Few simple (I think) questions RE hacking

[szurlo]

I have tried to avoid having to ask these questions but after a number of weeks of scanning the boards I am not entirely clear on a few basic ideas, so here goes.
I have a SD-DVR40 which I upgraded with a 120 gig drive. Other than that it is "untouched".
It is running sw ver 3.1.1e.
I have a fair Unix background (SCO) going back 15 years (anyone else remember Xenix ;) ) so I kind of know my way around.
All that said, here are my questions:

1. My box is RID. From what I've read, I kind of get the impression that uma6 rev boards = RID boards. Is this true?

2. On a RID box, can I gain the ability to enable USB and telnet and install ftp by simply installing a killhdinird'd 3.1.1c kernel, or do I need to monte AND replace DSSAPP if I change ANYTHING on a RID unit? Which leads me to my final question...

3. I'm not sure I understand the need for/use of init_framework. On the one hand I have read that killhdinitrd makes chainloading unnecessary, but I have seen BOTH listed as required for some hacks, and from what I can tell it looks like init_framework includes monte.

Thanks,

[The Only Druid]

2. On a RID box, can I gain the ability to enable USB and telnet and install ftp by simply installing a killhdinird'd 3.1.1c kernel, or do I need to monte AND replace DSSAPP if I change ANYTHING on a RID unit? Which leads me to my final question...
You're a bit confused about what each of those things do.

The only thing accomplished by applying a killinitrd'd kernel is that the security measures (which otherwise would delete any modified files) are circumvented. Then, after having applied the kernel, you can create a rc.sysinit.author file which you use to load telnet and USB drivers (actually, many people now advocate loading telnet at the end of the rc.sysinit file, and then have the .author file begin with a "sleep 60" command in order to provide you a 1-minute window between availability of telnet and the loading of hacks, so that if you get into a reboot loop for some reason due to a hack, you have time to remove it).

As to monte'ing and the DSSAPP, they're only relevant in certain situations. For example, you need to monte in order to load an unscramble kernel, and you need to modify your dssapp to run 4.x on a rid unit.

3. I'm not sure I understand the need for/use of init_framework. On the one hand I have read that killhdinitrd makes chainloading unnecessary, but I have seen BOTH listed as required for some hacks, and from what I can tell it looks like init_framework includes monte.
Killhdinitrd makes chainloading unnecessary in most situations. However, it is not always available for one reason or another. I'd recommend some more reading in the 4.x on RID threads, since they go into this in quite a bit of detail.

[szurlo]

You're a bit confused about what each of those things do.

The only thing accomplished by applying a killinitrd'd kernel is that the security measures (which otherwise would delete any modified files) are circumvented...

Right. I understand that. That's why I said "can I gain the ability to enable USB a...". I know simply installing a hacked kernel will not turn on all that stuff. I just wanted to know if that was all I had to do to get around the security, or did I need to monte, DSSAPP etc too. Sorry. I should have worded my question a little better. Anyway, it sounds like you are saying that for just ftp and telnet all I need is the hacked kernel to get around the security. Good deal.
Thanks much for the tips on putting telnet in the rc.sysinit. I was going to just do it all in the author file since that is what most posts I've read seem to reflect. I've got a Linksys USB200M and I've seen a few posts here listing the correct drivers to load for that so hopefully I should be all set.

I'm not quite ready for a 4.0 upgrade yet, but when I do, I think I'll try slices using AlphaWolfs info. I know I WILL need DSSAPP and init_framework to do that.

Alot has sure changed since I put a Turbonet card in my HR212 years ago ;) Not quite as straightforward now.

Thanks much for your help,
Steve

[The Only Druid]

Anyway, it sounds like you are saying that for just ftp and telnet all I need is the hacked kernel to get around the security. Good deal.
Whoops, lemme clarify. Telnet can be started from your rc.sysinit or .author file without any additional software (since its built in), but tivoftpd does need to be copied over. In fact, I should have originally said to start tivoftpd/telnet in the rc.sysinit file, etc.

[szurlo]

Whoops, lemme clarify. Telnet can be started from your rc.sysinit or .author file without any additional software (since its built in), but tivoftpd does need to be copied over. In fact, I should have originally said to start tivoftpd/telnet in the rc.sysinit file, etc.

I understood what you meant, and I know ftp has to be installed (as does tivoweb etc, etc.) and I have all those tars.

Thanks again for your help,

Steve

[kelsky]

I had exactly what you had.

Go to this thread and follow it and you will be setup with a hacked unit that is 6.2.

http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42325