IFA problem - HELP !!!!

[pmckerna]

1.Add IFA to the exceptions in windows firewall then turn the firewall off
2.Install the mediasensing patch
3.Give your network card a static ip
4.Set your network card to 10baseT_halfduplex
5.Disable any other network cards you have.
hope this helps.

I've now followed all of this (except no. 4 - trying to figure out how to do this) and tried flashing but the problem remains. Will try changing the port speed config. next and let u know how it goes.

 

[Fergalsworld]

You dont need to change the port speed config
Right click on your local area connection and pick properties
underneath connect using it will have your network card
along side click the configure tab
then click the advanced tab
look for media or flow control
change the value to 10baseT-halfduplex
then click ok.

 

[pmckerna]

You dont need to change the port speed config
Right click on your local area connection and pick properties
underneath connect using it will have your network card
along side click the configure tab
then click the advanced tab
look for media or flow control
change the value to 10baseT-halfduplex
then click ok.

Cheers. Still no luck, I'm afraid, after trying everything on your list.

I notice within the IFA German GUI panel that the "DBox II" IP quoted is different to my own DBox:

IP=192.168.1.202

My DBox IP is 192.168.1.100. Would this be a hint of where the problem lies? If so, how can I modify the IP listed within IFA?

If this is a red herring , then my fear is that I'm fighting a losing battle here.

Any other suggestions more than welcome !! Help !!

 

[Fergalsworld]

Ifa takes over the boot process so there is no need to change anything in it
if you defently no the ip of the box
you could always try installing dbox manager (dont use the dbox manager that comes with ifa) and give that a whirl it got a box stuck on loading kernal working for me.
here is a guide
1.Install dboxmanager in to C:/ and Add dboxmanager to the exceptions in windows firewall then turn the firewall off,
2.Disable ALL antivirus programs...If you have any Norton crapware disable worm blocking aswell....you might even have to unistall it this includes systemworks aswell
3.Disable any popup stoppers.
4.Give your pc network card a static ip one below the boxes ip
IE:dbox ip:192.168.1.202
IEC ip:192.168.1.201
subnet mask 255.255.255.0
set to 10baseT_halfduplex
5.Disable any other network cards you have installed including wireless
6.Ethernet crossover cable connected
7.Nullmodem cable connected
8.Turn off box,
9.Put files PPCBOOT,PPCBOOT-readflash and PPCBOOT_writeflash in C:/
10.Put Image in C:/
11.Start dboxmanager
Tick Rarp
Tick Comm-port set to 9600
Tick Boot/TFTP-server and point it to C:/ppcboot_writeflash
Tick NFS-server starten and point it to C:/
Leave Konfig empty
12.Click utilities
13.Click flash image and select image which is in C:/
14.Press ok if it goes to a comm window turn on the box.
15.If you get error 10048 something is still blocking the network
Hope this helps.

 

[pmckerna]

Ifa takes over the boot process so there is no need to change anything in it
if you defently no the ip of the box
you could always try installing dbox manager (dont use the dbox manager that comes with ifa) and give that a whirl it got a box stuck on loading kernal working for me.
here is guide
1.Install dboxmanager in to C:/ and Add dboxmanager to the exceptions in windows firewall then turn the firewall off,
2.Disable ALL antivirus programs...If you have any Norton crapware disable worm blocking aswell....you might even have to unistall it this includes systemworks aswell
3.Disable any popup stoppers.
4.Give your pc network card a static ip one below the boxes ip
IE:dbox ip:192.168.1.202
IEC ip:192.168.1.201
subnet mask 255.255.255.0
set to 10baseT_halfduplex
5.Disable any other network cards you have installed including wireless
6.Ethernet crossover cable connected
7.Nullmodem cable connected
8.Turn off box,
9.Put files PPCBOOT,PPCBOOT-readflash and PPCBOOT_writeflash in C:/
10.Put Image in C:/
11.Start dboxmanager
Tick Rarp
Tick Comm-port set to 9600
Tick Boot/TFTP-server and point it to C:/ppcboot_writeflash
Tick NFS-server starten and point it to C:/
Leave Konfig empty
12.Click utilities
13.Click flash image and select image which is in C:/
14.Press ok if it goes to a comm window turn on the box.
15.If you get error 10048 something is still blocking the network
Hope this helps.

Many thanks for the advice (esp.at this hour !). Won't be able to get hold of a null-modem cable until tomorrow, so will give it a whirl then and let you know.

Do you have a link to the DBox manager program?

Cheers.

 

[Fergalsworld]

Here you go not easy to find could do with the title of the post renaming if Liam does'nt mind
http://world-of-digital.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44857

 

[pmckerna]

Thanks again.

Just a notion I had.....is there an menu option on the DBox itself to disable booting from an external source (like IFA) and booting only to the image loaded on the box? Just thinking out loud here, but my worry here is that my box is set to just such an option within the menus, so no matter what I do the box will always boot to the corrupt Sportster.

Hopefully I'm just being overly pessimistic !!

 

[mgb]

On every boot up the bootloader send a bootp request over the network.
If nobody answer in a given time the bootloader start the image from the flash.
If you don't use a crossover cable for a direct connection for instance, that request cannot reach the pc.
If you use a null modem cable, IFA control the bootloader via that connection and try 10 times to send a request over the network.

 

[pmckerna]

Is there anyway that this request wouldn't be sent, for example, as I suggested above, through being disabled in DBox menu ? Just want to make sure I'm not wasting my time here. Is 4-5 secs time enough for this request to be sent from the DBox to IFA?

 

[mgb]

That request is programmed into the bootloader and send before any image start up.
If you get the sportster screen that request was not answered. Do a reset with the up arrow and standby button on the box in such a case.

 

[Fergalsworld]

No dont think so
Did you manage to get a nullmodem cable if yes post what is happening in ifa.

 

[pmckerna]

SUCCESS !!!!!!!!:Cheers:

Finally got the ^%*&^% thing going !!!!! :THANKS:

Got hold of a null modem cable, uninstalled all my anti-virus, spyware, popup blockers, etc..etc.., and tried to flash using IFA. First attempt failed, with the COMM window giving me the message:

WATCHDOG reset enabled
dbox2:root> debug:
BOOTP/TFTP bootstrap loader (v0.3)
debug:
debug: Transmitting BOOTP request via broadcast
debug: Given up BOOTP/TFTP boot
boot net failed

After 5 minutes of sobbing, I noticed the following prompt further down the LOG:


Options:
1: Console on null
2: Console on ttyS0
3: Console on framebuffer
Select option (1-3), other keys to stop autoboot: 1  0


so I dried my eyes and tried again, figuring that if I hit a key at this prompt I might get somewhere and BINGO !! I hit the key at the prompt and the flash kicked in the 2nd time around and I now have a working DBox, free telly and my normal calm disposition once again ! Dunno for sure if hitting the key at this prompt did in fact do the trick, but this is the only tangible thing I did differently for the flash to finally work. Have to say, the addition of the null modem cable has proved invaluable, and something I would say is essential when using IFA in order to debug problems quickly.


A HUGH THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS THREAD WITH THE ADVICE I NEEDED TO GET AROUND THIS PROBLEM - SALT OF THE EARTH, EVERY ONE OF YOU (...sorry, getting a bit emotional now...sniff....sniff...)

Thanks again, guys !

 

[Fergalsworld]

You are right a nullmodem cable is invaluable
Glad to see you got it up and running ok.