What is BusyBox and why do I need it? The definition doesn't make sense. Programmer jargon... would like to understand with proper English
redishbrown said:
What is BusyBox and why do I need it? The definition doesn't make sense. Programmer jargon... would like to understand with proper English
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Busybox allows you or programs to perform actions on your phone using Linux (copied from Unix) commands. Android is basically a specialized Linux OS with a Java compatible (Dalvik) machine for running programs. The Android kernel is a modified version of the Linux kernel (that is why the Android kernel must always be open source). Busybox gives functionality to your phone that it does not have without it. Many programs, especially root programs such as Titanium Backup, require busybox to perform the functions of the program. Without busybox installed your phone is much more limited in what it can do.
I made sure I thanked you. Always been wondering what busy box is. Just wondering u need busy box for root right?
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium
From Busybox.net
BusyBox: The Swiss Army Knife of Embedded Linux
BusyBox combines tiny versions of many common UNIX utilities into a single small executable. It provides replacements for most of the utilities you usually find in GNU fileutils, shellutils, etc. The utilities in BusyBox generally have fewer options than their full-featured GNU cousins; however, the options that are included provide the expected functionality and behave very much like their GNU counterparts. BusyBox provides a fairly complete environment for any small or embedded system.
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That's pretty plain English there. If you don't get the gist of it from that and jbox's explanation then you need to spend some time in Linux and a shell environment.
no
moeahmad1995 said:
I made sure I thanked you. Always been wondering what busy box is. Just wondering u need busy box for root right?
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you do not need busy box to have root.
But many root apps as well as settings in custom roms use busybox to run the scripts that make them work. so while you can root without busybox you are very limited as to what you can do with it.
so while you dont need it to have the phone rooted. its still prety much needed to take advantage of that rooting
Wow, I learned more in this thread than in many others combined. Thanx!
eagle1967 said:
you do not need busy box to have root.
But many root apps as well as settings in custom roms use busybox to run the scripts that make them work. so while you can root without busybox you are very limited as to what you can do with it.
so while you dont need it to have the phone rooted. its still prety much needed to take advantage of that rooting
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Click to collapse
You beat me to it. Well put.
Dr. Bogenbroom said:
From Busybox.net
BusyBox: The Swiss Army Knife of Embedded Linux
That's pretty plain English there. If you don't get the gist of it from that and jbox's explanation then you need to spend some time in Linux and a shell environment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Always somebody that has to say something like this.
"If you cant possibly understand the simplicity of greatness then this isnt for you."
blestsol said:
Always somebody that has to say something like this.
"If you cant possibly understand the simplicity of greatness then this isnt for you."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't quite say it wasn't for them now did I? In order to understand something you aren't familiar with you have to be taught no? Self or otherwise. What's wrong with suggesting some shell time in order to better understand...shell-like ideas?
Many people learn best by doing. Reading all that you can read from another's perspective won't have the same impact as simple trial and error for the majority of people.
What can you do with busy box?
You can resurrect 2-year old threads with a question that can be answered with a quick google or XDA search. It's awesome.
Pain-N-Panic said:
You can resurrect 2-year old threads with a question that can be answered with a quick google or XDA search. It's awesome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's even worse when the question he asked was answered 3 years ago in the same thread!
Confused
I still can't follow what is the meaning and use of busy box. Can anyone just tell me in simple words what it can do???
As already earlier stated in the thread, Busybox is light like a Swiss army knife, on the other hand you have a heavy toolbox full of tools with one tool for one job.
If you don't need full options, Busybox fits your needs. If you want full options from a utility, make sure you have that utility installed.
Bl4ckr4v3n said:
As already earlier stated in the thread, Busybox is light like a Swiss army knife, on the other hand you have a heavy toolbox full of tools with one tool for one job.
If you don't need full options, Busybox fits your needs. If you want full options from a utility, make sure you have that utility installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you please tell me the top 3 thing which i can modify or useful functions of busybox. Its hard to understand what does it actually do.
busybox Is in the back ground?
Bl4ckr4v3n said:
As already earlier stated in the thread, Busybox is light like a Swiss army knife, on the other hand you have a heavy toolbox full of tools with one tool for one job.
