Update: One click root has been using this "simple" method since version 2.2.7. If you're rooting your phone for the first time, please try that first. Consider this thread to be purely informational for those who want step-by-step details of how the process works.
I've been suspicious of the joeykrim root method since it was first posted at SDX. I finally got my Epic yesterday and confirmed that is, indeed unnecessary. I don't fault joeykrim though, he ported the working root method from the Moment to the Epic without actually having access to an Epic himself.
Anyways, the joeykrim root method is unnecessarilly complex becuase it works around an RFS permissions bug which loses the setuid bit on the Moment. It appears the Galaxy S phones have this bug fixed, which is why the root methods on the I9000, Vibrant, Captivate, Fascinate, etc., are much simpler.
So, for the simple root:
First, make sure joeykrim root is not installed.
Upgrade to DI18 (not strictly necessary, but you'll want to do it).
Setup a working adb from the Android SDK and whatever drivers are necessary for your platform.
Download rageagainstthecage-arm5.bin from the C skills blog (link removed due to my newbieness) or from any of the one-click root packages.
Download su-2.3.6.1-ef-signed.zip and extract "system/bin/su" and "system/app/Superuser.apk" to a temporary directory you'll be working from.
Enable USB debugging on your phone and connect it to your computer.
Now, open a command prompt/shell on your computer and cd to the appropriate temporary directory. Run:
Code:
adb push rageagainstthecage-arm5.bin /data/local/tmp
adb shell chmod 755 /data/local/tmp/rageagainstthecage-arm5.bin
adb shell /data/local/tmp/rageagainstthecage-arm5.bin
and confirm you have a working root shell. Then continue with:
Code:
adb push su /system/xbin
adb shell chmod 4755 /system/xbin/su
adb install Superuser.apk
That's it! You should have a working root via su & the Superuser package. At least, I did.
Note that the preceeding steps installs Superuser.apk to /data, which is what I prefer to do. This means if you do a "Factory data reset" su will be temporarilly broken until you reinstall the Superuser.apk package. Since installing the package itself doesn't require root, this is easily done after a /data reset.
Also note that I did not perform a /system remount-rw anywhere. At least on my Epic, /system appears to always be mounted read-write so it's an unnecessary step. It's actually the "joeykrim-root.sh" script that remounts /system read-only during the boot process, which is why folks who don't use root kernels have run into this problem before. I'm not sure why joeykrim's script does that, I guess he probably assumed /system is mounted read-only by default. There's arguments that /system should be read-only, but I didn't touch it in case some Samsung stuff depends on it being read-write.
Finally, if you're already rooted via joeykrim or are running a root kernel, there's nothing really to be gained by doing this. I'm just throwing this out there as I perfer to make the minimum invasive changes possible to obtain root.
Wow, that was really informative. To check for Super user you:
Type: adb shell
then type: SU
You should get a # sign if you have root. Correct?
In the original Noobln post method would the Epic keep root even after a wipe therefore not needing to re-apply the superuser apk again? That might be a reason why folks would want to go the more invasive route (considering rooters seems to change ROMS fairly often which requires wipes sometimes). Either way, keeping a copy of the apk file on your SD card is no big deal.
mkasick said:
Also note that I did not perform a /system remount-rw anywhere. At least on my Epic, /system appears to always be mounted read-write so it's an unnecessary step. It's actually the "joeykrim-root.sh" script that remounts /system read-only during the boot process, which is why folks who don't use root kernels have run into this problem before. I'm not sure why joeykrim's script does that, I guess he probably assumed /system is mounted read-only by default. There's arguments that /system should be read-only, but I didn't touch it in case some Samsung stuff depends on it being read-write.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This explains a lot of problems! thanks
EDIT- another noob question- why do you prefer to have superuser installed to /system/data- why not put it in /system/app? Also if I want to install busybox where is the best location to put it?
ZenInsight said:
Wow, that was really informative. To check for Super user you:
Type: adb shell
then type: SU
You should get a # sign if you have root. Correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you run rageagainstthecage-arm5.bin, you should get a root-shell automatically every time you run "adb shell" after until you reboot the phone. Yes, you can tell it's a root shell since it uses the "#" prompt. This is the important part to check, since if the exploit doesn't work, you'll have to run it again. But I haven't seen it not work.
After su is installed and you reboot, your steps are correct: run "adb shell", run "su", then you'll be prompted on the phone scren to authorize access and once you allow it you'll end up with a "#" prompt.
