[HOW TO]Driver Install for minimal install (Kali) on B Rev 2

[sheaiden]

I am trying to set up a Kali box for use with the screen, but of course, the Kali distribution is only set up with Kali repositories and minimal packages installed. It also has a custom Kernel. While I’m familiar with Linux, I am not well-versed in frame buffer devices, or screens; I usually remote in. In addition, I’m used to working with either Gentoo (where everything is custom), RedHat, or Solaris, not Debian.

What are the pre-requisites for getting this to run in an environment such as Kali? would I need to recompile the kernel, or possibly install some modules? are there packages that I would need to install from some repository? I did figure out how to install the rpi-update script, as well as the raspi-config (quite useful, I’ve found), but I’m a little leery of installing a new kernel, considering half the use of Kali resides in the tuned and custom kernel…That makes me a little unsure about installing firmware upgrades, as some are dependent on the kernel.

If I can get a list of WHAT I need to do, I can figure out how to take care of it; I don’t need step by step, as I’m not averse to tinkering.

[Mark Williams]

Hi
PiScreen uses an open license driver called FBTFT, which can be found here;

https://github.com/notro/fbtft

If you do manage to get it working with Kali, please let us know.

Mark --OzzMaker.com --

[sheaiden]

Sorry, I did try one more thing that I should mention: after I figured out how to install the rpi-update script, I did try following the steps outlined on the driver install page. It did say it installed the new firmware and kernel, but when I added the flexfb and other lines to the module file, upon reboot it simply said they were unknown. That’s what makes me think I need to get a module installed, but doing a search in aptitude for anything that has flexfb, fbtft, or ads7846 in the package name or description didn’t turn up anything. Google searches seem to imply that I may be the only person trying to attach a gpio-attached touchscreen monitor to kali…

or perhaps my google-fu is not strong today.

[sheaiden]

Thanks Mark! I’ll try figuring it out.

[sheaiden]

ok, it appears it should be simple, assuming I can get the kernel sources downloaded. Sounds promising. I’ll update with my process (which will likely be as simple as following the readme on nostro’s fbtft site) and if I get it working.

[sheaiden]

Just as an update, I’ve found the process that Kali uses to generate raspberry pi images, and am following a manual format of that to preserve their kernel patches and generate a new set of modules for the kernel I’m using. It’s located at:
https://github.com/offensive-security/kali-arm-build-scripts

I’m executing the build on the pi itself, so it’s taking a while, but the basic format I’m using is:
–get the sources they download in the image builder
–get the fbtft sources downloaded, as mentioned in notro’s git site
–apply the patches that the Kali build scripts apply
–make menuconfig to enable the drivers
–make the kernel

I am not yet certain where/how the boot process on the pi works, especially in Kali, but I’ll address that when I get to it. I will update with a full listing of the exact commands I did to update once I’ve proven the concept.

[Mark Williams]

looks like you are making progress.
If you are successful, I can add a page to OzzMaker.com with the instructions on how to get PiScreen working with Kali.
Good Luck

Mark --OzzMaker.com --

[sheaiden]

Performed on raspberry pi itself, running kali. This takes a VERY long time. I think I have been averaging about 14 hours for the kernel and module compilation alone. This can be vastly sped up if you were to modify things in the build script from Kali to incorporate the appropriate drivers into the cross-compiling and image generation. I just haven’t gotten around to installing my second hard drive with Kali yet, so I had no source to cross compile from.

First I installed all prereq packages. Please note, this list was generated as a compilation of all the “prereq” lists I’d found as I progressed along. As such, there may be some that aren’t needed (qemu and mkimage, for example, are only needed if you’re generating a full image for the raspberry pi as is recommended by the Kali build scripts). Some are usually already installed, but aren’t in the Kali build (g++ and pkg-config, for example).

apt-get install -y git-core gnupg flex bison gperf libesd0-dev build-essential zip curl zlib1g-dev libncurses5-dev x11-xserver-utils libts-bin libtool libx11-dev parted kpartx debootstrap pixz qemu-user-static abootimg cgpt vboot-kernel-utils vboot-utils uboot-mkimage bc lzma lzop automake autoconf m4 dosfstools pixz rsync schedtool git dosfstools e2fsprogs device-tree-compiler fbi pkg-config g++ screen xinput libxi-dev x11proto-input-dev
mkdir ~/arm-stuff
cd ~/arm-stuff
git clone https://github.com/offensive-security/gcc-arm-linux-gnueabihf-4.7
export PATH=${PATH}:/root/arm-stuff/gcc-arm-linux-gnueabihf-4.7/bin
git clone https://github.com/offensive-security/kali-arm-build-scripts
cd ~/arm-stuff/kali-arm-build-scripts
mkdir testrpi

–from here I followed the steps in the rpi.sh script from the build repository, kernel section:

