The Site > Old Forums > DirecTV DSL > Linux or a RTOS on the gateway?

Linux or a RTOS on the gateway?

The big problem is that, at least on my X2, the flash ROM isn't socketed. Upload bad code and you have a REAL brick on your hands. And we still don't know if it's even possible to update the firmware from the LAN side without a WAN connection (which will become difficult to get once DirecTV shuts down).

If (and that's a big if) anything happens to make them useful, I would expect it from someone who worked on their development, who probably can't say anything until DirecTV has fully shut down operations.

-- Rob

What we really need is someone to release the full system specs on the X2 and publish some of Directv's internal hardware documentation...As for the flash ROM not being socketed....it would be easy enough to program another chip off board and attach later for testing. Of course I need to know who manufactured all the chips in the gateway and find someone who will sell them to me.

reply to zarsky99
I started working on programming the gateway with another OS, but alas, its looking like its not going to happen...

reply to zarsky99
I know the X1 version ran the xilinx chipset and I've yet to crack my X2 (still kind of need it - for the moment).

If you want to be able to do something on the wan side then you might want some service provider hardware and these are available below...

»www.centrix-intl.com/

PairGain ~ ADC, ADSL Modem

CRA-C *MODEM ONLY NEW AC adapter not included* PairGain ADC Megabit Modem CRA-C: 3.2 Mbps/1.0 Mbps rate adaptive CAP ADSL modem with 10BASE-T Ethernet port for service provider (ATU-C). Built-in SNMP management, bridging and Static IP routing Part# 150-2162-0 $1.00

500L *MODEM ONLY NEW AC adapter not included* PairGain ADC Megabit Modem 500L G.lite compliant 1/5Mbps / 512kbps RFC 2364 PPP traffic over ATM (AAL5) up to 8 PPP sessions Embeddeb SNMP agent, DHCP server, part# 150-2120-02 $1.00

400F *MODEM ONLY NEW AC adapter not included* PairGain ADC Megabit Modem 400F Support full-rate ADSL and G.lite, 7.552Mbps / 928kbps up to 32 virtual circuit, Embeded SNMP, DHCP server. Part# 1145905 $1.00

Don't know about X2 much, but:

X1 has PPC 860 processor, running VxWorks RTOS. VxWorks has many things borrowed/shared with freebsd, such as ipf/etc.

As for DSL, it uses Alcatel DynaMiTe chipset.

OK...tomorrow I transition to Speakeasy...so this damn X2 will be cracked open then and I will provide plenty of pics and gather as much technical info on the associated chips that are on board. I think I will start a website to get people together who want to find an interesting use for the gateways....imagine a *nix cluster of X2 gateways....that would be a pretty cool hack...albeit fairly useless.

Stay Tuned

Zarsky

I should have access to mine in a week or so. SBC really dropped the ball on my setup so I called Speakeasy. What a difference in service.

reply to djrobx
I emailed tech support about info about the modems, and one of the guys left me a message that after the company collapsed, the technical details would become available.

Could you please post the email you received...I am sure plenty of people would be interested in the exact wording. Also any idea how/when exactly this will be released?

Zarsky

for some reason their reply was a phone call.
So all I have are the words of the anonymous tech guy, and I can only hope he was being honest.

reply to zarsky99
There are also serial ports inside the X2. I haven't had a chance to tap into them yet to see if anything shows up on them... but maybe that'll be tonight's "keep me up later than I should" project.

Ok, I got nothing but space character output from JP1 via a straight-connect serial cable. Not quite as exciting as I'd hoped for...

The only other interesting tidbit is that if you power on the X2 with the serial cable connected, the only lights on in the unit are the LAN and DSL lights. Once you remove the serial connection, then the Power and Status lights will go orange (I rebooted with SW1 depressed).

I'm still wondering what SW2 does... I rebooted with that depressed as well, but didn't notice any change in behavior.

One final comment on the X2.... did anyone ever actually hang these from the wall? The back of the unit has indentions so that someone could do exactly that; but somehow I suspect no one considered these art pieces!

reply to zarsky99
I had it mounted in my wiring closet with those indentations. Keeps things neat.

-- Rob

reply to zarsky99
In my Gateway, there are pads labelled "JTAG". This is essentially a specialized serial port used during manufacture for flashing firmware and reading/writing chip registers. Someone on this forum mentioned that he had Darwin running on the Gateway, and I would tend to believe him.

reply to zarsky99
I've got both the X1 and X2 models I think that's what they're called. Anyhow I'm looking to do something interesting with them. I open them up and take pics or provide info if someone needs that. I just think it's a waste to toss them. Any Idea's?

alex@dynesol.com

We are working on it. Actually, the embedded engineer (I know his name, but not his dslreports name ), is working on it. I'm going to frelling redo the interface boards and try to catch up to an extent.
--
"We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile. We are the Borg." 3.333GHz CRUNCH! CRUNCH!