If you don't need full options, Busybox fits your needs. If you want full options from a utility, make sure you have that utility installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Am I correct in assuming that Busybox works in the background and that no normal intervention from the user is required?
jboxer said:
Busybox allows you or programs to perform actions on your phone using Linux (copied from Unix) commands. Android is basically a specialized Linux OS with a Java compatible (Dalvik) machine for running programs. The Android kernel is a modified version of the Linux kernel (that is why the Android kernel must always be open source). Busybox gives functionality to your phone that it does not have without it. Many programs, especially root programs such as Titanium Backup, require busybox to perform the functions of the program. Without busybox installed your phone is much more limited in what it can do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is busybox also need some battery to run.., ??
Pain-N-Panic said:
You can resurrect 2-year old threads with a question that can be answered with a quick google or XDA search. It's awesome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ROFL, that is the best joke in the whole forum :laugh:
Let me put some life in this thread.
In the most simplest words, BusyBox doesn't provide a UX(visual appearance) but works inside and makes your phone more compatible for root Apps. It increases the functionality in simple words. So install BusyBox if you have root, even if you don't know what it does. The Apps you would use in the future may require it. It has no harms (am I correct?)
OK, I get it; however, I am wondering if I should consider it normal for BusyBox to be running random scripts in my router? I'm no IT, but some of the logs I am seeing look kind of odd. Is this SOP for - say Android on TMobile?
Related
I modded the Superuser Whitelist app to look better, because I thought it looked pretty ugly, and was really disruptive taking up the whole screen. It also shows actual app names instead of package names and UIDs. For some su binaries, this won't work, because it's not signed properly (it's signed with the Sirius Apps key), but it should work with any su binary that doesn't care. (it works on my custom rom with the su binary from JF1.5, and that's all I know)
(some screenshots attached)
Download: http://www.siriusapplications.com/superuser-cool-version.apk
Disclamer: This may not work at all, or blow up your phone, but it works for me. The source is taken from http://code.google.com/p/superuser/ with a few mods.
So do you think this will work on the HTC Hero (the actual phone, not just the rom)? Im building a rom and would love to include this.
chuckhriczko said:
So do you think this will work on the HTC Hero (the actual phone, not just the rom)? Im building a rom and would love to include this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if the normal superuser works then this one will
Liken the overall design
great job
isaacwaller said:
I modded the Superuser Whitelist app to look better, because I thought it looked pretty ugly, and was really disruptive taking up the whole screen. It also shows actual app names instead of package names and UIDs. For some su binaries, this won't work, because it's not signed properly (it's signed with the Sirius Apps key), but it should work with any su binary that doesn't care. (it works on my custom rom with the su binary from JF1.5, and that's all I know)
(some screenshots attached)
Download: http://www.siriusapplications.com/superuser-cool-version.apk
Disclamer: This may not work at all, or blow up your phone, but it works for me. The source is taken from http://code.google.com/p/superuser/ with a few mods.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome. Im gonna package this into my rom when I test it and it works. I will also cross post this thread over into the Hero community (GSM and CDMA) so everyone can benefit from this awesome app. Thanks!
Installed, but it doesn't replace superuser. Is there way to replace?
pilnik11 said:
Installed, but it doesn't replace superuser. Is there way to replace?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've come to the same issue. I replace the superuser.apk file in /system/app but it still shows the old one. Any ideas?
i think my "sp" is better.but it's just a new icon...
And another one.
Code:
http://www.4shared.com/file/153947578/b29fb305/superuser2-signed.html
A little thought:
I would SERIOUSLY recommend against using software like this without having FULL ACCESS to the SOURCE, and actually compiling it yourself.
Note: I am *NOT* saying anything bad about the OP, just that this kind of thing REALLY requires a lot of caution and there is really no way to verify the identity of anyone here.
The reason is that by definition, a superuser whitelist APP will itself be able to control who does and does not have root access.... including ITSELF. And with root, you have no limits to your havoc.
lbcoder said:
A little thought:
I would SERIOUSLY recommend against using software like this without having FULL ACCESS to the SOURCE, and actually compiling it yourself.
Note: I am *NOT* saying anything bad about the OP, just that this kind of thing REALLY requires a lot of caution and there is really no way to verify the identity of anyone here.
The reason is that by definition, a superuser whitelist APP will itself be able to control who does and does not have root access.... including ITSELF. And with root, you have no limits to your havoc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a good point. I tend to be trusting which could be a bad thing. Could the OP please send us the source to verify it's legit? Nothing against you as lbcoder said, just to be on the safe side.
