[ Tutotrial ] Install either Ubuntu or Debian in any Android Phone without any app - Android

This is a Tutorial to install either Ubuntu or Debian in any Android mobile without using any app ​
* Installing Ubuntu or Debian Linux does not format your Android OS or change anything to your phone.
The Operating Systems run over the underlying Android OS which continues to function as normal
Choosing your Linux OS:
There are few things you must be aware of before installing Ubuntu/Debian on youe Android Phone
Ubuntu does not support earlier ARM CPUs like the ones used in the Motorola Cliq. Samsung Galaxy Fit (ARMv6), Samsung Galaxy Y, etc.
( Reason behind this is , Your Android OS Kernel must support loop devices. Most newer Android smartphones/tablets come with this support so we can mount our Ubuntu image as a loop device. If not, you will either have to build your own kernel with support for loop devices or you can try an aftermarket ROM for your phone as most aftermarket ROMs come with support for it. )
You need at least an ARMv7 CPU like the kind found in the Motorola Droid, Samsung Galaxy S,HTC EVO 3D, Sony Experia Play, etc. most newer phones (Hummingbird, Snapdragon, Tegra2, etc.).So you can Install Ubuntu if you have ARMv7 or newer Processor.
If you have ARMV6 or any other moderate Processor don't be sad, because Debian supports the CPU on practically all Android devices, so if you prefer Debian, or you can't run Ubuntu, choose the Debian download link.
* If you're not sure what CPU your device has, look up your device on http://pdadb.net/, click the link under CPU, and read the line for "Supported Instruction Set(s)".
e.g. : My Phone which is a " Samsung Galaxy Fit" uses ARMV6 Instruction Sets.
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Pre-Requirements:
Hardware Required:
an Android Phone
SD Card with more than 2GB of free Space
Android root environment:
Most important! Your Android device should be “rooted” because you need root access to run Ubuntu/Debian off your Android. If your device is not rooted you have to root your device.
Linux Operating System:
Download suitable OS from the following Link:
Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty Narwhal)
linux.ubuntu-natty.tar.bz2 Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty)
Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot
linux.ubuntu-oneiric.tar.bz2 Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric)
Debian 6.0 Squeeze
linux.debian-squeeze.tar.bz2 Debian 6.0 (Squeeze)
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Applications Required:
BusyBox Installer
A terminal emulator like Better Terminal Emulator ( Recommended ) or Terminal Emulator.
Optional Apllications:
androidVNC
Or
ConnectBot
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Procedure ----------------------------------------------->
Step 1:
(Mount the SD card on your computer.)
Extract the .tar.bz2 file you downloaded to your SD card. You should now have a folder named "linux" on the root of your card.
(Unmount the SD card.)
Open Busybox Installer, and install Busybox.
Open Better Terminal Emulator, and install Better Terminal Emulator.
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Step 2:
Open your terminal emulator. (If using ConnectBot, connect to 'local', not 'ssh'.)
Run the following commands:
Code:
[B]su[/B]
( If Prompt for Superuser Request then allow )
Code:
cd /sdcard/linux
sh install.sh
If you don't see any errors, Linux is now installed.
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Step 3:
Open your terminal emulator.
To start a chroot session
Code:
su
linux
To start the SSH server
Code:
su
linux ssh
You can then use ConnectBot (SSH: [email protected]) on your device, or any SSH client to connect to your device. See Login Information, below.
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To start a VNC session
( Firest you need androidVNC to be installed , then type the following in terminal )
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Code:
su
linux vnc
The first time you run VNC, it will prompt you to create a VNC password.
You can then use androidVNC (host: localhost port: 5901), or any VNC client to connect to your device.
Configure The VNC App as follows:
Note: The default desktop environment is icewm. If you wish to replace it, for example, with LXDE:
Run the following as root in Linux:
Code:
apt-get autoremove icewm- lxde+
Secure your Log in Password:
Please remember to change these passwords if you are planning on using the SSH server. Malicious people can do Very Bad things to your device if you don't.
There are two accounts included in the images:
root
Password:cheesecake
user
Password:dessert
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After a successful connection to host you will be able to use Ubuntu / Debian in graphical interface just like in your PC ! It will keep your Android OS as it is and just run in the upper layer over it
These are some of the screen shots taken from my Samsung Galaxy Fit!
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Linux vs Linux Terminal Emulator :
Terminal Emulator only Emulates Linux terminal, but after Linux Installation you can get full features; more than just the limited commands which runs on Android shell rather than Linux Shell.
Please Leave your Feedback and Queries below. Thank You
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riddz17 said:
This is a Tutorial to install either Ubuntu or Debian in any Android mobile without using any app ​
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Nice, i have tried for my Galaxy Ace so with ARM V6 too, but the terminal emulator gave me error in the step 3 and 4

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error not working

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I'm getting about a dozen errors in the install process, all of which seem to relate to file permissions.

