CurrentReleaseNotes

SNAKE firmware for Str8132-Based NAS

The different firmware types where renamed to "from-original" and "from-snake", to better indicate when to use each one. If unsure, use "from-original".

The more feedback is given, the better can be worked out on this project.

ADVICE:

This firmware is experimental, use at your own risk. If you get stuck somewhere, a serial connection may be needed to debug it!!!

We will not be responsible for data loss of any kind. Understand what you are doing to not brick your device.

Release info:

Version 1.1.0 (2010-04-18)

What's new:

IMPROVEMENTS

• Enhancement  issue #9 : Added syslog option and changed default system log view on web interface to it.
  • Services enabled to log some messages to syslog
  • As Syslog startup is delayed to have mounted disks and/or network available, boot messages are recovered and may appear out of order.
• Enhancement  issue #12 : Allow for more static DNS servers
• Transmission updated to version 1.92 (10363)
• Changed string checking on config backup/restore. Will allow to restore config from SAME Snake OS VERSION, even if saved from firmware with different build dates.
  • Eg.: Backup from V1.1.0 (2010-04-10) and restore to V1.1.0 (2010-04-12) is possible, but from V1.1.0 (whatever) to V1.2.0 (whatever) will NOT be possible yet.

BUG FIXES

• Fix for  issue #3 : Multiple shared printers not working
• Fix for  issue #5 : Added time zone for Adelaide ( Australia/South: CST-9:30CST-10:30,M10.4.0/2,M3.3.0/3 )
• Fix for  issue #13 : Webserver root folder cannot be configured in web interface

Features:

• GNU utils: Busybox 1.14.2 patched.
• Device management: Busybox 1.14.2 mdev.
• Samba server: Samba 2.0.10 patched.
• FTP server: Vsftpd 2.2.0 patched.
• Disk Management: E2fsprogs 1.41.8.
• Print Server: p910nd 0.93. The printer processes are dinamically started/stopped when a printer is connected and disconnected.
• SFTP Daemon: OpenSSH sftp-server version 5.2p1
• SSH Daemon: Dropbear sshd version 0.52, with rsa and dss keys
• SCP Daemon: Dropbear scp version 0.52
• Telnet Daemon: Busybox 1.14.2 telnetd
• Torrent: Transmission daemon 1.92. Encryption and default web interface enabled.
• Syslog Daemon: Busybox 1.14.2 syslogd
• Web Server: Busybox 1.14.2 httpd
• Filesystems recognized: ext2, ext3, fat, vfat, ntfs, jffs2.
• NTP client: ntpclient 2007.
• DDNS client: inadyn 1.96.2.
• Swap and Torrent automagically started when a disk with correct config is inserted (already had torrent/swap in use on it and the current configuration points to that location. When removal is detected, those services are stopped too.

Known Bugs/Issues:

• Swapfile: It is NOT recommended to use swapfile on ntfs/vfat partitions, because of mounting and speed issues.
• Recommended filesystems to use, in order (security): 1 - EXT3, 2 - EXT2, 3 - FAT32, 4 - NTFS.
• Recommended filesystems to use, in order (speed): 1 - EXT2, 2 - VFAT, 3 - EXT3, 4 - NTFS.
• Samba codepage issues with some eastern languages.

TODO:

• Filesystems: ext4 and RAID support.
• Servers: NFS support.
• Samba: Codepage support.

Installation:

Both types of upgrade took up to 5 minutes in the tests. Don't reset or power off the device before this time.

=> FROM ORIGINAL FIRMWARE: USE "FROM-ORIGINAL" VERSION ONLY!!! <=

The upgrade from the FUKBOON firmware can be done direct to the SNAKE OS beta 2, through it's web firmware upgrade page.

It's also possible to revert back to the original firmware in the same way later, if you wish ;-)

=> FROM SNAKE OS FIRMWARE: PREFER "FROM-SNAKE" VERSION. INFO: BOTH TYPES WILL WORK. <=

In the SNAKE firmware, it will ask you to have a drive connected as sda1 for the update to work, also remember to have swapping on.

Apparently, in FUKBOON firmware a drive connected as C may be needed too.

After installation, the device will reboot itself and revert back to the default settings:

• Initial IP address: DHCP or 192.168.0.240 ( same as original firmware)
• Web admin and Transmission user/password: admin/snake

• SSH user/password: root/snake

• After the first boot, the system will be slow for 1 to 3 minutes, because it is creating the initial SSH keys. Save the config (wich contains the SSH key) before rebooting and after the CPU gets low again, and this will not occur anymore. To do this, go to System->Config in web page.

Web admin:

Access the device from your browser: http://IP or http://IP/index.html , where IP is initially 192.168.0.240 or another IP address, if you had changed it...

