Can I use a Persistent installation from the live Android-x86 image?

[raji...@gmail.com]

Hi!

I can use the Android x86 image from my computers.

I use Knoppix. Knoppix has a facility to use its image but still use a filesystem to persistently use the Debian Linux OS (Knoppix flavour), adding and altering packages(applications).

So can I use a persistent installation from the Live Android image itself? I don't have the option of creating a separate partition in my HDD. I also don't wish to use a pendrive because of its unreliability.

I don't want to use emulations, because the emulations don't work well.

I have a laptop and a desktop, both using AMD processors and nvidia graphic processor. My Androi-x86 flavour is v4.2 fpr compatibility to my system. My knoppix flavour is 7.2.0

So could you advise / provide any help in this regard please?

[Chih-Wei Huang]

2018-02-05 10:49 GMT+08:00 <raji...@gmail.com>:
>
> I can use the Android x86 image from my computers.
>
> I use Knoppix. Knoppix has a facility to use its image but still use a
> filesystem to persistently use the Debian Linux OS (Knoppix flavour), adding
> and altering packages(applications).
>
> So can I use a persistent installation from the Live Android image itself? I
> don't have the option of creating a separate partition in my HDD. I also
> don't wish to use a pendrive because of its unreliability.

Of course it's possible, if you provide
a persistent storage to it (via DATA cmdline).

The problem is, if you don't want to use your HDD
nor a pendrive, where is your persistent storage?

> I don't want to use emulations, because the emulations don't work well.
>
> I have a laptop and a desktop, both using AMD processors and nvidia graphic
> processor. My Androi-x86 flavour is v4.2 fpr compatibility to my system. My
> knoppix flavour is 7.2.0
>
> So could you advise / provide any help in this regard please?

--
Chih-Wei
Android-x86 project
http://www.android-x86.org

[raji...@gmail.com]

Dear Dr. Chih-Wei,

I am honoured by your prompt reply with a query.

I hope I have not troubled you too much, because I thought I wasn't able to provide you with a complete explanation about my intent.

Dr. Wei, if you could apologise me for wasting some more of your precious time, I would like to quote my post once again:
" ... ...  I don't have the option of creating a separate partition in my HDD.  ... ... "

So kindly note that I am not averse to using my HDD, but only that I can't create another partition in my HDD. I already have an ext4 partition where the native Knoppix resides.

Could I use that very partition to use Android? How will I use the Data= cheatcode? Would I create a separate directory for Android for it to use this directory so that it doesn't accidentally deletes the Knoppix files of the HDD partition?

I seek apology once more to have been unable to explain my intent adequately.

Regards,

Rajib
Android User

[Chih-Wei Huang]

2018-02-05 15:02 GMT+08:00 <raji...@gmail.com>:
> I am honoured by your prompt reply with a query.
>
> I hope I have not troubled you too much, because I thought I wasn't able to
> provide you with a complete explanation about my intent.
>
> Dr. Wei, if you could apologise me for wasting some more of your precious
> time, I would like to quote my post once again:
> " ... ... I don't have the option of creating a separate partition in my
> HDD. ... ... "
>
> So kindly note that I am not averse to using my HDD, but only that I can't
> create another partition in my HDD. I already have an ext4 partition where
> the native Knoppix resides.

If so you can just install android-x86 to your ext4 partition.
Choose "do not format" when prompted to keep its content.
Android-x86 will just be installed to a subdirectory, say /android-$ver.
You can skip the grub installation and then create
the boot entry manually later.

> Could I use that very partition to use Android? How will I use the Data=
> cheatcode? Would I create a separate directory for Android for it to use
> this directory so that it doesn't accidentally deletes the Knoppix files of
> the HDD partition?

You can specify DATA=
(all uppercase -- it's case-sensitive)
to your ext4 partition, e.g., DATA=sda3
It will work but all files are put in the root of sda3.
It may not what you want.
Putting files to a separate directory of the specified
partition is not supported yet.
(though it's not hard to modify the mount script to support that)

[Sadi Yumuşak]

Hi Rajib,

I thought this might also be helpful:

I've recently installed the latest Android-x86 into my existing LinuxMint partition, and after the initial setup it automatically created a subdirectory named "data" (in addition to the "system" subdirectory under its parent directory "android-7.1-rc2".