ZenInsight said:
In the original Noobln post method would the Epic keep root even after a wipe therefore not needing to re-apply the superuser apk again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
noobnl installs Superuser.apk to /system, you can do that here too. Just replace the "adb install Superuser.apk" step with "adb push Superuser.apk /system/app". It's independent of the joeykrim scripts.
With my captivate we have many update.zip root methods to choose from. Any chance this will be coming to the epic? Have a friend with an epic and command lines would be too much and one click didn't work.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
jimmyz said:
why do you prefer to have superuser installed to /system/data- why not put it in /system/app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I prefer to keep consistent with the idea that user-installed applications go in /data, and stock-installed-and-unmodified applications remain in /system/app. This way, upgrading Superuser.apk doesn't require a root-shell/root-explorer, you can remove it or upgrade it the way you do with any user installed application--adb install, side-loading via an sdcard, or downloading it from the market.
Plus, in general I prefer to keep my /system as untouched as possible. For example, I don't remove stock apps either. The "su" binary has to be installed in /system to persist after a /data wipe, and busybox is best installed to /system so it's in PATH (haven't looked into modifying the default PATH yet). Otherwise I try to keep /system alone.
jimmyz said:
Also if I want to install busybox where is the best location to put it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android's default PATH provides four places for busybox to be installed: /sbin, /system/bin, /system/sbin, and /system/xbin. /sbin is part of the initramfs, in other words it's controlled by the kernel you're running. You can install busybox to any of the three /system/*bin directories, but I prefer /system/xbin.
In the traditional Unix conventions, "/usr/bin" is for user-runnable stock-installed programs, and "/usr/sbin" is for root-requiring (superuser-runnable) stock-installed programs. "xbin" isn't part of the standard convention, but I'd guess it's intended for "extra binaries" that are not part of the stock installation (much like /usr/local/bin), thus it seems like an appropriate location for a user-added "su" and "busybox" programs.
The second reason is that "xbin" is relatively empty, so if you want to create the applet symlinks (i.e., so that you can call "cp" instead of "buybox cp") it won't overwrite the stock toolbox symlinks. Also, since "xbin" is last on the default PATH, any programs provided by both toolbox and busybox will default to the toolbox version--which would be important for stock system scripts that might run into compatibility issues if they were to use the busybox versions instead.
To install busybox, grab a copy of the binary from somewhere (one click packages, a copy of stericson.busybox.apk, etc.). Then, once rooted run:
Code:
adb push busybox /data/local/tmp
adb shell
su # Authorize on phone screen
cat /data/local/tmp/busybox > /system/xbin/busybox
chown root.shell /system/xbin/busybox
chmod 755 /system/xbin/busybox
rm /data/local/tmp/busybox
/system/xbin/busybox --install -s /system/xbin
jhnstn00 said:
With my captivate we have many update.zip root methods to choose from. Any chance this will be coming to the epic?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't believe so. The I9000/Vibrant/Captivate have recoveries that don't check the signature of update.zip (as I understand, or maybe they do but only require test keys) which makes rooting-via-recovery possible. Unfortuntaely the Epic and Fascinate do perform signature checks, so we can't enable root via stock-recovery.
That said, the Fascinate one-click methods should also work on the Epic. Although depending on why your friend couldn't get the Epic one-click to work, the Fascinate one may not work either.
mkasick said:
I prefer to keep consistent with the idea that user-installed applications go in /data, and stock-installed-and-unmodified applications remain in /system/app. This way, upgrading Superuser.apk doesn't require a root-shell/root-explorer, you can remove it or upgrade it the way you do with any user installed application--adb install, side-loading via an sdcard, or downloading it from the market.
Plus, in general I prefer to keep my /system as untouched as possible. For example, I don't remove stock apps either. The "su" binary has to be installed in /system to persist after a /data wipe, and busybox is best installed to /system so it's in PATH (haven't looked into modifying the default PATH yet). Otherwise I try to keep /system alone.
Android's default PATH provides four places for busybox to be installed: /sbin, /system/bin, /system/sbin, and /system/xbin. /sbin is part of the initramfs, in other words it's controlled by the kernel you're running. You can install busybox to any of the three /system/*bin directories, but I prefer /system/xbin.
In the traditional Unix conventions, "/usr/bin" is for user-runnable stock-installed programs, and "/usr/sbin" is for root-requiring (superuser-runnable) stock-installed programs. "xbin" isn't part of the standard convention, but I'd guess it's intended for "extra binaries" that are not part of the stock installation (much like /usr/local/bin), thus it seems like an appropriate location for a user-added "su" and "busybox" programs.
