Difference between revisions of "Linux v3 Installation"

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Latest revision as of 13:43, 28 April 2021

Cosmo Linux installation

Existing Linux installations

Before installing Linux, make sure you have the latest Android Firmware installed, currently v25.

If you plan to update your current Linux installation to the latest version, please make sure that you manually install CoDi firmware v15 (Requirement 2 - see below) and follow this link.

The rest of this guide details how to perform a fresh Linux installation.

New Linux Installations

Before starting the installation, please be sure that you are running the latest Android firmware, currently V25 (Requirement 1).

Requirement 1 - Latest Android firmware v25

You can check the Android version by tapping Settings -> System -> Advanced -> About Phone and scrolling to the end of the page (see Build number detail, in the screenshot below).

24 43.jpg

Requirement 2 - Codi firmware v15

Using the latest Android firmware version v25 the Cover Display application will automatically install the latest Codi firmware v15. It is therefore recommended to update the Android firmware and use the Cover Display to install the latest Codi firmware.

For reference, you can find how to manually install Codi v15 using Android v23 here.

Download and Install Linux firmware v3 (latest)

Next, you will have to download the Linux firmware file, which will need to be installed onto the microSD card on your Cosmo. Insert a microSD card on your Cosmo and make sure it is formatted as MS-DOS(FAT32).

The Linux firmware is part of an archive that also contains TWRP and rooted Android.

You can download the latest archive file at this URL:

Older versions:

Alternatively, you can also purchase a Linux Media Installation Card with the firmware already preloaded onto a micro SD card. This can be purchased from https://store.planetcom.co.uk/collections/media-books/

Once you downloaded the zip archive you will have to extract its content onto your microSD card:

  1. Using the Files app (do not use File Manager app) locate the ZIP archive
  2. Tap the archive file to reveal the cosmo-customos-installer folder
  3. Long tap on that folder, select Extract to... and finally select the root folder of the microSD card as destination.
  4. Complete the ZIP extraction process.
  5. Your microSD card should now contain a folder named cosmo-customos-installer with several files inside it.


Next, you will have to boot into recovery mode. To do that, simply turn ON your Cosmo while keeping pressed the volume up button on the outside cover. The volume up button is the one on the fingerprint sensor, which points UP when the unit is open. The unit should boot into recovery mode and you should be able to see the Android logo, but nothing else - as in the following screenshot.


39.jpg


At this point, keep the ESC key pressed (top left key on the keyboard) and press the volume up button from the outside cover again, then release both keys. This following menu will be displayed.


41.jpg


The main requirement when installing Linux is to reserve space for it. In order to do this you will have to re-partition your device, which will lead to the loss of all your data. Once you reserve some space for Linux you can update Android or Linux independently, without loosing your data again. To change the partition table of your Cosmo use the option "Change the partition table of your COSMO", as in the picture below.

Screenshot 2020-02-12 at 15.12.52.png


You will have 5 options to choose from:

  1. Reserve all space for Android
  2. Reserve 90GB for Android and 30GB for Linux
  3. Reserve 60GB for Android and 60GB for Linux
  4. Reserve 30GB for Android and 90 GB for Linux
  5. Reserve all space for Linux


Screenshot 2020-02-12 at 15.15.52.png

Note that in recent firmwares you will also have the option to keep all the storage for Android while allowing the installation of TWRP and rooted Android, which is useful if you want to have a rooted Android without using Linux.

If you select to install Linux, 4 additional partitions will be created:

  1. EMPTY_RECOVERY_BOOT_2 - This partition can be used to store an image that runs in recovery mode, such as TWRP
  2. EMPTY_NORMAL_BOOT_3 - This partition can be used to store Debian/KDE or Rooted Android
  3. EMPTY_NORMAL_BOOT_4 - This partition can be used to store Debian/KDE or Rooted Android
  4. In addition, an extra partition will be created with the custom size selected by the user, which will be used to store the root file system.

Once the storage for Linux has been reserved, you can install a custom OS on your Cosmo, by choosing the related option as in the picture below.


Screenshot 2020-02-12 at 15.18.42.png


This option will scan the microSD card for compatible installers and will present you with a menu showing the available installers as in the picture below.

43.jpg


Whenever new or updated custom operating systems will be available for the Cosmo, you will be able to download them into a micro SD card and install it in your device.

At the moment we have initial support for the following:

  • TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) Please use caution when using TWRP as it can brick your device.TWRP support is limited for Cosmo Communicator (you can't access the encrypted user data partition) and its usage is discouraged. Use it at your own risk.
  • Debian using KDE/Plasma - beta
  • Rooted Android


Once you select a custom OS you have to select where to install its boot firmware. Remember that you can install TWRP only on the EMPTY_RECOVERY_BOOT_2 partition, while you can install Debian/KDE and the Rooted android image in either EMPTY_NORMAL_BOOT_3 or EMPTY_NORMAL_BOOT_4 partitions.

Once you select the boot partition, the custom OS will be installed on your Cosmo Communicator. A boot menu will then appear when you turn ON the device, allowing you to choose what to start as in the following picture.


46.jpg


Using this method you will be able to install a custom OS such as Linux on your device without the need for a laptop or a desktop computer. All you need to do is to download the installer in a micro SD card and use the recovery mode to start the installation.

You can watch a Cosmo Communicator How-To video detailing the Linux installation process from SD card at this address https://youtu.be/7guqI4nA8CU

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