Questions about kernel and CWM? Where is CWM?

gibby4 · Nov 17, 2011

Hi guys, I was just wondering, I am a little confused about kernels, and where CWM goes. I reading here:
forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399
about CF-root, that it is a modified kernel, and it includes busybox, root, CWM...
and so I was confused... I thought CWM was installed in the recovery 'part' of the phone.
How does the phone load CWM, how does it know how it is?
The bootloader, rom, kernel, and recovery are all separate right?

Using this kernel could you install CWM twice? How would that work?

I guess there is something I am missing out on

Thank you for your help guys, all help is appreciated!

Snazzy · Nov 18, 2011

gibby4 said:
Hi guys, I was just wondering, I am a little confused about kernels, and where CWM goes. I reading here:
forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399
about CF-root, that it is a modified kernel, and it includes busybox, root, CWM...
and so I was confused... I thought CWM was installed in the recovery 'part' of the phone.
How does the phone load CWM, how does it know how it is?
The bootloader, rom, kernel, and recovery are all separate right?

Using this kernel could you install CWM twice? How would that work?

I guess there is something I am missing out on
Thank you for your help guys, all help is appreciated!

You are correct in that CWM is the replacement recovery that gets installed with CF-Root and just about every ROM for the GS2 but it also includes an actual application called "CWM" on the phone itself. The application lets you boot to recovery, manage restores and initiate backups etc. but the CWM application is just a front end for the actual CWM recovery program.

gibby4 · Nov 18, 2011

hey thanks for your reply!
i understand that there is a CWM app, but that is separate, and you don't need to use that, as far as i know.

i am talking about, when you install the CWM recovery, not the app, where does it install to?

because, if the CF-root kernel includes CWM (not the app), how can the recovery be in the kernel?

OR, is that where the recovery is? when i would flash CWM to my phone, would it simply patch it into my current kernel?...

ironass · Nov 18, 2011

This guide to CWM, entitled, "What Is ClockworkMod Recovery And How To Use It On Android [Complete Guide]", may help answer your questions:-

What Is ClockworkMod Recovery And How To Use It On Android [Complete Guide]

hope this helps.

gibby4 · Nov 23, 2011

oh thank you, but i don't think that is what i meant, i think i thought that cwm was IN the kernel, with the cf-root kernel, and was wondering how that worked, but i think they simply just install the app.
thanks

HQRaja · Jan 3, 2012

Hello,

I am the writer of the guide ironass posted. The question you brought up hasn't been addressed there because it was out of the scope of that guide, though I have tried addressing it (partially) in another guide I wrote on Android partitions.

The recovery is basically an alternative bootable system installed in a separate partition, bootable using a separate hardware key combination (or a command). In certain Samsung phones however (like Galaxy S series), the recovery is bundled together with the kernel in the same partition, in order to make room for the Download Mode to be bootable with a separate hardware combination. If I am not wrong, Android allows only three different booting modes by default: Normal mode, fastboot mode and recovery mode. In Galaxy S series devices, they have essentially replaced the fastboot mode with the recovery and used the separate recovery mode to ship their proprietary Download mode.

Hope this explains.

Slug · Jan 3, 2012

HQRaja said:
I am the writer of the guide ironass posted.

Welcome to Android Forums HQRaja, and thank you for your clear and concise explanation. I myself knew what Samsung had done but not why, so it was much appreciated.

Questions about kernel and CWM? Where is CWM?

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