how to see what your dreambox is saying

[Magnu420]

ok guys how can you see what the dreambox is sayin,like when it boots up
tells you whats on the system etc etc,do i use terminal (linux),hyperterminal,putty
also do i need either serial cable or a null cable

and how do i extract the bootloader from the box flash memory

[PaphosAL]

What box and what image please, Magnu?

Cheers- AL

[Magnu420]

dm500 with pli jade img

[PaphosAL]

OK, Mags- shouldn't be a problem then. With the dm powered off, connect a null modem (x-over) serial cable from dm to pc COM1 or COM2

Open Hyperterminal and type in any old name you like.

In the next dialog box, choose the COM port.

In the final dialog box, select 115200 as the bits per second, and Xon / Xoff for Flow Control.

You now have a blank console window. Click on Transfer in the top menu bar, then on Capture Text

You'll see something like C:\Documents and Settings\magnu\ so just add Bootlog.TXT at the end of the path string. This is so the whole log is saved as a text file for later analysis.

Now power ON the dm500 and see what happens. If you only get a few lines of output then nothing, it's time to try again, using a neat little LraiZer trick.

Repeat the whole process, but 2 or 3 seconds after you power the dm up, tap the spacebar on your keyboard a couple of times. This should pause the console screen. Click on the end of the last line and type this command in:

console=ttyS0,115200 <enter>

And away it should go. nb: that command contains 3 zeroes, there are no capital O characters in there.

This trick is never necessary in C14, but I always have to use it for OpenPLi. So it's almost certain to be the same for Jade, m8.

Let us know how you get on. Cheers- AL

[Magnu420]

ok ive tried this
first time i let it run and second time i paused it and enter command
console=ttyS0,115200

still not showing anything

here the bootlog

[Tyke]

Originally Posted by Magnu420

ok guys how can you see what the dreambox is sayin,like when it boots up
tells you whats on the system etc etc,do i use terminal (linux),hyperterminal,putty
also do i need either serial cable or a null cable

and how do i extract the bootloader from the box flash memory

If your using linux/ubuntu try installing cutecom CuteCom

It's pretty easy to use - usually with default settings & there's a tick-box to save the log file.
Commands can be sent to the box using the bottom input area like a console window.

Not tried it recently with a DM, but worked Ok with DBox. You still need a Null-modem cable like Al says.

Also are you using a "proper" serial port or a USB converter?


Cheers

[LraiZer]

Originally Posted by Magnu420

ok ive tried this
first time i let it run and second time i paused it and enter command
console=ttyS0,115200

still not showing anything

here the bootlog

it may just be your timing of pressing spacebar is off, you need to time it just right!

as AL says, on bootup as soon as you see this msg

Dreambox DM500

press space bar and the serial console display will halt at the linux load command below, it if goes past this then your too late.

Linux/PPC load: console=null root=/dev/mtdblock5 rootfstype=squashfs ro

edit the end of this line so that the load command now reads

Linux/PPC load: console=null root=/dev/mtdblock5 rootfstype=squashfs ro console=ttyS0,115200

press enter to contiune loading with this new command.

is there a serial debug setting in menus somewhere?

[Magnu420]

cheers for replys

@ tyke yeah im using a proper null modem,got me old dinosaur laptop
with seriel port on it fired up

fired db up paused it at dm500,edit the command to this Linux/PPC load: console=null root=/dev/mtdblock5 rootfstype=squashfs ro console=ttyS0,115200
pressed enter and is says what it said before


Linux/PPC load: console=null root=/dev/mtdblock5 rootfstype=squashfs ro

Uncompressing Linux...done.

Now booting the kernel

just hangs there,i know ive seen this done before but why wont it do it now lol

anyway another bootlog

might give it a whirl on linux and try that

[PaphosAL]

Mags- I suspect serial o/p is disabled in your image, m8.

FTP to /var/tuxbox/config/enigma/ and open config

look for this line:

i:/ezap/extra/disableSerialOutput=00000001

If what you see matches this, then change that switch to read =00000000

and power cycle the box after saving the config edit.

That should do the trick, hopefully...

[Magnu420]

Originally Posted by PaphosAL

Mags- I suspect serial o/p is disabled in your image, m8.

FTP to /var/tuxbox/config/enigma/ and open config

look for this line:

i:/ezap/extra/disableSerialOutput=00000001

If what you see matches this, then change that switch to read =00000000

and power cycle the box after saving the config edit.

That should do the trick, hopefully...

cheers Al that did the trick can anyone look at this log and tell me this bit >> swapon: /etc/fstab file missing.. is this what im missing from here ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting if so how can i rectify it

thanks..