How to expand ROM and RAM in PurE2

OK, time to pull together various threads which help people set up their machines with PurE2 properly... ;)


Let's explain the notions/jargon and the principles...


ROM = "Flash/NAND/eMMC" etc. To expand ROM (= Read Only Memory, i.e. "permanent" memory) we use Flash Expander, Flodder, OpenMultiBoot etc. Let's call this our receiver's "hard drive".


When you reboot the receiver/PC/etc. this memory should still contain all the files it had before the reboot, i.e. Operating System (OS) should still be there, plus plugins/apps etc. It should remain unchanged. Of course, unless you installed or uninstalled something on purpose and rebooted, in which case it will be changed slightly - but all the other stuff should still be there.


RAM = "working memory". To enlarge RAM (= Randomly Accessed Memory) we use SWAP (either partition or in this case) file. Swap Manager is built-into PurE2 along the lines of old PowerBoard achievements.


The files/apps which were in RAM are "lost" once a receiver is rebooted. They are populated once again, from scratch, when one restarts a receiver, depending on which apps one starts etc. So, this memory is not "permanent" but "variable", as it were. In terms of PCs, this is - you guessed it - RAM! :EV6CC5~125:


==================================================================================


Let's deal with RAM first, as it is simple...

You will find Swap Manager in PurE2 > MENU > pManager > Device Manager > go to the right and then all the way down..

Activate Swap file? YES


Swap file size - I usually make a 512MB one...


Swap file location - USB, mSD or SSD (not a device with moving parts, like old HDDs).


Note that some older boxes need this, of course. But some newer boxes have a SWAP partition done by default, at the time of flashing an image, on eMMC/NAND/in Flash itself. Ergo, one doesn't need a Swap file on top of that.


To see if you already have a Swap partition, after flashing an image, Telnet into your box via PuTTy, for instance, and write:


Code
df -h


and also


Code
free -h


See the output and act accordingly. In DB500HD you will need a Swap file made by Swap Manager, of course.


But in Zgemma H7S, on the other hand, you would not, as you would have 1/2 GB Swap partition done at the moment of flashing an image, by default.


Have a look:



Good luck! :cool1:



Let's deal with ROM now...


There are various ways of expanding your ROM: Flodder, Flash Expander, MiniMultiBoot, Barry Alen, OpenMultiBoot etc. etc.


OpenMultiBoot (OMB)


We will presume that in your Sat TV receiver (= STB = Set Top Box) you have installed PurE2.


We will also presume that you have a clean/empty, big enough USB stick in your machine.


One presses MENU button on one's remote control (RC) and goes to "PurE2 feeds" (= Plugins in your MENU), then to Extensions, where one should


a) Install enigma2-plugin-extensions-openmultiboot and restart your machine


b) in your PC with Windows or Linux OS, use FileZilla Client, for instance, to FTP into your STB (in other words, connect your PC and your STB)


c) from your PC send an unpacked PurE2 image with 'zip' suffix to the following folder of your STB ==> /media/hdd/open-multiboot-upload (do not unpack it!)


d) go to MENU > Plugins > OpenMultiBoot > install PurE2 image in this plugin's menu


e) restart PurE2, then chose non-flash PurE2 image from the menu and wait until it starts fully.


After it boots, you'll have PurE2 image installed on the USB memory stick with plenty of space and you will be able to install a bunch of stuff.


If your STB has a small RAM - you can install a large SWAP file on the same USB stick, too...


I tested this on my old 500HD (only 64MB small ROM/Flash) with Japhar SIM card and it's brilliant!


Of course, now you may install more images made for your machine - the same way as above - and have fun...



FLASH EXPANDER


This is a bit more complicated and hence not as stable, long term - but a great tool, nevertheless!!!


We will presume you have an STB with a USB port, using PurE2 image, of course... I have tested it in my F500HD, hence the title below...


gorski's 11 theses for 500HD bliss with Flash Expander - with proper USB device mounting instructions, too...


1) First thing one does is one partitions one's BIG and FAST USB 3.0 memory stick into 2 partitions (Mini Tool Partition Wizard freeware under Windows, for instance, is a good tool to do this with).


2) Then, one plugs the USB stick into one's 500HD. Old Ferrari clones have 2 USB ports: internal and external one.


3) Then, one mounts the 2 USB 3.0 stick partitions by going to:


MENU > pManager > Device Manager > Mount Manager > blue button > yellow button (to switch Automount OFF) > Exit > do this for both partitions on the USB stick.


4) Then, do not restart E2 but instead go back to mount those two partitions in a fixed manner, via FSTAB file.


How?


