I have a Series2 unit and want to network it, can I do so by simply adding a drive to my unit?

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PTVnet is not the same as Home Media Option (HMO).  PTVnet will enable telnet/ftp and also install a webserver (TiVoWebPlus) on your TiVo unit.  Currently, the units supported are DirecTiVo 6.2 (SD) units and DirecTiVo 3.1.5f and 6.3 (HD) units.

This is not the same as HMO.  However, on DirecTiVo SD and HD units, once you have telnet/ftp enabled, you can remote log into your system and install an additional utility that will enable some features of HMO, which many people find desirable. On SD units, you can enable HMO and MRV (multi-room viewing), as well as HME.  On HD units, you can enable HMO, and HME (sorry, no MRV on HD units...)

This is not something we directly support, however an article and some tools are discussed on our forums on how to do this; it is relatively simple. 

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Whenever there is a software update, any changes or modifications made to the software you are currently running will be 'left behind.' We use that terminology because the modifications are actually not erased or overwritten. Your TiVo hard drive has partitions on it which can hold TWO different versions of software. When a new version is downloaded and installed, the TiVo switches to the alternate partition, and leaves the old version behind. Currently, there is no way to automatically preserve your changes when a new software version is downloaded and installed. Fortunately, preventing a software update is as simple as leaving your unit unplugged from the phone line. In addition, it is actually possible to manually update your software if its downloaded to your unit through the satellite. With the correct information, it is possible to then reimplement your modifications and preserve some of them without actually removing the drive from the TiVo unit.

In the 2nd half of 2006, we released a DIY software tool called The Slicer which is designed to preserve many modifications and allows more experienced users to manually install software updates that have been downloaded from TiVo's servers. Mileage may vary when using The Slicer, so it is recommended that users use DVRplayground and TiVoCommunity to research the use of the product before actually purchasing it or using it.

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For PTVnet releases prior to 1.1:

    Use flag_swap NETWORK to swap status of DHCP and STATIC flags. 

    Edit /etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit.author to change static IP settings (if you are unfamiliar with the 'vi' editor, here is a nice cheatsheet.

Example:  

For PTVnet releases 1.1:

     You can use the above method, OR use netconfig.tcl to manually set your IP settings; we've experienced mixed results with this procedure so proceed at your own risk, or use the aforementioned method for best results.

     cd /ptvupgrade/bin

     tivosh ./netconfig.tcl IP NETMASK GATEWAY DNS

     for example: 

     tivosh ./netconfig.tcl 192.168.1.100.255.255.255.0 192.168.1.1 192.168.1.1  

     ./set_static.tcl

    and to switch back to DHCP,

     ./set_dhcp.tcl

If you are going to use this method, we recommend you cd to the /init/ptv_flags directory and remove the DHCP and STATIC flags:

     rootwrite

     rm -rf DHCP* STATIC*

If you need to 'repeat your guided setup' as a result of doing a 'clear and delete everything' or need to make a test call as part of configuring your satellite connections, you can configure your unit to use an Internet connection instead of requiring the use of your phone line.

There are several ways of doing this, however only one method applies for kits purchased prior to 12/20/2006, or drives prepared with our PTVnet software prior to that date.  For kits purchased (or drives prepared) after 12/20/2006, there is a different method, which we recommend. 

To force your PTVnet configured unit to make a call using a network connection:

PTVnet SWCD version 1.0 - or kits purchased prior to December 20, 2006 

Method one: 

You will need to establish a telnet session with your TiVo and edit the following file using "vi":

/etc/rc.d/StageD_PreMFS_rc.Sequence_150.CheckForDebug.sh

and change the occurrence of:

DEBUG_BOARD=false

on line 48 of the file to: 

DEBUG_BOARD=true

Method two:

This method allows you to download and replace the aforementioned file with one that is slightly modified.  Use it at your own risk and if it does not work, you will need to use method one.

Establish a telnet session with your unit  by typing (use copy and paste whenever possible):

1. telnet 192.168.1.63 (use your ip address, instead)
2. rootwrite
3. wget -O /etc/rc.d/rc.Sequence_150.CheckForDebug.sh http://www.dvrupgrade.com/software/ptvnet/rc.Sequence_150.CheckForDebug.sh 
4. rootread
5. sync
6. reboot 

Step #3 will download and replace the existing file with one that is modified in the same way the method 1 suggests.

