Software updates for PTVnet kit drives

[ManWithAPlan]

I guess I need some help bad from some ptvnet pro's. About 2 years ago, I bought a pre-formatted ptvnet drive for my HR10-250 (lots of space, works like a charm). I have been mostly a cable shop the last 2 years, but still use my HR10-250 for Sunday ticket and other things. My box is still on 3.1.5f, and I keep hearing about the 6.x releases. My box is making nightly phone calls just fine, but doesn't seem to be able to see any new version. I am desparate to get Foldering, or some other improvements if possible, but i'm not even sure my ptvnet pre-formatted drive is capable of being upgraded thru the normal tivo method without user intervention.

Can someone confirm if it can be updated with little/no work on my part? Or do I need to re-format a drive to some new ptvnet version or something? I'm kinda limited in my knowlege of such things. I would much rather have the system just update for me...but what can i do to make that happen?

Thanks very much for the help, and sorry for being so ignorant.

[Spydertech]

<removed cause I wanted to>

[ManWithAPlan]

Huh? I have gotten upgrades in the past succesfully with this drive. Are you sure I have to reformat it? Seems silly when I bought this as a set it and forget it upgrade. I was never told upgrades would never work on it. Like I said, I'm almost positive this thing upgraded itself sucessfully on at least 1 occasion in the past. I've had it for 2 years or more.

Can I get a second opinion please?

[Lou Jacob]

I'm going to change the subject of your post with something a little more apropros, but to respond your inquiries...

Firstly, your PTVnet kit was designed to NOT take upgrades and if you still have PTVnet functionality, then your unit has definitely not updated itself since you received the kit.

This is all by design because an update to the software will overwrite the PTVnet changes, and we do state all of this up front. Unless you are really OK with losing the PTVnet functionality, then not receiving an update is in your best interest.

If you DO want to receive and update to the latest version of the software, then you can telnet into the unit and type:


flag_swap UPGRADE


and you should see a status message indicating that the status of the upgrade flag is swapped from OFF to ON. If you then type:


sync
reboot


The unit should reboot and then it will upgrade to the latest version, and you will lose the PTVnet functionality.

You'll also need to ensure your dialing options are set correctly and your telephone line is connected, etc etc.

As an alternative, you can order a 'recertification' from our web site (its in the special services area) for $75, and send us the drive. We'll look up your old order to confirm that you purchased a PTVnet kit and then we'll test your drive, and reinstall the 6.3 software along with the current PTVnet.

Another alternative is to use "The Slicer" - but this is advanced tool, and from your earlier post, it does not sound like a good way to go.

And one last alternative would be to start fresh with a couple of DIY tools - PTVnet and InstantCake and do it all yourself.

You can read more about the DIY software tools in the "articles" area of the site.

Hope that helps.

[ManWithAPlan]

Got it, thank you very much. Is there a way to order a brand new drive from PTV with the 6.3e version and all the latest networking software, etc. on board? Then, I"m thinking I could just swap one for the other and have the best of both worlds - foldering, new features, speed, etc. but also have the networking capabilities?

Also, if I do choose to wipe out the PTVnet by letting it upgrade to 6.3e, will I still have use of the larger disk space? I would assume so, but I don't know if there is heavy partitioning, or anything that would prevent the use of the full drive.

thanks again, makes much more sense now.

Cheers!

[Lou Jacob]

Got it, thank you very much. Is there a way to order a brand new drive from PTV with the 6.3e version and all the latest networking software, etc. on board? Then, I"m thinking I could just swap one for the other and have the best of both worlds - foldering, new features, speed, etc. but also have the networking capabilities?

Also, if I do choose to wipe out the PTVnet by letting it upgrade to 6.3e, will I still have use of the larger disk space? I would assume so, but I don't know if there is heavy partitioning, or anything that would prevent the use of the full drive.

thanks again, makes much more sense now.

Cheers!

Not really, but you can come close. The current PTVnet kits offered on our site use 6.2a. The reason for this is that 6.3 does not contain the "hidden" code which some people choose to unlock to enable MRV and HMO, as discussed in this article (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9).

Regarding the features you mentioned as being important to you, I don't think you'd notice a difference between 6.2 and 6.3 anyway; I haven't seen any information regarding features or stability in 6.3 that would make it preferable.

[ManWithAPlan]

Lou,

So I followed your instructions, and I've forced at least 3 succesful calls for updates, but I haven't received any new version yet, still on 3.1.5f. I have changed my dial-in number, used a different one in my area, I connect and download some stuff succesfully, but none of it is the major update that I'm looking for here...just normal quick update.

Is there something I'm not considering here. I've double and triple checked things, and I definitely set the flag to upgrade, I get the confirmation, and I sync and reboot, and still nothing when i force a Daily Call.

Thoughts?

[ManWithAPlan]

Still no luck - called DirecTV last nite, got some idiot on the line. He told me he sent some signal to the box to make it call in - i'm like, hello, i can make it call in right now, the point is it's not seeing any new version when it succesfully dials in. I just triggered 2 more calls in, still succesful, but still doesn't see any new version. I hate D* so much, but I gotta get this thing upgraded. The speed is absolutely atrocious on it. Oh, and did I mention folders?

