Hi guys,
I was working on this since some time and here it is
Please read FAQ first
FAQ :
Can I compile a MT6589 kernel for every phone ?
As you know, a MT6589 kernel won't fit in every MT6589 smartphone because of specific configs/files in the kernel source tree.
So, if you compile my kernel which is expected to work on a Faea F2S don't expect it to work on a Acer Liquid E3 for example.
Conclusion : You have to get the kernel source for your phone
How can I check my kernel source ?
Of course, this is not enough to see "source code for ZTE N986", you have to check if it's full or not and if it works.
Most people don't know what is working kernel source. You just have to read the GPL guidelines that every manufacturer have to complain with :
“ The source code for a work means the preferred form of the work for making modifications to it. For an executable work, complete source code means all the source code for all modules it contains, plus any associated interface definition files, plus the scripts used to control compilation and installation of the executable. ”
The part which has not to be included is the toolchain but there should reference to it (which toolchain to use)
For MT6589 kernel, the toolchains arm-eabi-4.6 and arm-linux-androideabi-4.6 should be used. (mtk used arm-linux-androideabi-4.6 for kernel but it should be arm-eabi-4.6)
So now you know which toolchain to grab and then for kernel source you have to check this minimal structure :
bionic
kernel
mediatek
build
config
custom
kernel
platformREADME
If I have kernel source, can I build it for my device ?
Erm... Sometimes the structure is here but the kernel source is messy... Why ?
Because you were not provided the matching source of the kernel used on your smartphone and the reasons are multiple (I won't give details).
So, the idea is to run a first build. If you get errors, then check the step above about toolchain and structure.
The next step for fixing errors is to play with source. Good luck for that.
What are the benefits of a custom kernel for MT6589 ?
First big benefit is to introduce kitkat compatibility because there was an issue on android binder driver in mtk kernel source.
Next benefit is to be able to remove some stuff from mtk which is useless on user side and waste ressources (a lot of debug for example).
Others benefits will be in optimizations or new features (see frandom for example)
HOWTO :
Build from my repo (specific devices supported) - It's not for compiling your kernel source but to understand how kernel build worksI explain how to build from my repo first because it can help you to understand how you should build kernel source
Prerequisites : A build environment (actually Ubuntu Saucy x64 with build-essentials, ccache, repo, java, perl v5.14+ and openssl) and I won't explain how to get one as there is multiple howto on the net.
For repo, the idea is to create a bin directory in your $HOME (usually /home/accountname/), copy repo binary inside it and then add this bin to $PATH var.
BE CAREFULL TO WHAT YOU DO WITH $PATH VAR ! I always see people doing :
Code:
export PATH=/home/foo/bin
this is erasing $PATH var, just check before and after with echo $PATH
So the idea is to introduce your path AFTER the actual $PATH var
This is easy...
Code:
export PATH=[COLOR="red"]$PATH:[/COLOR]/home/foo/bin
And of course, $PATH is reset once you close terminal and I won't explain how to set $PATH automatically.
Once you got this, everything should be working and it will be easy
Code:
mkdir workdir
cd workdir
repo init -u https://github.com/Dr-Shadow/android_kernel_mt6589_manifest.git -b master
repo sync
Then you should get this in your workdir :
kernel
manifest
mtk-tools
out
ramdisk
scripts
toolchainJust do :
Code:
cd kernel
./certificates.sh
./build.sh
./certificates.sh is needed only once (it's for signing flashable zip and it will setup some keys for it, just reply to questions and don't add passphrase)
And of course, the build.sh contains most things you need to know on steps for building kernel (which commands to use) and you need to know how it works Build from your own kernel source
I'm building the doc... I have to remind which vars need to be overriden
Reserved
Reserved #2
Thanks for making this thread brother it will help us to learn... Subscribed
Looking forward to the how-to to build with your own kernel source.
Dr-Shadow said:
Hi guys,
I was working on this since some time and here it is
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you Dr-Shadow! This is very cool. I'm going to try it out!
Great
It's always nice to see further development on MTK Based Devices.
Regards
I'll chip in and say thanks too. Finally getting around to trying to compile Alcatel's OneTouch Hero (aka TCL Y910) provided sources.
I might be in as well with A820, but I'm relatively new to Android and have only done porting of 4.1 and 4.2 so far.
Haven't built anything although I have some knowledge about the source code and SDK, which I've only used for reference purposes and the tools from it.
Will try to compile the stock kernel this weekend, but I'm not quite sure if something else is needed, even if the kernel source seems complete to me.
I'm a quick learner and have a lot of programming experience in other technologies, even thought I'm more of a front-end developer these days.