5) This you can do either by using the MENU or the BLUE button, then using the > or < buttons on your remote, changing the mounts to get as follows:




-smaller (say, 2GB) partition as /media/usb (= partition 1)


-bigger (say the rest, i.e. 30GB of 32GB USB stick) partition as /media/hdd (= partition 2)


6) Press OK to write it into the FSTAB file, then out of 3 options choose RESTART THE BOX. The box reboots.


(If it doesn't work the first time round, the second time it will be as you want it to be!)


7) Now, go to MENU > Plugins > Extensions > install this plugin, i.e. Flash Expander.


8) Exit and if necessary restart E2, then go back to Plugins > start Flash Expander and use it to move the /usr folder to the smaller 2GB partition (it will later on appear as /usr in various menus, as you'll see soon). Restart will follow, when it moves the /usr folder content to USB /media/usb partition.


9) I then use a SWAP Manager, which you will find in the same part of pManager, to create a SWAP file (512MB) and activate it (see top post for details).


This is the result, firstly showing the partitions using "df -h" command and then "before and after" SWAP creation, using "free" command:



10) Now, we can start downloading

-plugins/addons (like Franc's FNC plugins, then ffmpeg package for E2iPlayer etc. etc.)

-tools you may need (like Dream Explorer)

-skins you may want to have extra

-picons galore

-EPG

-etc. etc.


and


11) direct picons, EPG, buffering, cache etc. to /media/hdd (partition 2), just like we directed SWAP file to it...


Only the careful configuration of it all will ensure all will be well with our "oldie but goldie"!!!

Flodder instructions are here: PurE2 new lease of life for old DM800HD SE and DM500HD


Zgemma H9x/H9.2X series similar "expansion thread" is here: Expanding Zgemmas H9x and H9.2x flash to a Micro SD card or USB stick 2.0/3.0... and here: ZGEMMA H9S DVB-S2X Multistream 4K UHD Enigma2 4core ARM


MultiMiniBoot to expand a small flash in old STBs, even clones: https://mirmo-linux.lima-city.de/mmboot-eng-all.html


How to setup PurE2 generally, in pictures: PurE2 general flashing/setup tutorial...


...and we'll keep adding them... :thumbup: :cool1:

Replies 10

  • Let's deal with ROM now...


    There are various ways of expanding your ROM: Flodder, Flash Expander, MiniMultiBoot, Barry Alen, OpenMultiBoot etc. etc.


    OpenMultiBoot (OMB)


    We will presume that in your Sat TV receiver (= STB = Set Top Box) you have installed PurE2.


    We will also presume that you have a clean/empty, big enough USB stick in your machine.


    One presses MENU button on one's remote control (RC) and goes to "PurE2 feeds" (= Plugins in your MENU), then to Extensions, where one should


    a) Install enigma2-plugin-extensions-openmultiboot and restart your machine


    b) in your PC with Windows or Linux OS, use FileZilla Client, for instance, to FTP into your STB (in other words, connect your PC and your STB)


    c) from your PC send an unpacked PurE2 image with 'zip' suffix to the following folder of your STB ==> /media/hdd/open-multiboot-upload (do not unpack it!)


    d) go to MENU > Plugins > OpenMultiBoot > install PurE2 image in this plugin's menu


    e) restart PurE2, then chose non-flash PurE2 image from the menu and wait until it starts fully.


    After it boots, you'll have PurE2 image installed on the USB memory stick with plenty of space and you will be able to install a bunch of stuff.


    If your STB has a small RAM - you can install a large SWAP file on the same USB stick, too...


    I tested this on my old 500HD (only 64MB small ROM/Flash) with Japhar SIM card and it's brilliant!


    Of course, now you may install more images made for your machine - the same way as above - and have fun...

    Like 3
  • FLASH EXPANDER


    This is a bit more complicated and hence not as stable, long term - but a great tool, nevertheless!!!


    We will presume you have an STB with a USB port, using PurE2 image, of course... I have tested it in my F500HD, hence the title below...


    gorski's 11 theses for 500HD bliss with Flash Expander - with proper USB device mounting instructions, too...


    1) First thing one does is one partitions one's BIG and FAST USB 3.0 memory stick into 2 partitions (Mini Tool Partition Wizard freeware under Windows, for instance, is a good tool to do this with).


    2) Then, one plugs the USB stick into one's 500HD. Old Ferrari clones have 2 USB ports: internal and external one.


    3) Then, one mounts the 2 USB 3.0 stick partitions by going to:


    MENU > pManager > Device Manager > Mount Manager > blue button > yellow button (to switch Automount OFF) > Exit > do this for both partitions on the USB stick.


    4) Then, do not restart E2 but instead go back to mount those two partitions in a fixed manner, via FSTAB file.


