Gingerbread on Cherry Mobile NOVA

If you have done the previous upgrade, you will have no problem on doing this one.

CyanogenMod 7 RC1+Build2



For the experienced upgraders:

for those who successfully upgraded their eclair to froyo, there will only be few steps to make this upgrade.
1. make sure that your phone is rooted.
2. make sure your ClockworkMod is up to date.
3. updated flash clockworkmod recovery.
4. download necessary files:

CyanogenMod 7 RC1+Build3
Google Apps

5. From Rom Manager, select install Rom from sdcard and search for the downloaded ROM. (pre-installation select wipe data and cache.)

6. After installation and booting, return to ROM Manager and install google apps rom. (pre-installation select wipe data and cache).



For those who are new to upgrading their NOVA's, try to read my previous post.


Happy Modding.

Froyo on Cherry Mobile Nova

I really like to have a new phone to replace my old pre-historic one. Searching for the one that suits me, I have decided to look for a smartphone that runs Android OS.

Though many brands are available in the market and considering my budget, I whole heartedly purchased Cherry Mobile's NOVA smartphone.

Phone Specification:

OS Android OS 2.1 (Eclaire)
CPU Qualcomm MSM 7227 600MHz Processor
Screen 320x480 Capacitive touch screen (3.2")
Memory 256MB RAM; 512MB ROM
Card Slot micro SD up to 32GB
Camera 5MP; autofocus; LED Flash
Other Bluetooth; WIFI; 3G; GPS

Well, I fell in-love with this phone and was happy for buying it. Although there are other brands like Samsung, HTC, Sony Ericsson, and others which features their own android UI; I still wanted this one even though Froyo is already out.

After a month of playing with it, I found out that some applications and other games requires Froyo. So it begins; Mission: Upgrade to Froyo.

Searching around the internet about my phone and gathering all values that I extracted from the phone (i.e. Firmware, OS version, etc...); CM's still does not release any update. Only their HD type MAGNUM phone runs Froyo. But I said to myself never give up... or may end up regretting on buying this phone.

Lurking around the internet for some information, I found out that CM's NOVA share the same specification of an OEM phone created by FOXCONN. There are many aftermarket smartphone brands which share the same specs, hardware and appearance. I stumbled upon ore which will turn to gold.

Alas, Froyo is now within reach. I have discovered CyanogenMod - a group of people which takes in Android OS development environment and creating a new Android OS which boasts of CyanogenMod's apps which will turn your smartphone to a super smartphone (hehe I just liked the term).

Will it work like before? Yes! and more powerful because you will have overall control of your phone.

Downside: if you're a noob, don't try to do this. This may cause your phone to brick (still not proven for me) and may void your phone's warranty.

This will involve rooting your phone (granting you superuser access to your phone's system files and folders), Installing new ROM, then installing Google Apps. Trying to install wrong ROM may cause your phone to not work. These reason also gets me and have come to a point in giving up this mission. But my techie brain still said go for it regarding I may have wasted my money on buying this phone then bricking it afterwards.

For the brave that will still go for it (like me) here are the steps:

First: Root your android OS - search for apps that will root your phone. This is much easier rather than accessing your phone to a PC to root it via software in PC. I would recommend Z4 root software. Just go to 4shared.com on your phone and search z4root.apk and download it.

Second: Clockwork app - This will install custom ROM which are available in the internet to your phone. After Installation try to see if the app has an update. I think it's available in the Market as "ROM Manager"

Third: Download CyanogenMod ROM and Google Apps. These are ZIP files and try not to extract them. Clockwork will install it instead. Download CyanogenMod-6.1.2-Z71 and Google Apps. Search these files at www.cyanogenmod.com Phone Model is Z71 Variants. Save it to your phone's SD card

Fourth: Run Rom Manager (by ClockworkMod) and Choose Install ROM from SD Card. Select CyanogenMod ROM you saved on your SD card and wait for it to finish. Your phone will install it and reboot, be patient when it reboots.

Fifth: Run Rom Manager again and install Google Apps the same way you install CyanogenMod ROM.

Lastly : Enjoy your Froyo CM's NOVA.

For more detailed instructions:
http://boston-mania.blogspot.com/2010/12/rom-22-cyanogen-mod-612-for-z71-final.html

Enjoy and have fun!

See my CM NOVA Running CyanogenMod 6.1.2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW_qXOpdUPI

FEDORA + ZTE MF626 Modem + SmartBro

Here's my collected solution to the installation of ZTE MF626 Modem to Fedora 10.

First, download the usb_modeswitch from this site:
http://www.draisberghof.de/usb_modeswitch/#download
(What is this?)

You need this switcher because of the added function of the modem. It can also serve as a card reader. Unfortunately in F10, it does not automatically switches to modem operation unlike in Win platform.

The file downloaded will be in .tar.bz2 format. Place it in your favorite location (i.e. /usr/local/src).
Extract the file

----
#tar xfj usb_modeswitch.xxx.xx.tar.bz2
----

After extraction, a directory will be created and extracted files is inside that directory. Go to that directory.
Copy "usb_modeswitch" file to /usr/sbin
Copy "usb_modeshift.conf" file to /etc

----
#cp usb_modeswitch /usr/sbin
#cp usb_modeswitch.conf /etc
----

Edit the file /etc/usb_modeswitch.conf and locate the configuration which matches the MF626 modem and uncomment it.
---
#vi /etc/usb_modeswitch.conf
---

usb_modeswitch.conf
# ZTE MF628+ or MF 626
DefaultVendor= 0x19d2
DefaultProduct= 0x2000

TargetVendor= 0x19d2
TargetProduct= 0x0031

MessageEndpoint=0x04
MessageContent="xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" (Do not edit the number)
#


Try and test the usb_modeswitch if results/reply will be successfull.

