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@atyachin
Last active October 1, 2024 11:25
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Running headless android emulator on AWS EC2 Ubuntu instance (ARM64 / aarch64) - 2022
Android Emulator (ARM64) on EC2 - 2022
---------------------------------------
1. Launch EC2 ARM based Instance (a1.metal / a1.2xlarge): (16 Gb RAM, 32Gb Disk), Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS (HVM) ARM x64
2. sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
3. sudo apt install default-jdk python3-pip repo python-is-python3 unzip libpcre2-dev adb
4. wget https://dl.google.com/android/repository/commandlinetools-linux-8512546_latest.zip
5. unzip commandlinetools-linux-8512546_latest.zip -d android-sdk
6. sudo mv android-sdk /opt/
7. mkdir /opt/android-sdk/cmdline-tools/latest
8. mv /opt/android-sdk/cmdline-tools/* /opt/android-sdk/cmdline-tools/latest (ignore the error)
9. at this point you should have sdkmanager and avdmanager under /opt/android-sdk/cmdline-tools/latest/bin/
10. echo "export ANDROID_SDK_ROOT=/opt/android-sdk" >> ~/.bashrc
11. echo "export ANDROID_HOME=/opt/android-sdk" >> ~/.bashrc
12. echo "export ANDROID_EMULATOR_WAIT_TIME_BEFORE_KILL=60" >> ~/.bashrc
13. echo "export PATH=$PATH:/opt/android-sdk/cmdline-tools/latest/bin" >> ~/.bashrc
14. source ~/.bashrc
15. sdkmanager --update
16. sdkmanager --licenses
17. cd /opt/android-sdk/
18. Get emulator download link:
- https://ci.android.com/builds/branches/aosp-emu-master-dev/grid?
- column: emulator --> linux_aarch64
- click a green version
- click Artifacts tab
- click sdk-repo-linux_aarch64-emulator-[build number].zip (~1.6Gb)
- Right-click the Download link (blue) and copy the download URL
- A Relatively stable version (31.3.8 - 5/24/2022): https://ci.android.com/builds/submitted/8632828/emulator-linux_aarch64/latest/sdk-repo-linux_aarch64-emulator-8632828.zip
19 wget -O emulator.zip "[download URL]"
20. unzip emulator.zip
21. cd emulator
22. copy text from https://chromium.googlesource.com/android_tools/+/refs/heads/master/sdk/emulator/package.xml
23. nano /opt/android-sdk/emulator/package.xml --> paste copied text
24. cat source.properties --> get Emulator version number from Pkg.Revision (Example: Pkg.Revision=31.3.9)
25. update the following params in package.xml according to the version: <major>, <minor>, <micro>
26. sdkmanager "system-images;android-31;google_apis;arm64-v8a"
27. avdmanager -v create avd -f -n MyAVD -k "system-images;android-31;google_apis;arm64-v8a" -p "/opt/android-sdk/avd"
28. avdmanager list avd --> check that you have MyAVD
29. mkdir /opt/android-sdk/platforms
30. mkdir /opt/android-sdk/platform-tools
31. echo "Vulkan = off" >> ~/.android/advancedFeatures.ini
32. echo "GLDirectMem = on" >> ~/.android/advancedFeatures.ini
33. on Metal instance, enabled KVM access:
- sudo gpasswd -a $USER kvm
- logout and re-login
- /opt/android-sdk/emulator/emulator -accel-check --> check accel:0, KVM (version 12) is installed and usable: accel
Run the Emulator:
------------------
Metal instance:
/opt/android-sdk/emulator/emulator @MyAVD -no-window -no-audio -ports 5554,5555 -skip-adb-auth -no-boot-anim -show-kernel
Non-metal instance:
/opt/android-sdk/emulator/emulator @MyAVD -no-window -no-audio -ports 5554,5555 -skip-adb-auth -no-boot-anim -show-kernel -qemu -cpu max -machine gic-version=max
Notes:
1. Use an ARM based EC2 instance. A Metal instance will allow ARM to run on the host CPU (via KVM). A non-metal instance will do ARM emulation which is much slower (but works).
2. The Android Emulaotr isn't included in the sdk-tools for ARM, we download it separately. After we install and update its package file, we can use sdkmanager to download system images and other emultaor-dependant packages.
3. The platform-tools (adb, aapt2 etc.) aren't not available for ARM64. We install ADB with apt-get (see apt list android-sdk* for other available tools).
