.6.34.13, but that is clearly a lot newer than the Kindle. I assumed you meant that as a target to merge onto the lab126.

There was talk about Chris's kernel, which is a refurbished lab126 kernel.

Tizen was mentioned, which is not a kernel at all. And a link was posted to someone who uploaded K2 and K3 sources.

My plan is to find the smallest diff, overwrite that with the lab126 kernel, and then merge in newer kernels.

10-15-2012, 10:59 AM	#1
pepijndevos Connoisseur Posts: 71 Karma: 23166 Join Date: Sep 2012 Device: Kindle 4NT	Install newer kernel Is it possible to install a newer kernel on my Kindle 4? The kernel that ships with the Kindle is too old to run my Arch chroot. I wonder if I can run a normal linux kernel on the Kindle, or if Amazon has heavily modified it. At first I would like to run my chroot on the Kindle, hopefully with a custom kernel. If I can get some stuff to work, install Arch as my OS.

10-15-2012, 11:02 AM	#2
knc1 Going Viral Posts: 17,212 Karma: 18210809 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Central Texas Device: No K1, PW2, KV, KOA	Why don't you just grab the source files for the kernel that Amazon has posted and the source files of the desired kernel from kernel.org, diff them and answer that question yourself? If you do merge the Amazon sources with a newer kernel, it would be nice if you published your merge in a public repository. 2.6.34.13 would probably be a good target. Last edited by knc1; 10-15-2012 at 11:14 AM.

10-15-2012, 03:30 PM	#12
knc1 Going Viral Posts: 17,212 Karma: 18210809 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Central Texas Device: No K1, PW2, KV, KOA	https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...&postcount=511 and following posts. Also: http://yifan.lu/2011/04/02/recoverin...rupt-kindle-2/ http://yifan.lu/2010/07/26/compiling...amazon-kindle/ If you find any of that useful, add index entries for anything not already indexed. Last edited by knc1; 10-15-2012 at 03:36 PM.

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10-15-2012, 11:08 AM	#3
twobob ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°){ʇlnɐɟ ƃǝs}Týr Posts: 6,586 Karma: 6299991 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: uti gratia usura (Yao ying da ying; Mo ying da yieng) Device: PW-WIFI\|K5-3G+WIFI\| K4\|K3-3G\|DXG\|K2\| Rooted Nook Touch	It's really not so tough. Buildroot pretty much does all the hardwork for you. Check out "Building a kernel with Buildroot", you may have to sort out your own little patches to get the headers all in place and any other niggles. (The reference is for a 3.3 you will have to make the adjustments) But, in the main, that is probably the most user-friendly tool I found so far. As a bonus you can make a better busybox if you can be bothered to jump the hoops. HTH

10-15-2012, 12:16 PM	#6
pepijndevos Connoisseur Posts: 71 Karma: 23166 Join Date: Sep 2012 Device: Kindle 4NT	I don't want a QT HTML5 in my Kindle. Just a sane Linux toolchain and terminal on my framebuffer and I'll be happy. Maybe Debian is easier though. twobob, you mean this one? https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=188031 Seems you still use the lab126 version, or am I mistaken? I also found this about compiling the kernel: http://www.christian-hoff.com/?p=44 His sources van be found here, but are based on the Amazon kernel: http://www.christian-hoff.com/gitweb...git;a=shortlog Freescale also provides somewhat current kernel sources, maybe they would be a better starting point than kernel.org: http://git.freescale.com/git/cgit.cg...git/refs/heads

10-16-2012, 08:03 AM	#13
pepijndevos Connoisseur Posts: 71 Karma: 23166 Join Date: Sep 2012 Device: Kindle 4NT	I looked at applying the Kindle 4 patches to an upstream kernel, but I clearly have the wrong version. After applying 700+ patches and resolving all the conflicts to the best of my ability, it is very clear from the diff the Amazon v2.6.31-rt11 is not based on Kernel.org v2.6.31.11. I also tried to apply the patches to Freescale v2.6.31 with a similar result. It does seem like the Freescale version has some of the patches already applied. Special mention goes to drivers/net/fec.c for most rejections. Any idea which kernel Amazon used for their version?

10-16-2012, 08:29 AM	#14
knc1 Going Viral Posts: 17,212 Karma: 18210809 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Central Texas Device: No K1, PW2, KV, KOA	The 'real time' kernel (-rt). You should be able to get those sources (or at least the -rt patch) from the Real Time Linux web-site. And you can't use just any old "upstream kernel" You did not say which upstream kernel you used, but seems most likely it was not the one that was recommended.

10-16-2012, 03:40 PM	#15
pepijndevos Connoisseur Posts: 71 Karma: 23166 Join Date: Sep 2012 Device: Kindle 4NT	Which one was recommended? You talked about 2.6.34.13, but that is clearly a lot newer than the Kindle. I assumed you meant that as a target to merge onto the lab126. There was talk about Chris's kernel, which is a refurbished lab126 kernel. Tizen was mentioned, which is not a kernel at all. And a link was posted to someone who uploaded K2 and K3 sources. My plan is to find the smallest diff, overwrite that with the lab126 kernel, and then merge in newer kernels.

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