I also manually added a grub entry for Android-x86 like this:

menuentry 'Android 7.1' --class android-x86 {
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 033e8fc7-4cfe-9454-bc59-df7329ca862d
linux /android-7.1-rc2/kernel root=UUID=033e8fc7-4cfe-9454-bc59-df7329ca862d root=/dev/ram0 androidboot.selinux=permissive DPI=160 UVESA_MODE=1920×1080 SRC=/android-7.1-rc2 SDCARD=sda6
initrd /android-7.1-rc2/initrd.img
}

Needless to say, the UUID value (033e8fc7-4cfe-9454-bc59-df7329ca862d) as well as others like "android-7.1-rc2" and "DPI=160 UVESA_MODE=1920×1080 SRC=/android-7.1-rc2 SDCARD=sda6" are to be changed according to specific circumstances.

[Rajib Bando]

Hello, Mr. Yumuşak!

It was very nice of you to provide me with the boot script. I admire
your kindness :-)

I am compelled to use an older version, v4.3.0, as both my laptop and
desktop are old.

What I did was to mount the ISO file, then create a directory
"android" and copy those files to the android directory. I then added
the boot script to my principal Debian installation (not the Knoppix
one) and in the /boot/grub/grub.cfg file.

I can boot, alright, I can't create the persistence. May be some kind
soul will help me in this regard.

So I see that your latest Android has more cheatcodes like SDCARD=

I will remember your solution. I will continue to tweak and test. May
be, Dr. Huang will help me in the middle.

Regards,
Rajib

On 2/5/18, Sadi Yumuşak <sadiy...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Rajib,
... ... ... ...

[Chih-Wei Huang]

2018-02-05 17:45 GMT+08:00 Rajib Bando <raji...@gmail.com>:
> Hello, Mr. Yumuşak!
>
> It was very nice of you to provide me with the boot script. I admire
> your kindness :-)
>
> I am compelled to use an older version, v4.3.0, as both my laptop and
> desktop are old.
>
> What I did was to mount the ISO file, then create a directory
> "android" and copy those files to the android directory. I then added
> the boot script to my principal Debian installation (not the Knoppix
> one) and in the /boot/grub/grub.cfg file.
>
> I can boot, alright, I can't create the persistence. May be some kind
> soul will help me in this regard.

Actually Sadi has told you.
You need to create a subdirectory named "data"
in the /android directory to save data.

> So I see that your latest Android has more cheatcodes like SDCARD=

That's used to mount the specified partition
as a sdcard.

> I will remember your solution. I will continue to tweak and test. May
> be, Dr. Huang will help me in the middle.

[Rajib Bando]

Dr. Huang,
You said, " ... ... Actually Sadi has told you.

You need to create a subdirectory named "data"

in the /android directory to save data ... ..."

But you said directory under a partition is not possible?

My system perhaps won't be able to use the latest Android version, as
they are old systems.

I tried with a folder named "/android/persistent", I could not achieve
persistence.

I am hopeful that you will find a solution for me.

Regards,
Rajib

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[Sadi Yumuşak]

Apparently the option "DATA=...." in grub entry supports only a partition, and not a directory.
But if your version of Android-x86 does not automatically create a "data" subdirectory like mine, then perhaps it might use such a subdirectory if you manually create it (i.e. "/android/data" instead of "/android/persistent").

[Rajib Bando]

Dr, Huang and Mr. Yumuşak,
Thank you. I have been able to manually create a persistent data
directory across multiple reboots.
The next frontier is the graphical display. My Desktop has a nvidia
card which needs a driver from nvidia for linux to use the entire
screen.
How can I use a nvidia driver with Android. Otherwise, I am limited to
1200X800 res.
Regards

On 2/5/18, Sadi Yumuşak <sadiy...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Apparently the option "DATA=...." in grub entry supports only a partition,
> and not a directory

... ... ... ...