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/raspberrypi/linux ./kernel
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/raspberrypi/tools ./tools
mkdir -p patches
wget https://raw.github.com/offensive-security/kali-arm-build-scripts/master/patches/kali-wifi-injection-3.12.patch -O ./patches/mac80211.patch
cd kernel
patch -p1 --no-backup-if-mismatch < ../patches/mac80211.patch
cp ~/arm-stuff/kali-arm-build-scripts/kernel-configs/rpi-3.12.config .config

–Here I had to interject the section from the fbtft to get the driver into the source.

cd drivers/video
git clone https://github.com/notro/fbtft.git

–Add to drivers/video/Kconfig: source “drivers/video/fbtft/Kconfig”
–Add to drivers/video/Makefile: obj-y += fbtft/

cd ../../
make menuconfig

–Enable the modules for “device drivers/Graphics Support/Support for small TFT LCD display modules” devices (didn’t know which one specifically so chose all)
–Enable the touch screen module for “device drivers/input device support/touchscreens/ads7846
–Ensure spi_bcm2708 is enabled
–Please note, you may have to search for fbtft, ads7846, bcm2708 to make sure you enable everything.
–Alternatively, I’ve uploaded my .config file if you’d like to just trust it. you still have to add the lines mentioned above to the Kconfig and Makefile for fbtft

make
make modules
make modules_install
mount /dev/mmcblk0p1 /boot
mv /boot/kernel.img /boot/kernel.orig.img
cp arch/arm/boot/Image /boot/kernel.img

–The ads7846_device module is in a separate repository called fbtft_tools, so you have to do that one separately.

cd ~/arm-stuff
git clone https://github.com/notro/fbtft_tools.git
cd fbtft_tools/ads7846_device
make
make install

–At this point, I add the /etc/modules information as listed in Step 5 of https://ozzmaker.com/piscreen-driver-install-instructions-2/
–Not that Step 6 still won’t work, as you’ve not loaded the new kernel, but on your reboot you should see the screen light up.
–Reboot and you’re in the new kernel. If you want to test it, you can do the test in Step 6 of the driver install page.

–at this point, I followed the instructions at and https://ozzmaker.com/enable-console-on-piscreen/ with the only modification of having to mount the boot partition first:
mount /dev/mmcblk0p1 /boot

–The instructions on https://ozzmaker.com/enable-x-windows-on-piscreen/ have to be modified.
–Kali does not come with LXDE installed, it has xfce. It also does not thave fbturbo installed. As such, Step 1 is not necessary.
–Step 2 is necessary, though if you’ve been following along above, you’ve already gotten it done. If not, note that it is missing a package that it took me a bit to track down; the autogen.sh script needs pkg-config, and g++ installed (thought you’ve already gotten this if you compiled the kernel).
–Follow Step 3 as written
–Step 4 needs some modification. XFCE does not use the autostart script in the same way. the best way I could find to get the script to run for all users upon starting X for XFCE was to create a .desktop file in the /etc/xdg/autostart directory. I have attached it, but here’s what I put in the file /etc/xdg/autostart/piscreen-config.desktop:

[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Name=piscreen Config
Exec=/etc/X11/Xsession.d/xinput_calibrator_pointercal.sh
Terminal=false
Type=Application
StartupNotify=false
OnlyShowIn=XFCE;

In order to start X windows automatically on boot, you need to either create a user and grant them both sudo access and run the “dpkg-reconfigure x11-common” command to enable X for all users, or modify the login to root. I know it’s against most admin’s best practices to log in as root, but since this is a Kali machine, many use it straight as root anyways. It’s your call, but by default on Kali, no one but root is able to startx. you’ll have to reconfigure if you want to change that.

Assuming you’re going to change the login to root, the line in inittab changes to:
1:2345:respawn:/bin/login -f root tty1 /dev/tty1 2>&1

and the line in rc.local changes to:
su -l root -c "env FRAMEBUFFER=/dev/fb1 startx &"

I have not changed the screen blanking in the autostart file; I have not tracked down that particular functionality in xfce, since I don’t mind it right now. perhaps when I start using it in my car I might, but we’ll see.

–On a related note, I do like to have the raspi-config script, so I install it

cd ~/arm-stuff 
wget http://archive.raspberrypi.org/debian/pool/main/r/raspi-config/raspi-config_20140902-1_all.deb
wget http://http.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/l/lua5.1/lua5.1_5.1.5-7.1_armel.deb
wget http://http.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/t/triggerhappy/triggerhappy_0.3.4-2_armel.deb
dpkg -i triggerhappy_0.3.4-2_armel.deb
dpkg -i lua5.1_5.1.5-7.1_armel.deb
dpkg -i raspi-config_20140902-1_all.deb

I have uploaded the scripts I used the last time I flashed a card and took it to a completed state. they take you through getting the device working, but because of the heavy text editing of very important files to get the autostart working, I left it off there. Essentially, when you reboot the last time from my scripts, you would have a fully loaded screen, but you would still have to pick up the steps listed above from enabling the console on the screen.

