Restore KindleDX USB networking

ebs · 06-19-2009, 10:21 PM

`usbNetwork doesn't work out of the box on Kindle DX - /test/bin/usbnetwork script (this is what actually called when you enter `usbNetwork hidden command) isn't included in the official firmware, however g_ether.ko gadget USB driver is still there

.

So, it's relatively trivial to enable this functionality on DX. Here is a sample script I've just tested succesfully with my Macbook Pro running Linux (just put it into /test/bin/usbnetwork on Kindle rootfs):

Code:

#!/bin/sh

rmmod g_file_storage
modprobe g_ether
ifconfig usb0 192.168.2.2

On my laptop:

Code:

mbp ~ # lsusb | grep RNDIS
Bus 001 Device 038: ID 0525:a4a2 Netchip Technology, Inc. Linux-USB Ethernet/RNDIS Gadget

Code:

mbp ~ # ifconfig usb0 192.168.2.1
mbp ~ # ping 192.168.2.2
PING 192.168.2.2 (192.168.2.2) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from 192.168.2.2: icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=0.835 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.2.2: icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=1.18 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.2.2: icmp_seq=3 ttl=64 time=1.19 ms

I'll post firmware update package shortly

desertgrandma · 06-19-2009, 10:37 PM

Well............welcome to MobileRead, ebs.

I'd tell you not to hesitate to ask questions, but somehow I get the feeling you will be answering them instead.

Enjoy.

ebs · 06-20-2009, 02:42 AM

As promissed, firmware update that enables `usbNetwork on DX.
Use on your own risk

Updated to include update_usbnetwork-k2.bin. I don't have K2 so this is untested - try it and report your results.

Version with ssh daemon will be posted shortly

Update: use version 0.05 which supports both telnetd and sshd

hmemcpy · 06-20-2009, 04:33 AM

Can you perhaps hack up something for the Kindle 2? That'd be awesome!

ebs · 06-20-2009, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hmemcpy

Can you perhaps hack up something for the Kindle 2? That'd be awesome!

Sorry, I don't have Kindle 2 and I'm not even sure I won't return DX before 30 days are up - I'm very disappointed by PDF support. I'm trying to see if DX is hackable enough to remedy this by myself (I'm not optimistic about Amazon doing anything, frankly).

SalvaG · 06-20-2009, 05:50 AM

Thank you

What is the use of this?

ebs · 06-20-2009, 05:55 AM

Code:

mbp bin # telnet 192.168.2.2
Trying 192.168.2.2...
Connected to 192.168.2.2.
Escape character is '^]'.

kindle login: framework
Password:
#################################################
#  N O T I C E  *  N O T I C E  *  N O T I C E  #
#################################################
Rootfs is mounted read-only. Invoke mntroot rw to
switch back to a writable rootfs.
#################################################
[framework@kindle framework]$ uname -a
Linux kindle 2.6.22.19-lab126 #3 PREEMPT Fri May 8 17:20:04 PDT 2009 armv6l unknown
[framework@kindle framework]$

Code:

[framework@kindle framework]$ cat /proc/cpuinfo
Processor       : ARMv6-compatible processor rev 4 (v6l)
BogoMIPS        : 796.44
Features        : swp half thumb fastmult vfp edsp java
CPU implementer : 0x41
CPU architecture: 6TEJ
CPU variant     : 0x0
CPU part        : 0xb36
CPU revision    : 4
Cache type      : write-back
Cache clean     : cp15 c7 ops
Cache lockdown  : format C
Cache format    : Harvard
I size          : 16384
I assoc         : 4
I line length   : 32
I sets          : 128
D size          : 16384
D assoc         : 4
D line length   : 32
D sets          : 128

Hardware        : Mario Platform
Revision        : 31020
Serial          : "XXXXXXXXXXX"

Code:

[framework@kindle framework]$ lsmod
Module                  Size  Used by
g_ether                28364  0
mxc_alsa_pmic          36480  1
snd_pcm                84421  1 mxc_alsa_pmic
snd_page_alloc          8520  1 snd_pcm
snd_timer              24740  1 snd_pcm
snd                    49188  5 mxc_alsa_pmic,snd_pcm,snd_timer
mma7660F               27472  0
fiveway                20352  0
mxc_keyb               17528  0
ip_queue               11008  0
iptable_filter          2880  0
ip_tables              13288  1 iptable_filter
x_tables               16132  1 ip_tables
uinput                 10978  0
fuse                   48404  2
arcotg_udc             48264  1 g_ether
charger                26272  1 arcotg_udc
mwan                    7636  0
eink_fb_pnlcd          22780  0
eink_fb_shim          131464  0
eink_fb_hal_broads    359724  0
eink_fb_hal            54512  4 eink_fb_shim,eink_fb_hal_broads