The second reason is that "xbin" is relatively empty, so if you want to create the applet symlinks (i.e., so that you can call "cp" instead of "buybox cp") it won't overwrite the stock toolbox symlinks. Also, since "xbin" is last on the default PATH, any programs provided by both toolbox and busybox will default to the toolbox version--which would be important for stock system scripts that might run into compatibility issues if they were to use the busybox versions instead.
To install busybox, grab a copy of the binary from somewhere (one click packages, a copy of stericson.busybox.apk, etc.). Then, once rooted run:
Code:
adb push busybox /data/local/tmp
adb shell
su # Authorize on phone screen
cat /data/local/tmp/busybox > /system/xbin/busybox
chown root.shell /system/xbin/busybox
chmod 755 /system/xbin/busybox
rm /data/local/tmp/busybox
/system/xbin/busybox --install -s /system/xbin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You sir are a true gentleman! Thank you for the informative answers- its great to have you over here! I have one more question- why can't I usually push directly to /system ?
jimmyz said:
why can't I usually push directly to /system ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pushing directly to /system requires running the adb service on the phone as the root user, so that it has permissions to write to that directory. Usually adb runs on the phone unprivileged, so you can only push to world-writable directories.
Running rageagainstthecage-arm5.bin actually changes this. The exploit forces the adb service to run as the root user, which is why "adb shell" gives you a root shell and "adb push" to /system does work, until the phone is restarted.
Interesting enough, the adb service also runs as root by default in the Android emulator. So there's probably a configuration setting, somewhere, to make it do that. In general it's safer to run adb unprivileged though, and "su" to move files to /system once uploaded elsewhere on the phoe.
mkasick said:
Pushing directly to /system requires running the adb service on the phone as the root user, so that it has permissions to write to that directory. Usually adb runs on the phone unprivileged, so you can only push to world-writable directories.
Running rageagainstthecage-arm5.bin actually changes this. The exploit forces the adb service to run as the root user, which is why "adb shell" gives you a root shell and "adb push" to /system does work, until the phone is restarted.
Interesting enough, the adb service also runs as root by default in the Android emulator. So there's probably a configuration setting, somewhere, to make it do that. In general it's safer to run adb unprivileged though, and "su" to move files to /system once uploaded elsewhere on the phoe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am learning a lot!!! Could you take a look at koush's kernel here, with it I noticed that when using adb I got the # prompt right away and was able to push to /system- maybe he was able to figure out the config settings? Once again thanks!!!
one more ? (feel free to ignore this one) what actually happens when you do
Code:
adb shell /data/local/tmp/rageagainstthecage-arm5.bin
and how does that give you permanent root?
mkasick said:
Pushing directly to /system requires running the adb service on the phone as the root user, so that it has permissions to write to that directory. Usually adb runs on the phone unprivileged, so you can only push to world-writable directories.
Running rageagainstthecage-arm5.bin actually changes this. The exploit forces the adb service to run as the root user, which is why "adb shell" gives you a root shell and "adb push" to /system does work, until the phone is restarted.
Interesting enough, the adb service also runs as root by default in the Android emulator. So there's probably a configuration setting, somewhere, to make it do that. In general it's safer to run adb unprivileged though, and "su" to move files to /system once uploaded elsewhere on the phoe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is indeed a config option in default.prop. However, this is in the initramfs and you can't change it on the fly, so you need to rebuild the kernel to change it. With some work you can modify the stock kernel to do it, but I personally haven't tried it.
Sent from my Epic 4G using XDA App
Thank you, this worked perfectly for me, running stock DI18 ROM that I flashed tonight!!! I confirmed by installing the wireless tethering pre-9 apk, and successfully ran the wireless tethering without any errors.
Quick question: do we need to do this after root or is it not needed?
NEEDED?? ===> SuperUser App to help with Security Concerns for the Epic - h**p://forum.sdx-developers.com/epic-development/superuser-app-to-help-with-security-concerns/
Also, Titanium Backup failed to work - it gave an error of denied root access, and said busybox was not installed. What needs to be done to make it work? Do I need to install clockwork mod (not exactly sure what it does though) or a custom ROM?
AndroidSPCS said:
Quick question: do we need to do this after root or is it not needed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure exactly what you're asking. This is an alternative to the joeykrim-based one-click roots and rooted kernels. If you already have one of those this isn't really necessary.