----
#usb_modeswitch
----


Next, add a new connection type in /etc/wvdial.conf . This will be invoked when you run the dialer. I gathered this from some other forum and tried to manipulate its content for proper operation of MF626 modem.

----
#vi /etc/wvdial.conf


wvdial.conf
#
Init1 = ATZ
Init2 = ATE1
Init3 = AT+CGDCONT=1,”IP”,”smartbro”
Modem Type = USB Modem
ISDN = 0
Phone = *99#
Modem = /dev/ttyUSB2
New PPPD = yes
Baud = 912600
Idle Seconds = 3000
Auto DNS = 1
Stupid Mode = 1
Compuserve = 0
Dial Command = ATD
Ask Password = 0
FlowControl = NOFLOW
Username = user
Password = password
#

----


Next create a file in /usr/sbin which will initialize and create a usb serial device in /dev (In my case it created three, but only one is working: /dev/ttyUSB2).

----
#vi /usr/sbin/initmodem

insert the following lines

#!/bin/sh
modprobe usbserial vendor=0×19d2 product=0×0031 && usb_modeswitch
sleep 10


----

Now change the permissions for the created file and make it executable.

----
#chown nobody.nobody /usr/sbin/initmodem
#chmod 777 /usr/sbin/initmodem
----

Plug in your usb modem provided by smart and run the initmodem. This will initialize the serial port and the modeswitch for the dongle.
----
#initmodem
----

To connect to internet, just run the following line
----
#wvdial smartbro
----

After you run wvdial, you will see that the modem is trying to connect. Do not close the terminal for this will also disconnect your connection. Try to look for DNS1 and DNS2 and manually add it to you networks DNS list. Fedora does not capture the auto DNS of your current connection.

If initmodem does not create the said serial port, try to restart your pc but plug the dongle first.
Try to contact me if all else failed.

Cheers

CAS + LDAP

Well, its been a while and right now I'm installing CAS + LDAP.

Install Java JDK's - required to start tomcat an compilers.
Try to store it anywhere, or in my case @ /opt.

/opt/jdk-version - usually u need V1.5 up.

Set environment variable JAVA_HOME=/opt/jdk-{version}

#export JAVA_HOME=/opt/jdk-{version}/

Install latest apache-maven (for compiling cas if possible)
Install latest apache-ant (for compiling using ant)

Download and Install Tomcat 5.5 (core - usually standalone).

Place tomcat anywhere, for me @ /opt/tomcat5.

Next off, try to run or execute Tomcat to see if it is working. Usually the howto's install and run
Tomcat is already packed within it's source. ( Check Readme or Install files.)
Then check to see if tomcat is running by visiting http://localhost:8080
Running Tomcat:
#/opt/tomcat5/bin/startup.sh
Shutting Tomcat:
#/opt/tomcat/bin/shutdown.sh

Download CAS server @ http://www.ja-sig.org/products/cas/downloads/index.html
Extract the archive in your favorite folder.
Explore the extracted files and test CAS. Use the war file located in one of its directories
ie. PATH/cas-server-{version}/modules/cas{version}.war
Copy the war file to the tomcat's webapps directory.

#cp /PATH/cas-server-{ver}/modules/cas{version}.war /opt/tomcat/webapps

Start Tomcat. Try to see catalina's logs or monitor the webapps directory of CAS if modules were copy and loaded. Check for errors.

#tail -f /opt/tomcat/logs/catalina.out

Visit the CAS login and test page if loaded successfully. http://localhost:8080/cas/login
Use the default username and password to check if CAS is ok.

If successful, we now have to compile CAS to support ldap authentication.

Go to CAS source directory (where you extracted the dl'ed source).
CAS-PATH-source/cas-server-webapps

Edit the pom.xml in the directory and add the following line at the dependency area.

(from cas - ldap support)







(from spring ldap support)











I applied both support in my setup cause the first one does not work; well, maybe I just had wrong setup of my deployer.xml file and have to rebuild again and applied both in my new compilation.
Save the file and compile using maven.

#mvn download
#mvn package

After compiling, check to see the subdirectory 'target' if contains *.war file.
You needed this file for tomcat. Remove all your previous version of CAS in tomcat's webapp directory and the previous war file. Copy the new war file to tomcat's webapps directory. check if dependencies were copied; or restart tomcat. Check for errors on its log files.

After installation of cas, edit deployerConfigContext.xml file for linking your CAS to an LDAP server.
Backup the original deployerConfigContext.xml file. The following lines were added in my configuration.

Under the authenticationHandlers property add this lines






Before the end of the file (before the closing) add this following
lines














Restart Tomcat. Check the CAS site again and use your ldap username and password.


:p

FEDORA 8 GRUB Settings

Well this is the first topic i created due to over flowing howto's I've been searching and wanted to remember the actual configuration I did.

This one involves Fedora 8's boot up with garbled graphics on Virtual PC.

Before selecting on Installation menu, insert this to the options line...

"vesa i8042.noloop psmouse.proto=imps clock=pit vga=771"

Add this if still has error "noreplace-paravit"

After installation (used text mode or if already installed), just edit your grub.conf and add the same options in the kernel image line.