4. Make sure to create the /platforms and /platform-tools folders under /opt/android-sdk/ or the emulator will exit (folder can be empty).
5. First run on non-Metal instance might take 10-15 minutes.
6. Use "google_apis" system image and not "google_apis_playstore". The "google_apis_playstore" requires authentication to connect via ADB (adb devices will show "emulator-5554 offline")
7. In case of unstable images (crash with illegal instruction), try using the aosp_atd image (e.g. "system-images;android-30;aosp_atd;arm64-v8a")
Android Emulator HW options:
----------------------------
nano /opt/android-sdk/avd/config.ini
nano ~/.android/avd/MyAVD.ini
Specific parameters to consider:
hw.ramSize=2048M
disk.dataPartition.size=2048M
Disabling the "Ok Google" Hotword detection (might cause 100% CPU on non-metal instance):
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
adb shell "su root pm disable com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox"
Note: run after Emulator fully loaded
Connecting to Emulator console:
-------------------------------
1. get token from: /home/ubuntu/.emulator_console_auth_token
2. telnet 127.0.0.1 5554
3. auth [token]
4. save snapshot: avd snapshot save default
Manually setup system image (ex: android-32, Google APIs, ARM64):
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. https://dl.google.com/android/repository/sys-img/google_apis/arm64-v8a-32_r03.zip
2. mkdir /opt/android-sdk/system-images/android-32
3. mkdir /opt/android-sdk/system-images/android-32/google_apis
4. unzip arm64-v8a-32_r03.zip /opt/android-sdk/system-images/android-32/google_apis
image path: /opt/android-sdk/system-images/android-[api_version]/[api_type]/[arch_type] (/opt/android-sdk/system-images/android-32/google_apis/arm64-v8a)
avdmanager -v create avd -f -n MyAVD2 -k "system-images;android-32;google_apis;arm64-v8a" -p "/opt/android-sdk/avd2"
Useful ADB commands:
--------------------
Connect: adb devices
Install APK: adb install myapp.apk
Uninstall app: adb uninstall com.package.name
Start app: adb shell am start -n com.package.name/com.package.name.ActivityName
Start app2: adb shell monkey -p com.package.name --pct-syskeys 0 -c android.intent.category.LAUNCHER 1
Stop app: adb shell am force-stop com.package.name
Disable package: adb shell "su root pm disable com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox"
Uninstall package: adb shell "su root pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox"
Check if running: adb shell dumpsys activity | grep -i run | grep -i com.package.name
Forward port: adb forward tcp:8888 tcp:8888
Kill emulator: adb -s emulator-5554 emu kill
Links:
------
Emulator ARM builds:
https://ci.android.com/builds/branches/aosp-emu-master-dev/grid?
Specific: https://ci.android.com/builds/submitted/8664812/aarch64_sdk_tools_linux/latest/sdk-repo-linux_aarch64-emulator-8664812.zip
ARM System images:
Google API Images: https://androidsdkoffline.blogspot.com/p/android-sysimg-google-arm-v8a-download.html
All Images: https://androidsdkoffline.blogspot.com
Another: https://androidsdkmanager.azurewebsites.net/GoogleAPIaddonSystemImages
References:
https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/emulator#emulator_for_arm64_hosts
https://github.com/google/android-emulator-container-scripts/issues/192
https://github.com/yaizudamashii/AndroidSDK/pull/1
https://medium.com/heuristics/deploying-android-emulators-on-aws-ec2-1-3-arm-architecture-and-genymotion-solutions-for-a-2ef3238542d5
https://gist.github.com/JonathanLalou/180c87554d8278b0e6d7
@bentalcy
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anyone figured out the error "Can't find service: package" i am seeing a few folks here encountered it and i am also seeing that.
Using a1.2xlarge and following the instructions to the letter. the emulator runs but the package service isn't functioning.