Web admin sections:

• My NAS: General device status and reboot.
• Device->Hostname: Change system name.
• Device->Admin: Change administrative password.
• Device->LAN Settings: Manual or automatic IP Address settings. Manual MAC address management. When the device is flashed, the MAC will change.

• Device->Web Interface: Change default http port assignment for the administrative interface. Use with caution.

• Device->Time: Manual date/time setting or ntp config. It will try
  to connect every hour to keep time current. Remember to adjust your timezone here, too.

• Disks->Diskname: Disk naming option, it will recognize a disk "uuid+label" (will call it signature) and optionally specify a mount point with a custom name. It will ease with sharing setup, when the order that disks are mounted used to matter.

• Disks->Format: The format setting used will be ext3, with only one partition across

the entire disk. It has be chosen because of performance and stability in tests. Note: If you wish a different partitioning, will have to format outside the device in the moment.

• Disks->Partition: To verify on which mount point one partition is/will be mounted. If you wish to properly disconnect a device, please umount it here first. A running service may avoid one partition to be umounted. Stop these services and try again, if possible. If a mounted partition use ext3/ext2 filesystem, error checking and correction options will be available.
• Services->DDNS: Manage the dynamic dns client service.
• Services->FTP: Manage the ftp sharing service and set permission mode.
• Services->Samba: Manage the file sharing service and set permission mode. All files will be owned by root on ext2/3 filesystems.
• Services->SFTP/SSHD: Manage the SFTP/SSH Daemon service and optionally regenerate the keys, if they where compromised, for example. Note: A new key is generated on the

first device boot, so dealing with this will not be needed, generally.

• Services->Swapfile: Manage the Swapping service. ALWAYS USE IT.
• Services->Telnet: Manage the telnetd for remote access to shell of the NAS.
• Services->Transmission: Manage the BitTorrent service. Create your folder before setting it. The Transmission service will create a drop folder inside called "torrentwatch", where you can copy a .torrent file and the files will be automatically

downloaded. Also possible to control startup and alternate transmission speed from here (will restart the service).

• Services->Syslog: Manage internal/external Syslog daemon.

• Services->WebServer: Manage the additional NAS Web Server.

• Sharing->Printers: View of shared printers.

• Sharing->Shares: Manage shared samba folders.
• Sharing->Users: Manage users and passwords.
• System->Config: Save device config to file/flash or restore the default configuration.
• System->Status: General device status and reboot.
• System->Log: System message log.
• System->Monitor: Monitor CPU, memory and disk space usage.
• System->Firmware: Upgrade (or downgrade) your firmware. The process check the file integrity before write.
• About: People that have helped so far. Of course everyone with ideas is helping, but getting the hands dirty counts, too.
• Transmission: Link to Transmission web admin. As a separate process, will ask for login info again. Will default to http://IP:9091. When transmission saves config, it keeps the changes only in memory until transmission restart. You will need to save it,

back to Services->Transmission, hit Apply and go to System->Config and Save.

Other considerations:

• As space permits only very stripped down packages, it's hard to beat Debian usability with just flash space.
• There are some other apps enabled in Busybox, like wget, top, tftp, ftpget, ftpput, etc. play with those too.
• A good streaming server would use too many resources. May work on it if sufficient interest or as a separate sub-project.
• To avoid internal space constraints, one possible approach is to use external "modules", containing software packages. It's on study for future versions.

Download:

** If you are already running SNAKE OS beta2 or later, prefer the from-snake version, otherwise, use the from-original version. **

Grab it from: http://code.google.com/p/snake-os

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: ryk5...@gmail.com

I am running snakeos V1.2.0: Kernel version: 2.6.16-gazineu NAS version: SNAKE OS V1.2.0 (20100621) It would appear that the fix for Adelaide Time Zone has been dropped in this version?

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: geiles...@gmail.com

Modules are definitely the way to go. Ideally I'd like to use my 652 as a Media server, running either the ARM build of Twonkyvision or MediaTomb? as modules. I'd love the ability to install/remove switch on/off SnakeOS modules (much in the same way I can do with my Thecus NAS)

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: mauricio...@gmail.com

My NS-K330 with CNS2132 is running SnakeOS 1.2.0 (2010 06 21).

It works perfectly. ;-)

Thanks guys!

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: yasit...@gmail.com

My NAS is NS-320U. Running perfectly with Snake OS. Snake OS unlocked the full potential of the device Thank you :)

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: oth...@gmail.com

I have the 652 and it use to hang all the time, sputter when viewing avi files. after the firmware update i can view avi from it with no suptter and can do it from 2 different sources at same time and copy to it at the same time. i am wanting to update to the new 1.3 that just came out but want to see other comments on its functionally. thanks for the work. as soon as i go back to work i 'll make a donation.

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: veryj...@yahoo.com.hk

Chinese files name not supported, English O.K.