[raji...@gmail.com]

Edit: 800X600

On Monday, February 5, 2018 at 6:26:27 PM UTC+5:30, Rajib Bando wrote:

Dr, Huang and Mr. Yumuşak,

... Otherwise, I am limited to

[Rajib Bando]

The Graphics card is nvidia C61 [GeForce 6150SE nForcde 430]
Can anything be done on Android to enjoy a full screen 1360X768 display?
Regards

[Sadi Yumuşak]

I'm glad that persistence problem has been solved.
Unfortunately display card issue is beyond me.
I had a hybrid one (intel+amd) some time ago, and after that I decided to stick with intel only.

[Rajib Bando]

Yes, I know the simplest solution for linux, but not for Android. It
is about configuring fbdev (i.e., editing the file x11config) or Vesa
driver. In advanced Linux configurations, one could install the native
drivers built by the GPU chip manufacturer.
I have to see the Linux inside. But I am only using an image file,
"system.sfs". I have to mount the image and look into it.
Rather than investing so much time in finding out the solution, I
shall depend on the already existing solutions.
system.sfs is actually an image file system.img
The following directories are inside the system.img:
app build.prop fonts lib media usr xbin
bin etc framework lost+found priv-app vendor

It will be complicated for me to delve into the nitty-gritty. I am
sure that there must already exist a simple solution.

On 2/5/18, Sadi Yumuşak <sadiy...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I'm glad that persistence problem has been solved.

... ... ... ...

[Rajib Bando]

This is the entire filesystem of system.img
But I have to do an in-depth observation on the files used for booting
the graphical interface. But such hard work is not needed, because
already there are experts who have solved the issue with the nvidia
graphics card like mine.
I searched for the string: "nvidia GeForce 6150SE nForce 430"
only one thread: "XFree86 with nVidia GeForce 6150SE nForce 430"

Raed (my tweak of the word Read to make it appear different) it.

This part appears interesting, but doesn't appear to fit Android.
"... ...
I think that's for Xorg which comes with the base in NetBSD CURRENT and
5.0_BETA.
I suggest you to install xorg from pkgsrc or upgrade to 5.0_BETA and run
xorg from base.
I am running X.Org X Server 1.4.2 from the base with nVidia Corporation
G80 [Quadro NVS 320M] on NetBSD 5.0_BETA.
... ..."
Any suggestions, Masters of the Android Universe?
Regards,
Rajib

[Sadi Yumuşak]

Maybe the simplest solution is to unsquash the "system.sfs" file, and use directory "system" instead so that you can tweak the system as you like.

1. Enter this command in terminal: sudo unsquashfs "./system.img"
2. And then change the name of the new folder created by the command above to "system"
3. Finally delete the redundant file "system.sfs"

[Sadi Yumuşak]

sorry, the first line should be;
1. Enter this command in terminal: sudo unsquashfs "./system.sfs"

[Rajib Bando]

No, Mr.Yumuşak. You require to read my posts in their entirety. I
would like to wait for easier options. The must have been already
solutions available.

On 2/5/18, Sadi Yumuşak <sadiy...@gmail.com> wrote:

> sorry, the first line should be;

... ... ... ...

[Chih-Wei Huang]

Did you say you are using older android-x86 4.3?
That's the problem. The kernel is too old.

Try the new released 7.1-r1.
GeForce 6150SE should be supported, according to
https://nouveau.freedesktop.org/wiki/CodeNames/#NV40
If not, it may need a more newer kernel.

2018-02-05 23:58 GMT+08:00 Rajib Bando <raji...@gmail.com>:
> Yes, I know the simplest solution for linux, but not for Android. It
> is about configuring fbdev (i.e., editing the file x11config) or Vesa
> driver. In advanced Linux configurations, one could install the native
> drivers built by the GPU chip manufacturer.
> I have to see the Linux inside. But I am only using an image file,
> "system.sfs". I have to mount the image and look into it.
> Rather than investing so much time in finding out the solution, I
> shall depend on the already existing solutions.
> system.sfs is actually an image file system.img
> The following directories are inside the system.img:
> app build.prop fonts lib media usr xbin
> bin etc framework lost+found priv-app vendor

[Rajib Bando]

Thank you, Dr. Huang, for replying to my query.
But my system is old. Will the later version like 7.1-r1 run on my
system. The latest version is supposed to run on powerful
PCs/Desktops, isn't it?
Regards

On 2/6/18, Chih-Wei Huang <cwh...@android-x86.org> wrote:

... ... ... ...