many thanks!

@Abyss-W4tcher
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Hi, would you be able to create a Dockerfile to wrap the setup and ensure reliability accross systems ?

Thanks !

@NASAok
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NASAok commented May 22, 2024

@atyachin, shalom!
Have you ever tested how many emulators can one server run simultaneously?
Would be really thankful for the info (and for server's specs)!

@0x80O0oOverfl0w
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I tried this on a Gigabyte server with a 128-Core Ampere Altra Max running Ubuntu 22.04LTS (baremetal) and the performance is not great to say the least out of the box.

Pro tip for those out there still trying to do this. Ignore the the ram and core settings in the AVD, the emulator doesn't care. You need to use -cores and -memory flags when you launch the emulator. With 8 cores and 16GB ram per emulator, the performance was actually pretty good, but UI latency is terrible. Single core performance does not seem as good as it should be, but multicore performance is on par with real Android devices. I found that the emulator is very unstable if you assign is less than around 10-12GB ram.

If anyone has any tips on getting GPU acceleration working please let me know. I have two Tesla T4's that I'm trying to use in my server.

@Marietto2008
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Marietto2008 commented Sep 10, 2024

Hello.

I'm trying on the Jetson nano 4 GB,where I have installed Ubuntu 22.04,even if the kernel is still 4.9,but I have kvm enabled because I've applied the right patches,these ones :

https://github.com/OE4T/linux-tegra-4.9

aresuser@jetson:~$ /opt/android-sdk/emulator/emulator @MyAVD -no-window -no-audio -ports 5554,5555 -skip-adb-auth -no-boot-anim -show-kernel

INFO    | Storing crashdata in: /tmp/android-aresuser/emu-crash-34.2.8.db, detection is enabled for process: 47221
INFO    | Android emulator version 34.2.8.0 (build_id 11435509) (CL:N/A)
INFO    | Found systemPath /opt/android-sdk/system-images/android-34/google_apis/arm64-v8a/

ERROR: ld.so: object '/opt/android-sdk/emulator/lib64/libStubXlib.so' from LD_PRELOAD cannot be preloaded (cannot open shared object file): ignored.

ERROR: ld.so: object '/opt/android-sdk/emulator/lib64/libStubXlib.so' from LD_PRELOAD cannot be preloaded (cannot open shared object file): ignored.

INFO    | Storing crashdata in: /tmp/android-aresuser/emu-crash-34.2.8.db, detection is enabled for process: 47221
INFO    | Duplicate loglines will be removed, if you wish to see each individual line launch with the -log-nofilter flag.
INFO    | Increasing RAM size to 2048MB

WARNING | Failed to process .ini file /opt/android-sdk/avd/quickbootChoice.ini for reading.
library_mode swiftshader_indirect gpu mode swiftshader_indirect

Initializing hardware OpenGLES emulation supportandroid_startOpenglesRenderer: gpu infoI0911 00:57:13.689850   47221 HealthMonitor.cpp:279] HealthMonitor disabled.

I0911 00:57:13.737002   47221 FrameBuffer.cpp:506] Graphics Adapter Vendor Google (Google Inc.)
I0911 00:57:13.737075   47221 FrameBuffer.cpp:507] Graphics Adapter Android Emulator OpenGL ES Translator (Google SwiftShader)
I0911 00:57:13.737138   47221 FrameBuffer.cpp:508] Graphics API Version OpenGL ES 3.0 (OpenGL ES 3.0 SwiftShader 4.1.0.7)
I0911 00:57:13.737177   47221 FrameBuffer.cpp:509] Graphics API Extensions GL_OES_EGL_sync GL_OES_EGL_image 

GL_OES_EGL_image_external GL_OES_depth24 GL_OES_depth32 GL_OES_element_index_uint GL_OES_texture_float 
GL_OES_texture_float_linear GL_OES_compressed_paletted_texture GL_OES_compressed_ETC1_RGB8_texture GL_OES_depth_texture GL_OES_texture_half_float GL_OES_texture_half_float_linear GL_OES_packed_depth_stencil GL_OES_vertex_half_float GL_OES_standard_derivatives GL_OES_texture_npot GL_OES_rgb8_rgba8 GL_EXT_color_buffer_float GL_EXT_color_buffer_half_float GL_EXT_texture_format_BGRA8888 GL_APPLE_texture_format_BGRA8888 
I0911 00:57:13.737231   47221 FrameBuffer.cpp:510] Graphics Device Extensions N/A

OpenGL Vendor=[Google (Google Inc.)]OpenGL Renderer=[Android Emulator OpenGL ES Translator (Google SwiftShader)]OpenGL Version=[OpenGL ES 3.0 (OpenGL ES 3.0 SwiftShader 4.1.0.7)]INFO    | Sending adb public key [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 aresuser@unknown]

ERROR   | Unable to spawn process  due to:, No such file or directory

qemu-system-aarch64-headless: Unable to determine GIC version supported by host
WARNING | Unable to connect to packet streamer, no bluetooth emulation available

and this is what I get :

aresuser@jetson:~$ adb devices
* daemon not running; starting now at tcp:5037
* daemon started successfully
List of devices attached
emulator-5554	offline

it is always offline. Someone knows the reason ? how can I bring it online ? thanks.