Code:

[framework@kindle framework]$ ps aux
USER       PID %CPU %MEM    VSZ   RSS TTY      STAT START   TIME COMMAND
root         1  0.0  0.4   1484   556 ?        Ss   00:22   0:00 init [5]
root         2  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S<   00:22   0:00 [kthreadd]
root         3  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        SN   00:22   0:00 [ksoftirqd/0]
root         4  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S<   00:22   0:00 [watchdog/0]
root         5  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S<   00:22   0:00 [events/0]
root         6  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S<   00:22   0:00 [khelper]
root        37  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S<   00:22   0:00 [kblockd/0]
root        38  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S<   00:22   0:00 [cqueue/0]
root        40  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S<   00:22   0:01 [mxc_spi.1]
root        58  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S<   00:22   0:00 [kmmcd]
root        76  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S    00:22   0:00 [pdflush]
root        77  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S    00:22   0:00 [pdflush]
root        78  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S<   00:22   0:00 [kswapd0]
root        79  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S<   00:22   0:00 [aio/0]
root       101  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S<   00:22   0:04 [mtdblockd]
root       136  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S<   00:22   0:00 [kondemand/0]
root       146  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S<   00:22   0:01 [mmcqd]
root       156  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S<   00:23   0:00 [kjournald]
root       203  0.0  0.4   1520   520 ?        S<s  00:23   0:00 udevd --daemon
root       474  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S<   00:23   0:00 [kjournald]
root       543  0.2  0.0      0     0 ?        S<   00:23   0:23 [eink_fb_bt]
root       545  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S<   00:23   0:00 [eink_fb_pt]
root       549  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S<   00:23   0:00 [eink_fb_sst]
root       553  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S<   00:23   0:00 [pnlcd_animate]
root       663  0.0  0.5   1948   752 ?        Ss   00:23   0:00 /usr/sbin/syslog-ng
root       734  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S<   00:23   0:02 [charger/0]
root      1040  0.0  0.0      0     0 ?        S<   00:23   0:00 [loop0]
root      1060  0.0  0.7  35248   916 ?        Ssl  00:23   0:02 fsp /mnt/base-us /mnt/us -o rw
root      1676  0.0  0.3   1472   492 ?        S    00:23   0:00 /usr/sbin/tphserver -f
root      2056  0.0  0.5   2652   720 ?        S    00:23   0:00 /bin/sh /opt/eink/scripts/lifeguard
root      2119  0.0  0.2   2652   352 ?        S    00:23   0:00 /bin/sh /opt/eink/scripts/lifeguard
root      2211  0.0  0.4   2652   604 ?        Ss+  00:23   0:00 /sbin/getty -L 115200 ttymxc0 -l /bin/login
root      2457  0.0  0.3   1460   484 ?        S    00:23   0:00 /usr/sbin/watchdogd -f
92        8912  0.0  0.6   2236   772 ?        Ss   01:29   0:00 /usr/bin/dbus-daemon --system
root      8942  0.0  0.7  19016   960 ?        Ssl  01:29   0:00 /usr/bin/pmond
root      8955  0.0  3.5  82896  4540 ?        Sl   01:29   0:00 /usr/bin/audioServer -I
root      8956  0.0  0.8  19016  1132 ?        Sl   01:29   0:00 /usr/sbin/volumd -f
root      8957  0.0  0.9  43844  1216 ?        Sl   01:29   0:00 /usr/sbin/wand -f
root      9002  0.0  0.9  19092  1184 ?        Sl   01:29   0:00 /usr/bin/powerd -f
root      9110  0.0  1.2  28396  1560 ?        Sl   01:29   0:00 /usr/sbin/retryd -f
root      9260  0.0  0.4   2648   564 ?        Ss   01:29   0:00 /usr/sbin/crond -c /etc/crontab/
root      9290  0.0  0.7  18964   980 ?        Ssl  01:29   0:00 /usr/bin/lipc-daemon -p /etc/lipc-daemon-props.conf -e /etc/lipc-daemon-e
root      9394  0.0  0.5   2652   720 ?        S    01:29   0:00 /bin/sh /opt/amazon/ebook/bin/start.sh
root      9493  0.0  0.4   2652   520 ?        S    01:29   0:00 /bin/sh /opt/amazon/ebook/bin/start.sh
root      9496  0.6 19.6 313304 25040 ?        SLl  01:29   0:34 /usr/java/bin/cvm -Xmx16m -Xbootclasspath/a:/usr/java/lib/localedata.jar:
root      9497  0.0  0.5   2652   636 ?        S    01:29   0:00 logger -p local2.debug
root     12248  0.0  0.1   3052   244 ?        S<s  02:46   0:00 /mnt/us/bin/telnetd
1001     12273  0.0  0.5   2652   720 pts/0    S<s  02:51   0:00 -sh
1001     12281  0.0  0.7   2584   984 pts/0    R<+  02:54   0:00 ps aux

