Kernels with su elsewhere than in /sbin

[drebon]

Hi,

Since the latest updates of the super-user app, it keeps telling that most su exec shipped with the differents kernels are outdated and that it cannot perrform update since it is placed in /sbin.

Using a terminal emulator to remove /sbin/su and put it to /system/xbin works ... untill some curious event (maybe reboot but don't now) where the /xbin/su reappears.

I think it would be great to have kernels that puts the su exec in /system/xbin and not in /sbin. It woud help not having that warning "obolete su exec" popping up very often.

I looked on a kernel zip file, but all interesting things for that purpose seem to happen in the zImage file...

[darth_llamah]

Most kernels have su binary inside initramfs (in zImage itself) and this one will always override binary in /system.
Tom3q's CM7 does not have su in initramfs so superuser updates work.
It it possible (and suggested) to remove su from initramfs but su has to be placed in /system/sbin otherwise there will be no root. I didn't check if available roms contain su.
IMO current su location is a leftover from rooting kernel (Lk2.08 for official firmwares)

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[drebon]

Yes, that was more or less what I thought. I seems to me that su updater is able to update /system/sbin/su binary but not /xbin/su and that most spica kernels have their su binary in zImage that goes to /xbin

I do not know if it is easy to edit zImage so that su is put elsewhere.

[darth_llamah]

Yes, that was more or less what I thought. I seems to me that su updater is able to update /system/sbin/su binary but not /xbin/su and that most spica kernels have their su binary in zImage that goes to /xbin

I do not know if it is easy to edit zImage so that su is put elsewhere.

/xbin/su loaded from initramfs is RO so nothing can change it.
Removing su from kernel is easy- requires small change in initramfs an recompilation using changed initramfs. Also update zip should install su to avoid possible problems if system doesn't have one


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