L4T Ubuntu - A fully featured linux on your switch

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L4T Ubuntu
Intro
L4T Ubuntu is a version of Linux based on nvidia's linux for tegra project. It uses a different kernel compared to previous releases which allows it to use features not yet in mainline. Such as audio, docking support and vulkan.

Join our discord: https://discord.gg/53mtKYt

We have a wiki !
To facilitate our work we will only update our wiki from now on in order to avoid multiple outdated references, please refer to the following link instead of this page

https://wiki.switchroot.org/en/Linux/Ubuntu-Install-Guide

Credits

Bylaws,
Langerhans,
Ave,
Natinusala,
CTCaer(most of the hard stuff),
Gavin_Darkglider,
DanielOgorchock(Joycon drivers/joycond),
stary2001 (reboot2payload),
NVIDIA,
Azkali
Everyone else in switchroot - more info on that in the future.
 
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Xolono

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Melee - consistent 60 fps
Twilight - consistent 30 fps (it is capped at 30)
Double dash - consistent 60 fps.

I'm trying tons of games tonight, got any requests?
You could try Mario Kart Wii with the 30 fps code
$30fps V3.5 PAL 283457E2 00000000 04244398 60000000 E0000000 80008000 00429454 00000000 002A40E9 00000001

$30fps V3.5 NTSC-U 28341462 00000000 042434DC 60000000 E0000000 80008000 004250D4 00000000 0029FD69 00000001
 

Mouser X

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I'm trying tons of games tonight, got any requests?
I'd like to know how Skies of Arcadia runs. It's a port of a Dreamcast game, so I don't expect it to be too demanding. I should try this myself, but I don't know where my ISO is. I know where the disc is, but my Wii (which I used to rip it) is being barrowed right now, so I can't just re-rip it.

I might have some time today to setup Linux, but I don't have persistant internet access. I won't be able download the image (and updates, and everything else...) for a few days. :(
 

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L4T Ubuntu 1.2
Intro
L4T Ubuntu is a version of Linux based on nvidia's linux for tegra project. It uses a different kernel compared to previous releases which allows it to use features not yet in mainline. Such as audio, docking support and vulkan.

Beware, using high clocks in handheld mode will degrade your batteries capacity a lot faster than at stock clocks

If you can't install an application check this thread, and ask all questions there https://gbatemp.net/threads/l4t-ubuntu-applcation-install-guides.537579/

Features
  • Dock support with USB
  • Bluetooth (both controllers and audio)
  • Nvidia GPU drivers - Vulkan and OpenGL
  • Audio - Headphones, speakers and over HDMI when docked.
  • Joycons and pro controllers are supported fully when not attached to the the console
  • Touchscreen
  • Display
  • WiFi
  • CPU frequency scaling - The CPU scales from 200mhz to 1.7ghz (what switch is binned for) depending on the load its under. Fans are adjusted to account for this
  • Full sdcard speed
  • Hardware video acceleration when using the built in videos app (means you can watch videos without battery draining massively)
Prerequisites
  • A dedicated 16GB+ sdcard
Downloads
Updates
  • 1.1:
  • Download:
  • https://download.switchroot.org/updates/update-1.1-for-switchroot-l4t-ubuntu-2019-04-28.tar.gz
  • Installation Instructions:
  • apt update && apt upgrade is NOT enough for this update
  • Extract this to the first partition of your sdcard, making sure to overwrite Image and tegra210-icosa.dtb.
  • Changelog:
  • Enabled USB mass storage and binfmt in kernel.
  • Fixed touch sensitivity and it not reaching bottom edge.
  • Fixed issues with joycon/procon right stick and y axis
  • Potentially fixed issues with sdcards, if someones didnt work before please try again, if still no then pm me.
  • 1.2:
  • Download:
  • https://download.switchroot.org/upd...1-for-switchroot-l4t-ubuntu-2019-04-28.tar.gz
  • Installation Instructions:
  • apt update && apt upgrade is NOT enough for this update
  • MAKE SURE TO DELETE THE boot FOLDER AND boot.scr BEFORE EXTRACTING THIS UPDATE
  • Extract this to the fat32 partition of your sdcard, making sure a l4t-ubuntu folder is created and the L4T ini is overwritten.
  • Changelog:
  • Enabled ntfs, nfs, squashfs (snaps may work now), ethernet drivers in kernel.
  • Added 2.0ghz overclock.
  • Enabled android ashmem drivers, needed for anbox (need arm64 ver of it and may run)
  • Potentially fixed issues with sdcards, if someones didnt work before please try again.
  • No longer conflicts with lakka.
  • Check misc info section on how to activate 2ghz mode.
How to install
  1. Download the image from the downloads section and extract.
  2. Write it to your sdcard using a program such as etcher or dd
  3. Apply any updates from the updates section in the thread, IMPORTANT as images don't EVER come with them
  4. Boot hekate and select L4T from the configs menu.
  5. Wait for around 2-4 minutes while it initially loads
  6. Go through the setup process - make sure not to dock the console in this period.
  7. Once the initial setup is finished and you are on the login screen it is advisable to reboot:
  8. Hold the power button for 10 seconds.
  9. Load hekate again and select L4T as a payload.
  10. Log in and open the "Disks" app
  11. Select the second partition of your sdcard and click the gears icon
  12. Choose resize and change the size to the full amount of available space.
  13. Enjoy, you now have fully featured Ubuntu on your switch!
Bugs
  • Wired joycons do not work (connected to console)
  • Docking while having a ssh session open can cause the display to not turn off correctly
  • No sleep mode
  • USB OTG - works fine in dock though
  • Vulkan is buggy in dolphin
  • Touch randomly freezes sometimes
  • The real time clock gets messed up in horizon
Misc Info
  • Pair (joy/pro)cons by opening the bluetooth menu in settings and pressing the + button in the bottom left corner. Then press the sync button on the controller and select its name in the pairing window. Once both joycons are paired press each of their shoulder buttons to use as one controller
  • To update the system run "sudo apt update", "sudo apt upgrade". This will apply all switch and ubuntu updates aside from kernel updates, they will be posted here if ever needed.
  • To limit cpu freq, run cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpufreq/policy0/scaling_available_frequencies. Find the one you want, then run: echo <freq you want> | sudo tee /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpufreq/policy0/scaling_max_freq
  • To force max freq run echo performance | sudo tee /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpufreq/policy0/scaling_governor
  • A gui to configure overclocks and fan profiles is coming soon
  • NEW: To activate 2 ghz mode run
    Code:
    echo 1 | sudo tee /sys/kernel/tegra_cpufreq/overclock
    echo 2091000  | sudo tee /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpufreq/policy0/scaling_max_freq
    then run the command to force max freq if you want to use anything intensive.
  • To always use 2.0ghz mode copy
    Code:
    #!/bin/bash
    echo 1 > /sys/kernel/tegra_cpufreq/overclock
    echo  2091000 > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpufreq/policy0/scaling_max_freq
    exit 0
    to /etc/rc.local (you'll need root to create)

