Root Rockchip sticks/tablets from Linux

Since with every new device it becomes a nightmare (at least for me, that I seldom use Windows) to find the right Windows drivers for ADB access... I noticed that the rooting procedure (TPSparky Vondroid) relies only on the adb command and... that is readily accessible from Linux.

Hence this little guide came up as I put together the necessary little bits and has been tested with a RK3066 based tablet (RK3188 devices should also be rootable with this method, confirmed with Minix Neo X7).

1st Set up Linux ADB access to the device

This step is entirely done from the Linux PC (Ubuntu in this case) where the RK device is connected (through the USB). 

Please note that if your RK device has several USB ports, there will be only one that can be connected to the PC, usually marked as OTG or Slave.

1) Download the lightweight adb tools:

sudo apt-get install android-tools-adb

or, if you don't have Ubuntu, proceed to download and install the whole Android SDK :S

2) Open/create the following text file to let your standard user connect to the RK device:

sudo gedit /etc/udev/rules.d/51-android.rules

and then add a new line with the following text:

SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="2207", MODE="0666", GROUP="plugdev"

Of course make sure that your Linux user is part of group "plugdev" with the following terminal command:

groups user

3) Force a reload of the USB access rules to get the latest one on:

sudo udevadm control --reload-rules

4) Add RK devices USB Vendor ID to what adb may expect for your currently logged user:

echo "0x2207" >> ~/.android/adb_usb.ini

2nd Set up the RK device for ADB access

Unplug the RK device from the USB and go to its Settings page to follow this steps:

1) Go to Settings->Storage and click at the top right on the three dots

2) Select USB computer connection in the dropdown

3) Select "Mass Storage" check box and go back to Settings

4) Browse down in Settings and select Security

5) In Security Settings, select "Unknown sources"

6) Back in Settings, select Developer Options

7) In Developer Options, select "USB debugging"

8) Close settings, and any other open apps.

9) Using a known good USB cable, connect the RK device to the PC, you'll get "Connecting to USB" in the notifications area in Android, and a USB icon in the notification area. You Do Not want to select "Connect to Pc to Transfer Files", in the notification menu, just plug in the cable and let it be.

PS: If you don't get a connection you may have to go back into Settings and select USB, then click on "Connect to PC".

3rd Rooting the RK device from Linux

The following steps are just a COPY of those in "TPSparkyRoot.bat" with a minor fix for correct SuperSU installation.

These are to be done on the Linux PC:

1) Download the package with the needed su, SuperSU, busybox, and RootExplorer binaries

2) Extract the package into a folder, open a terminal and cd into that folder

3) Create a new text file (i.e. "gedit script.sh") and copy the following contents:

   echo "*---* VonDroid.com RK device Root Tool based on work by sunnydavid *---*"

   echo "--- Plug in your device, make sure debugging is enabled in Developer Options"

   echo "--- This script will now copy files over to your RK device"

   

   adb shell mv /data/local/tmp /data/local/tmp.bak

   adb shell ln -s /data /data/local/tmp

   adb reboot

   

   echo "--- Reboot 1/3 - Press Enter once the device has rebooted (if USB debugging doesn't appear in the Android bar you may have to click Settings->USB->Connect to PC)"

   read -p "or CTRL-C to exit"

   

   adb shell rm /data/local.prop > nul

   adb shell "echo \"ro.kernel.qemu=1\" > /data/local.prop"

   adb reboot

   

   echo "--- Reboot 2/3 - Press Enter once the device has rebooted (if USB debugging doesn't appear in the Android bar you may have to click Settings->USB->Connect to PC)"

   read -p "or CTRL-C to exit"

   

   adb shell id

   

   echo "--- If the ID shows as 0(root) then continue, otherwise CTRL+C to cancel and start over"

   read -p "CTRL-C to exit"

   

   adb remount

   adb push su /system/bin/su

   adb shell chown root.shell /system/bin/su

   adb shell chmod 6755 /system/bin/su

   adb push busybox /system/bin/busybox

   adb shell chown root.shell /system/bin/busybox

   adb shell chmod 0755 /system/bin/busybox

   

   echo "--- Installing SuperSU"

   

   adb push SuperSU.apk /system/app/SuperSU.apk

   adb shell chown root.root /system/app/SuperSU.apk

   adb shell chmod 0644 /system/app/SuperSU.apk

   adb push RootExplorer.apk /system/app/RootExplorer.apk

   adb shell chown root.root /system/app/RootExplorer.apk

   adb shell chmod 0644 /system/app/RootExplorer.apk

   

   echo "Completing Root ..."

   

   adb shell rm /data/local.prop

   adb shell rm /data/local/tmp

   adb shell mv /data/local/tmp.bak /data/local/tmp

   adb reboot

   

   echo "--- Reboot 3/3 - Your RK device should now be rooted!"

4) Make the script executable with: 

chmod +x script.sh

5) Restart the adb server by typing:

adb kill-server; adb start-server

6) And now when typing the following terminal command:

adb devices

you should see the connected device listed (my tablet for example is named 12345678...)

7) Execute the previously created script ( ./script.sh ) and follow the steps to the letter, including patiently waiting for the potential several-minutes-long pauses

PS: After every reboot you MUST check that in the Android status bar the "USB Debugging" message appears (so that there is adb connection with the PC), or else you'll have to go back into Settings and select USB, then click on "Connect to PC". Only then you can hit Enter in the script to let it go on.

That's it, your device should be rooted, all from within Linux!

DISCLAIMER: I've followed this instructions to root my own devices without any trouble. The rooting procedure itself is simply the very widely used TPSparky method. However I take no responsibility for any mishappenings that may arise from your trying it on your devices. That is entirely yours.

References:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1526487

http://linux-rockchip.info/mw/index.php?title=ADB_shell_with_RK3066

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2127573