How to install ubuntu on the Droid 4

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How to install ubuntu on the Droid 4


Huge thanks to zacthespack for creating the ubuntu installer app and original boot script and to zeroktal for modifying the script to work on the D4 and helping me get it working on my device.


I decided to take my experience in setting this up and put it into a how-to so that others could enjoy the experience of having ubuntu on the Droid 4. If zackthespac or zeroktal have any problems with me making and putting this guide up, please let me know and I will remove it.


Knowledge Required:
  • working knowledge of command line
  • working knowledge of vi
  • OR the ability to learn how to use both

Tools Required:

Step by Step:
  1. Install BusyBox, Terminal, and Android VNC Viewer
  2. Install and run Ubunutu Installer App
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions and click next
  4. Download either the Small or Large image to your phone, (use zeroktal's ubuntud4.zip file instead of the boot script provided in the guide) after the image downloads (will take a while because the file is HUGE) click next
  5. For this screen, the instructions differ from the app.
    1. With your D4 plugged into your PC in USB Mass Storage, create a directory (folder) called ubuntu in the EXTERNAL sdcard's root*
    2. Extract the image you downloaded to that directory
    3. Download and extract the attached .sh (ununtud4.zip) to that directory
    4. Disconnect your phone from your PC
    5. Open terminal and run the following commands:

    su [ENTER]
    mount -o remount,rw,exec,suid /dev/block/vold/179:1 /mnt/sdcard-ext [ENTER]
    cd /mnt/sdcard-ext/ubuntu [ENTER]
    sh ubuntud4.sh [ENTER]
    960x540 [ENTER]**

    If you get an error message: ubuntud4.sh: 45: syntax error: end of file unexpected (expecting "then") see troubleshooting section below.

    killall -TERM Xtightvnc [ENTER]
    vncserver :1 -geometry 960x540 [ENTER]**

    6. Open androidVNC app and enter the following settings:
    Nickname: Anything you want
    Password: ubuntu
    Address: localhost
    Port: 5901
    Color Format: 24-bit color (4 bpp)
    7. Hit connect
    8. Hit your menu soft button and then set input mode to touchpad
    9. You have ubuntu on your Droid 4!

To "shut down" ubuntu:
  • press the menu button, select disconnect in VNC
  • In terminal type this command 3 times (terminal will close itself when you are done):
    exit [ENTER]

To "start up" ubuntu again:
  • Follow steps 5-8 above

Troubleshooting:
If you get the error message: ubuntud4.sh: 45: syntax error: end of file unexpected (expecting "then") you are about to have fun with vi at the command line.


Do the following from inside terminal:
su [ENTER]
cd /mnt/sdcard-ext/ubuntu [ENTER]
vi ubuntud4.sh [ENTER]


If you see ^M or ^ at the end of any line (remember to scroll all the way to the right to see the end of long lines) remove it. once you do that, everything should work just fine. (See the Vi Cheat Sheet above for help with Vi)


Note: Vol Up + E is [ESC] by default in this terminal emulator


Notes:
* It does not have to be on the external SD, but if you put it on the internal SD you will have to modify things as needed-- if you dont know what needs to be changed, just put it on the external SD.
** Screen size can be whatever you want it to be, but 960x540 is the size of the D4 screen.
*** This is a fairly involved process... especially when it comes to editing the .sh file in vi things can get very frustrating and hard, but just take your time and you will get it. As always, doing anything with root access on your phone, especially on the command line has risks. I am not responsible if anything goes wrong with your phone... proceed at your own risk!
 
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Stickied! Awesome, now to see how to make it work on my D3!
 
Awesome! Thanks for the tutorial, greek. I've been trying to get ubuntu running on my D4 for the last couple of days to no avail. I originally got the "ubuntud4.sh: 45: syntax error: end of file unexpected (expecting "then")" message and deleted the ^M's in the script. Now I've run into another problem though.Here is a couple of screen shots.




View attachment 47821View attachment 47822
 
Nitro, after you run SU, but before you run the script run this command and it should take care of those errors
Code:
mkdir /data/local/mnt
Ran into the same thing on mine.
 
Thanks mc! I tried that and it pretty much said I had already made that directory. However, restarted my phone and tried again and everything worked! Thanks a ton guys!
 
Anybody got flash running on this? Or is it even available for the ARM architecture?
 
I got that when I just followed the guide from the market. I followed this guide to a t and it doesn't do that anymore.


Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk
 
The only part I had to modify is when I make the vnc connection, I can only connect threw port 5900 and not 5901.

Sent from my DROID4 using DroidForums
 
I figured it out, i misread void for vold when mounting the sdcard partition at step 2. Confirmed working.

Sent from my DROID4 using DroidForums
 
I got that when I just followed the guide from the market. I followed this guide to a t and it doesn't do that anymore.


Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk

bingo, and thats why i made the guide.

glad it worked for you too!
 
QUESTION:

After I delete all the ^M and ^ what do i do next? I try to hit the command ":x" to exit and save changes but it just creates another line. Also when I press VOL UP + E for escape nothing happens.
 
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has anyone tried ubuntu with the lapdock? I can only get the ubuntu cursor to move if I hold the left mouse button down (USB mouse, assume trackball would be the same) and drag it. the cursor then follows *very* slowly...
 
yeah it did exactly the same for me... but it stands to reason that it would be veeerryyyy slow... think about how stacked up it is... the layers

1) android OS
2) linux
3) vnc into linux
4) webtop
5) I/O device
 
yeah it did exactly the same for me... but it stands to reason that it would be veeerryyyy slow... think about how stacked up it is... the layers

1) android OS
2) linux
3) vnc into linux
4) webtop
5) I/O device

I can understand it being slow, but I'm not sure why the cursor in the ubuntu window doesn't follow the mouse without my having to hold the left button down. it's kind of like the focus isn't correctly being given to the ubuntu window...
 
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