PTVnet SWCD version 1.1 - or kits purchased AFTER to December 20, 2006

If you are not sure what version of PTVnet you used or when you purchased your kit, then you may want to use the previous methods of configuring the unit.  Or to verify whether you have the right files in place, establish a telnet session with your unit and type the following:

ls -al /init/ptv_flags

If you see a variable called:

NETWORK_CALL_OFF

then you have version 1.1

now type:

flag_swap NETWORK_CALL

If the network call was previously configured to be OFF, it will be set to ON, and vice versa.

Alternatively, you could type the following to turn things on:

rootwrite

rm -rf /init/ptv_flags/NETWORK_CALL*

touch /init/ptv_flags/NETWORK_CALL_ON

If you wanted to turn it off, then just replace ON with OFF in the previous instructions.

You will need to reboot your unit after doing this; we recommend typing the following to reboot (DO NOT PULL THE PLUG!):

sync ; reboot

OR just use the remote to restart your unit. 

The following is an excerpt of the instructions published at DVRplayground .  The instructions published on DVRplayground are also combined with a discussion thread which you may find useful.

PTVnet/PTVnetHD DIY Software CD Instructions

The PTVnet Software Utility is a Linux Boot CD distributed in ISO format. We expect, the savvy computer user that you are, that you know how to burn an ISO to CD.

If you don't, here's a good place to start. If its still not making sense to you... well, we recommend you consider purchasing a full upgrade kit, or using our professional installation services. DIY tools are not intended for everyone.

Once you've burned your ISO, you will need to shutdown your computer, connect one or two drives intended for use in your DVR and carefully follow the boot screens and system prompts.

You will need to know the configuration of your CD-ROM drive (is it on the primary/secondary master or slave?) as well as the configuration of your TiVo drive(s). We highly recommend you disconnect your PC's system drive, or any other drives which contain important data on them - this will reduce the possibility that you will accidentally overwrite any important data.

Note: If you are using InstantCake in conjunction with PTVnet, please boot your PTVnet disk FIRST and then supply the InstantCake CD when prompted. Some folks have reported problems when building a disk with InstantCake, and then rebooting and installing PTVnet; this would not be expected to work unless the freshly "baked" drive is first installed in your TiVo, and then reconnect to your PC for PTVnet configuration. Clearly the recommended method is faster.

That is it.  Now go ahead and read the PTVnet support information here, and you'll be good to go!

I have deleted or lost my DIY download product or DIY CD.  Can I download it again or have you ship me another copy?

Unfortunately, no.  DIY products fall under your responsibility and therefore we can't help with lost or misplaced items.  If you have recently purchased an item from our cart and have your login email, login and see if you have an available download left.  If you do, you can go ahead and download it again. If you don't, then you will have to purchase another copy as we only re-generate downloads for those who are having trouble initially getting a good download, not for those who need help replacing their lost items or for those who just want to download as many times as they can.

If you had placed a download order with us prior to Nov 20th 2006 from www.ptvupgrade.com your order is no longer in our system.  You will have to purchase a new copy from www.dvrupgrade.com

After Nov 20th 2006 our cart changed over and is currently our only DIY cart.  If you have received your order confirmation for you DIY product, just follow the instructions at the bottom of the email where it says Log In.  Your user name and password is something you setup yourself so please make sure you remember that.  If you do not, you can request a re-set password but the system is completely automated and we have no control over it.

If you have previously purchased a DIY CD from us and have misplaced it, you will have to purchase another copy as we only ship out 1 copy per order. 

Problem:

I can not burn my downloadable item.  Can you send me a CD version instead?

Solution:
 

Sorry, we can not.  We do ask that you have a full understanding of how to burn ISO images before you complete checkout.  Please use the forum links in the auto response email that you received when you opened up the ticket for additional help.  If you have not received this email, please check your spam folders.

If you must have a CD version of the product you will have to order it separately. 

Some Helpful Pointers: 

• If you are able to extract the iso from the zip file, then your download item is complete.  If you are not, then you can try re-downloading again. If you have exceeded your download attempts, we will re-enable them as a one time courtesy, however if you have lost or misplaced your DIY product and need the links regenerated, we will not allow a regeneration.  Download regenerations are only for those who are having trouble initially getting a good download.
• Make sure you are burning the iso as an image and not trying to extract the contents of the ISO and trying to burn them.  The ISO is a complete, bootable image that just needs to be written as a bootable image.
• It has been reported that if you are using Nero Express you will not be able to burn an ISO image so make sure if you do not have the Nero FULL Version installed you can download their free trial version. http://www.nero.com
  
• Try burning at a slower speed or try a different media or a combination of both.