Is it possible to boot into live USB from Android tablet?

[michael_kent123]

I have a Sanei N77 tablet that runs Android OS. See: http://www.saneimall.com/

It has a mini USB. In Android, I can connect Kali Live USB to the mini USB cable. The OS recognizes the USB.

Does anyone know if it is possible to boot into Kali (or, for that matter, into any live USB)? Since there is no keyboard, there is no opportunity to press F2 (as I do with my laptop) to enter the BIOS and change the boot order.

Thanks.

[cooper]

With tablets, the only thing you can do is replace the ROM.

Booting off of USB isn't an option with any tablet I know of.

[IrishFavor]

Not sure if this is what you are looking for... I just recently installed the Kali Linux on my nexus 4 (has to be compiled for ARM). The way that i did this is that i installed an app and it downloaded and added the needed directories and is essentially running a VM of the live distro that you can then VNC into via another app. Here are the links to the guide that i used.

One of the Quickest Roots iv done: http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-easily-root-an-android-device/

Setup Guide: http://www.kali.org/how-to/kali-linux-android-linux-deploy/

Now this should be able to be done with ubuntu, or any other distro that supports ARM based CPU. What im looking at doing is finding a way to merge the dir. for the Linux OS with the one for android so that when i add contacts, photos, document, ect. they all show up in the correct directories for each (possibly symbolic links?). Then im thinking about setting up a tasker command that when i plug in a cable for the monitor mouse and keyboard that it will launch the Linux desktop and when undocked it will be in android mode. Essentially the Convergence that was shown on the Ubuntu Edge project.

[IrishFavor]

Also i know nothing about these guys however it appears that it may just be a collection of apps on a stock Android OS but perhaps something to look into, they do have a community edition to download rather than paying a huge price tag for the hardware as much as i can tell is nothing special. https://www.pwnieexpress.com/community/

Edited October 29, 2014 by IrishFavor

[michael_kent123]

@IrishFavor

Thanks for the suggestions. So, if I understand correctly:

a) root the Android tablet - http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-easily-root-an-android-device/

b) install Linux Deploy - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.meefik.linuxdeploy&hl=en

c) install Kali image - http://www.kali.org/how-to/kali-linux-android-linux-deploy/

[IrishFavor]

yes, then use a VNC client or SSH to control the Distro. For the VNC i use https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iiordanov.freebVNC&hl=en. Keep in mind tho it works like other VM's passing your Network connection so therefore if you do not have an IP address then you will be unable to connect with the VNC to your VM. However i have not tried using a local host (127.0.0.1) when no IP address is available. I suppose if it passing the same IP address of your phone to the VM this would work otherwise maybe there is some way up creating a local DHCP server on your device?

Also i would imagine that you should be able to use an android ADB cable to attach an Alfa AWUS036NEH or the like, still messing around with the capabilities of the setup.

[cooper]

Can you do anything useful from within that chroot jail?

Useful as in 'full control over the wireless adapter'-type useful? Or is it like virtualbox where you have to insert the USB wifi adapter after starting up the chrooted environment which can then take full control over the USB device, but not any of the built-in hardware?

[IrishFavor]

hmm i will have to try it out, iv heard that android has native drivers for the Alfa. So my guess is it passes full control over to the environment but i will have to confirm.