Linux off of phone?

[WarDance]

Is it possible to boot Linux off of phone SD card, using a USB C to HDMI adapter for your output display and Bluetooth mouse and keyboard for input?

[GoodBytes]

1 hour ago, WarDance said:

Is it possible to boot Linux off of phone SD card, using a USB C to HDMI adapter for your output display and Bluetooth mouse and keyboard for input?

Not unless your have a phone with a rooted phone with unlock UEFI, and patch with support for Linux. That is if you want to run Linux natively. You'll lose the on-screen buttons as that is not part of the OS. You'll also need drivers for your phone. Phone drivers aren't distributed openly on the web. No driver means: No wireless internet, no modem support (no LTE/4G/3G, etc), no phone calls (app also required), no SMS (app also required). no camera, poor performance.

 

Alternatively, they are projects that allows a rooted phone to install a specific Linux dstro on the back, and use VNC to remote to it. I am not sure how it actually works. This allows you to be able to continue to use your phone. 

 

Another option is using a VM. Or simply remote to a PC that has Linux.

[LAwLz]

If you have a DeX compatible Samsung phone (like the Note9 or S9) then yes it is possible.

https://www.linuxondex.com/

 

Otherwise, no not really. It's possible but really difficult, only works on some phones, buggy, etc.

 

 

 

3 hours ago, GoodBytes said:

Not unless your have a phone with a rooted phone with unlock UEFI, and patch with support for Linux. That is if you want to run Linux natively. You'll lose the on-screen buttons as that is not part of the OS. You'll also need drivers for your phone. Phone drivers aren't distributed openly on the web. No driver means: No wireless internet, no modem support (no LTE/4G/3G, etc), no phone calls (app also required), no SMS (app also required). no camera, poor performance. 

 

Alternatively, they are projects that allows a rooted phone to install a specific Linux dstro on the back, and use VNC to remote to it. I am not sure how it actually works. This allows you to be able to continue to use your phone. 

 

Another option is using a VM. Or simply remote to a PC that has Linux.

Some corrections:

1) I think you meant bootloader rather than UEFI.

2) Phone drivers are in fact distributed openly on the web. For example if you go to this website you will find the kernel source for the ZenFone 6, which includes all the drivers. They must post that because of the GPL. Here is another link for the Galaxy S10 drivers.

3) The OP specifically said he would use a mouse and keyboard, so the loss of the onscreen buttons isn't really a big deal.

[onetrueben]

In terms of booting off the SD card the answer is a flat no. You wouldn't want to do that anyway; sd cards have terrible performance. However, there are a few (unstable) projects for Linux on phones.

 

UBports is a resurrection of Ubuntu touch, and has an easy installer. Some devices even support display out (convergence)

postmarketOS is Alpine Linux for phones, very alpha