AndroidSPCS said:
NEEDED?? ===> SuperUser App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, the su binary used here requires the Supruser appto be installed to authorize su requests. Otherwise they'll always be denied. Other su binaries might not require it, but then all apps have root access which isn't really a good thing.
AndroidSPCS said:
Also, Titanium Backup failed to work - it gave an error of denied root access, and said busybox was not installed. What needs to be done to make it work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you authorize Titanium Backup when the Superuser prompt came up (requies the Superuser app to be instald too)?
Titanium Backup has an option to download and install it's preferred version of busybox. Follow the prompts to do that.
mkasick said:
Not sure exactly what you're asking. This is an alternative to the joeykrim-based one-click roots and rooted kernels. If you already have one of those this isn't really necessary.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, actually this was referring to the thread where the instructions for going to adb shell or terminal and typing in the following commands:
adb shell
su
mount -t rfs -o remount,rw /dev/block/stl9 /system
cp /system/bin/su /system/bin/jk-su
exit
Yes, the su binary used here requires the Supruser appto be installed to authorize su requests. Otherwise they'll always be denied. Other su binaries might not require it, but then all apps have root access which isn't really a good thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes same as above, the question is not whether we need SU app (I know we do), but whether we needed to type the additional commands:
adb shell
su
mount -t rfs -o remount,rw /dev/block/stl9 /system
cp /system/bin/su /system/bin/jk-su
exit
What do these commands do? It seems to me my Superuser app is working fine with wifi tether - popping up with allow / disable permission boxes, etc. Do these commands add something else to Superuser?
Did you authorize Titanium Backup when the Superuser prompt came up (requies the Superuser app to be instald too)?
Titanium Backup has an option to download and install it's preferred version of busybox. Follow the prompts to do that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There was no Superuser prompt during the install of the app, nor anytime when it said it had a failure with root access. However there is an option to install BusyBox, which I have not done yet, because I am not sure what busybox is, or what it does. I'd like to find out why I need it and what it does, so I can feel comfortable with installing it.
Thanks again.
echo "root::0:0:root:/data/local:/system/bin/sh" > /etc/passwd
echo "root::0:" > /etc/group
you need to do that in a shell to make sure su works properly.
I'm updating the one click root right now to be less silly.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=8543226&postcount=455
I just cleaned up the one click root to not do many of the silly things joeykrim's root does. It also means your system will be mounted as rw after a reboot and it won't overwrite your su with jk-su every boot (no more modified playlogo).
Cleaned up all the old stuff from the root so it should work fine even if you were using one of the older one clicks. I made sure su works, incl titanium backup.
I'm still installing superuser.apk to /system/app because I think it belongs there.
Thanks for doing the footwork, mkasick!
Firon said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=8543226&postcount=455
I just cleaned up the one click root to not do many of the silly things joeykrim's root does. It also means your system will be mounted as rw after a reboot and it won't overwrite your su with jk-su every boot (no more modified playlogo).
Cleaned up all the old stuff from the root so it should work fine even if you were using one of the older one clicks. I made sure su works, incl titanium backup.
I'm still installing superuser.apk to /system/app because I think it belongs there.
Thanks for doing the footwork, mkasick!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Firon- why are these lines still needed?
Code:
adb push playlogo /system/bin/playlogo
what is playlogo? Does this just put the stock one back in case you used the joeykrim method in the past?
Code:
adb push remount /system/xbin/remount
Are the remount scripts still needed?
Code:
adb shell ln -s /system/xbin/su /system/bin/su
why is this link needed? why cant su just be in xbin
thanks in advance!
Code:
jimmyz said:
Firon- why are these lines still needed?
Code:
adb push playlogo /system/bin/playlogo
what is playlogo? Does this just put the stock one back in case you used the joeykrim method in the past?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is just pushing the stock playlogo, since joeykrim's method overwrites it with some custom script.
Code:
adb push remount /system/xbin/remount
Are the remount scripts still needed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The script allows you to easily remount system as ro or rw at will. Why not?
Code:
adb shell ln -s /system/xbin/su /system/bin/su
why is this link needed? why cant su just be in xbin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know if any apps depend on it being in a particular location. It is in xbin, but I'm also linking it to /system/bin to be safe.
AndroidSPCS said:
What do these commands do? It seems to me my Superuser app is working fine with wifi tether - popping up with allow / disable permission boxes, etc. Do these commands add something else to Superuser?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
These commands were necessary to get Superuser working with the old joeykrim root method. They're not necessary with this method (or the newly released one-click). In other words, if wifi-tethering is already working for you, nothing further is needed to be done.
