K3 [K3] Custom Kernel (rescue shell !, kexec, patched recovery)

[seaniko7]

Hello again.

Here's my custom kernel for Kindle 3 with some nice features :

- Rescue shell access over USB-Serial
- Kexec support
- Patched Recovery Mode

1. Rescue shell Boot procedure :
- After kernel is loaded by bootloader it creates required nodes and loads g_serial module for serial-over-usb mode.
- It waits 70s for connection with host machine

Connection parameters :

Spoiler:

ttyACM0, 115200 8N1

If user connected to Kindle terminal ( let's say via minicom )

Spoiler:

It asks for login and password, which is :

login : root
password : fiona

If no connection is found, Kindle boots as usual.

1.1 Additional scripts :
start-os - starts Kindle OS

2. Recovery mode Boot procedure :
- Reboot Kindle holding power switch for 20s, and then hold enter key on keyboard for 80s
- From Recovey mode press ALT+E to export mmcblk0p1 over USB

3. Kexec kernel execution :
- run "kexec -l <path to your uImage>"
- run "kexec -e"

v0.1

Spoiler:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/16679763/kin...ell_kernel.zip

Enjoy.

PS: In not-so-far future I'll prepare similiar kernels for KT & KNT with shell over usbNetwork and scp support.

[geekmaster]

Awesome!

[inameiname]

What is the advantage of having this over, say, the default kernel, with the USBNetwork hack and/or terminal emulator program installed?

Sorry to sound so ignorant, I just am curious what the benefits are. Does the custom kernel make the whole firmware and OS run better/faster? Again, for us less-kernel-knowledged people. Hehe.

Also, is it possible to get an uninstall.bin for this hack? I always like the ability to easily uninstall all that I install.

Thanks in advance.

[giorgio130]

[root@kindle us]# kexec -l main_kernel.img
Cannot open /proc/atags: No such file or directory
kexec_load failed: Function not implemented
entry = 0x80008000 flags = 280000
nr_segments = 2
segment[0].buf = 0x28028
segment[0].bufsz = 10
segment[0].mem = 0x80001000
segment[0].memsz = 1000
segment[1].buf = 0x40154008
segment[1].bufsz = 20f000
segment[1].mem = 0x80008000
segment[1].memsz = 20f000

I get the same error as in the other thread. Did you read my post?

To avoid confusion, I'm on a K3G, maybe you're testing on another platform...

[seaniko7]

Originally Posted by inameiname

What is the advantage of having this over, say, the default kernel, with the USBNetwork hack and/or terminal emulator program installed?

Sorry to sound so ignorant, I just am curious what the benefits are. Does the custom kernel make the whole firmware and OS run better/faster? Again, for us less-kernel-knowledged people. Hehe.

Also, is it possible to get an uninstall.bin for this hack? I always like the ability to easily uninstall all that I install.

Thanks in advance.

Rescue shell gives you possibility to :

- fix changes that caused so called "brick"
- boot another OS, for example Debian, Android ( only on KT with usbNetwork via NFS mounted from kernel level )
- create boot-menu for above by loading eink modules ( atm I have no idea how to achieve this ... )

I don't have original 3.3 kernel for uninstaller. I'd be very thankful if someone could extract it using geekmaster awesome getkernels tool.

@giorgio130, I've flashed two K3W without issues. If update doesn't work, you can also flash it manually using Amazon tools.

- Download uImage from here : http://dl.dropbox.com/u/16679763/uImage
- Copy it to /mnt/us
- Execute :

cp /mnt/us/uImage /tmp ; /test/flashtools/luigi/update /tmp/uImage

[giorgio130]

Thanks, it worked this time! Is it possible that the update package for k3g contains a stock kernel?

[geekmaster]

Originally Posted by seaniko7

I don't have original 3.3 kernel for uninstaller. I'd be very thankful if someone could extract it using geekmaster awesome getkernels tool.

Done! Download URL is at the bottom of this list: http://pastebin.com/Wdw4L7yT

EDIT: This compressed very little with gzip. Is it a compressed kernel?

[thomass]

Originally Posted by geekmaster

...http://pastebin.com/Wdw4L7yT...

to have a better url I shorten(?) it: tinyurl.com/kindleimages

well, if you don't trust me then use this one: preview.tinyurl.com/kindleimages

[geekmaster]

Originally Posted by thomass

to have a better url I shorten(?) it: tinyurl.com/kindleimages

well, if you don't trust me then use this one: preview.tinyurl.com/kindleimages

We are removing direct links due to warnings on the parent Amazon Kindle forum. Links to lists of links are MUCH less likely to be a problem.

[inameiname]

Originally Posted by seaniko7

Rescue shell gives you possibility to :

- fix changes that caused so called "brick"
- boot another OS, for example Debian, Android ( only on KT with usbNetwork via NFS mounted from kernel level )
- create boot-menu for above by loading eink modules ( atm I have no idea how to achieve this ... )

I don't have original 3.3 kernel for uninstaller. I'd be very thankful if someone could extract it using geekmaster awesome getkernels tool.

@giorgio130, I've flashed two K3W without issues. If update doesn't work, you can also flash it manually using Amazon tools.

- Download uImage from here : http://dl.dropbox.com/u/16679763/uImage
- Copy it to /mnt/us
- Execute :

cp /mnt/us/uImage /tmp ; /test/flashtools/luigi/update /tmp/uImage

Thanks for the info. I love the idea of being able to boot Debian or Android, however, it is a shame that is for the Kindle Touch, and not also for Kindle 3. Will it ever be possible to get that working for the Kindle 3?

Now, would having a K3G versus K3W (which you used) matter in terms of using this custom kernel?

[twobob]

Originally Posted by seaniko7

Rescue shell gives you possibility to :

- fix changes that caused so called "brick"
- boot another OS, for example Debian, Android ( only on KT with usbNetwork via NFS mounted from kernel level )
- create boot-menu for above by loading eink modules ( atm I have no idea how to achieve this ... )

I don't have original 3.3 kernel for uninstaller. I'd be very thankful if someone could extract it using geekmaster awesome getkernels tool.

@giorgio130, I've flashed two K3W without issues. If update doesn't work, you can also flash it manually using Amazon tools.

- Download uImage from here : http://dl.dropbox.com/u/16679763/uImage
- Copy it to /mnt/us
- Execute :

cp /mnt/us/uImage /tmp ; /test/flashtools/luigi/update /tmp/uImage

Thanks very much for your work on this