OpenLGTV BCM - firmware for BCM based LG TVs [0.5.0-rc1]

[xeros]

At 23 March 2011 I have started a project named OpenLGTV BCM (OpenLGTV for Broadcom platform based TVs).
It's a part of firmware replacement for 2010 Broadcom BCM3549/3556 based TV models.
Speaking in other words - it's a small Open Source Linux distribution based on GPL licence which doesn't remove any of LG firmware features, just adds more.
Most part of LG firmware is still running and is needed to have tuners input, hardware media player and TV screen picture and audio output.
LG haven't released hardware drivers to make it possible to build complete firmware replacement.

== Supported platforms ==

It's designed for all Broadcom based 2010 2D and 3D LG TV models. (all countries are supported)

Check this page for supported models list:
http://openlgtv.org.ru/wiki/index.php/Achievements

If you have not yet supported model, please provide us a firmware backup first for making support of yours TV.

Support for 2011 SmartTV models was planned to be done with OpenLGTV BCM 0.5.0 but as there's more security at bootloader it wont be available too soon.

== Prerequisites ==
BusyBox shell access via serial connection to TV is needed to be able to install any OpenLGTV BCM version for the first time.
More info here:
http://openlgtv.org.ru/wiki/index.php/Basic_RS-232C_connection_setup
http://openlgtv.org.ru/wiki/index.php/Debug_mode_connection#Debug_mode_on_post_2009_year_firmware_versions
IR Hacks (needed to unlock debug menu access):http://openlgtv.org.ru/wiki/index.php/Category:IR_Hacks

== WARNING ==
Before trying it make backup of your current firmware first!
(versions starting from 0.4.0-beta2 make properly automated backup of all partitions before installation proceeds)

There's no warranty for using custom firmwares or instructions mentioned here. YOU USE IT ON YOUR OWN RISK.
Read everything carefully, follow official project thread and linked wiki pages. Even small mistake can brick TV.
Althrough we try to help in most cases we don't take responsibility for possible damages on your devices!

Up to now LG firmware Network Upgrades were safe but since December 15th 2011 LG started to deliver new security via Network Upgrades.
This new security disables OpenLGTV BCM so network upgrades shouldn't get accepted since now.
OpenLGTV BCM 0.4.3 is not compatibile with the latest firmwares with new security - use 0.5.0-rc1 instead.

Currently the 0.5.0-rc1 is recommended.

Changelog: http://svn.openlgtv.org.ru/OpenLGTV_BCM/trunk/Changelog.html

Any feedback as comments, bug reports, feature requests are always welcome.
Please include these informations in feedback:
1. Model name
2. Country
3. Firmware version (both OpenLGTV BCM version and LG firmware version)
[4. Boot logs] (logs not needed if everything worked without problems)

Info: thread post started with version 0.1.0, updated to 0.5.0 later.

Wiki page: http://openlgtv.org.ru/wiki/index.php/OpenLGTV_BCM

Latest version: http://openlgtv.org.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=44&start=960#p4056
(with download link)

WARNING - If anyone would like to get back to original LG firmware (to remove OpenLGTV BCM) unlike I said earlier, full epaks shouldn't be used for that. There is high risk of breaks with such epaks (even with flashing them over original LG firmware as upgrade but with OpenLGTV BCM risk might even increase due to more running processes). It's not completely confirmed yet but I wanted to warn you just in case.

Edit:
Attachment removed - use 0.5.0-rc1 instead of 0.4.3 to not get potential problems on newer firmwares.

[xeros]

Version 0.1.1:
- UPDATE: update BusyBox to static binary 1.18.4 compiled with more applets (almost all) as replacement for BB 1.2.1
- ADD: dirs for new BusyBox applets,
- ADD: make install.sh script check if lginit partition is already erased and not erase it again
- ADD: udhcpc default.script
- REMOVE: remove dynamic BB 1.18.0,
- FIX: lastlog file creation,
- CHANGE: replace native binaries using BusyBox applets: mountpoint, runlevel, sulogin, last, mesg, flash_eraseall
- 216kb free space

Known problems:
- FISH protocol connection from Midnight Commander does not properly show file/directory names,
- /etc/termcap does not have terminal settings for 'putty', 'screen' and 'xterm' so /bin/top executed on terminals that advertise using these names needs to set manually different terminal type.