Since Xiaomi released source code for kernel, I tried to build it.
https://github.com/Dhoine/android_kernel_cereus
Current status of this - it compiles, boots, but unusable.
Bugs:
Broken bluetooth
Broken wifi
Soft-reboots after some time
Propably, more bugs that remained undiscovered because of reboots.
Tested with miui 9 on cereus 3/32.
--------
You can test builded kernel using this:
GDrive
Use Carliv image Kitchen to repack your rom's boot.img, then flash it via fastboot (UNLOCKED BOOTLOADER REQUIRED). To restore working state after testing, flash stock boot image again.
WARNING
Our kernel uses android regular boot.img format, not MTK.
---------
If you want to build this, any manual for building kernel will fit. I used google's android arm eabi 4.9 toolchain, our arch is arm, defconfig is cereus_defconfig.
For now, I don't have enough time to take a closer look at this (work, university exams), so, any help (last_kmsg, dmesg, pull requests) will be appreciated.
Wait seriously? Does that mean that i can buil LOS rom now? I have my UbuntuVM with whole LOS source code downloaded but i got stuck at no kernel found for cereus. So it might work now(Im extremely new to linux) I'll try to build the rom asap
TanRayCz said:
Wait seriously? Does that mean that i can buil LOS rom now? I have my UbuntuVM with whole LOS source code downloaded but i got stuck at no kernel found for cereus. So it might work now(Im extremely new to linux) I'll try to build the rom asap
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This kernel for now won't really help with building los. I haven't find any device tree for our SoC (or close). MTK always requre a ton of patches to android sources. But i have reference MTK 9.0 android sources for this SoC - ALPS (can't share, it's probably illegal, but you can find them on 4pda.ru, if you want). It builds on almost unmodified reference device tree, but i haven't tested it on device. First, we need to make this kernel usable.
[email protected] said:
This kernel for now won't really help with building los. I haven't find any device tree for our SoC (or close). MTK always requre a ton of patches to android sources. But i have reference MTK 9.0 android sources for this SoC - ALPS (can't share, it's probably illegal, but you can find them on 4pda.ru, if you want). It builds on almost unmodified reference device tree, but i haven't tested it on device. First, we need to make this kernel usable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This may not really help, but can you try that kernel again after upgrading to MIUI 10.2.4 ?
EDIT : See https://www.kimovil.com/en/list-smartphones-by-processor/mediatek-helio-p22-mt6762 for a list of devices with MT6762. Probably we can check out their trees?
EDIT 2 : It seems like our Redmi 6 is the only device with available kernel source in that list.
EDIT 3 : Try this?
minhducsun2002 said:
EDIT : See https://www.kimovil.com/en/list-smar...lio-p22-mt6762 for a list of devices with MT6762. Probably we can check out their trees?
EDIT 2 : It seems like our Redmi 6 is the only device with available kernel source in that list.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe them exists, but I haven't found them.
minhducsun2002 said:
This may not really help, but can you try that kernel again after upgrading to MIUI 10.2.4 ?
---------------------
EDIT 3 : Try this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I finally finished my university exams, so now I have some free time to play with it.
The kernel you link is just forked xiaomi sources merged to linux 4.9 kernel. It shouldn't be buildable at all, since there is the same problem in sources I "fixed" with this.
Probably, this too.
[email protected] said:
I finally finished my university exams, so now I have some free time to play with it.
The kernel you link is just forked xiaomi sources merged to linux 4.9 kernel. It shouldn't be buildable at all, since there is the same problem in sources I "fixed" with this.
Probably, this too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
[email protected] said:
Maybe them exists, but I haven't found them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right, they're identical.
By the way, I couldn't find any implementation available for our Helio P22; the chipset itself is fairly new, thus not many devices have the source code available.
minhducsun2002 said:
This may not really help, but can you try that kernel again after upgrading to MIUI 10.2.4 ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, i've tested it on latest GS. It seems to work a way better. At least, it doesnt reboot after few seconds of usage. It makes things a lot easier.
Tested a few more things:
-sound - works
-camera (both photo and video) - works
- mobile data - works
- phone calls - work
- dual sim -works
- all sensors work
The only thing i was unable to test is gps. It didn't worked for me, but i was inside 9-floor building near the window to inner corner of building... So idk.
And usb otg - since i don't have adapder.
After this I can tell, that there are only 2 major bugs - wifi and bluetooth.
Maybe gps, fm radio and exfat too. This is modules loading problem, I think (though, there shouldn't be any modules, drivers are marked as built-in in config, but .ko files for them exist in /vendor/lib/modules)
[email protected] said:
Ok, i've tested it on latest GS. It seems to work a way better. At least, it doesnt reboot after few seconds of usage. It makes things a lot easier.