Any thoughts guys? Is there a trick to this that I'm being stupid about?

Thanks again.

[Lou Jacob]

Try establishing a telnet session into your unit and typing:


echo mls /SwSystem | tivosh


The output will tell you whether or not the "slices" for 6.3 have been loaded into the database of your system; if they haven't, then its possible that DirecTV stopped pushing out the 6.3 update for the time being and you'd have to wait, but if they have, then its something fishy on your end.

[ManWithAPlan]

Try establishing a telnet session into your unit and typing:


echo mls /SwSystem | tivosh


The output will tell you whether or not the "slices" for 6.3 have been loaded into the database of your system; if they haven't, then its possible that DirecTV stopped pushing out the 6.3 update for the time being and you'd have to wait, but if they have, then its something fishy on your end.

Thanks Lou. Here's what I get when I do that:

bash-2.02# echo mls /SwSystem | tivosh
Directory of /SwSystem starting at ''

Name Type FsId Date Time Size
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
3.1.5f-01-2-357 tyDb 206180 03/25/05 18:10 700
ACTIVE tyDb 206180 03/25/05 18:10 700

bash-2.02#

Any ideas? Maybe it takes 24 hours or so after the first succesful call-in when updates are allowed for it to take affect? I don't know, totally guessing at this point.

[Lou Jacob]

Thanks Lou. Here's what I get when I do that:

bash-2.02# echo mls /SwSystem | tivosh
Directory of /SwSystem starting at ''

Name Type FsId Date Time Size
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
3.1.5f-01-2-357 tyDb 206180 03/25/05 18:10 700
ACTIVE tyDb 206180 03/25/05 18:10 700

bash-2.02#

Any ideas? Maybe it takes 24 hours or so after the first succesful call-in when updates are allowed for it to take affect? I don't know, totally guessing at this point.

You have to wait because until the "slices" show up on your system, they can't be installed. You can investigate using the "slicer" which does have some features for downloading the slices, but I do not recommend this for you as it is an advanced tool and based on the guesses you are making, it is not something you should pursue unless you are willing to risk "bricking" your unit.

So your options are:

1) wait until your unit successfully downloads and installs (there is nothing you can do - wait means wait; forcing calls will not help at this point)

2) get a recertification which will update you to 6.3d

3) look into using the slicer (http://www.dvrupgrade.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6) (again, only recommended for advanced users)

[ManWithAPlan]

Lou, by the way, is there a way that I can see when the Tivo is in process of connecting/connected/downloading something from the phone line? I mean, I know just enough Unix to be dangerous, but is there a log that I can tail for instance that would show me throughout the day when the Tivo connects, tries to download, etc.? I just had a thought - I have rebooted after setting the upgrade flag several times now, and maybe it's possible that I am actually interrupting a lengthy download of a huge sw file? Although, the Phone connection area in the GUI would show me a Status of Downloading, I would think, but I will admit I don't always check there before rebooting. I guess I should stop rebooting the thing as well, but I was just paranoid that my flag swap upgrade command hadn't actually taken or something.

Let me know, I'll be glad to tail a file here all day and wait for it to do something.

[Lou Jacob]

Lou, by the way, is there a way that I can see when the Tivo is in process of connecting/connected/downloading something from the phone line? I mean, I know just enough Unix to be dangerous, but is there a log that I can tail for instance that would show me throughout the day when the Tivo connects, tries to download, etc.? I just had a thought - I have rebooted after setting the upgrade flag several times now, and maybe it's possible that I am actually interrupting a lengthy download of a huge sw file? Although, the Phone connection area in the GUI would show me a Status of Downloading, I would think, but I will admit I don't always check there before rebooting. I guess I should stop rebooting the thing as well, but I was just paranoid that my flag swap upgrade command hadn't actually taken or something.

Let me know, I'll be glad to tail a file here all day and wait for it to do something.

You can watch /var/packages to see if things are coming down from the satellite or the phone line during a download; or take a look at the log files in /var/log - I don't recall which file has that information; I think it is "messages"

Please take my advice here... sit back and wait; I can tell you are itching to try things, but this is really going to do more harm than good - there is nothing simple or non-trivial that you can do to make this happen any faster than it will if you sit back and wait.

[ManWithAPlan]

You can watch /var/packages to see if things are coming down from the satellite or the phone line during a download; or take a look at the log files in /var/log - I don't recall which file has that information; I think it is "messages"

Please take my advice here... sit back and wait; I can tell you are itching to try things, but this is really going to do more harm than good - there is nothing simple or non-trivial that you can do to make this happen any faster than it will if you sit back and wait.