I dumped the source onto GitHub: http://github.com/isaacwaller/a-cooler-superuser
(I am in NO WAY proud of this source code - it is messy, hacky, and terrible. I just wanted to quickly whip up something.)
Anyone root their ViewSonic yet. I have been googling about looking for Android 2.2 root methods and just wondering if I risk totally bricking this device. It seems that getting root and installing busy-box *should* work.
Any and all help greatly appreciated.
UH...
don't mean to sound rude, but this is like walking into starbucks and asking if they have coffee!
Check the development forum one level back, and you'll see several pinned posts with instructions to replace the software with something much better!
Life in LA said:
don't mean to sound rude, but this is like walking into starbucks and asking if they have coffee!
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Click to collapse
Ok, that's funny as hell! Though I have walked into Starbucks and they were out of coffee, and I live in Starbucks central (Seattle)
@the original poster - This is the thread that I used to put CyanogenMod on mine:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=851657
There's also a "Super Simple One step root" out there.
nink said:
Anyone root their ViewSonic yet. I have been googling about looking for Android 2.2 root methods and just wondering if I risk totally bricking this device. It seems that getting root and installing busy-box *should* work.
Any and all help greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Follow the G Tablet Super Thread. It gives you everything you want for a new start-up: market Fix, Rooting,etc...
nink said:
Anyone root their ViewSonic yet. I have been googling about looking for Android 2.2 root methods and just wondering if I risk totally bricking this device. It seems that getting root and installing busy-box *should* work.
Any and all help greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow! I guess I could ask if anyone has taught you to read yet.... Try it, it really works.
Thanks folks. Being my first rooting efforting in android, I hope I succeed.
nink said:
Thanks folks. Being my first rooting efforting in android, I hope I succeed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should be ok. Just read up and follow the directions. This tablet is pretty forgiving. And it is really nice once all the stock stuff is gone.
Have fun
Not Starbucks, but same idea
Life in LA said:
don't mean to sound rude, but this is like walking into starbucks and asking if they have coffee!
Check the development forum one level back, and you'll see several pinned posts with instructions to replace the software with something much better!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Our local Burger King ran out of burgers once. Only had chicken and fries. Kinda false advertising. ;P Bad management issue, I had heard.
Funny story, I spent this past summer in Beijing, China, and the one time my friends and I decided to try to go get some fried chicken at a Kenny Rogers Roasters. All they had was half a chicken left lol Well, I never got that fried chicken in China
But, yeah, the forum is easy to READ and find instructions how to root/install custom roms
I don't think I even used the stock build on this tablet - first boot everything fc'd on me. Rebooted and installed TnT lite in pretty much one go.
Sent from my GTablet-TnT-Lite using Tapatalk
billmarquette said:
I don't think I even used the stock build on this tablet - first boot everything fc'd on me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Proud to say I have never seen the default ui on this device! The first time I booted it was to mod it, lol
Life in LA said:
don't mean to sound rude, but this is like walking into starbucks and asking if they have coffee!
Check the development forum one level back, and you'll see several pinned posts with instructions to replace the software with something much better!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ROFLMAO
@OP
Missed the dev forum didya?
(I had problems with the News app/widget thing in the 1.0 version of TnT, then I had problems with the weather app/widget after the 1.01 OTA update for TnT, at which point I dumped TnT for TnT lite 2.0.2 ... if the sw had worked well, I wouldn't have minded the shipped "launcher" too much... but TnT apparently needs ALOT more dev time as it seemed to be beta quality at best, if not alpha...)
Well I rooted successfully. Remounted certain system folders as rw. BEFORE I installed the TNT 2.20 I used the stock recovery tool , I made a backup to sdcard and copied that to my Linux box.
So far so good. At first I was a bit miffed to find the /system or /etc mounted ro, but got around that with busybox sudo..
Now my task is to tinker a bit around with the user-space services.
I am finding, that unlike a system-V (/etc/rc?.d with init.d), user-space tweaking in the sense of auto starting apps or whatever is not as simple as: write shell script, place in proper location, re-boot.... seems I need to write an actual app that listens for "ACTION_BOOT_COMPLETE". I sure wish it was simpler.
