Dumbo (en)

- in Deutsch

- in English

This translation is currently under construction!

To read the complete article please refere to the German version at:

→ Dumbo - das dumme Boot Plugin

Dumbo - the dumb boot plugin

Do you have less flash-memory at your Dreambox for your daily Updates, Skins or Picons? Than Dumbo may be interesting for you. This plugin helps you to boot the Dreambox via a compressed image from a removable media like Compact Flash or USB-Stick. Dumbo is not a tool for Multiboot but it supports to boot via removable drives. Of course you can backup this kind of image. This plugin also helps to create a swap-file (/media/swap/swapfile) at a size of 200MB. Because of this you can use Dumbo at Dreamboxes with less RAM (like the DM 7025) without having problems due to less memory while decompressing or maintaining the image. The swap-file is activated during the boot process of Dumbo as told in the /etc/fstab. The Dumbo Plugin You configure Dumbo in this steps. Install the plugin into the flash image (the main image in the Dreambox). Than plug in the Compact Flash card or your prefered media to create partitions on it. You will get two partitions. The first to create a bootable FAT file system and the second to create the main ext3 file system. Now start the plugin Dumbo to choose the image that will be installed at your removable media. After about 5 minutes of decompression, installing and rebooting the Dreambox will be available for your new experiments. The complete configuration of the Dumbo-Plugin is described in this article. Please take your time to read it carefully to get all requirements. Good luck and have a lot of fun! :-) This article is based at the forum-topic: Dumbo - the Dumb Boot Plugin (German language) Objectives: Configure bios of the corresponding box. Prepare desired image for the Dumbo device. Installation of Dumbo plugin. Start Dumbo, partition the desired media and extract desired image to attached media. Learn operation / functions of Dumbo. To know the webinterface of Dumbo. Able to update the Dumbo plugin. Uninstall Dumbo if required. Integrate Dumbo into BluePanel (optional). Read chapter "Troubleshooting Dumbo Plugin". Read chapter "Frequently asked questions (FAQ). To know the support thread of Dumbo. Requirements: Enigma2 based Dreambox. Supported boxes are DM 7025 (+), DM 800HD PVR, DM 800HD se and DM 8000HD PVR. DM 500 HD should also work, but an USB mod (German language) is required. An OE 1.6 image in flash, with recent second stage loader (e.g #82 or #83 depending on box typ). Images with SSL #76 are successfully tested onto Dumbo device. But care about updates. If current SSL will be replaced by an older one, booting from Dumbo device will no longer work. It only helps to update SSL manually via secondstage-dmxxx-xx.nfi, or via dreambox-secondstage_xx-dmxxx.ipk packet, unless flash memory is booting flawlessly. Attached removable device needs at least 512MB. Maximum supported device size is 32GB. DM 7025 (+) needs a CF card as storage medium. DM 500 HD, DM 800HD PVR, DM 800HD se and DM 8000HD PVR need an USB Stick as storage medium. During setup, attach only desired media to the Dreambox. The desired device must be formated in FAT or FAT32. Operation of telnet for packet installation. Strong-willed to read the article before anger the family. Installing Dumbo the dumb boot plugin Bios-Configuration of the Dreambox Bios - DM 8000 HD PVR Bios - DM 7025 (+) You need to prepare the Bios to be able to boot via a removable media containing the FAT filesystem. The following chapter shows you the needed preparation for the different kind of Dreamboxes. You need to activate USB Support at all Dreamboxes. But you do not need to activate this at the 7025. Changing the Bios Like flashing the Bios via Webbrowser you can connect to the Bios. After you see "STOP" at the display you can connect via telnet ip_der_dreambox to the Bios. Than you can change the needed values. Choose Boot Source If you cannot change the values at Boot Source between Flash / CF / USB, then use the [Page UP] or [Page Down] keys at your keyboard. DM 500 HD Primary boot source: usb [/autoexec_dm500.bat] Secondary boot source: flash Enable USB support: [ENABLED] DM 7025 (+) Primary boot source: cf [/autoexec_dm7025.bat] Secondary boot source: flash Enable USB support: [DISABLED] DM 800HD PVR Primary boot source: usb [/autoexec_dm800.bat] Secondary boot source: flash Enable USB support: [ENABLED] DM 800HD se Primary boot source: usb [/autoexec_dm800se.bat] Secondary boot source: flash Enable USB support: [ENABLED] DM 8000HD PVR Primary boot source: usb [/autoexec_dm8000.bat] Secondary boot source: flash Enable USB support: [ENABLED] Back to table of contents Dumbo plugin installation For the installation both files from the Dumbo thread are needed. dosfstools_3.0.11-r2_mipsel.ipk enigma2-plugin-extensions-dumbo_x.xx_mipsel.ipk Dosfstools is used to create the FAT partition. The second packet is the actual Dumbo plugin. Copy dosfstools and Dumbo plugin via FTP to the Dreambox into the /tmp folder. Use telnet or ssh to access the command prompt and install both packets with following command. opkg install /tmp/*.ipk To install both packets individually, use following steps. opkg install /tmp/dosfstools_3.0.11* Followed by the next command, that installs the Dumbo plugin. opkg install /tmp/enigma2-plugin-extensions-dumbo* Switch dreambox off and connect the Compact Flash card or USB-Stick. Turn on the dream (Dreambox) and follow the next step of the wiki article. Back to table of contents Prepare desired image for the Dumbo device Now copy the desired image for the CF card or USB-Stick to the Dreambox. Per default, the plugin scans following directories. /MB_Images /media/hdd/backup Back to table of contents Start Dumbo Plugin, partition it and decompress it Dumbo in action Start the Dumbo Plugin via the Extenstions and press the yellow Button called [Booting] at your remote control. To configure you need to execute the following steps. The GIF animation on the right side shows the steps as screenshots. 1. Select [Destination device] (CF-Card or USB Stick) 2. Choose [fill with image] 3. Set size of [FAT] (8MB are enough, see chapter "Frequently asked questions (FAQ)") 4. Select [Your desired Image]. The flash memory can also be extracted to the attached media. 5. Confirm the questions by pressing the [OK] button. The partitions are now build at the plugged in removable media. After this the images is decompressed. While the plugin is working the sleeping Dumbo is shown. Than restart the Dreambox. The new images should be started and it should be ready to use. Partition Label After the partition the FAT file system is labeled TIMOTHY and the ext3 file system is labled DUMBO. Back to table of contents Using the Dumbo Plugin Dumbo Menu The functions of Dumbo depends of using the Flashimage or the Dumbo-device. Please read the following chapters to learn the main functions. This two functions are the same in Flashimage or Dumbo-device. [Cancel] - Close the Dumbo Plugin [Donation] - Shows the donation information on the TV Start via Flash image Yellow button [Booting] You can call three functions by pressing the yellow button at your remote control called [Booting]. The screen-shot on the right shows the possibilities. [boot existing image] - Starts the image from the Dumbodevice [re-fill with image] - Starts partitioning and choosing the image to decompress at the Dumbodevice. [Filesystemcheck] - Verifies the Dumbodevice about FAT or ext3 filesystem errors You cannot use the green button [Backup] while the flash image is still in use and active. Format Dumbo device to ext3 A new feature is available when booting from flash image. When changing the FAT size to zero the Dumbo device will be formated and equipped with one ext3 partition. Back to table of contents Start via Dumbo device Functions of Dumbo device Is the Dumbo image up and running, following functions can be executed via buttons [green] and [yellow]. [Booting] - Boots image from flash memory. [Backup] - Saves Dumbo image to a selectable destination (See next section). Create backup from Dumbo device Start Dumbo plugin and press the green button [Backup]. Then select path for the backup with remote control (e.g. /media/hdd/backup). The image will be saved into folder /media/hdd/backup. Valid Backup locations Backups are only possible within folder /media/xxx. The Dumbo device cannot be selected as backup device. Path settings for backups The selected backup location (e.g. NAS) , will from now on be used for re-filling the Dumbo device. Back to table of contents The Dumbo web-interface Dumbo - Started from flash memory Dumbo - Started from Dumbo device Access Dumbo web-interface with following syntax. http://ip-address_of_dreambox/dumbo The functionality is the same as described in the chapter Using the Dumbo Plugin. Big difference is that you control Dumbo with mouse/keyboard using your webbrowser and not with your remote control. Back to table of contents Dumbo plugin update Updating Dumbo is easy. Are new functions added or bugs corrected, Dumbo can easily be updated to the latest version. All you need, is the most recent version from the Dumbo Thread. Start the flash image. Copy new Dumbo plugin into the /tmp directory and execute following command to install it. opkg install /tmp/enigma2-plugin-extensions-dumbo* Restart