I apologize if this is a little disjointed, I’ve been working on this in spurts as free time permits, and as such have lost a few ssh sessions worth of scrollback, which means I have to reconstruct stuff from my history…

[sheaiden]

I attempted to upload my .config, piscreen-config.desktop, and the config scripts, but it denied me for security reasons. I am attempting to upload them as a tar, but if that doesn’t work, let me know if they’d be useful and I can send them to you.

Looks like this worked. Not sure how one marks an issue as resolved, but I’ve gotten this working, now I just have to track down the on-screen keyboard and get it installed. should be fun. the rest from here is just tinkering.

Thanks!

Attachments:

1. KaliSetup.tar

[Mark Williams]

WoW. thanks!
I am going to try this out over the weekend. I’ll let you know how I go.

Ill mark this forum topic as a ‘HOW TO’

Mark --OzzMaker.com --

[firezepi]

Hey,

So…. Any chance you figured it out? That’d be awesome, and a huge help.!

[matumbo]

sheaiden wrote:

I attempted to upload my .config, piscreen-config.desktop, and the config scripts, but it denied me for security reasons. I am attempting to upload them as a tar, but if that doesn’t work, let me know if they’d be useful and I can send them to you.

Looks like this worked. Not sure how one marks an issue as resolved, but I’ve gotten this working, now I just have to track down the on-screen keyboard and get it installed. should be fun. the rest from here is just tinkering.

Thanks!

Hi, I tried to follow your guide and use your build-scripts but I get stuck with displaydriver.step2.sh
I get the following error message:

scripts/kconfig/conf --silentoldconfig Kconfig
.config:22:warning: symbol value '' invalid for PHYS_OFFSET
*
* Restart config...
*
*
* Linux/arm 3.18.11 Kernel Configuration
*
Patch physical to virtual translations at runtime (ARM_PATCH_PHYS_VIRT) [N/y/?] n
Physical address of main memory (PHYS_OFFSET) [] (NEW)

Did anyone else run into this problem?

[sheaiden]

Well, I haven’t performed this since I posted the solution that worked for me (yes, firezpi, I did manage to figure it out, as I stated in my posts; not sure where to go with your response…), but the message you pointed out look almost like the kernel was updated beyond what it was when I created my configs, thus rendering my configs obsolete. You’re installing this on a Kali install? I don’t have a lot of spare time, but I can try to look into it. if nothing else, though, you can use my scripts and the description I posted above to figure out what the script is doing in concept, and just generate new configs. honestly, looks like that’s what it’s trying to do there; the part where it says restart config, and then starts going through the interactive kernel configuration is what suggests that.

I would just compile and install your own kernel, making sure you include the drivers you need, and continue from the “git clone https://github.com/notro/fbtft_tools.git” line of that script.

Please note, though, that “compile and install your own kernel” is by no means something that a lot of people do, nor is it something that you can just attempt if you’re looking for a plug and play experience. it’s slow, complex, and it’s easy to end up with a kernel that doesn’t work because something that should have been built in is a module or the other way around. I don’t lightly suggest you build it yourself, nor do I assume you have or don’t have the knowledge to do so, I just don’t know what other option you have other than waiting to see if I can figure out a working config.

Also, this is assuming it’s breaking where I think it’s breaking. it would help if you could upload the entire output, so I can see if it’s telling you what it’s doing…although I know my scripts (being hastily bashed together) don’t provide much feedback at all.

[matumbo]

I really appreciate that you are taking the time to respond to my post!

Yes, I realise that the kernel is updated and that I would not be able to use your config file so I used the one created from “make menuconfig”. I have next to no experience compiling my own kernel which is why I’ve been trying to work with your scripts and it’s likely that I’ve missed to include some required things in the kernel if they were not mentioned.

Just to make sure:
–Add to drivers/video/Kconfig: source “drivers/video/fbtft/Kconfig”
–Add to drivers/video/Makefile: obj-y += fbtft/

are these lines supposed to be added to the end of the files?

I’m installing this on my Raspberry Pi B+ with kali 1.1.0 and I’m not looking for a plug and play solution. I’m doing this because I want the display to work with kali but I wanna learn and understand how to compile my own kernels and include drivers etc. so if I make it work with the scripts I might be able to go through the instructions and understand what I’m doing.

Someone suggested that I should enable “Patch physical to virtual translations at runtime” when I run “make menuconfig”. I’m currently compiling the kernel with that option enabled so hopefully it will work unless I forgot some modules.

Regarding the output, that was the only output. I only omitted the line ” ./displaydriver.step2.sh “.
So the script didn’t break or crash but waited for input which I had no idea what to enter.

[matumbo]

I’ve compiled the kernel now and it boots. The screen turned on after adding “fbcon=map:10 fbcon=rotate:2 fbcon=font:ProFont6x11” to the end of cmdline.txt as stated in https://ozzmaker.com/enable-console-on-piscreen/

Not sure if this is a problem, but I noticed this message while it was booting:
[info] Loading kernel module ads7846_device.
FATAL: Module ads7846_device not found.

[Author]

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