Getting Shell Access on a TiVo

Getting shell access is fairly simple. All you need is a terminal emulator program and a fairly simple custom cable.

For the terminal emulator on UNIX, I recommend to download and compile the C-kermit.

Kermit Settings

        set modem type none
        set line /dev/ttyS0

	set carrier-watch off
	set flow xon/xoff
	set speed 9600
	set serial 8N1
	connect
	Connecting to /dev/ttyS0, speed 9600
	Escape character: Ctrl-\ (ASCII 28, FS): enabled
	Type the escape character followed by C to get back,
	or followed by ? to see other options.
	----------------------------------------------------
	Verify password: factory

	Console switched to DSS port

	 ------- System Info --------
	 Processor speed = 50 MHz
	 Bus speed       = 25 MHz
	 Amount of DRAM  = 16 MBytes
	 Video configuration 3, Serial number 0
	 Enet MAC address= 0:4:ac:e3:0:54
	 Hostname        = debug-13
	 Auto disk locking disabled
	 ----------------------------
	IDE drive 0 challanges with 0xabcdef16
	Respond with 0xc49b8642
	Check keys a few more times
	Respond with 0xc49b8642
	Respond with 0xc49b8642
	Respond with 0xc49b8642
	Drive should be unlocked now.
	IDE err = 0x4
	IDE drive 1 doesn't challenge security..  Assume insecure device

	 --- Device Configuration ---
	 Power-On Test Devices:
	   000  Enabled   System Memory [RAM]
	 ----------------------------
	 Boot Sources:
	   002  Enabled   EIDE disk Controller [EIDE]
	gateway: 192.168.40.20
	 ----------------------------
	  B - Boot from disk
	  N - Network (tftp) boot
	  X - print extended menu
	->b
	Loading boot image from partition 3
	2066
	Loaded successfully ...
	Entry point at 0x80010000 ...
	IDEprom: jump to boot_entry (0x80010000)
	Boot jump to 0x80010000, params=root=/dev/hda4 shondss=true

Then follow the instructions at the TiVo HOWTO and in the TiVo Underground

Telnet Access via Ethernet under 3.0 kernel

If you want telnet access under 3.0, and you have ethernet installed, all you need to do is add this line to the end of rc.sysinit:

        tnlited 23 /bin/bash -login &

Increase the Speed on the Serial Interface

Once you're logged in to your TiVo, you can do the following to increase your serial line's speed from 9600 Bit/sec to 115200 bit/sec:

	bash-2.02# stty speed
	9600
	bash-2.02# stty speed 115200
	9600
	G
	hit CTRL\ and then the C key
	(Back at my linux-PC)

	----------------------------------------------------
	(/root/) C-Kermit>set speed 115200
	/dev/cua0, 115200 bps
	(/root/) C-Kermit>connect
	Connecting to /dev/cua0, speed 115200.
	The escape character is Ctrl-\ (ASCII 28, FS)
	Type the escape character followed by C to get back,
	or followed by ? to see other options.
	----------------------------------------------------
        
        bash-2.02#

You can automatically pre-select this setting on your PC, by editing the ~/.bashrc file to set the tty-speed on bash startup

Getting Shell Access

back to Tilo's TiVo

this page is intentionally not in German

Maintainer: Tilo Sloboda tiloATunixgods.org
last update: $Revision: 1.2 $ / $Date: 2002/03/05 19:47:11 $ GMT