Porting SageTV to run on D-Link DSM-520

[MTisza]

A couple of things:
1. I don't quite undersstand what you're saying in the previous post. The DLINK sources don't contain the kernel, so the kernel level handler's are also missing, right?

2. The source/toolchain from Zensonic, is it complete? i.e. You mention that source isn't included for the multimedia stuff, but you're last post says thats not a problem. I'm confused. I'm not familiar with the linux kernel. I have compiled it but just reading from a cookbook. What I'm trying to find out is, can I create a complete firmware for the Zensonic unit.

3. Given that both of the units use the Sigma Designs 8620L, couldn't we use the best peices from each to peice together a complete set?

4. Can you point me to a good overview of the linux or uClinux kernel that can maybe clear up some of my confusion?

Thanks

[mikeswallow]

I don't know if this is relavant to the conversation, but I found a media gateway with similiar features to this one where there has been great progress made towards a project that may allow a port of sageTV

http://forums.sage.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=19371

Mike

[MTisza]

mikeswallow,
That product is not HD. There is an HD flavor of it, but it doesn't have any decent (i.e. digital) outputs. Thanks for pointing it out though, it's not one that I've seen in my searches.

[JUC]

Dlink update: After getting frustrated with not being able to contact the right person at Dlink and not really feeling the issue was adequately being addressed, I decided to attach the letter I wrote in an email and send it to all of the email addresses that I could find on their website in hopes it would make it up the chain. That was this morning. I just got an email from Dlink's Corporate and IP General Councel who said that she did receive the letter I originally sent and was forwarded my emails this morning. She mentioned that Dlink fully intends to comply with the GNU GPL and is looking into the availability of the source code. I'm hoping once she tracks it down from the developers that she can just release it to me. Anyway, she provided me with all of her contact information so I can reach her directly in the future. I'll give it another week and if I don't hear anything, I'll call her up directly and see where things are at. I'm not expecting a whole lot of assistance from Dlink but at least they are acknowledging our request. Here's hoping!!

-edit: its also encouraging that their councel didn't just refer us to Redsonic/Sigma right off the bat--something she could have easily done to brush me off
JUC

[NEOSG]

Thank you for your efforts JUC

[mikeswallow]

Originally Posted by MTisza

mikeswallow,
That product is not HD. There is an HD flavor of it, but it doesn't have any decent (i.e. digital) outputs. Thanks for pointing it out though, it's not one that I've seen in my searches.

I think the 350 is HD: http://www.airlinktek.com/english/prod_mg350.htm

[sleonard]

Originally Posted by JUC

Dlink update: After getting frustrated with not being able to contact the right person at Dlink and not really feeling the issue was adequately being addressed, I decided to attach the letter I wrote in an email and send it to all of the email addresses that I could find on their website in hopes it would make it up the chain. That was this morning. I just got an email from Dlink's Corporate and IP General Councel who said that she did receive the letter I originally sent and was forwarded my emails this morning. She mentioned that Dlink fully intends to comply with the GNU GPL and is looking into the availability of the source code. I'm hoping once she tracks it down from the developers that she can just release it to me. Anyway, she provided me with all of her contact information so I can reach her directly in the future. I'll give it another week and if I don't hear anything, I'll call her up directly and see where things are at. I'm not expecting a whole lot of assistance from Dlink but at least they are acknowledging our request. Here's hoping!!

-edit: its also encouraging that their councel didn't just refer us to Redsonic/Sigma right off the bat--something she could have easily done to brush me off
JUC

Way to go JUC! I'm now officially harboring some hope for this.

Scott

[MTisza]

Great News JUC! I hope we get something out of them.

mikeswallow: The MG350HD is HD but it has no decent outputs like HDMI or even DVI. However, the MG35 which you originally linked to is not.

[rlowery]

Originally Posted by MTisza

Great News JUC! I hope we get something out of them.

mikeswallow: The MG350HD is HD but it has no decent outputs like HDMI or even DVI. However, the MG35 which you originally linked to is not.

Although the written specifications at http://www.airlinktek.com/english/prod_mg350.htm do not mention a digital output, the screenshot at the bottom of the page shows a DVI connector.

Can someone that owns one of these confirm?

[PGPfan]

Originally Posted by JUC

Dlink update: After getting frustrated with not being able to contact the right person at Dlink and not really feeling the issue was adequately being addressed, I decided to attach the letter I wrote in an email and send it to all of the email addresses that I could find on their website in hopes it would make it up the chain. That was this morning. I just got an email from Dlink's Corporate and IP General Councel who said that she did receive the letter I originally sent and was forwarded my emails this morning. She mentioned that Dlink fully intends to comply with the GNU GPL and is looking into the availability of the source code. I'm hoping once she tracks it down from the developers that she can just release it to me. Anyway, she provided me with all of her contact information so I can reach her directly in the future. I'll give it another week and if I don't hear anything, I'll call her up directly and see where things are at. I'm not expecting a whole lot of assistance from Dlink but at least they are acknowledging our request. Here's hoping!!

