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To try out other images, Dreambox' multiboot capabilities come
in handy. As you now have a great tool that automate the dreamflash installation and management, there is no more reason to do it manually. Anyway, if you prefer to install dreamflash manually, just download Dreamflash
1.3b or Dreamflash 1.4. Avoid Dreamflash 1.3 which is not compatible with the last year images.
For Dreamflash 1.3b, copy tools.tar.gz
to /tmp on your Dreambox, and copy both flash_setup.so and flash_setup.cfg to
/var/tuxbox/plugins.
For Dreamflash 1.4, copy all three files to /var/tuxbox/plugins.
Then press the yellow button of the remote and choose Dreamflash Setup, then choose to install other image on USB or on HDD.
Now, let's move on the modern side : Flashwizard 3 by MusicBob, that can be download from the official page
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Install it and launch it for the first time. Click on "configuration and utilities", choose your language, offer to MusicBob to translate if it is not already done, then check your settings. The Ip of your dreambox, and, root and dreambox as login/password except if you use the Sandbox image (root/sandbox in this case). |
4.1 Back-up of your existing image
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As it is always great to be able to come back to the previous working configuration, I suggest strongly, that you begin by a full and complete back up of your installed image. That way, you will ever be able to come back with all your previous settings. Just Choose the first icon on top left "Install a firmware into FLASH memory" then click on "Flash Image Backup". Choose a filename, save and wait. If you want to restore your image, simply drag and drop the fwz file you just create to the windows "Drag&Drop a file here, or open folder". |
I also suggest you go on "Configuration and utilities" and backup separately all your settings, by clicking on "Receive and save dreambox's settings ". This can be useful.
You should also do a receive channels from dreamboxEdit to backup your favorite.
You also perhaps want to backup /var/bin, /var/keys and /var/scce for futur and easy re-use. Just do that by FTP.
Flashwizard allows to flash the dreambox easily, but also to save and restore settings. Anyway, two situation can arise that make settings backup impossible.
- New image is too different from the old one, and settings are stored in different way/place.
- New image has a function to overwrite a clean empty pack of settings files at the first boot.
Anyway, Flashwizard will tell you what happened when these cases occurs.
In the first case, nothing to do except redo your settings manually, but you can
In the second case,
just do a restore settings from the utilities part after the first boot.
I also have to mentioned that some motorized configurations, like mine, cannot be restored and have to be re-enter manually. My config is using an external positioner to pilot my 36V motorized dish. The configuration line into /var/tuxbox/config/enigma/ has all rotor details, but if you copy and paste to the new config file, the only thing you get is a fully corrupted image, and copy the whole file is definitively a bad idea as it's not the same image and plenty other parameters are different.
For your interest, here is a sample configuration line:
s:/elitedvb/DVB/config/lnbs/0/RotorTable=-0360015-0300002-0215014-0180013-0160009-0150012-0080011-0070006-0050010-0010003+0050004+0100016+0130001+0192005+0282007+0313008
So, the best is to write down rotor position in order to do a fast re-configuration, just entering the values rather doing a new rotor search:
Hotbird 1 130 E
Hispasat
2 300 W
Thor 3 10 W
Sirius 4 50 E
Astra 5 192 E
etc.
Now, you know what you should have to do after flashing a new image, from nothing, to a full new configuration.
So,to flash an image, choose if you want try to backup settings or not, from old image or from a given directory, and just open the img file with Flashwizard, and let Flashwizard works for you.
The multiboot use a base-image, in dreambox flash, that is the first boot. The linux kernel of this base-image is launch, and then depending your choice, continue to boot on flash the base-image or continue to boot on USB or HDD another image.
This can involves some compatibilities issues with firmware (like Rudream that won't anymore work after dreamflash installation) , and this can also cause some unstable behavior, mainly if you have a 1.08 base-image and multiboot a 1.07 or the opposite.
One know problem for example is the telnet on 1.07 alternate images with a 1.08 base image that won't work anymore.
Note that you cannot use Internet Update, as this would result in the new image being written to the Dreambox's Flash, rather than your harddisk or USB stick.
Click on the "Install or remove a firmware in MULTIBOOT" (MusicBob, can you reduce button names please :-) , then let the software detect your base image and if dreamflash is installed.
If not already installed, Flashwizard will suggest you the best dreamflash version for your image, and I suggest you follow the advice. Just download and unpack the dreamflash version you choose and tell Flashwizard where to find it when asked. Wait a while, and a windows with some instructions appears.
If you intend to use USB stick for alternate images, it's better to format it before. You can do it through Flashwizard, by clicking on the Tools tab in the MULTIBOOT section, and then USB init.
Or manually,once the Dreambox has booted, plug in your USB memory stick,
then telnet to the Dreambox and type:
mkfs.ext3 /dev/scsi/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/disc mount /dev/scsi/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/disc
This will format, then mount your USB memory stick. Be aware that formatting deletes all data on the stick. After mounting, the stick is accessible via /var/mnt/usb.
Then finish dreamflash installation by pressing the plug-in button (blue on official images, yellow on most others) and choose dreamflash setup.
Choose between USB stick and HDD and you are OK. Dreambox reboot and you should see the Dreamflash menu, with only one choice at this time, your base image.
If you press the blue button now, a new option called "Dreamflash administration" will be available.
You can now have multiple images, that will be stored on the USB stick or the HDD, rather flashing your Dreambox all the time. To upload manually a new image, transfer the image via FTP to either /var/mnt/usb (for the memory stick) or /hdd (for the harddisk), and using your remote control, select add new image, then select a name for it and wait until the file has been created.
Note that with that method, you have to boot the base image from the flash memory before adding or deleting an image to / from the HDD/USB stick.
I strongly suggest to use Flashwizard for that purpose :
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Whatever image you are running at the time you start Flashwizard, all images are listed, can be deleted, renamed, set as default boot image. When installing a new image in multiboot, simply choose if you want to copy settings from the base image or not, if you want the new image as the default boot, then just drag & drop the new img file. I cannot imagine easiest to manage images, so I don't think that need more explanations. Just some warnings : - Do not delete alternate image directory manually by FTP as several directory are only link to flash directory; With a full delete including subdirs, you will also erase flash files and everything will be dead. - Do not do flash erase with the up button pressed at boot time or you will erase settings on your base image - Do not use Rudream standard as base image, it does not support dreamflash. If you have problem with an image, do a flash erase to clean up this. - Prefer USB rather HD to store alternate images, or be prepared to have a disk spinning al the time when you run not the base image - Put your favorite image as base-image, as the boot time is longer from USB or HDD.
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In order to fully cover Flashwizard, I just would like to mention a one button telnet feature, available from the "Configurations and utilities" tab and also in the multiboot section.
In the multiboot section, you can telnet and reach the folder corresponding to the selected image.
The Flashwizard telnet even offer button for main shell commands like ls, df etc. Only cut & paste is missing.
Utilities hidden on a small tab in the multiboot section also allow you to initialize& mount a USB stick, remove dreamflash and all images.