AndroidSPCS said:
There was no Superuser prompt during the install of the app, nor anytime when it said it had a failure with root access.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't actually use TitaniumBackup. I'm not sure why its superuser-requirements would be different from other apps, but I guess it is. The new one-click appears to address this.
AndroidSPCS said:
However there is an option to install BusyBox, which I have not done yet, because I am not sure what busybox is, or what it does. I'd like to find out why I need it and what it does, so I can feel comfortable with installing it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Busybox is a suite of "familar" Unix command-line utilites (things like cp (copy), mv (move), ls (list), etc.). It targets embedded platforms by being very featureful, yet relatively small. It's installed and used on a wide variety of embedded devices including wireless routers, print servers, phones, even televisions.
Oddly enough, Android does not include busybox by default. Instead it comes with it's own utility-programs-package called "toolbox" that isn't nearly as featureful, and quickly becomes a pain to use. Some programs, like TitaniumBackup depend on busybox programs/features, and thus require it's installation. It's safe.
The only problem with busybox is that there's not one single version of it. There's multiple builds of it from the same source code with different sets of features turned on and off. In the past, some folks had a version of busybox installed that didn't contain all the features necessary to support TitaniumBackup, so they added the option to install their own version. It's installed in a separate location, so it won't overwrite any version you do have installed, and it's safe to do. But if you've already installed another version of busybox that does work, then it may be unnecessary.
I did the Jokeyrim method a few days ago. I installed a new kernal and now a new ROM. All seems ok, but ow when I do the "whoami" command in adb shell I get whoami not found. I don't think I'm really rooted anymore. Any attempt to reinstall the Jokeyrim root script results in failure (mostly "device not found" errors). When in adb shell, most commands I type now are either "not found" or "permission denied", so I'm not confident that I'm really rooted now.
Since I have / had Jokeyrim installed, how can I "uninstall" it so that I can use this method of rooting instead? BTW, the newest Clockworkmod is installed and working.
Do I need to flash to stock first? Sorry, but I'm a VERY STOOPID NOOB.
i tried a few ways to root my atrix 2 but i cant. I tried super one click, lazy one click (or however its called) and i cant root it i have a mac someone help! is there another way to root the atrix 2?
I heard there was an app that can do it too. Its in this forum somewhere.
I used the manual method on my Mac with no issues, did it twice actually.
What error messages are you getting?
I'll be home in about 15 mins and I can help further
Sent from my MB865 using Tapatalk
If all else fails, you could always reflash the fkz's, than try to root again, but the problem here is that you have a mac. Perhaps borrow a friends pc, or install Windows through bootcamp. (I wouldn't recommend a Virtual Machine though).
OK so if you used a root tool in the first place then I assume that-
-You have adb set up
-You have the necessary files to push (zerg, su, superuser.apk)
If you have no idea of what I'm talking about then just look around the folders of the root tools and you'll find them.
OK, here's what you have to do:
1. Open up a terminal.
2. CD (change directory) to where you have the necessary files located, ex. "cd ~/Desktop/" if they're on the desktop
3. Enter the following commands (one line at a time):
Code:
adb shell
cd /data/local
rm ./temp/*
exit
This removes temporary files created by the root exploit.
4. Now enter these commands (again, one at a time)
Code:
adb push zerg /data/local
adb push su /data/local
adb push Superuser.apk /data/local
adb shell
cd /data/local
chmod 777 zerg
./zerg
adb shell
mount -o rw,remount /dev/null /system
cat /data/local/su > /system/bin/su
cat /data/local/Superuser.apk > /system/app/Superuser.apk
chmod 4755 /system/bin/su
chmod 4755 /system/app/Superuser.apk
reboot
I hope you understand this... good luck getting complete root.
thread moved to general forum
If you find a specific android app that can do this for you and you can post it in the OP, I will gladly move it down to its original location. Until there, it doesnt belong in the app and themes forums.
What's your android version ?
Deliberate said:
I heard there was an app that can do it too. Its in this forum somewhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately that app seems to have only been in the market and was recently removed... I tried looking for it today. Please correct me if I'm wrong!
jpumford said:
Unfortunately that app seems to have only been in the market and was recently removed... I tried looking for it today. Please correct me if I'm wrong!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're correct, the app was written by an author who made it just to make money... he never even tested it. He took it down because it didn't work.
Most important question of all here: What OS are you running on your Mac?
If you're running 2.3.6 you can't root yet. You need to downgrade to 2.3.5