-edit: its also encouraging that their councel didn't just refer us to Redsonic/Sigma right off the bat--something she could have easily done to brush me off
JUC

WooHoo JUC!

I'm truly not surprised that it has taken you (an attorney) to make some possible real headway on this. Let's face it, one software dev talking to a lay person will not get nearly as far as if talking to another software dev.
Perhaps there will be light at the end of this tunnel soon!

Thanks again, JUC!!....for everything you've done on this!

-PGPfan

[JUC]

Thanks for the thanks but lets not get too far ahead of ourselves...
At least we are getting some attention on the matter!
JUC

[insomniac]

Just got back from vacation and read this awesome news! great going JUC!

Originally Posted by JUC

Dlink update: After getting frustrated with not being able to contact the right person at Dlink and not really feeling the issue was adequately being addressed, I decided to attach the letter I wrote in an email and send it to all of the email addresses that I could find on their website in hopes it would make it up the chain. That was this morning. I just got an email from Dlink's Corporate and IP General Councel who said that she did receive the letter I originally sent and was forwarded my emails this morning. She mentioned that Dlink fully intends to comply with the GNU GPL and is looking into the availability of the source code. I'm hoping once she tracks it down from the developers that she can just release it to me. Anyway, she provided me with all of her contact information so I can reach her directly in the future. I'll give it another week and if I don't hear anything, I'll call her up directly and see where things are at. I'm not expecting a whole lot of assistance from Dlink but at least they are acknowledging our request. Here's hoping!!

-edit: its also encouraging that their councel didn't just refer us to Redsonic/Sigma right off the bat--something she could have easily done to brush me off
JUC

[bhyman1]

Thats fantastic!

[JUC]

Hey all, I just got an email from the GC over at Dlink. She has been looking into the issue and was 'informed' by some product managers that they believed the code was on the ftp site. Now, we all know it isn't. The GC noted that she wasn't too confident in their assessment and is having an engineer unzip the code they provide and come up with a list of what is and isn't included so they can figure out exactly what is missing. I need to reply today and I want to mention what is included in the code they provide. I know what isn't included and what we are asking for but I want to be able to diferentiate between the two. So--can someone just let me know what exactly IS in D-links code they provide! I need to have this info by 3pm EST because I won't be able to respond after that until tomorrow.
Thanks
JUC

[_Demo_]

Here is a list of what their current version contains (DSM520_LGPL_release.2006.2.16)

- Some libraries they are using :
curl-7.11.0.tgz libogg-1.0.tgz mxml-2.2.tar.gz
id3lib-3.8.3.tar.gz libvorbis-1.0.tgz tiff-3.7.1.tgz
libcurlarm-nossl.tar.gz libxml2-2.6.13.tar.gz tremor.tgz
libmad-0.15.1b.tar.gz microwindows-0.89pre8-alpha-2.tar.gz

- some basic applications
busybox dhcpcd mk wireless zeroconf simpleinit

- A gcc cross compiler for arm

- Various configuration files

- A sample


What is missing is the kernel source code (modified version of uclinux for arm without mmu) including the chipset specific code which creates various devices in /dev.

_Demo_

[JUC]

Excellent--this will definately help things along!
Thanks,
JUC

[insomniac]

thx for your quick help on this Demo. Man i hope this pans out. This to me is the most exciting thing in SageTV since V1!

[JUC]

Update: Received an email from Dlinks Counsel today and she said the information i forwarded her yesterday (Thanks Demo!!!) regarding what is and isn't included on their ftp site was very helpful and they have come to the conclusion that there ARE missing files that should be included according to the GPL. She once again said that Dlink fully intends to comply with the terms of the GPL and that it might take them a few days to come up with the full package of code. She said she will let me know when they have the full source code available next week.

This correspondance is pretty important to our cause because Dlinks counsel 1. acknowledged that the information they provided is not complete, and
2. Because it is not complete does not comply with the GPL, and
3. They will work on getting the necessary information to bring them into compliance over the next few days...

So--moving along! Lets keep our fingers crossed they don't hit a road block acquiring the necessary information. This could be all smoke and mirrors for all I know but I have received nothing but friendly and timely emails in response to this request. They could have very easily brushed me off and shuttled me off to redsonic/sigma but instead chose to engage the topic and hopefully correct any mistakes they have made by not releasing the entire source code. Alot has to do with the fact that as the supplier of a finished product-they are the ones obligated to provide the source code and not the individual manufacturers of the internal components.
That's all for now--hopefully a really good update will come next week!
JUC

[PGPfan]

Coming this far would have been impossible without your involvement JUC. Thank you.

Do you think that when she mentioned needing to release more code, that we will get the WHOLE thing? I wonder exactly how much of the code is GPL, and what might be proprietary that they aren't obligated to make available.

-PGPfan

[RobDMB]

I second that, thanks a lot for all your work on this JUC. It's great to see the project is making some progress. Also, just a side note for anyone interested, best buy currently has back to school coupons and some of them have 30% off computer accessories. If you manage to get one of those, you can get a pretty sweet deal on the dsm-520.