Sources
They can all be found at https://gitlab.com/switchroot with the other kernel repos on http://nv-tegra.nvidia.com

Credits
Langerhans,
Ave,
Natinusala,
CTCaer,
NVIDIA,
Everyone else in switchroot - more info on that in the future.

do i need to put a payload on my dongle
 

FrExY_432

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What type of programs is this able to run? Is it similar to lets say a Raspberry Pi which can only use ARM based applications or is it able to run normal linux programs? Sorry for the noobish question.
 

Mouser X

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What type of programs is this able to run? Is it similar to lets say a Raspberry Pi which can only use ARM based applications or is it able to run normal linux programs? Sorry for the noobish question.
The CPU in the Switch is arm64, so only those programs that run on (or can be compiled for) arm64 will work (no Steam. Please stop asking).
 
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tansoftware

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@bylaws

Just an update on the slowdown. So now my ubuntu installation has slowed down to a literal crawl. No additional software installed, nothing changed except for the v1.2 update.

When I mentioned yesterday that I noticed a considerable slowdown, it wasn't as bad, but today, it's almost impossible to get anything done it.

I even tried to revert back to the v1.1 update but it still remained super slow. I tested my MicroSD to see if there was any hardware degradation causing this, but the scan passed.

I had to reformat and update to v1.1. Now, it's working perfectly.
 
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mhamd

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I installed qemu & virt manager

I have issue with creat virtual network , it show a message (could not start virtual network default , unable to creat bridge virbr0: package not installed)

I tried to enter a command to start default network but not success

Who installed qemu how you did it?
 
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achoissoumsaco

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@bylaws

Just an update on the slowdown. So now my ubuntu installation has slowed down to a literal crawl. No additional software installed, nothing changed except for the v1.2 update.

When I mentioned yesterday that I noticed a considerable slowdown, it wasn't as bad, but today, it's almost impossible to get anything done it.

I even tried to revert back to the v1.1 update but it still remained super slow. I tested my MicroSD to see if there was any hardware degradation causing this, but the scan passed.

I had to reformat and update to v1.1. Now, it's working perfectly.

Same here.
 

tansoftware

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When upgrading your ubuntu img using 'sudo apt upgrade', everything seems to upgrade normally except for this last part:

update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-4.9.109+
WARNING: missing /lib/modules/4.9.109+
Ensure all necessary drivers are built into the linux image!
depmod: ERROR: could not open directory /lib/modules/4.9.109+: No such file or directory
depmod: FATAL: could not search modules: No such file or directory
Warning: couldn't identify filesystem type for fsck hook, ignoring.
depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_jZizvY/lib/modules/4.9.109+/modules.order: No such file or directory
depmod: WARNING: could not open /var/tmp/mkinitramfs_jZizvY/lib/modules/4.9.109+/modules.builtin: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/aarch64-linux-gnu_EGL.conf: No such file or directory
/sbin/ldconfig.real: Warning: ignoring configuration file that cannot be opened: /etc/ld.so.conf.d/aarch64-linux-gnu_GL.conf: No such file or directory
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.27-3ubuntu1) ...

Is that normal or expected ?
 
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