Tested a few more things:
-sound - works
-camera (both photo and video) - works
- mobile data - works
- phone calls - work
- dual sim -works
- all sensors work
The only thing i was unable to test is gps. It didn't worked for me, but i was inside 9-floor building near the window to inner corner of building... So idk.
And usb otg - since i don't have adapder.
After this I can tell, that there are only 2 major bugs - wifi and bluetooth.
Maybe gps, fm radio and exfat too. This is modules loading problem, I think (though, there shouldn't be any modules, drivers are marked as built-in in config, but .ko files for them exist in /vendor/lib/modules)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, Treble definitely makes things easier.
Nevertheless I'm trying to integrate those kernel modules into the compiled zImage - there's no modprobe in Android, sadly.
Adding modules support and disabling modules versions check in config didn't help.
I can't find any source files in kernel sources, from which these modules can be built. Maybe, they are built from separate platform code (they are placed in vendor, so...) Need to download ALPS (brrr, around 50 gb of tar.bz2 archives) to check it.
I've looked into reference mediatek 4.9 kernel sources and found this:
Code:
# Do build-in for Makefile checking
# export CONFIG_WLAN_DRV_BUILD_IN=y
ifeq ($(CONFIG_WLAN_DRV_BUILD_IN),y)
PATH_TO_WMT_DRV = vendor/mediatek/kernel_modules/connectivity/common
PATH_TO_WLAN_CHR_DRV = vendor/mediatek/kernel_modules/connectivity/wlan/adaptor
PATH_TO_WLAN_DRV = vendor/mediatek/kernel_modules/connectivity/wlan/core/gen4m
ABS_PATH_TO_WMT_DRV = $(srctree)/../$(PATH_TO_WMT_DRV)
ABS_PATH_TO_WLAN_CHR_DRV = $(srctree)/../$(PATH_TO_WLAN_CHR_DRV)
ABS_PATH_TO_WLAN_DRV = $(srctree)/../$(PATH_TO_WLAN_DRV)
# check wlan driver folder
ifeq (,$(wildcard $(ABS_PATH_TO_WMT_DRV)))
$(error $(ABS_PATH_TO_WMT_DRV) is not existed)
endif
ifeq (,$(wildcard $(ABS_PATH_TO_WLAN_CHR_DRV)))
$(error $(ABS_PATH_TO_WLAN_CHR_DRV) is not existed)
endif
ifeq (,$(wildcard $(ABS_PATH_TO_WLAN_DRV)))
$(error $(ABS_PATH_TO_WLAN_DRV) is not existed)
endif
$(warning symbolic link to $(PATH_TO_WMT_DRV))
$(warning symbolic link to $(PATH_TO_WLAN_CHR_DRV))
$(warning symbolic link to $(PATH_TO_WLAN_DRV))
$(shell unlink $(srctree)/$(src)/wmt_drv)
$(shell unlink $(srctree)/$(src)/wmt_chrdev_wifi)
$(shell unlink $(srctree)/$(src)/wlan_drv_gen4m)
$(shell ln -s $(ABS_PATH_TO_WMT_DRV) $(srctree)/$(src)/wmt_drv)
$(shell ln -s $(ABS_PATH_TO_WLAN_CHR_DRV) $(srctree)/$(src)/wmt_chrdev_wifi)
$(shell ln -s $(ABS_PATH_TO_WLAN_DRV) $(srctree)/$(src)/wlan_drv_gen4m)
# for gen4m options
export CONFIG_MTK_COMBO_WIFI_HIF=axi
export MTK_COMBO_CHIP=CONNAC
export WLAN_CHIP_ID=6765
export MTK_ANDROID_WMT=y
# Do build-in for xxx.c checking
subdir-ccflags-y += -D MTK_WCN_REMOVE_KERNEL_MODULE
subdir-ccflags-y += -D MTK_WCN_BUILT_IN_DRIVER
obj-y += wmt_drv/
obj-y += wmt_chrdev_wifi/
obj-y += wlan_drv_gen4m/
endif
No such code in xiaomi's source. And this prooves my words: these modules CAN BE BUILT IN and SOURCES FOR THEM ARE IN ALPS. I have to download this ton of ****...
-------
I tried to backpors drivers from 9.0 - no success. It compiles,but doesn't boot. I tried to hack modules loading - no success too.
[email protected] said:
Adding modules support and disabling modules versions check in config didn't help.