@lecko-cngroup
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I'm trying to run this on an m1 chip running ubuntu. The emulator seems to manage all of the pre-boot steps (mounting the images and setting system props) but then crashes with this error when trying to cold boot: ERROR | Unable to spawn process due to:, No such file or directory qemu-system-aarch64-headless: can't open backing store /home/thea/avds/YetAnotherTestAvd.avd/snapshots/default_boot/ram.img for guest RAM: Permission denied qemu-system-aarch64-headless: falling back to regular RAM allocation. WARNING: cannnot unmap ptr 0xfffe94eb4000 as it is in the protected range from 0xfffe94eb4000 to 0xffff150b4000 WARNING: cannnot unmap ptr 0xffff15004000 as it is in the protected range from 0xfffe94eb4000 to 0xffff150b4000 Could not init 'oss' audio driver WARNING | The emulator now requires a signed jwt token for gRPC access! Use the -grpc flag if you really want an open unprotected grpc port INFO | Using security allow list from: /home/thea/espen/emu/emu-master-dev/test/emulator/lib/emulator_access.json WARNING | *** Basic token auth should only be used by android-studio *** INFO | The active JSON Web Key Sets can be found here: /run/user/1001/avd/running/36869/jwks/aa8a5442-3c34-43b0-95f0-e7e3257578f9/active.jwk INFO | Scanning /run/user/1001/avd/running/36869/jwks/aa8a5442-3c34-43b0-95f0-e7e3257578f9 for jwk keys. INFO | Started GRPC server at 127.0.0.1:8554, security: Local, auth: +token INFO | Advertising in: /run/user/1001/avd/running/pid_36869.ini I1030 15:04:48.293225 36910 FrameBuffer.cpp:3682] setDisplayConfigs w 320 h 640 dpiX 160 dpiY 160 I1030 15:04:48.293273 36910 FrameBuffer.cpp:3695] setDisplayActiveConfig 0 INFO | Loading snapshot 'default_boot'... WARNING | Device 'encrypt' does not have the requested snapshot 'default_boot' WARNING | Failed to load snapshot 'default_boot' INFO | Cold boot based on user configuration WARNING | Cold boot based on user configuration ERROR | Unable to spawn process due to:, No such file or directory ERROR | Unable to spawn process due to:, No such file or directory ERROR | crashhandler_die: fatal: kvm_user_backed_ram_map: error registering slot: Invalid argument Segmentation fault (core dumped)

Any idea what would cause this or how to fix it?

ERROR | Unable to spawn process due to:, No such file or directory refers to /opt/android/emulator/bin64/netsimd which is not part of aarch64 emulator build. Netsim is responsible for Bluetooth stack, anyone know how to disable it?

@tal-rofe98
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For anyone who wants more dynamic script (for automated workflows):

sudo apt update && sudo NEEDRESTART_MODE=a apt -y upgrade
sudo NEEDRESTART_MODE=a apt -y install default-jdk python3-pip repo python-is-python3 unzip libpcre2-dev adb
wget https://dl.google.com/android/repository/commandlinetools-linux-8512546_latest.zip
unzip commandlinetools-linux-8512546_latest.zip -d android-sdk
sudo mv android-sdk /opt/
mkdir /opt/android-sdk/cmdline-tools/latest
mv /opt/android-sdk/cmdline-tools/* /opt/android-sdk/cmdline-tools/latest
echo "export ANDROID_SDK_ROOT=/opt/android-sdk" >> ~/.bashrc
echo "export ANDROID_HOME=/opt/android-sdk" >> ~/.bashrc
echo "export ANDROID_EMULATOR_WAIT_TIME_BEFORE_KILL=60" >> ~/.bashrc
echo "export PATH=$PATH:/opt/android-sdk/cmdline-tools/latest/bin" >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc
sdkmanager --update
yes | sdkmanager --licenses
cd /opt/android-sdk/
curl -o emulator.zip $(curl -s "https://ci.android.com/builds/submitted/12401025/emulator-linux_aarch64/latest/sdk-repo-linux_aarch64-emulator-12401025.zip" | sed -n 's/.*"artifactUrl":"\([^"]*\)".*/\1/p' | sed 's/\\u0026/\&/g')
unzip emulator.zip
cd emulator
echo $(curl -s "https://chromium.googlesource.com/android_tools/+/refs/heads/main/sdk/emulator/package.xml?format=TEXT" | base64 --decode) > /opt/android-sdk/emulator/package.xml
MAJOR_VERSION=$(grep 'Pkg.Revision' source.properties | cut -d'=' -f2 | cut -d'.' -f1)
MINOR_VERSION=$(grep 'Pkg.Revision' source.properties | cut -d'=' -f2 | cut -d'.' -f2)
MICRO_VERSION=$(grep 'Pkg.Revision' source.properties | cut -d'=' -f2 | cut -d'.' -f3)
sed -i "s|<major>[0-9]\+</major>|<major>${MAJOR_VERSION}</major>|g" package.xml
sed -i "s|<minor>[0-9]\+</minor>|<minor>${MINOR_VERSION}</minor>|g" package.xml
sed -i "s|<micro>[0-9]\+</micro>|<micro>${MICRO_VERSION}</micro>|g" package.xml
sdkmanager "system-images;android-31;google_apis;arm64-v8a"
yes "" | avdmanager -v create avd -f -n MyAVD -k "system-images;android-31;google_apis;arm64-v8a" -p "/opt/android-sdk/avd"
mkdir /opt/android-sdk/platforms
mkdir /opt/android-sdk/platform-tools
echo "Vulkan = off" >> ~/.android/advancedFeatures.ini
echo "GLDirectMem = on" >> ~/.android/advancedFeatures.ini

This is my setup script. Although the Run the emulator section didn't run successfully for me :|

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