[Android Software Development] devwithzachary:
We now have a Q&A thread HERE please use this for questions about the project. This thread is for development only!

[YOUTUBE]8Fy6Y5ZfAu4[/YOUTUBE]​

This project started off in this forum here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1390351

However since then the project has grown and just keeps growning! Featuring a ever growing range of distros

The TEAM!

The team consist of:

zacthespack

tuxling

WEM97 [DONATE]

Think you have something to bring to the team? then contact me and we shall talk :)

What is this all about?/Why put this on my device?

This projects aim is to bring a range of linux distros to your android device through a method known as 'chroot', see it has running a linux distro within a virtual machine on your phone (Although its not! its using native ARM ports and the Android kernel) . You can access this virtual machine and run it on your phone without causing any damage to your device, or having to overwrite anything. Why might you want this? well my apps are designed to make the install and set up process as easy as possible while still giving you some flexibility. Once you have the distro up and running then you can pretty much run and install any linux software you like (so long as there is a arm port or it is not architecturally dependent).

Wait this uses VNC why shouldn't I just VNC to a computer?

VNC is used to access the GUI as at the moment I have not yet implemented a native way of viewing the GUI. But the Linux distro itself is running within the phone and can be controlled via the terminal app so if your a seasoned Linux user you may never even want to use the GUI

What is Chroot?/How does this work?

"A chroot on Unix operating systems is an operation that changes the apparent root directory for the current running process and its children" - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chroot

This method of running linux distros with android has been around for some time. I have worked on my scripts to make the process more user friendly and give you far more options from the word go.

The scripts start by mounting the linux image file within the android file system and then mounts the sdcard and if you have it internal memory within the linux file system.

Chroot is then used to change the root directory to that of the mounted linux and a bash shell is then opened to allow you to control linux this is kind of like 'booting' the OS.

The likes of VNC and SSH are then set up when linux is 'booted' to allow you to connect to the GUI if you require it.

Interested?

Ok so you want to get one of the support linux distros on your device, great welcome to the team :D

But first you will need to find out if your device is compatible with the method before anything else, this method 'should' work with pretty much any device but some ROM's/kernels will not work as they do not have loop device support etc.

HERE is a list of working devices and ROM's/kernels but remember just because its not on the list simply means no one has told me its working, it could still work!

Free Apps/Files

App

The App can be download via google play or the open source version can be download via source forge.

Distro Images

Below are our currently supported distros, click the distro of choice to go to its image download page on our source forge site (including torrent downloads)

Kali Linux

Donation keys

The donation keys allow you to support the project and unlock the configure menu within the launcher, this allows you to set and edit your VNC/SSH settings from within the app instead of on the command line!

This are also*available*to buy on the playstore or via paypal

Or if you donate more than £1 via paypal I shall send you a custom Donate key to unlock the extra features (if you donate more than £5 you will be added to the contribution list here and on the blog)

You can donate via paypal HERE Or my bitcoin wallet is: 13XxX4R2UFSkyCRyPMDXV1fT6VqzFi9d9T

Something not working?

Please first read through the FAQ pages HERE

Then if you still have issues check out the Q&A thread HERE. If you sitll can not find your answer, post in the that thread or email us support@linuxonandroid.org