Oh, is the titanium backup worth it? Or is the system backup I created using the "power-on+volume-up" method just as good. Seems the method provided by ViewSonic is fine enough. However, I did not see any mention of it in the forum (my system seems to have been created on 11/22/2010, based on the system directories date before I TNTed my tablet).
Again, many thanks to those who pointed me in the proper direction. I really appreciate your input.
nink said:
Well I rooted successfully. Remounted certain system folders as rw. BEFORE I installed the TNT 2.20 I used the stock recovery tool , I made a backup to sdcard and copied that to my Linux box.
So far so good. At first I was a bit miffed to find the /system or /etc mounted ro, but got around that with busybox sudo..
Now my task is to tinker a bit around with the user-space services.
I am finding, that unlike a system-V (/etc/rc?.d with init.d), user-space tweaking in the sense of auto starting apps or whatever is not as simple as: write shell script, place in proper location, re-boot.... seems I need to write an actual app that listens for "ACTION_BOOT_COMPLETE". I sure wish it was simpler.
Oh, is the titanium backup worth it? Or is the system backup I created using the "power-on+volume-up" method just as good. Seems the method provided by ViewSonic is fine enough. However, I did not see any mention of it in the forum (my system seems to have been created on 11/22/2010, based on the system directories date before I TNTed my tablet).
Again, many thanks to those who pointed me in the proper direction. I really appreciate your input.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't know about all the other stuff but Viewsonic did not have a recovery option. Had to be something you installed while rooting, or whatever. The system backup in Clockwork is great for times when your tablet won't work because of something, or a program that went wrong. Titanium is great for when you have a zillion apps installed and want to install a new rom, or reload a clean version. Titanium will then let you put all your apps back without having to download them from the market, or sideload them all again. It is also useful when you have an app you can't find but it may be on your phone. You can backup the app on your phone and then move it to your tablet to install.
Sprdtyf350 said:
[...]recovery option[...]Had to be something you installed while rooting, or whatever. The system backup in Clockwork
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I think you are right. My first effort in the rooting process was to install the clockwork, but I thought it failed. However, it must not have as when I run the backup (and pay attention) I saw the "ClockWork...... msgs". Definitely a nifty tool.
FYI troops:
I was quite successful, with much thanks to all of you and your wonderful efforts.
- got market place working (however have not needed it yet at all)
- installed groomdroid (a php aware webserver)
- installed php-cgi so that groom processes ".php" web pages.
- installed php-cli program for command line php capabilities.
- installed TitaniumBackup (need to use it, probably soon)
- installed adobe flash, and it works just fine
Now to:.
- browser that is truly html5 capable (this may be dreaming as most have various parts of html5 disabled, such as the "<video>" element. However, there is a new Opera browser available that is *supp5osed* to be <video> capable. FYI: some webkit browsers, such as the QT-webkit have the html5 video element capability disabled on purpose.
- autostart apps of my choosing (I have a feeling I will be writing droid apps to accomplish this)
Again, many thanks folks.
When I get my device set up as I need it, I will post how I did it. I am trying to document the process as best I can.
I thought this was a hilarious thread, and I was going to make a joke at the OP just for fun, but I am REALLY happy that despite the doofus thread opening that nink has figured it out and has joined the ranks.
Hope you have happy flashing and have fun (and don't worry all of us were pretty lost when we began)
Friends,
I would like to figure out a method to ALWAYS keep Better Terminal Emulator running in the background after I have sent it to the background. I would like for Android to never kill this application.
I understand the normal Android framework automatically kills applications in the background when running low on memory, but I want this single application to stay active regardless of system performance. The goal is to run command-line tools/scripts in the background without fear that they will be randomly closed by Android.
Is there such a method? I have root on my device. Thank you.
...
Sadly I havent got an answer, I am just listening in on this.
I also need this
+1 Bump, I would like to know this as well.
wish, It was possible!
azeroth89 said:
wish, It was possible!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try supercharger script and put terminal on whitelist
Sent from my NexusHD2 using xda premium
That's one way, but you can also use an init.d script to do it, I've got the info at home and I'm at work right now. I'll up it later.
Another way would be to use an arm version of gnu screen.
I used to do this on my T-mobile g1 which only had 60mb of ram. Worked just fine and had the added bonus of allowing multiple terminals.
