Scroll Tablet PC | Scroll Excel Tablet Forum

I have a Scroll Excel tablet running Android 2.3.4, as it came out of the box (with the exception of a couple of added apps). I know very little about Android, but, have lots of experience of Unix and Network admin. I can connect to the Wireless network at home and use web access, but, I want a simple ping program, as there seems to be intermittent broadband problems. I loaded an app called “Ping” but when I run it I get:

ping:icmp open socket: Operation not permitted

It would seem like some form of permissions/root level access problem, but, I am not sure what to do to fix it.

I have also tried other ping programs:
- "Fing" .... Reports ping and traceroute unavailable, however, it shows all my network PC's/routers/Wireless devices including the Scroll Excel.

- "Ping & DNS" ..... which does nothing when you try to ping, even the localhost address.

On the forum, I have seen that ping has been used when examining the iPlayer sync issues, so there must be a way of accessing it. Any suggestions, pointers to noobie guides and other thoughts, gratefully recieved?

thanks tenter

I have done some further digging and loaded "Terminal IDE". This software enabled me to start a command line terminal session, that let me examine the operating system; being familialar with Unix it was like being at home.

I checked the settings on the "ping" command in /system/bin/ping and it is setup with -rwxr-xr-x and unless it was run within an su, would not allow me to execute it. This is different from other Unix/linux implementations which normally use -rwsr-xr-x permissions to allow normal users access to ping without havng to su. This must also be true of other Android implementations, otherwise, the apps "Ping", "fing" and "Ping & DNS" would not exist to run ping from a GUI.

I have tried to modify the "ping" permissions but it is held in Read-Only memory - bah humbug.

However, being able to test the home network response is not a primary use for my tablet.This is especially true since I bought my Scroll Excel (3 weeks ago) to watch movies, read some books and listen to music, whilst lying in bed for the next 6 weeks. So I guess, unless I want to spend some time learning about modding a tablet (is six weeks long enough when dopped up with pain killers), I guess I have to live with it..... for now.

Sometimes, I just have to tell the engineer in me to stop wondering why it doesn't work and just accept that it dosen't. Its so hard to do .

Hi tenter,

Glad you are slightly more mobile again.
I am still relatively an android newbie so I don't know very much at all yet, but I have noticed that No-one has been able to help you on your posts about pinging so I thought I would put in my 2 pennyworth and hope one of the experts puts me right as necessary cause I don't want you to screw up your tablet if I am talking drivell.

It sounds from what you are saying that you know your way around Linux and as android is based on Linux maybe you are on the right track.
I don't know if you realise it or not but the Excel is rooted "as is" out of the box - so you can install Superuser and gain access to the system.

I hope some other members are watching over us both because I am now entrering territory I am unsure of - so think carefully before you do any of this.
My understanding is that "Super User" (SU) which is available free from the market, will allow you to change file states when it is fully integrated into the system.
I have installed SU on my Excel and using ES File explorer I can access the system files when hooked up to my PC.
So I am thinking that perhaps using something like android commander ( http://androidcommander.com/ ) and SU ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... d.su&hl=en ) you could possibly change the file states to 'write' as you wish - assuming you are happy to do so - and from what you say I believe this is your wish.

Alternatively, and I think this is the more dangerous route - I have not done this myself - but I understand that to be able to change the file states directly on the Excel that SU has to be moved to system - but I also believe this is irreversible.

Can some one with more knowledge help out on this one please as I don't want to be the cause of tenter bricking his tablet.

Hi Trashcooky, thanks for the info about the 2 apps, I will have a look to see if they do what I want.

However, if Android is anything like some other Linux system boots I have worked with, then, there may be some form of image file that is loaded at boot. To permanently modify the permissions, you have to create a new boot image that contains the correct permissions taht would then be flashed into memory - not sure if this is true of course in the case of Android.

I still need to learn so much more about Android and how it works, especially to understand the terminology that is being used. At the moment a lot of tasks sound familiar, but, feel like they are written in a forigen language.

I will have a look at the apps tomorrow, once (if) my wife lets me have my Scroll back. She was last heard saying something about "I just need to feed my dino's" (Tiny Village).

super user app should be able to provide su for that app my understanding is that if an app tries to get to a su command the superuser app recognizes it and asks you the user if you want to allow su after that every time you open the app
super user gives it the su permisions automatically

Ps any idea how to get Ubunto to recognize my scroll Excel im using eclipse but cant connect to scroll? if you have any ideas please post Here