Dual Booting

[Rosie]

Posting this topic as my knowledge of several things isn't really what it needs to be for me to be confident about not bricking my phone and I sure there are much cleverer people than me who'll know this.

My Gemini arrived yesterday and, as an Android device, it's really rather good.  A few niggles but nothing too horrible.  Where I want to go with it next is to set up a proper dual boot device Android/Linux.

I've enabled the developer options and unlocking the bootloader is a simple toggle option, it's the bits that come after that where I run up against a knowledge gap.  I think the process I need to follow would be something like:

• Non-destructively repartition the internal flash to make some space,
• Install a bootloader that allows me to choose what to boot, and
• Install a Linux flavour of my choice.

Though I more than happy to have any wrongthinks pointed out to me.

For each of the above I'm not really sure which tools to use.  I'd be fine if it were an x86 Linux box (gparted, grub, Ubuntu Studio) but I'm not sure what the equivalents for the first two would be in the Android.  Also, I'm heavily assuming I can boot a live image for the third step and install into the space created by first and would be interested to know how much basis that assumption has on reality.

Does anyone have any clues to spare?

Rosie

[salvomic]

hi,
firstly, however, you should read about Gemini Flash Tool [ Linux Support page by Planet Computers ].
Planet gives the opportunity to re-flash Gemini from a computer (for now only Windows, then Mac OS X and Linux I reckon) with Android or dual boot Debian/Android.
They write: "this page will be updated soon"...

Maybe it is not so easy to create dual boot with that tool, but there are already a bit of documents, and sure a more comple PDF will be published soon.

Salvo

[Rosie]

hi,
firstly, however, you should read about Gemini Flash Tool [ Linux Support page by Planet Computers ].
Planet gives the opportunity to re-flash Gemini from a computer (for now only Windows, then Mac OS X and Linux I reckon) with Android or dual boot Debian/Android.
They write: "this page will be updated soon"...

Maybe it is not so easy to create dual boot with that tool, but there are already a bit of documents, and sure a more comple PDF will be published soon.

Salvo

Thanks Salvo.  I'd looked at that and it doesn't really do what I want to do so I'm looking for a more flexible way of achieving the result.  It may turn out to be that the most sensible answer is "wait for Planet to provide the utilities", which would be fine.

Rosie

[salvomic]

Thanks Salvo.  I'd looked at that and it doesn't really do what I want to do so I'm looking for a more flexible way of achieving the result.  It may turn out to be that the most sensible answer is "wait for Planet to provide the utilities", which would be fine.

Rosie

yes, Rosie, I agree.
I think Planet should offer a bit more flexible and user friendly tools to manage dual boot (or "three-al boot" with Sailfish OS).
They are supposed to offer, in the future, also Ubuntu...
The user should have a simpler utility to make all, or, at least, a better documentation for the Gemini Flash Tool.
I'm sure they would offer them soon.

Please, let us know if you're going to do other tries. Thank you.

Salvo

[Grench]

I think the process I need to follow would be something like:

• Non-destructively repartition the internal flash to make some space,
• Install a bootloader that allows me to choose what to boot, and
• Install a Linux flavour of my choice.

Though I more than happy to have any wrongthinks pointed out to me.

My preferred order if it can be done would be to do it ALL on the Gemini without ever having to include another computer:

1.  Download a 'Planet Computers Gemini Linux Installer for Android' app from Google Play.
2.  Open PCGLIA app and be presented an option to create a partition on and install Debian Linux to a user supplied microSDXC card.
3.  Boot Debian Linux from the microSDXC card.
4.  Download a 'Planet Computers Gemini Android Installer for Linux' app from a Planet Computers signed repository.
5.  Open PCGAIL app and be presented an option to back up the existing Android software - and do so.
6.  Using the PCGAIL app, be presented an option to repartition the eMMC drive.
7.  Using the PCGAIL app, be presented an option to copy the Android backup from 5 one of the new partitions.
8.  Using the PCGAIL app, be presented an option to install Linux to a partition on the eMMC from a .ISO file downloaded to the microSDXC.

The Gemini has eMMC, microSDXC and dual USB type C ports.  There should be no need to use a second computer to image it.  To require a Windows computer to install an OS on an Android/Linux device is very very sad.

[mithrandir]

I think the process I need to follow would be something like:

• Non-destructively repartition the internal flash to make some space,
• Install a bootloader that allows me to choose what to boot, and
• Install a Linux flavour of my choice.

Though I more than happy to have any wrongthinks pointed out to me.