Волк said:
That's one way, but you can also use an init.d script to do it, I've got the info at home and I'm at work right now. I'll up it later.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SuperCharger script creates the bulletproof_apps init.d script
Long story short: I messed up with flashing a custom rom. But gladly, I got my phone fixed. Now, I wanna root again but I'm scared of rom flashing. I just wanna do the basic benefits of rooting like deleting stock aps and other things.
So what other 'rooting benefits' can I obtain without rom flashing? Or without having the risk of bricking my phone? The rooting process is kinda simple for me since I can use the z4root app.
Help? Anyone?
reyesryanmjaube said:
Long story short: I messed up with flashing a custom rom. But gladly, I got my phone fixed. Now, I wanna root again but I'm scared of rom flashing. I just wanna do the basic benefits of rooting like deleting stock aps and other things.
So what other 'rooting benefits' can I obtain without rom flashing? Or without having the risk of bricking my phone? The rooting process is kinda simple for me since I can use the z4root app.
Help? Anyone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can obtain lot of goodies, like install applications not coming from the market, i guess, edit system files, remove non needed system applications, do a lot of things, be sure when you flash a rom to have a fully charged battery, its really hard to brick it.
mmmmm ????
depending what phone you have?? Rooting is safe enough, you can "unroot" just as easy! I definitely recommend z4root If you flash another ROM be sure to do lots of research next time!!! If you experience any problems, dont forget google can be your best friend! You can count on the fact you wont be the only one having the same problem
I have LG p500. Basically, I'm now scared of anything that involves CMD. I can install non market apps like the ones from here. So yeah, after Z4root. what now?
These phones are great for bricking, because a lot of times they're easy to fix. Try out themes, custom roms, custom kernels, it's all available to you now.
Can you guide me a bit? Please
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA App
Oh! I read this thread in the news section. If i understand it correctly it will allow me to uninstall preset apps without cmd?
Nalthos said:
I recently bought a Droid 2 Global and decided to get my feet wet with android development. To familiarize myself with the platform I wrote a simple utility for managing the bloat that came pre-installed on my phone. I thought there might be other people who would get some use out of this so I am posting it here. You will need to be rooted and have busybox installed to use this application. If you used z4root to root your phone then you should have everything you need.
The application is pretty simple. When you start it you are presented with a list of the Bloat that the application recognizes. Each item in the list has a checkbox that indicates whether it is enabled or not. To disable bloat you just uncheck the boxes next to what you don't want and then press the Apply button that appears at the bottom of the screen. You can save what you have disabled as a profile by pressing the options button and then choosing Save Profile. This is convenient because you are going to need to turn all of this bloat back on if you want to receive updates. If you have saved a profile and a new update becomes available you can launch Bloat Manager, press the options button, choose Enable All and then click Apply to get your phone ready for the update. After the update installs you can launch Bloat Manager, press the options button, choose Load Profile and then click Apply to turn the bloat back off.
The following applications can be toggled on or off using Bloat Manager:
Amazon MP3 /system/app/amazonmp3_1_8_14_signed_zipaligned_Signed_2010-09-09_15-23-51.apk
Blockbuster /system/app/Blockbuster.apk
City ID /system/app/CityID.apk
Friend Feed /system/app/FriendFeed.apk
Kindle /system/app/Kindle-1_0_2-OEM-SingleSign_Signed_2010-09-20_17-31-57.apk
My Net /system/app/Mynet.apk
My Verizon /system/app/MyVerizon.apk
News Widget /system/app/NewsWidget.apk
Performance Manager /system/app/PerformanceManager.apk
Skype /system/app/Skype_mobile.live.apk
Social Messaging /system/app/SocialMessaging.apk
Social Share /system/app/SocialShare.apk
VZNavigator /system/app/vnav_6.1.0.160_Droid2Global_rel_PROD_signed.apk
Visual Voice Mail /system/app/Vvm.apk
Weather Widget /system/app/WeatherWidget.apk
World Clock Widget /system/app/WorldClockWidget.apk
When you disable an application using Bloat Manager it simply renames it to .bak. When you re-enable an application it is renamed back to .apk.
Bloat Manager remounts your /system partition as writable in order to make changes to applications. I came up with this list based on what other people have had success with removing, but I have not personally turned off everything on the list. Changing things in your system partition is always dangerous so please be careful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA App
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA App
Lol, rooting is so easy a baby could do it. OneClickRoot FTW.
reyesryanmjaube said:
Long story short: I messed up with flashing a custom rom. But gladly, I got my phone fixed. Now, I wanna root again but I'm scared of rom flashing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for sharing, yo.