sirbruce · 06-20-2009, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebs

Sorry, I don't have Kindle 2 and I'm not even sure I won't return DX before 30 days are up - I'm very disappointed by PDF support. I'm trying to see if DX is hackable enough to remedy this by myself (I'm not optimistic about Amazon doing anything, frankly).

ebs,

Whatever needs to be changed on the KDX to enable USB networking is probably also what needs to be changed for the K2. Please try to make your hack work with either firmware and let people here test it.

porkupan · 06-20-2009, 07:48 AM

All that needs to be done, really, is to repack the update with the -k2 option. If someone is interested, they can recreate it themselves from the published package.

sirbruce · 06-20-2009, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porkupan

All that needs to be done, really, is to repack the update with the -k2 option. If someone is interested, they can recreate it themselves from the published package.

Assuming it works? We've had threads on here of people asking for this since it got disabled in 2.0.3.

ebs · 06-20-2009, 01:02 PM

I have updated usbnetwork.tar.gz to include untested k2 version

porkupan · 06-20-2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirbruce

Assuming it works? We've had threads on here of people asking for this since it got disabled in 2.0.3.

The OS is the same (the same kernel version), all setup is essentially the same. No reason why it shouldn't work on K2.

ebs · 06-20-2009, 04:59 PM

I've uploaded usbnetwork-0.04.tar.gz package to include hacked telnetd daemon that gives you root shell without any passwords.
Also, I changed the way I install usbnetwork script - now the only modification to the original firmware is a symbolic link /test/bin/usbnetwork which points to /mnt/us/usbnet/usbnetwork. Nothing else is touched.

All custom scripts and executables are installed in 'usbnet' directory on user-accessible mass storage partition. This will simplify any modifications you may want to make - just change script there, no need to perform firmware update every time. Please, refer to README for more details.

Kindle2 version is also included, however I haven't tested it.

Screenshot

:

Code:

mbp bin # ifconfig usb0 192.168.2.1
mbp bin # telnet 192.168.2.2
Trying 192.168.2.2...
Connected to 192.168.2.2.
Escape character is '^]'.

#################################################
#  N O T I C E  *  N O T I C E  *  N O T I C E  #
#################################################
Rootfs is mounted read-only. Invoke mntroot rw to
switch back to a writable rootfs.
#################################################
[root@kindle root]# whoami
root
[root@kindle root]# ls -al /test/bin
drwxr-xr-x    2 root     root         1024 Jun 20 13:52 .
drwxr-xr-x    9 root     root         1024 Jun 20 13:39 ..
lrwxrwxrwx    1 root     root           25 Jun 20 13:52 usbnetwork -> /mnt/us/usbnet/usbnetwork
[root@kindle root]#

Update: version 0.04 removed - use 0.05

ebs · 06-20-2009, 10:44 PM

New version (I think it'll be a final one) adds support for sshd - when asked for a root password, just press enter. I've also rebuilt busybox with shared libs to decrease size.

Code:

ebs@mbp ~/linux/kindle/usbnet $ ssh root@192.168.2.2
root@192.168.2.2's password:
#################################################
#  N O T I C E  *  N O T I C E  *  N O T I C E  #
#################################################
Rootfs is mounted read-only. Invoke mntroot rw to
switch back to a writable rootfs.
#################################################
[root@kindle root]#

brteag00 · 06-21-2009, 08:18 PM

I can verify that ver. 0.05 has enabled the USB network device on my DX. Thanks, ebs! I like the idea of symlinking the new code into the root fs, it's going to make testing mods much less dangerous.

Also - I would exhort my fellow forum members that with great power comes great responsibility. Please do not (for example) try to use your Kindle to get free wireless internet on your laptop! Not only will Amazon get pissed off at you, they'll come down hard on the rest of us.