Enigma2 or reboot the Dreambox. Updating the Dumbo device Dumbo will automatically be updated on the Dumbo device once it is started. Back to table of contents Uninstall the Dumbo Plugin Uninstall Dumbo with both steps described below. Erase and format the Dumbo device (CF-Card or USB-Stick) Remove Dumbo plugin from flash memory Start the flash image. After starting the Dumbo plugin choose [Boot] and [re-fill with image]. Set the FAT size to zero. The Dumbo device will now be formated with an ext3 file system. The following command will remove the Dumbo Plugin in the flash memory. opkg remove enigma2-plugin-extensions-dumbo Note about Bios settings You do not need to reset the Bios settings. The box will boot normally via the flash memory. Nevertheless you can reset the BIOS to factory default. Back to table of contents Integrate Dumbo plugin into BluePanel (optional) Dumbo meets BluePanel Dumbo can be integrated into the BluePanel as an alternative start option. The menu where Dumbo appears can be chosen (e.g. Settings menu). Use steps written below. 1. Open BluePanel and select menu for the Dumbo plugin (e.g. Settings menu). 2. Press [Menu] key. 3. Select [Settings] entry. 4. Select [Add plugin]. 5. Chose Dumbo entry with [OK]. 6. Select key combination for the plugin. 7. Save inputs with the green button on your remote control. Back to table of contents Troubleshooting the Dumbo plugin Dumbo Plugin versions Use always the most recent Dumbo version from the first post of gutemine's thread. Old hoarded plugin's will never be supported. So use the newest available version, especially when trouble occur. General boot problems USB stick The BIOS accepts probably an USB stick if Windows recognizes it as a "mass storage device" and not as a "USB stick yxz". When booting fails, use an USB hub in between or use another USB stick (a passive hub is sufficient, there is no need for an extra power supply). Prerun Disable [Prerun] option in BIOS if Dreambox is hanging while starting up. Rootdelay For some devices is it helpful to increase the rootdelay value of 10 till 15 seconds. This will improve the BIOS recognition. To change the delay time, edit the autoexec_ *.bat file manually on the FAT partition. BIOS settings - Change command line In BIOS, make sure the entry Change command line is set to [DISABLED]. Reset BIOS to factory defaults Are you not able to boot from the Dumbo device then reset the BIOS to factory defaults. Edit again the BIOS and try again to boot from the Dumbo device. Problems with several attached storage media For the first boot only the Dumbo device should be attached to your Dreambox, because the root devices in the autoexec_*.bat are delivered for this situation. If you later attach further USB devices the device names could be shifted. In this case the autoexec_*.bat of your Dreambox has to be changed at the root=/dev/sdX1 by using a different Letter at the X. Booting from Dumbo device will simply not work Use please following steps if booting won't (never) boot from Dumbo device. Create a bootlog to check if the USB stick is detected by the Dreambox Reset BIOS to factory defaults and recreate needed settings. Extract desired image to the Dumbo device. Then connect Dumbo device to PC and format FAT partition. (first save all data from FAT partition afterwards copy all data back to the Dumbo device). Use a USB hub in between (not possible / required with CF cards). Increase Rootdelay setting in autoexec_*.bat Back to table of contents Problems with formating of storage media Are there problems formating storage media then use the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool. It formats storage media without problems, if recognized by the application. Download the application from this link. "root" password gone, from Dumbo device During desired image extraction, Dumbo copies the file /etc/passwd from flash memory onto the Dumbo device. Is there no password set onto the flash image no password will be available on Dumbo device (Default setting on all OE images). So set a password when booted from Dumbo device. Or change the password in flash memory before extracting the desired image. Procedure can also be used to reset an unknown password ;) Unsupported boot media Supported boot media's are written in the very beginning of this article (section Requirements). But a lot of people still connecting unsupported media like SD card oder CF card on the DM 8000HD PVR. In that case try using a CF / SD card reader and connect it to the Dreambox. Dumbo device was removed before starting the Dreambox If someone removes the Dumbo device the Dreambox boots without any problems from flash memory. Back to table of contents