    How?


    5) This you can do either by using the MENU or the BLUE button, then using the > or < buttons on your remote, changing the mounts to get as follows:

    -smaller (say, 2GB) partition as /media/usb (= partition 1)

    -bigger (say the rest, i.e. 30GB of 32GB USB stick) partition as /media/hdd (= partition 2)


    6) Press OK to write it into the FSTAB file, then out of 3 options choose RESTART THE BOX. The box reboots.


    (If it doesn't work the first time round, the second time it will be as you want it to be!)


    7) Now, go to MENU > Plugins > Extensions > install this plugin, i.e. Flash Expander.


    8) Exit and if necessary restart E2, then go back to Plugins > start Flash Expander and use it to move the /usr folder to the smaller 2GB partition (it will later on appear as /usr in various menus, as you'll see soon). Restart will follow, when it moves the /usr folder content to USB /media/usb partition.


    9) I then use a SWAP Manager, which you will find in the same part of pManager, to create a SWAP file (512MB) and activate it (see top post for details).


    This is the result, firstly showing the partitions using "df -h" command and then "before and after" SWAP creation, using "free" command:



    10) Now, we can start downloading

    -plugins/addons (like Franc's FNC plugins, then ffmpeg package for E2iPlayer etc. etc.)

    -tools you may need (like Dream Explorer)

    -skins you may want to have extra

    -picons galore

    -EPG

    -etc. etc.


    and


    11) direct picons, EPG, buffering, cache etc. to /media/hdd (partition 2), just like we directed SWAP file to it...


    Only the careful configuration of it all will ensure all will be well with our "oldie but goldie"!!!

    Like 3
  • Flodder instructions are here: PurE2 new lease of life for old DM800HD SE and DM500HD


    Zgemma H9x/H9.2X series similar "expansion thread" is here: Expanding Zgemmas H9x and H9.2x flash to a Micro SD card or USB stick 2.0/3.0... and here: ZGEMMA H9S DVB-S2X Multistream 4K UHD Enigma2 4core ARM


    MultiMiniBoot to expand a small flash in old STBs, even clones: https://mirmo-linux.lima-city.de/mmboot-eng-all.html


    How to setup PurE2 generally, in pictures: PurE2 general flashing/setup tutorial...


    ...and we'll keep adding them...:thumbup::cool1:

    Like 2
  • For discussion of my article How to expand ROM and RAM in PurE2, please follow the link just given...

    Quote
    There are various ways of expanding your ROM: Flodder, Flash Expander, MiniMultiBoot, Barry Allen, OpenMultiBoot.
    Like 2
  • how to expand tmpfs ??

    /var/volatile i would like to resize to 512mb


    Is it even possible ??

    Code
    root@vuduo4k:~# df -h
    Filesystem                Size      Used Available Use% Mounted on
    /dev/root                 3.5G    690.8M      2.6G  21% /
    devtmpfs                268.9M      8.0K    268.9M   0% /dev
    tmpfs                    64.0K         0     64.0K   0% /media
    tmpfs                   277.1M    240.0K    276.8M   0% /var/volatile
    /dev/sda1           
  • I had AZbug HD and there was a possibility to replace the ROM with a bigger one. In that case one used a script which repartitioned the new, bigger flash...


    The script took everything from ROM onto a USB stick, then umounted ROM, repartitioned it, then returned it all into a bigger ROM, which now had bigger partitions...


    But, who's gonna do that?


    And why do you need that, m8?


    In E2iPlayer I once encountered a problem with /tmp not being big enough but that is easily fixed...

  • That's the issue mate temp is not large enough for the odd processes

    Such as conversion of ser ref picons to snp

    Or other instances where downloading large files to the tmp directory

  • Yes, as I said, I have seen this before in E2iPlayer...


    With the default settings limit was 1/2GB and the plugin wanted 1.5GB):


    f473bb0.jpg


    So...


    3a7c1473262a710.jpg


    Then it was OK... (32GB 3.0 USB memory stick is playing my HDD here...)


    You can change the above settings, of course... ;)


    Other plugins sometimes benefit from not going into /tmp, like FNC ones...


    The advantage of /tmp folder is that upon reboot it will be cleared out. If you redirect files into other folders, like USB or HDD ones, you need to clean them manually from time to time... I use DreamExplorer plugin from the feeds for such a purpose.

  • Sorry, I edited the above message with the correct third screenshot...

  • Did I mention that the built-in Swap Manager works but only until one reboots.


    In PurE2 Plugins > System plugins one finds a Swap Manager 2, which is of a permanent type... ;) Just in case you need one, as explained above...

    Like 1
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