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Google Gru Chromebook (google-gru)

From postmarketOS Wiki
Google Gru Chromebook
Gru Chromebook
Gru Chromebook
Manufacturer Google
Name Gru Chromebook
Codename google-gru
Released 2017
Type generic
Hardware
Chipset Rockchip RK3399
CPU 4x 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53
2x 2Ghz Cortex-A72
GPU Mali-T860 MP4
Architecture aarch64
Software
Original software
The software and version the device was shipped with.
ChromeOS
Extended version
The most recent supported version from the manufacturer.
ChromeOS
FOSS bootloader yes
postmarketOS
Category community
Mainline
Instead of a Linux kernel fork, it is possible to run (Close to) Mainline.
yes
Device package device-google-gru
Kernel package linux-postmarketos-rockchip
Features
Battery
Charging and battery level reporting works
Works
Screen
Display works. Ideally with sleep mode and brightness control.
Works
Touchscreen
Works
Keyboard
Build in physical keyboard
Works
Touchpad
Build in Touchpad
Works
Multimedia
3D Acceleration
Works
Audio
Audio playback, microphone, headset and buttons.
Partial
Camera
Partial
Connectivity
WiFi
Works
Bluetooth
Works
Miscellaneous
FDE
Full disk encryption and unlocking with unl0kr.
Works
USB-A
Full-sized USB-A port works (Usually applicable to SBCs and laptops).
Works
USB OTG
USB On-The-Go or USB-C Role switching
Works
HDMI/DP
Video and audio output with HDMI or Display Port works.
Partial
Sensors
Accelerometer
Auto screen rotation works in desktops e.g. Phosh or Plasma Mobile
Works
Hall Effect
Also known as flip cover sensor
Works

Contributors

Installation

See for general information Chrome OS devices page.

Tested installation on Acer Chromebook Tab 10 (google-dru):

  • Unlock bootloader by following https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRQ9gBGmw3c (Note: You can not get into the unlock procedure when device is off. You have to first turn it on and while its on hold all 3 buttons pressed like in video)
  • There are prebuild images named 'Google Gru Chromebooks' for download if you do not want to compile an own image here https://postmarketos.org/install/ (Note: Stable release v24.12 and probably newer do not have graphical issues in Wayland any more)
  • You need at least a 4GiB MicroSD card or USB-drive (for example with USB-OTG adapter drive) to install it to eMMC memory. Unpack the .img.xz image to a single .img file and use for example dd to write it to the MicroSD card or USB-drive.
  • Connect the MicroSD card or USB-Drive to the Chromebook and turn the Chromebook on
  • Choose in bootloader mode under developer options 'Boot From USB or SD Card'
  • PostmarketOS is booting now and is in a working state. If you do not want to install it to internal eMMC memory, you are ready now.
  • For eMMC installation: After PostmarketOS have boot once, it resized the external memory. Turn off the device and remove external memory. Copy the same unextracted .img.xz file you download from the PostmarketOS website to for example the Download directory of the user.
  • Boot again external memory with 'Boot From USB or SD Card'
  • In PostmarketOS look what is the /dev/xxxxx link for the internal eMMC drive for example with the preinstalled tool 'lsblk'
  • In PostmarketOS change with command line ('cd' command) to the directory containing the .img.xz file you copied on there a moment ago and write PostmarketOS to eMMC memory with a command like this:

xzcat 20241226-0322-postmarketOS-v24.12-phosh-22.5-google-gru.img.xz | sudo dd of=/dev/xxxxxxxx status=progress bs=1M oflag=direct iflag=fullblock

  • Now the whole eMMC containing ChromeOS have been wiped and replaced with PostmarketOS. You can power off the PostmarketOS running from external memory and remove the external memory.
  • When you turn now the device, it would show the developer mode. You can either go into developer options and choose 'Boot From Internal Disk' or just wait after powering it on. After some short time it would beep loud and boot without any 'Boot From Internal Disk' the PostmarketOS eMMC installation.

Audio

See:

We have a workaround for laptops, but not for tablets. Headphones and headset mic are currently broken on tablets.

HDMI codec is currently not supported.

Also, the working range for volume is 0-10%, with 10%-100% providing no additional gain.

Camera

The cameras in the tablet devices are unusable, see pmaports#2214.

Devices

Device Codename Category
Acer Chromebook Tab 10 google-dru community
AOpen Chromebook Commercial Tab google-druwl
Asus Chromebook Flip C101 google-bob testing
Asus Chromebook Tablet CT100 google-dumo testing
CTL Chromebook Tablet Tx1 google-druwl testing
Samsung Chromebook Plus google-kevin community

See also