Misunderstanding about ubuntu touch on Nexus 7

zlamalp · 12 Jan 2019, 18:53

I'm considering buying "Nexus 7 2013 cellular (deb)" and as you pointed out in many threads i found, there are problems with installation. But I'm not sure, what informations are current and how to install it on the device.

Would you be please so kind to share some sum up of "what works and what doesn't" and "how to install Utouch manually" on the device ? You seem to know about the issue a lot. Thank you.

Pavel

Lakotaubp · 12 Jan 2019, 21:00

@zlamalp I might be wrong but I believe it is still only the Nexus 7, 2013 WiFi version that is supported. OTA-7 has a fix for that model that shipped with android 5.1 https://ubports.com/blog/1/post/192

zlamalp · 13 Jan 2019, 06:36

Hi @lakotaubp,

but I noticed there is a "Nexus 7 2013 (LTE)" item in ubports-installer (when you choose to select device manually). From various discussions I put together, that it should work if it's installed using some tricks. Older versions of nexus 7 are no longer supported by ubports (just old canonical image of 15.04 works).

I'd like to buy version with LTE and I can help with debugging if necessary to make it work. But if there isn't any plan to support this version, then I will rather go with WiFi only version of the tablet.

Pavel

Lakotaubp · 13 Jan 2019, 09:58

@zlamalp I'm really not sure then but until a definitive answer arrives here try asking in our welcome and install telegram group https://t.me/WelcomePlus

Stefano · 13 Jan 2019, 13:43

@zlamalp deb is on Ubports server, so I assume it should work. link text

zlamalp · 13 Jan 2019, 14:02

Hi @stefano,

I know its there, but there is also github issue related to this, that installation doesn't work an install different image (for wifi only version - flo), which fails to start or something like that.

https://github.com/ubports/ubuntu-touch/issues/643

Since @doniks participated in this discussions I kindly asked him for instructions. I don't feel like installing some twrp recovery or something like this, since I don't understand this much and I definatelly don't want to brick just bought device (even if second-hand).

And also from this github issue I'm nut sure, wheter "deb" is going to be kept between supported devices. Would be nice, if somebody from ubports could clarify it.

Thanks.

Stefano · 13 Jan 2019, 14:14

@zlamalp Yeah, that would be good if someone clarify that. I just bought Flo, 32 Gb, was tempted to get Deb, but it was more expensive, so I went for Flo. I had issues in the past to install UT on Flo, now it should be fixed, so I'm gonna try again.

Lakotaubp · 13 Jan 2019, 15:39

Have a read of this it may help https://forums.ubports.com/topic/44/installing-ubuntu-on-nexus-7-2013-deb-lte Also use the forum search function to find other articles that may help

zlamalp · 13 Jan 2019, 18:29

Hi, @Lakotaubp, I'v read that. But it dates to 2016 and requires downloading some files from someones gdrive or knowledge of building own boot image etc. In the github issue linked by me is mentioned another approach (at least from my point of view). So I search for current status and installation guide. Also I want to know, if there is a goal to support LTE version.

Lakotaubp · 13 Jan 2019, 19:11

@zlamalp asked the question in the Telegram group so let's wait and see.

doniks · 15 Jan 2019, 06:06

@zlamalp said in Misunderstanding about ubuntu touch on Nexus 7:

Dear @doniks,

I'm considering buying "Nexus 7 2013 cellular (deb)" and as you pointed out in many threads i found, there are problems with installation. But I'm not sure, what informations are current and how to install it on the device.

Would you be please so kind to share some sum up of "what works and what doesn't" and "how to install Utouch manually" on the device ? You seem to know about the issue a lot. Thank you.

Pavel

Hey @zlamalp , I haven't tried again lately, but I'm pretty sure the "deb situation" is still the same.

That means, the files necessary to install are on the server, however the installer somehow doesn't put them correctly onto the device. This means for installation you do need to break out the commandline and mess around. I don't think that there is a risk to permanently damage your device. At some point in between, yes you might run into a situation that it doesn't start anymore, but that is fixable.

With respect to what's not working

installer as mentioned, and I think this includes OTA updates. So, you might have to do some commandline dance anytime you want an uptodate version.
bluetooth doesn't work. I assume that this is fixable, but probably needs a recompiled kernel

Now, for actual cellular functionality ... I just cannot remember ... it's been so long that I haven't had a sim card for this thing. I actually assume that it works, because I think I would remember if it was broken ... but, again it's been years that I had a sim card inside. I actually wanted to reflash and try it, but I'm just not getting around to do it. I'm 95% sure it works. @zubozrout do you know?

Everything else, I'd say "just works"

With respect to continued support from ubports, that's always a tough question. Remember it's largely a volunteer run project. Resources are limited. That said, I don't see any reason why the support for deb should get worse.

Hth, doniks

zubozrout · 15 Jan 2019, 06:48

@doniks Yeah, LTE and everything else did work for me back when I was using http://system-image.tasemnice.eu/ubuntu-touch (currently dead) repository - which was based on the original Canonical images.

