How to compile a working kernel

NiMa · 02-01-2021, 06:01 PM

Hi,
So I recently bought a Kobo Mini for tinkering, and I'm trying to compile a new kernel for it, since it is still running Linux 2.6.
I tried with NickelTC and the official imx507/KoboLabs sources, but that didn't work. The Mini only showed a blue light when powering up and nothing appeared on the screen. Even flashing the uImage that was already compiled in the tar.bz2 didn't work.
Am I missing something here?

Thanks.

Elektron · 02-01-2021, 06:06 PM

Did you include a proper bootloader? And is the rcS without problems?

NiLuJe · 02-01-2021, 06:08 PM

The kernel sources available often (read: almost never) actually match the currently shipped binaries (by which I mean, they're out of date).

I'm vaguely hoping they'd still lead to a booting device regardless, but it's hard to say without a serial shell

.

That said, any decent toolchain should do, the kernels are built by NTX, not Kobo, so they're never actually built with the same toolchain as Nickel.

NiLuJe · 02-01-2021, 06:09 PM

c.f., https://github.com/marek-g/kobo-kern...d_instructions for ca. that era custom kernel shenanigans.

NiMa · 02-01-2021, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiLuJe

c.f., https://github.com/marek-g/kobo-kern...d_instructions for ca. that era custom kernel shenanigans.

Yeah, that's what I did, approximately.
I'll try to flash the stock uImage with the original FW version that was shipped with the Mini and I'll see how it goes.
thanks!

Elektron · 02-02-2021, 12:23 AM

Any luck with that?

NiMa · 02-02-2021, 12:57 AM

Well, no, sadly :/. Tomorrow I'll try with the provided toolchain and I'll see if it does work or not.

Elektron · 02-02-2021, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiMa

Well, no, sadly :/. Tomorrow I'll try with the provided toolchain and I'll see if it does work or not.

:/

Has it worked (with the provided toolchain?)

NiMa · 02-02-2021, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elektron

:/

Has it worked (with the provided toolchain?)

No, not yet, because it is a legacy 32-bit executable (you know, 2010s...) and Arch doesn't want to install the required dependencies to run it.

02-01-2021, 06:01 PM	#1
NiMa Fanatic Posts: 507 Karma: 2390534 Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Somewhere in the Universe Device: Kobo Libra, Glo HD, Touch C/B, Mini, Glo, Aura SE, Clara HD, KT	How to compile a working kernel Hi, So I recently bought a Kobo Mini for tinkering, and I'm trying to compile a new kernel for it, since it is still running Linux 2.6. I tried with NickelTC and the official imx507/KoboLabs sources, but that didn't work. The Mini only showed a blue light when powering up and nothing appeared on the screen. Even flashing the uImage that was already compiled in the tar.bz2 didn't work. Am I missing something here? Thanks.

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02-01-2021, 06:06 PM	#2
Elektron Banned Posts: 2,296 Karma: 5300240 Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Edmonton, AB Device: Kobo Aura H2O Edition 2 (mark 7), Kobo Mini	Did you include a proper bootloader? And is the rcS without problems?

02-01-2021, 06:08 PM	#3
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047202 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	The kernel sources available often (read: almost never) actually match the currently shipped binaries (by which I mean, they're out of date). I'm vaguely hoping they'd still lead to a booting device regardless, but it's hard to say without a serial shell . That said, any decent toolchain should do, the kernels are built by NTX, not Kobo, so they're never actually built with the same toolchain as Nickel.

02-01-2021, 06:09 PM	#4
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047202 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	c.f., https://github.com/marek-g/kobo-kern...d_instructions for ca. that era custom kernel shenanigans.

02-02-2021, 12:23 AM	#6
Elektron Banned Posts: 2,296 Karma: 5300240 Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Edmonton, AB Device: Kobo Aura H2O Edition 2 (mark 7), Kobo Mini	Any luck with that?

02-02-2021, 12:57 AM	#7
NiMa Fanatic Posts: 507 Karma: 2390534 Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Somewhere in the Universe Device: Kobo Libra, Glo HD, Touch C/B, Mini, Glo, Aura SE, Clara HD, KT	Well, no, sadly :/. Tomorrow I'll try with the provided toolchain and I'll see if it does work or not.