Sent from my weak Wildfire, can't wait to trade in for HD2, also, not afraid to root.
So yeah aside from this feature, what else can I do without. Using cmd?
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA App
Iinstead of asking and waiting for responses, search on the forum or read a sticky or something to expand your knowledge if you aren't comfortable with cmd you probably shouldn't be messing with root privileges. And bricked phones are dead phones, you can only recover from a brick by replacing hardware
xxmonsterx said:
Iinstead of asking and waiting for responses, search on the forum or read a sticky or something to expand your knowledge if you aren't comfortable with cmd you probably shouldn't be messing with root privileges. And bricked phones are dead phones, you can only recover from a brick by replacing hardware
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow. Since you put it that way.
But there's just too much. You cant blame me for being like this. I bricked my phone and they replaced the mother board (for free) and I am worried to do this again. I tried learning, I failed. And I don't like to be a wannabe developer of some sort, I just want to maximize my phone to it's potential and do what most people do.
You can say that I haven't exerted too much effort. In that case, maybe you're not the person I should me asking help from. Sorry, I was hurt.
reyesryanmjaube said:
So yeah aside from this feature, what else can I do without. Using cmd?
Sent from my LG-P500 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CMD (command shell in windows,mac or linux) is only used when you change ROMs or unlock the bootloader (the program that loads the ROM) apps and themes have nothing to do with it, you will read ADB a lot which is basically a way to access the whole device remotely, most of this you do on the handset itself. Root is a term the same as apples jailbreak, which gives you complete access to everything (most is protected bloatware (apps) that network providers don't want you to delete, there is also a percentage of protection stopping you messing up bits that bricking your phone! Bricking doesn't mean screen wont work, force closes or not booting...it means DEAD! If see something cool that you fancy doing, research a little first and if you don't know what it is or means...DONT DO IT! Its that simple root is what you make it, it opens a lot of options but there's no rush to get to the end, the you learn doing little bits, the quicker you'll be confident flashing ROMs and maybe even developing your own customisations
reyesryanmjaube said:
Wow. Since you put it that way.
But there's just too much. You cant blame me for being like this. I bricked my phone and they replaced the mother board (for free) and I am worried to do this again. I tried learning, I failed. And I don't like to be a wannabe developer of some sort, I just want to maximize my phone to it's potential and do what most people do.
You can say that I haven't exerted too much effort. In that case, maybe you're not the person I should me asking help from. Sorry, I was hurt.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to maximize your phone's full potential you have to deal with thoses things, e.g.: joy 845 comes with the stock rom, which is slow and contains many things not needed, thus you have to flash another rom, better, faster etc...so yeah you have to be a wannabe in the end if you want to do what you want.
Check out Youtube how-to vids on rooting. Some are invaluable, especially the longer ones. Most of these guys take you step by step in detail.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
First of all this isn't a "what is root!??!!??" nor a "OMG I BRICKED MY PHONE SOMEONE HALP!" type of question.
This is more of a "I want to understand what's going on under the hood" type of question.
I'm asking this because I haven't seen the answer anywhere and it'd probably take me several days putting together a bunch of tidbits of information about this to understand it.
What does getting root on an Android device involve? I've used 1-click tools, flashed kernels that include root (CF-Root, for example), used adb and nvflash. What goes on at the OS level?
Thanks in advance to any helpful soul that replies!
pretty much its granting sysadmin rights to your phone.
It gives you admin level access to the operating system. You can customize apps, looks, performance and a good host of other things including backups, flashing ROMs etc..
Thanks guys, but like I said, I know what rooting is and what it's for. I have both of my android devices rooted (Galaxy S and Asus Tablet).
What I want to know is, when you root a device, what's modified, what does rooting actually involve, under the hood.