My preferred order if it can be done would be to do it ALL on the Gemini without ever having to include another computer:

1.  Download a 'Planet Computers Gemini Linux Installer for Android' app from Google Play.
2.  Open PCGLIA app and be presented an option to create a partition on and install Debian Linux to a user supplied microSDXC card.
3.  Boot Debian Linux from the microSDXC card.
4.  Download a 'Planet Computers Gemini Android Installer for Linux' app from a Planet Computers signed repository.
5.  Open PCGAIL app and be presented an option to back up the existing Android software - and do so.
6.  Using the PCGAIL app, be presented an option to repartition the eMMC drive.
7.  Using the PCGAIL app, be presented an option to copy the Android backup from 5 one of the new partitions.
8.  Using the PCGAIL app, be presented an option to install Linux to a partition on the eMMC from a .ISO file downloaded to the microSDXC.

The Gemini has eMMC, microSDXC and dual USB type C ports.  There should be no need to use a second computer to image it.  To require a Windows computer to install an OS on an Android/Linux device is very very sad.

Hi,
some users want to remove android or don't want to use google play, so this way is as bad as having the windows tool only. Maybe we just need multiple/cross platform tools.
Mith

[petefoth]

<snip>
Hi,
some users want to remove android or don't want to use google play, so this way is as bad as having the windows tool only. Maybe we just need multiple/cross platform tools.
Mith

The app wouldn't have to come via the play store. It could be made available either direct from Planet, or via F-Droid. But multiple/cross platform tools would indeed be good.

Pete

[Grench]

I think the process I need to follow would be something like:

• Non-destructively repartition the internal flash to make some space,
• Install a bootloader that allows me to choose what to boot, and
• Install a Linux flavour of my choice.

Though I more than happy to have any wrongthinks pointed out to me.

My preferred order if it can be done would be to do it ALL on the Gemini without ever having to include another computer:

1.  Download a 'Planet Computers Gemini Linux Installer for Android' app from Google Play.
2.  Open PCGLIA app and be presented an option to create a partition on and install Debian Linux to a user supplied microSDXC card.
3.  Boot Debian Linux from the microSDXC card.
4.  Download a 'Planet Computers Gemini Android Installer for Linux' app from a Planet Computers signed repository.
5.  Open PCGAIL app and be presented an option to back up the existing Android software - and do so.
6.  Using the PCGAIL app, be presented an option to repartition the eMMC drive.
7.  Using the PCGAIL app, be presented an option to copy the Android backup from 5 one of the new partitions.
8.  Using the PCGAIL app, be presented an option to install Linux to a partition on the eMMC from a .ISO file downloaded to the microSDXC.

The Gemini has eMMC, microSDXC and dual USB type C ports.  There should be no need to use a second computer to image it.  To require a Windows computer to install an OS on an Android/Linux device is very very sad.

Hi,
some users want to remove android or don't want to use google play, so this way is as bad as having the windows tool only. Maybe we just need multiple/cross platform tools.
Mith

I don't think you quite understand.  I'm trying to show that there is a more expedient process to get from 'stock' to Linux than going through Windows.

The device ships with Android.  There is no reason Android could not be used to handle the creation of a bootable microSDXC card with a minimal Linux install on it.  This should be a pretty simple Planet Computers Gemini Android application.

Once booted, the minimal Linux install booted from the microSDXC card should be able to backup the factory Android (if you want), manage/edit/add/remove partitions on the internal eMMC, connect to WiFi, download an ARM OS .iso file, mount it and install the OS of choice to the eMMC.

All that -should- be needed is a stock Gemini and a user supplied (blank) microSDXC of ~4GB or more capacity.  No additional computer needed.  Just a simple solution to get from 'stock' to the OS (or OSs) of your choice.

[Varti]

All that -should- be needed is a stock Gemini and a user supplied (blank) microSDXC of ~4GB or more capacity.  No additional computer needed.  Just a simple solution to get from 'stock' to the OS (or OSs) of your choice.

I’d like to see a flashing tool for Android too, and also a native Linux ARM version of it. Just in case you’d need to repartition the internal eMMC, or would need to install a new OS while on the move. Too bad that there are no Android/Linux ARM binaries of SPFlashTool, but since it’s open source it should be possible to at least compile it for ARM.

Varti

[Ishman]

I thought there was an update on the Planet support page that has the dual boot image.  Has this been tried?

thanks

http://support.planetcom.co.uk/index.php/Linux_Support