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G.Galante said:
Nice, i have tried for my Galaxy Ace so with ARM V6 too, but the terminal emulator gave me error in the step 3 and 4
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what kind of error could you please specify??
First of all check is your phone rooted?

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when I type su
sh install.sh
there are many error like dir.. not found help me...
Sent from my HTC Explorer A310e using xda app-developers app

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sateesh907 said:
when I type su
sh install.sh
there are many error like dir.. not found help me...
Sent from my HTC Explorer A310e using xda app-developers app
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worked for me. I tried to install from the microsd card (sdcard-ext) but i got errors. Once i moved the files to the phones memory (sdcard) it worked like a charm.
note: I am using Debian 6.0 Squeeze

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Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk 2

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ivke101 said:
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk 2
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I get the same error. Anyone know how to fix it?

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hey guys
Thanx to the author of this forum on debian on android. I had the same problem you see in the error logs above. the problem is between regular "mount" command and busybox "mount". you need to use the busybox mount. so I added the word busybox infront of every mount word in the script. eg. busybox mount -o , rw /system remount. the alternative is to delete the mount found on /system/bin so that the terminal will use the busybox one automatically on /system/xbin.

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Thanks, I found that the version of busybox I had didn't install the mount comand. I had to use the smart installer and manually check the box to overwrite the mount command then it worked.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app

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Nice work. I've been experimenting with Ubuntu some so I can run side by side w/windows.

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Does anyone know if You can connect to the the ubuntu instance on your phone from a computer through vnc? I would like to be able to use a bigger keyboard and mouse to control it.
Edit: If I make changes to the Linux.img on my phone and just copy the whole folder to my tablet will it still keep all of the changes? (I will try it tonight if know one knows).
---------- Post added at 10:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:36 AM ----------
Ok you can connect to the phone from a computer. I used wifi tether and then just put the phones ip and the port into tightvnc and it connected. It took a minute to recognized the phone the first time though.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app

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riddz17 said:
This is a Tutorial to install either Ubuntu or Debian in any Android mobile without using any app ​
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HI , THANKS
for your work..i have galaxy ace plus [armv7] ,i tired installing linux on my phone, when i type "sh install.sh "then ,,,such dir not found like error
appears, i am new for linux command [ my dir . /sdcard/external_sd/linux ].what can i do for this? plz help me .

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patilsb said:
HI , THANKS
for your work..i have galaxy ace plus [armv7] ,i tired installing linux on my phone, when i type "sh install.sh "then ,,,such dir not found like error
appears, i am new for linux command [ my dir . /sdcard/external_sd/linux ].what can i do for this? plz help me .
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- try to install "busybox installer" first..
- when you open the app, it will ask to install busybox..
pay attention to "Advanced install" checkbox.. be sure to have it checked..
- you will found so many applets.. try to find named "MOUNT"..
- when you found them, see the triangle sign on the right-side.. click it..
- there are 3 options: symlink applet / remove symlink / skip symlink
pick symlink applet..
- press install
- after it's done, get ou of busy box
- back to terminal, repeat the step "sh install.sh"

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i got stuck @ step 2 " please wait while booting ubuntu.img.. this may take some time ,,. "
i installed busy box , i got my device root
sent from my Arc S

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itzwood said:
i got stuck @ step 2 " please wait while booting ubuntu.img.. this may take some time ,,. "
i installed busy box , i got my device root
sent from my Arc S
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How long did you wait? Mine took about 15 minutes the first time after the first its just is there.

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i left it before i go to sleep .. waked up nothing "ABOUT 8hours "
scientist343 said:
How long did you wait? Mine took about 15 minutes the first time after the first its just is there.
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itzwood said:
i left it before i go to sleep .. waked up nothing "ABOUT 8hours "
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Try redownloading it to make sure it isn't corrupt.
You can also try a reboot, then try starting at the top again. I had it do that on my old phone and after a reboot it worked.
Also which version of ubuntu did you download 11.04 or 11.10?

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no such file or directory errors
Hi I'm getting "no such file or directory" errors when I try the step "sh install.sh"
can't post pictures yet so I'll type up the short version
# sh install.sh
remounting /system rw ...
mount: no such file or directory
installing scripts in /system/bin ...
mounting the linux image ...
mounting prepwork...
mounting: loopback mount ...
mknod /dev/block/loop254: file exists
mount: invalid argument
mounting: setting up chroot environment ...
mount: no such file or directory
mkdir failed for /data/local/mnt/media/sdcard, no such file....
[done]
then the rest is no such file or directory
I'm on an Epic 4g touch rooted obviously
I tried putting busybox in front of mount in the script as suggested before
I moved all the files from /mnt/sdcard/external_sd to /sdcard
made sure mount is installed in busybox
Not sure what to try next. Guess I could make the folders manually and see what happens.