Compiling the Linux Kernel for the Kindle - Page 3

joblack · 07-29-2010, 11:06 PM

Did somebody compile the FBReader or XCHM or XPDF for the Kindle and that kernel? Iwould like to know how it looks like (and of course you would have DRM-free Epub support)

isotherm · 07-29-2010, 11:13 PM

A new kernel should not be necessary to get those programs running... Various things can be compiled with scratchbox, but for testing, the Kindle can even run Ubuntu ARM in chroot. See http://blog.fsck.com/2009/07/new-kindle-features.html

yifanlu · 07-29-2010, 11:41 PM

Warning: do not blindly compile everything in the kernel. My kindle is now stuck in a reboot loop. I built a ttl to rs232 converter with a spare max3232 chip u had laying around, but it's not working because of either my bad soldering skills, or I didn't get then ports correctly. Anyone have the ttl pinout for the kindle?

NiLuJe · 07-30-2010, 11:22 AM

I assume you're aware of those threads? (It's mostly DX & K1, but that may be of some help).

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49942
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72635
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66170
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71367
http://igorsk.blogspot.com/2007/12/h...g-console.html

Jethro · 07-02-2011, 07:18 AM

Nice guide

, Im thinking of trying it but I'm a bit of a Linux noob. What exactly does this do? Does it rewrite all the system files on the kindle? because I broke my internet somehow, and a factory reset doesn't fix it, so it would be awesome if i could do this and completely restore..

hawhill · 07-13-2011, 08:00 AM

Yifanlu, do I understand this right that there is no initramfs involved? So I need initramfs support, but no actual initramfs to compile into the kernel? Just to make sure - well, I have access to a serial port converter, but I would prefer to not test my aweful soldering skills.....

yifanlu · 07-13-2011, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawhill

Yifanlu, do I understand this right that there is no initramfs involved? So I need initramfs support, but no actual initramfs to compile into the kernel? Just to make sure - well, I have access to a serial port converter, but I would prefer to not test my aweful soldering skills.....

Uboot is in charge of loading the kernel, however, there is an initramfs.coup that is loaded for recovery scripts.

budalb · 12-05-2012, 05:43 PM

Has anybody compiled the kernel in Firmware 3.4 for Kindle DXG? This is beyond my capability.

hawhill · 12-05-2012, 05:49 PM

I don't think so. The approach to run firmware version 3.x on the KDX rather went the route to adapt the userland system to the original KDX kernel version.

budalb · 12-05-2012, 07:33 PM

But I think it was mentioned that Yifan's approach does not update the linux kernel. The Firmware 3.4 requires kernel updates (eink_fb) to have MOBI8 support. And it was mentioned that the reason of not updating the kernel is the kernel used in Kindle 3 does not backward support Kindle 2(including DX and DXG). Is it possible to recompile Kindle 3 kernel with selecting Kindle 2 CPU support?

twobob · 12-05-2012, 07:43 PM

is it possible? almost certainly. Has anyone done it? not that I know of.

As a rough starting guide you could use my Building a 3.3 kernel guide or the above resources. good luck. Niluje has provisioned some likely flags and switches for the DX builds. his x-compile config would most likely be a decent starting point also.

HTH

budalb · 12-05-2012, 08:13 PM

Unfortunately I am not an expert to compile a customized kernel. Do any experts who own DXG want to help? The MOBI8 support is so useful that epub file with embedded font can be converted and viewed on DXG.

I always prefer to reading material on DXG at home. It looks more like a book, with bigger fonts and less page turns. A MOBI8 support probably is the last thing we need for the life of DXG. The PDF contrast adjustment is good too, but I no longer read PDF with it anymore. It simply too small for letter size PDF.

twobob · 12-05-2012, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by budalb

Unfortunately I am not an expert to compile a customized kernel. Do any experts who own DXG want to help? The MOBI8 support is so useful that epub file with embedded font can be converted and viewed on DXG.

I always prefer to reading material on DXG at home. It looks more like a book, with bigger fonts and less page turns. A MOBI8 support probably is the last thing we need for the life of DXG. The PDF contrast adjustment is good too, but I no longer read PDF with it anymore. It simply too small for letter size PDF.

true I use Hawhill et al's pdfviewer on there for that. also using it as a screen for a more fully featured viewer on the pc but these all take a little knowledge.

Maybe try the via buildroot method if x-compiling scares you.
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=188031

fiddle around with something like that. I was no expert when I gave it a go. The info is out there.

budalb · 12-06-2012, 07:31 AM

twobob: Thanks.

I would give it a try when during Xmas break. Two questions:

1) How do I recover the device if kernel flash OK, but kindle fails to boot or provide an interface (e.g. shell).

2) Does anybody have a DXG boot message that I can guess what is included in the 2.5.8 kernel?

The PDF enhancements (contrast adjustment, zoom) in 3.4 firmware does not need kernel support. MOBI8 support is the only one I found that needs kernel support.

knc1 · 12-06-2012, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by budalb

twobob: Thanks.

I would give it a try when during Xmas break. Two questions:

1) How do I recover the device if kernel flash OK, but kindle fails to boot or provide an interface (e.g. shell).