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: eduardo....@gmail.com

Hi, I've installed in my NAS via WIFI and break my device. My network plug do not work anymore, ligth don't blink when I put a cable. And the cable its ok because work in other device.

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: alej...@gmail.com

Hi. I have just received my NAS NS-K330 and made a software upgrade to Snake OS version 1.0.0. After the upgrade I waited 30 minutes but it didn't worked anymore. I restarted the router as well the NAS. The SYS Link LED is on. The green and yellow led's are also on. But I can't connect from my browser (using 192.168.0.240). Please, any help??? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: SPeto...@gmail.com

Hi! I have updated my NAS NS-K330 from Snake OS 1.0 to SNAKE OS V1.3.2 (20111019). I used FROM-SNAKE file. Everything is working, but I have some problems. When I change hostname, it doesn't stay. I mean, when I reset the device, I get the same old name: snake. That is one thing. The other is there is no transmission (for torrents) anywhere. There is no icon on the bottom of the menu, or in the services sub menu.

I also try to install transmission manually, but I don't know how to install it.

If someone can help I will be very grateful.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: miket...@gmail.com

HI I got my K 330 2 days ago ran it for 1 day on the original software then decided to upgrade to Snake. I started off with V 1.3 but there was no transmission package and I could not install it. I have installed an older version 1.2 and after setting up it is all working well. Read lots and keep in mind that the original manual has been supersceded.

Good luck

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: swelab...@gmail.com

Inorder to keep the changes perm, you need to save the config settings...C

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: mkhom...@googlemail.com

Bought the network harddisk case with 100Mbit Lan and USB for SATA Harddisks at Conrad Electronics. Checked out the Chip, it is an CNS-2132. At the moment the price is under 10 Euros ;-). Website: http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/product/412595/35-SATA-NETZWERK-FESTPLATTENGEHAeUSE-BL Item Numbers in Conrad Catalog:412595 and 410046 Isnt that interesting for porting Snake???

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: stefansc...@googlemail.com

Heh.. it's sold out now. I think I managed to get one of the last few.

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: mkhom...@googlemail.com

Damn that was Fast!!!

I bought 5 and made some pictures!

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: stefansc...@googlemail.com

32MB memory.

JTAG and (possibly) serial interface.

Can you see what's written on the flash chip (the one with the violet paint)? I can only make out the ST logo. If the flash is at least 4MB it should run snake. It's just a matter of getting it onto the thing then.

Man ..I hope conrad really had one left for me. The order confirmation looked like they couldn't make up their mind.

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: mkhom...@googlemail.com

I will look after it tomorrow :-)

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: stefansc...@googlemail.com

Mine arrived yesterday. The flash is an 8MB ST M25P64?, so snake will fit.

The original firmware is also linux based, which makes disecting it a bit easier. I'm currently trying to get a snake image past the firmware upgrader

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: stefansc...@googlemail.com

Ok it's not quite a straight forward as I hoped. I don't want to clutter up this page even more so here's what I got so far: http://code.google.com/p/snake-os/issues/detail?id=257

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: marius.s...@gmail.com

Thanks! This is a really great improvement over the standard OS!

The only thing I'm missing now is a nfs client so I can mount some shares from my linux network. Does anyone know of a prebuilt nfs client module or how I could build one myself?

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: marius.s...@gmail.com

To patch or to upgrade??? Hi,

I'm currently running snakeos-V1.3.2-20111019-from-original.zip with absolutely no issues and 1000% improvement over stock. The only thing I miss (as posted above) is NFS3 client functionality in the kernel. Now I have found the full set of modules (including nfs) for the linux-2.6.16-gazineu kernel, but I also see the new experimental build available for download.

Does the new build include NFS and are there any expected stability issues compared to 1.3.2-20111019?

Not sure whether to patch or upgrade.

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: stefansc...@googlemail.com

It stopped transmission from locking up the box on a certain torrent for me, but it seems to break samba. So it's probably not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: marius.s...@gmail.com

Samba isn't really an issue for me as I don't have any Windows clients on my network, but I see that nfs still isn't set in the new kernel config. I tried inserting the nfs module from the set referred here (FAQ page):

Comment by thomsp...@gmail.com, Apr 28, 2011

Both Phillipe and Liong were so kind to send me the modules. I have uploaded them on my dropbox in case anyone else needs them: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/14504776/variousmodules-2.6.16-gazineu.tgz

but modprobe gives me "unknown symbol" so I guess although the kernel version is the same, the build doesn't match.

I've tried building my own from the svn V1.3.2-20111019 branch but am getting PATH problems during the build, so am blocked for the moment.

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by: marcelog...@gmail.com

installed the 1.3.2 snake in my K330 we now need to install the transmission in it, can someone help me do this? I need you planned it well because I have little knowledge in linux.