I can't find any source files in kernel sources, from which these modules can be built. Maybe, they are built from separate platform code (they are placed in vendor, so...) Need to download ALPS (brrr, around 50 gb of tar.bz2 archives) to check it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most of the time those binaries are not open-source (you probably know vendor blobs for Google devices are too, but that is a different story). Nevertheless I don't really get why kernel modules are placed in
Code:
/vendor
- after all, mobile devices don't have hot-plugging hardware that requires dynamic LKM loading, why do they separate them out?
I'll attempt to crawl the web for those sources while waiting for Mi Unlock to allow my device being unlocked (the waiting period sucks).
[email protected] said:
I've looked into reference mediatek 4.9 kernel sources and found this:
No such code in xiaomi's source. And this prooves my words: these modules CAN BE BUILT IN and SOURCES FOR THEM ARE IN ALPS. I have to download this ton of ****...
-------
I tried to backpors drivers from 9.0 - no success. It compiles,but doesn't boot. I tried to hack modules loading - no success too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Backports? How?
2. In which file did you got those lines?
3. Indeed those modules' source are removed from our tree - if you have the link, I don't really mind having another 50GB occupied on my PC to get those source code.
minhducsun2002 said:
1. Backports? How?
2. Indeed those modules' source are removed from our tree - if you have the link, I don't really mind having another 50GB occupied on my PC to get those source code.
Because attached below is the existence of the modules. /shrug
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already said that i have leaked mtk alps 9.0 sources These modules have sources, they are not prebuilt. I managed to built in them, but kernel doesn't boot at all after that. And i can't take any logs because the system dies before adb init.
Ok, after one little, but very cruel hack modules are fixed. Enjoy testing the kernel.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Z3p2fAWOZFyp045QMNV6vhLZvj9ZZPSY
[email protected] said:
Ok, after one little, but very cruel hack modules are fixed. Enjoy testing the kernel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
does it work well?
Lonewolf_1210 said:
does it work well?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Users from 4pda reported it fully working.
---------------------
Soon will be build with usb network adapters support enabled (requested by romanxdream from 4pda).
P.S. I'm not adding everything requested to kernel. But this was only config modification.
-------
I don't check xda often, so there can be a huge delay in my responses.
[email protected] said:
Users from 4pda reported it fully working.
---------------------
Soon will be build with usb network adapters support enabled (requested by romanxdream from 4pda).
P.S. I'm not adding everything requested to kernel. But this was only config modification.
-------
I don't check xda often, so there can be a huge delay in my responses.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great job then, hope for a custom rom coming soon
Ok, download link to all versions. I'll edit the first post later.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1yEZRS8L8bPgkk58tT5Uv2b-vsLqk7aql
Should we make a telegram group for this?
I need help compiling the kernel for lineageos. I have followed all the instructions on their site for payton until brunch payton, instead using mka bootimage because I just want the kernel. Regardless, using brunch payton and mka bootimage I am met with the same error
error: vendor/motorola/sdm660-common/Android.bp:220:1: module "CneApp" variant "android_common": module source path "vendor/motorola/sdm660-common/proprietary/vendor/app/CneApp/CneApp.apk" does not exist
And sure enough this file is not there.
This has to do with the proprietary blobs, however I followed the steps exactly how they said to do it. It created the folders for the blobs and got some files. I did it by connecting my lineageos running moto x4 to the pc with adb.
All I need is the Moto x4 lineageos kernel built with the
CONFIG_F_USB_MASS_STORAGE=y
configuartion added to payton's defconfig. It should be simple, but the developer of lineageos for payton hasn't responded to me to add this in. This will enable support for DriveDroid
If anyone has experience with compiling android kernels I really need some help. The kernel that lienageos uses is msm8998. I would use the stock kernel since Moto released the latest however their tethering hardware acceleration is bugged all to hell so I'm using lineage.
I managed to get it to build with using the blobs from themuppets github, but I do not like it because they are outdated. Anyways, it built, but using the usb config settings in the defconfig did not help, DriveDroid still does not work. I'm starting to think this is just an incompatibility with android 10.
U building standalone ?
dhinesh_cool said:
U building standalone ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if by standalone you mean just the kernel then yes. but i gave up, somethings up with the moto x4's usb. i have problems in fastboot with it, and now in the kernel. it's like the hardware is wired way different from other phones or the kernel is handling it improperly. but i cannot get this thing to build with usb mass storage.
I had the same problem while extracting the metadata from the phone. I could solve it by using the method that extracts them from a built image as described here: https://wiki.lineageos.org/extracti...acting-proprietary-blobs-from-file-based-otas
TIP: on the step "mount" step, I found that there is no "product.img" to be mounted. I went ahead and it worked anyways.