06-19-2009, 10:21 PM	#1
ebs Zealot Posts: 100 Karma: 629 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: California, USA Device: Kindle DX	Restore KindleDX USB networking `usbNetwork doesn't work out of the box on Kindle DX - /test/bin/usbnetwork script (this is what actually called when you enter `usbNetwork hidden command) isn't included in the official firmware, however g_ether.ko gadget USB driver is still there . So, it's relatively trivial to enable this functionality on DX. Here is a sample script I've just tested succesfully with my Macbook Pro running Linux (just put it into /test/bin/usbnetwork on Kindle rootfs): Code: #!/bin/sh rmmod g_file_storage modprobe g_ether ifconfig usb0 192.168.2.2 On my laptop: Code: mbp ~ # lsusb \| grep RNDIS Bus 001 Device 038: ID 0525:a4a2 Netchip Technology, Inc. Linux-USB Ethernet/RNDIS Gadget Code: mbp ~ # ifconfig usb0 192.168.2.1 mbp ~ # ping 192.168.2.2 PING 192.168.2.2 (192.168.2.2) 56(84) bytes of data. 64 bytes from 192.168.2.2: icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=0.835 ms 64 bytes from 192.168.2.2: icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=1.18 ms 64 bytes from 192.168.2.2: icmp_seq=3 ttl=64 time=1.19 ms I'll post firmware update package shortly

06-20-2009, 04:59 PM	#13
ebs Zealot Posts: 100 Karma: 629 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: California, USA Device: Kindle DX	usbnetwork v0.04 (with root telnetd shell) I've uploaded usbnetwork-0.04.tar.gz package to include hacked telnetd daemon that gives you root shell without any passwords. Also, I changed the way I install usbnetwork script - now the only modification to the original firmware is a symbolic link /test/bin/usbnetwork which points to /mnt/us/usbnet/usbnetwork. Nothing else is touched. All custom scripts and executables are installed in 'usbnet' directory on user-accessible mass storage partition. This will simplify any modifications you may want to make - just change script there, no need to perform firmware update every time. Please, refer to README for more details. Kindle2 version is also included, however I haven't tested it. Screenshot : Code: mbp bin # ifconfig usb0 192.168.2.1 mbp bin # telnet 192.168.2.2 Trying 192.168.2.2... Connected to 192.168.2.2. Escape character is '^]'. ################################################# # N O T I C E * N O T I C E * N O T I C E # ################################################# Rootfs is mounted read-only. Invoke mntroot rw to switch back to a writable rootfs. ################################################# [root@kindle root]# whoami root [root@kindle root]# ls -al /test/bin drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 1024 Jun 20 13:52 . drwxr-xr-x 9 root root 1024 Jun 20 13:39 .. lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 25 Jun 20 13:52 usbnetwork -> /mnt/us/usbnet/usbnetwork [root@kindle root]# Update: version 0.04 removed - use 0.05 Last edited by ebs; 06-20-2009 at 10:45 PM.

06-21-2009, 08:18 PM	#15
brteag00 Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Kindle DX	0.05 works! I can verify that ver. 0.05 has enabled the USB network device on my DX. Thanks, ebs! I like the idea of symlinking the new code into the root fs, it's going to make testing mods much less dangerous. Also - I would exhort my fellow forum members that with great power comes great responsibility. Please do not (for example) try to use your Kindle to get free wireless internet on your laptop! Not only will Amazon get pissed off at you, they'll come down hard on the rest of us.

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06-19-2009, 10:37 PM	#2
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Well............welcome to MobileRead, ebs. I'd tell you not to hesitate to ask questions, but somehow I get the feeling you will be answering them instead. Enjoy.

06-20-2009, 02:42 AM	#3
ebs Zealot Posts: 100 Karma: 629 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: California, USA Device: Kindle DX	As promissed, firmware update that enables `usbNetwork on DX. Use on your own risk Updated to include update_usbnetwork-k2.bin. I don't have K2 so this is untested - try it and report your results. Version with ssh daemon will be posted shortly Update: use version 0.05 which supports both telnetd and sshd Last edited by ebs; 06-20-2009 at 10:46 PM.

06-20-2009, 04:33 AM	#4
hmemcpy Member Posts: 19 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Israel Device: Kindle 2	Can you perhaps hack up something for the Kindle 2? That'd be awesome!

06-20-2009, 05:50 AM	#6
SalvaG Enthusiast Posts: 39 Karma: 54 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Spain Device: Kindle DX	Thank you What is the use of this?

06-20-2009, 07:48 AM	#9
porkupan Fanatic Posts: 556 Karma: 1057213 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Eastern U.S. Device: Sony Reader	All that needs to be done, really, is to repack the update with the -k2 option. If someone is interested, they can recreate it themselves from the published package.

06-20-2009, 01:02 PM	#11
ebs Zealot Posts: 100 Karma: 629 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: California, USA Device: Kindle DX	I have updated usbnetwork.tar.gz to include untested k2 version

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