Thanks Lou, I am surfing the /var/log directory. I see the following in Otclient log:

Sep 29 02:20:49 (none) comm[157]: checking for new software
Sep 29 02:20:49 (none) comm[157]: NewSoftware: getting SwSystem name
Sep 29 02:20:49 (none) comm[157]: NewSoftware: failure reading SwSystem 6.3e-01-2-357: errDbNotFound
Sep 29 02:20:49 (none) comm[157]: Cleanup: GetAddDiskBasedDirectories returned <70001> "0x70001"...skipping cleanup
Sep 29 02:20:49 (none) tcphonehome[157]: CallService return status 0xffff
Sep 29 02:20:50 (none) comm[157]: CallStatusReporter: Phase: Dial, Status Failed
Sep 29 02:20:50 (none) comm[157]: CallStatusReporter: sending message "EX|24"
Sep 29 02:20:50 (none) tcphonehome[157]: TClient failed: EX|24
Sep 29 02:20:50 (none) tcphonehome[157]: Sending dialup event, subtype 8, msg EX|24
Sep 29 02:20:50 (none) tcphonehome[157]: setCallStatus called with: Failed state 0
Sep 29 02:20:51 (none) tcphonehome[157]: LastCallAttempt at 1191032393
Sep 29 02:20:51 (none) tcphonehome[157]: setting call status to: Failed

By the way, why are the log times all screwed up? This is not GMT, not eastern time, not sure what the hell it is...where does the Tivo filesystem get its time from? Can i set it to NTP to a host on my network or set it manually at least?

Thanks again.

[ManWithAPlan]

So I figured out the times are +4 hours exactly, so not GMT, but whatever, at least I can tell time now. So, at 12:11pm eastern, I forced a connection, and here is a snippet of the log...it almost seems like the box thinks it should have 6.3e, but of course the slice doesn't show it that directory you pointed me to. Notice the swSystemName field below, then the error loading 6.3e...weird, why doesn't the slice show up in MFS at all?

Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: softwareList: &http://204.176.49.24:8080/static/RM/RM-resendCommMercLogs.runme?noload|&http://204.176.49.24:8080/static/RM/RM-resendCommMercLogs.runme.sig?noload|&http://204.176.49.24:8080/static/RM/RM-manageThumbs.runme?noload|&http://204.176.49.24:8
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: 080/static/RM/RM-manageThumbs.runme.sig?noload|
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: backChannelPrv: NONE
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: backChannelPub: NONE
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: backChannelLog: @http://204.176.49.8:80/tivo-service/uploadFile.cgi?type=.log.3-1&pp=SPECIFY_PP&fn=3570000A0DB6A83&an=0&prv=0
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: backChannelThumb: @http://204.176.49.9:80/tivo-service/uploadFile.cgi?type=.01970.th.3-1&pp=SPECIFY_PP&fn=SPECIFY_TOKEN&an=1&prv=1
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: timeService: NONE
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: sequenceCookie: 12345678
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: inventoryFile: ids=us
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: noPrivBackhaul: -1
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: serviceState: 3
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: stateExpiration: 0
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: swSystemName: 6.3e-01-2-357
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: infoCode:
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: tcdMessage:
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: globalMessages:
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: keyServer: http://204.176.49.7:80/keydist.cgi?CALLTYPE=1
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: forceBackhaul: 0
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: publicLogFilter: D15[@]813
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: dbLoadOrder: PG.*
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: regen_token: 0
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: backhaul_data_on: 1
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: personal_data_on: 0
Sep 29 16:11:56 (none) comm[155]: dataGroupList: BS_standard,BS_standard_357,CP_Standard,CR_DTV Season Pass,CR_Standard,DG_combo,DG_combo_hd,DG_standard, MI_ShowcasesMenuItem,MI_Standard,SC_directvc,SC_di rectvg,SC_directvh,SC_directvi,SC_directvj,SC_dire ctvk,SC_gmcorp_dtv0709gmsilverado

[ManWithAPlan]

By the way, the Slicer is looking more and more interesting to me. I've read up on it, doesn't seem difficult, as long as I can FTP the actual slice I need down to the Tivo. Without that, it's useless to me. And of course I would need 6.3d or 6.3e if possible.

Hmmmmm....

[codespy]

By the way, the Slicer is looking more and more interesting to me. I've read up on it, doesn't seem difficult, as long as I can FTP the actual slice I need down to the Tivo. Without that, it's useless to me. And of course I would need 6.3d or 6.3e if possible. Hmmmmm....



Don't feel bad, I have been trying for 3 weeks now to my upgrades to take by forcing calls and nothing happening. You not alone. I don't know if the updates aren't in the stream anymore or what.

[ManWithAPlan]

Don't feel bad, I have been trying for 3 weeks now to my upgrades to take by forcing calls and nothing happening. You not alone. I don't know if the updates aren't in the stream anymore or what.

Uggh, not what I wanted to hear...I'd complain to DTV but I don't think they'd get it...maybe I should just use slicer...this sucks bad.

[ManWithAPlan]

Don't feel bad, I have been trying for 3 weeks now to my upgrades to take by forcing calls and nothing happening. You not alone. I don't know if the updates aren't in the stream anymore or what.

By the way, do you also have PTVnet formatted drive? Or are you just coming at it from normal Tivo/DTV factory drive?

Thanks.

[Rick Travis]

PTVnet does not format the drive. Neither does instantcake. Instantcake just overwrites the drive. Ptvnet just stores info at the start of the operation which is used at the end of the operation. I think it is a script file but do not know for sure.