The last time I had my "deb" in my hands (before I gave it away) I was trying to install Ubports on it after that original repo died and I can see that I was not able to make bluetooth and camera to work but I was hacking things on top of what was available so I guess that was the issue: https://forums.ubports.com/topic/44/installing-ubuntu-on-nexus-7-2013-deb-lte

But ... even with these workarounds LTE did work for me ... it was just a matter of having a correct "boot.img" flashed AFAIK.

Btw, it seems pretty much everything worked for you at some point as well, including Bluetooth:
https://forums.ubports.com/topic/44/installing-ubuntu-on-nexus-7-2013-deb-lte/23

doniks · 15 Jan 2019, 06:57

@zubozrout said in Misunderstanding about ubuntu touch on Nexus 7:

@doniks Yeah, LTE and everything else did work for me back when I was using http://system-image.tasemnice.eu/ubuntu-touch (currently dead) repository - which was based on the original Canonical images.

The last time I had my "deb" in my hands (before I gave it away) I was trying to install Ubports on it after that original repo died and I can see that I was not able to make bluetooth and camera to work but I was hacking things on top of what was available so I guess that was the issue: https://forums.ubports.com/topic/44/installing-ubuntu-on-nexus-7-2013-deb-lte

But ... even with these workarounds LTE did work for me ... it was just a matter of having a correct "boot.img" flashed AFAIK.

Not sure if you can confirm camera working as well (?).

Great! Thanks @zubozrout for the quick response and confirmation that LTE worked.

I'm 95% sure that the boot.img (kernel) on the ubports system image server is that very file that originated from tasemnice, so all that knowledge is still relevant.

Camera - good point. Another thing I barely use ... come to think of it, I might have actually not ever tried taking a picture with UT on deb. So, can't say.

Ok, let me try turning around and listing some things that I CAN remember worked: touchscreen, sound, wifi, rotation, gps, usb file transfer, libertine, desktop mode and generally everything to do with system UI and apps, app updates.

zlamalp · 15 Jan 2019, 12:36

Hi @zubozrout and @doniks,

so to put it together I should:

Get Ubuntu 16.04
Install required packages so following commands are available
Run following commands

ubuntu-device-flash touch --channel=ubuntu-touch/stable/ubuntu --device=flo --bootstrap
# Reboot into bootloader
fastboot flash -w boot boot.img
fastboot flash -w recovery recovery.img
# Boot into recovery
ubuntu-device-flash --server http://system-image.ubports.com touch --channel ubuntu-touch/rc-proposed

But I'm not sure which channels etc. to use. I believe something like this would be more appropriate:

ubuntu-device-flash --server http://system-image.ubports.com touch --channel ubuntu-touch/stable --device=deb
fastboot flash -w boot boot.img
fastboot flash -w recovery recovery.img

NOTE: boot.img and recovery.img should be taken from the @zubozrout G-Drive: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_T_rjYvwUdgQ3RJMHhSLWVvY0E/view?usp=sharing

doniks · 15 Jan 2019, 19:48

@zlamalp no, that doesn't sound right. A UT installation consists normally of the following four pieces

boot image
recovery
system image (device independent)
android container

the steps you propose do nothing to get the deb android container. here are the steps I used: https://github.com/ubports/ubuntu-touch/issues/643 in Workaround.

Some more nitpicking:

I'm not sure in which version of Ubuntu the ubuntu-device-flash tool is available. I painfully realized that at some point it wasn't available in my version (probably 18.04). This might have been resolved, but good to check
It makes no sense to use --server one time, but not the other. Either your version of ubuntu-device-flash always goes to Ubports server by default, then you're good. Or it never goes there by default, then you always need to specify
wrt channel - if you don't know which one you want, then you want stable

dobey · 15 Jan 2019, 19:52

@doniks said in Misunderstanding about ubuntu touch on Nexus 7:

I'm not sure in which version of Ubuntu the ubuntu-device-flash tool is available. I painfully realized that at some point it wasn't available in my version (probably 18.04). This might have been resolved, but good to check

The tool is available in 16.04 in the Ubuntu archives, and there is a build for 18.04 in the ubports repository (https://repo.ubports.com/) which can be used.

Stefano · 15 Jan 2019, 20:35

@dobey I thought that u-d-f doesn't work on 18.04, I couldn't install it, any particular package to install? Could you clarify what build to use, as I can't find any. Thanks.

doniks · 15 Jan 2019, 22:12

@zlamalp said in Misunderstanding about ubuntu touch on Nexus 7:

ubuntu-device-flash --server http://system-image.ubports.com touch --channel ubuntu-touch/stable --device=deb

Actually, after reading your post again I realize ... if this command works, you should be done.

zlamalp · 4 Mar 2019, 18:25

Thanks @doniks I'll see if that works if I get the device.

dobey · 17 Jan 2019, 17:26

@stefano said in Misunderstanding about ubuntu touch on Nexus 7:

@dobey I thought that u-d-f doesn't work on 18.04, I couldn't install it, any particular package to install? Could you clarify what build to use, as I can't find any. Thanks.

The latest ubuntu-device-flash package for your architecture from https://repo.ubports.com/pool/bionic/main/g/goget-ubuntu-touch/ should work on 18.04.