Root is a Linux term. In Linux based operating systems there is a predefined user account called root. When a device I shipped to you, the manufacturer has prevented you from being able to be root user for safety, and to prevent you to add, remove or modify things at a system level. When you perform the procedure of rooting your device, you change the su binary in the system directory, usually through a security exploit, to remove these restrictions that the manufacturer has bestowed upon your device, and now you have full access to anything on your phone
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Root is a Linux term. In Linux based operating systems there is a predefined user account called root. When a device I shipped to you, the manufacturer has prevented you from being able to be root user for safety, and to prevent you to add, remove or modify things at a system level. When you perform the procedure of rooting your device, you add su binary in the system/bin directory, usually through a security exploit, to remove these restrictions that the manufacturer has bestowed upon your device, and now you have full access to anything on your phone
Hope this is helpful, and in case you do not read my awesome signature, please hit the thanks button to show your appreciation if this helped
Thanks again but, again that's not what I'm asking. OK here goes again:
- I know what rooting is
- I know what root is for
- Both my phone and my eePad are rooted
- I know what su is. I've used Linux and UNIX
What I want to know is, what is actually modified on the android OS when rooting the phone!
Is the kernel modified?
are permissions modified?
Is it an API thing?
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Rooting usually consists of 2 parts, the vector and payload:
All those rooting apps use various exploits to insert the payload. On devices that can install custom recoveries without rooting (ie unlocked bootloaders) they can merely use the recovery to directly install the payload.
There's dozens of vectors including making a 'superboot' kernal which include the payload and installs it on the first boot (i think?)
The payload is minimally the SU binary and the superuser app. Both are made by the same guy.
On the Dell Streak (which has an unlocked bootloader) rooting is just flashing an update.zip containing the SU binary and superuser app. A simple copy to /system. Newer rooting apps also include patches to plug up the exploit that they used themselves. Gingerbreak includes a dummy /system/bin/profile that plugs up the exploit used to install itself(?)
If the kernel is modified it's prob at runtime and not a hard patch, if it modifies it at all (i dont know), my assumption is that the linux kernal in android retains hooks that SU uses to link up with the system and normally it's simply not enabled by not including a SU binary. The superuser app of course just more or less a front end to SU (settings and logging)
Unlocked bootloader devices are likely the most reliable to root since they dont depend on exploit vectors, as updates plug them up they have to find a new vector or modify them, which means that there are open vectors that actual malware can use. Using a custom recovery to flash is the intended purpose of having an unlocked bootloader.
I'm very new to this so please forgive this old man. I'm 60 years old and bought a brand new Viewsonic G Tablet. Then after getting it I searched the internet on how to make it better. Seems everything depends upon "rooting" the device. I spent the day and now it's 11pm searching the net, watching youtube videos and reading about but no one actually gives you a step by step answer. I'm hoping one of you fine people help me out, please.
I guess I was wrong. Not one person has stepped forward to help me. Thank you so very much. I know what rooting is but what I don't know is how to root my Viewsonic G Tablet 2.2. You'd think I was asking for the code to a Swiss Bank Account. LOL With PC's I'm a wiz, or was until I reached 55 or so and then things were just going so fast and over my head. But when it comes to this, I'm like a brand new student trying to learn Japanese. All I need is for someone to please give me a step by step instruction on how to do it. If you'd like, I'll Paypal you some money for helping me.
Thank you
Philip Bock CSM US Army (Retired)
Thanks Manil! That's what I was looking for! It seems that most devices have a locked bootloader, and now I understand why it takes a bit longer (more than a few hours) to root each new device,
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pabock said:
I'm very new to this so please forgive this old man. I'm 60 years old and bought a brand new Viewsonic G Tablet. Then after getting it I searched the internet on how to make it better. Seems everything depends upon "rooting" the device. I spent the day and now it's 11pm searching the net, watching youtube videos and reading about but no one actually gives you a step by step answer. I'm hoping one of you fine people help me out, please.
I guess I was wrong. Not one person has stepped forward to help me. Thank you so very much. I know what rooting is but what I don't know is how to root my Viewsonic G Tablet 2.2. You'd think I was asking for the code to a Swiss Bank Account. LOL With PC's I'm a wiz, or was until I reached 55 or so and then things were just going so fast and over my head. But when it comes to this, I'm like a brand new student trying to learn Japanese. All I need is for someone to please give me a step by step instruction on how to do it. If you'd like, I'll Paypal you some money for helping me.
Thank you
Philip Bock CSM US Army (Retired)
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I searched for "Viewsonic G Tablet 2.2 root" and found this http://droidpirate.com/2010/11/27/how-to-root-your-viewsonic-g-tablet/
Looks promising, no garantees though.