2) Does anybody have a DXG boot message that I can guess what is included in the 2.5.8 kernel?

The PDF enhancements (contrast adjustment, zoom) in 3.4 firmware does not need kernel support. MOBI8 support is the only one I found that needs kernel support.

1 - So don't flash the kernel until you know it works.
I.E: Load it into memory with u-boot and execute it from there.

2a - See if you have a /proc/.config.gz file on your DXG while it is running. That is the config file that was used to build it.

2b - Use the kernel's attached symbol table of exported symbols, find in the kernel source tree what features export each symbol, enable those features.

3 - Your way - guess from the boot messages - lots of luck with that.

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07-29-2010, 11:06 PM	#31
joblack Wizard Posts: 1,745 Karma: 4382514 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Somewhere on earth Device: Onyx Boox Tab X	Did somebody compile the FBReader or XCHM or XPDF for the Kindle and that kernel? Iwould like to know how it looks like (and of course you would have DRM-free Epub support)

07-29-2010, 11:13 PM	#32
isotherm Connoisseur Posts: 79 Karma: 187319 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kindle 2	A new kernel should not be necessary to get those programs running... Various things can be compiled with scratchbox, but for testing, the Kindle can even run Ubuntu ARM in chroot. See http://blog.fsck.com/2009/07/new-kindle-features.html

07-29-2010, 11:41 PM	#33
yifanlu Kindle Dissector Posts: 662 Karma: 475607 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Amazon Kindle 3	Warning: do not blindly compile everything in the kernel. My kindle is now stuck in a reboot loop. I built a ttl to rs232 converter with a spare max3232 chip u had laying around, but it's not working because of either my bad soldering skills, or I didn't get then ports correctly. Anyone have the ttl pinout for the kindle?

07-30-2010, 11:22 AM	#34
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,477 Karma: 26012492 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	I assume you're aware of those threads? (It's mostly DX & K1, but that may be of some help). https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49942 https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72635 https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66170 https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71367 http://igorsk.blogspot.com/2007/12/h...g-console.html

07-02-2011, 07:18 AM	#35
Jethro Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Kindle DX	Nice guide , Im thinking of trying it but I'm a bit of a Linux noob. What exactly does this do? Does it rewrite all the system files on the kindle? because I broke my internet somehow, and a factory reset doesn't fix it, so it would be awesome if i could do this and completely restore..

07-13-2011, 08:00 AM	#36
hawhill Wizard Posts: 1,379 Karma: 2155307 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Goettingen, Germany Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Mini	Yifanlu, do I understand this right that there is no initramfs involved? So I need initramfs support, but no actual initramfs to compile into the kernel? Just to make sure - well, I have access to a serial port converter, but I would prefer to not test my aweful soldering skills.....

12-05-2012, 05:43 PM	#38
budalb Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 9998 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle DXG, Sony PRS-600	Has anybody compiled the kernel in Firmware 3.4 for Kindle DXG? This is beyond my capability.

12-05-2012, 05:49 PM	#39
hawhill Wizard Posts: 1,379 Karma: 2155307 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Goettingen, Germany Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Mini	I don't think so. The approach to run firmware version 3.x on the KDX rather went the route to adapt the userland system to the original KDX kernel version.

12-05-2012, 07:33 PM	#40
budalb Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 9998 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle DXG, Sony PRS-600	But I think it was mentioned that Yifan's approach does not update the linux kernel. The Firmware 3.4 requires kernel updates (eink_fb) to have MOBI8 support. And it was mentioned that the reason of not updating the kernel is the kernel used in Kindle 3 does not backward support Kindle 2(including DX and DXG). Is it possible to recompile Kindle 3 kernel with selecting Kindle 2 CPU support?

12-05-2012, 07:43 PM	#41
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	is it possible? almost certainly. Has anyone done it? not that I know of. As a rough starting guide you could use my Building a 3.3 kernel guide or the above resources. good luck. Niluje has provisioned some likely flags and switches for the DX builds. his x-compile config would most likely be a decent starting point also. HTH

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12-05-2012, 08:13 PM	#42
budalb Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 9998 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle DXG, Sony PRS-600	Unfortunately I am not an expert to compile a customized kernel. Do any experts who own DXG want to help? The MOBI8 support is so useful that epub file with embedded font can be converted and viewed on DXG. I always prefer to reading material on DXG at home. It looks more like a book, with bigger fonts and less page turns. A MOBI8 support probably is the last thing we need for the life of DXG. The PDF contrast adjustment is good too, but I no longer read PDF with it anymore. It simply too small for letter size PDF.

12-06-2012, 07:31 AM	#44
budalb Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 9998 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle DXG, Sony PRS-600	twobob: Thanks. I would give it a try when during Xmas break. Two questions: 1) How do I recover the device if kernel flash OK, but kindle fails to boot or provide an interface (e.g. shell). 2) Does anybody have a DXG boot message that I can guess what is included in the 2.5.8 kernel? The PDF enhancements (contrast adjustment, zoom) in 3.4 firmware does not need kernel support. MOBI8 support is the only one I found that needs kernel support.