Using this version there's possibility to make 'nanddump' backups from BusyBox shell, too.

[xeros]

Version 0.2.0:
- ADD: support for both EU and US models (not KR or others, yet)
- ADD: 'tcpdump' binary
- ADD: /mnt/Network path as might be related to DLNA/CIFS in RELEASE (?)
- ADD: add 'screen', 'putty' and 'xterm' terminals support in /etc/termcap (/bin/top would make use of it)
- ADD: TERMINFO_DIR path variable set to /usr/share/terminfo for broken apps with hardcoded paths (like /bin/top)
- FIX: fix 'scp' client in TV by making link /usr/bin/dbclient
- CHANGE: changed hostname to 'OpenLGTV_BCM'
- CHANGE: install script sets date from NTP servers before flashing (useful for logging)
- CHANGE: symlink /root dir to /tmp to be able to store termporarly configs, shell logs (like for example .ash_history)
- 124kb free space

Known problems:
- FISH protocol connection from Midnight Commander 4.7.0.x does not properly show file/directory names - 'ls' from new BusyBox does support -Q parameter which output is parsed wrong by Midnight Commander 4.7.0.x, solution is to upgrade MC to 4.7.5.x version on PC,
- /etc/termcap terminal names collision so /bin/top is unusable, but /usr/bin/top is
- all current versions (0.1.0 - 0.2.0) can't install properly on original firmwares - missing md5sum in original firmware (fixed release should arrive in about 15 minutes)

Answer for people asking if they can use it if they have already made modifications on 'addon' or 'browser' partitions is YES, the boot script checks for common modifications (symlinks). If it finds them it does not copy and mount the files and does not break already made modifications.

[xeros]

version 0.2.0a (quick fix release):
- FIX: nonexistent (in original firmware) md5sum change to sha1sum
- FIX: revert termcap data to original
- FIX: update create_img.sh and install.sh to use sha1sum instead of md5sum

version 0.2.0b (quick fix2 release):
- FIX: workaround to enable password for users with password set (BusyBox 'passwd' command haven't done it while changing password) - passwords are enabled at next boot

Known problems:
- NOT A BUG in OpenLGTV BCM: FISH protocol connection from Midnight Commander 4.7.0.x does not properly show file/directory names - 'ls' from new BusyBox does support -Q parameter which output is parsed wrong by Midnight Commander 4.7.0.x, solution is to upgrade MC to 4.7.5.x version on PC for FISH connection,

[slezica]

What good news!, any idea of support for BR series (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, DVB-T digital tuner)?.
I
If you need I offer myself to prove what are needed (on a LD650).

Thanks and best regards,

Sebastian

[xeros]

Hi slezica,
Thanks for reply.
Support for BR series should be working already (firmware is simmilar to US) althrough haven't access to these TVs so I would need testers.
Could you upload dump from yours TV somewhere? I'll need backup using Wiki instruction + outputs of these commands:

Code: Select all

cat /proc/mtd
mount
ls -laR /


I'm now working on new version which is very big step forward after 0.2.x series (changelog file is in SVN).
I plan to release beta version of it for testing this week. So please do not to flash 0.2.0b version, yet.
Next (not released yet) version supports already autoupgrade from USB stick/disk and has many changes to code to better support future upgrades.

If you'll give me yours backup before releasing it I'll try to focus on support for yours model, too.

[xeros]

version 0.3.0-alpha4 (althrough still alpha, it's ready for testing (just WebUI is not done, yet), I need testers which will upload installation and development logs):
* FIX: Updated BusyBox binary with 'passwd' patch
* FIX: NVRAM dump on US models
* FIX: on US models if there's no web browser added, don't add NetCast option to WebUI
* ADD: Changelog file to SVN
* ADD: update time at boot using NTP servers pool
* ADD: create /mnt/user/www dir if it does not exist
* ADD: autoupgrade from USB storage device from /mnt/usb1/Drive1/OpenLGTV_BCM/upgrade/ dir at boot
* ADD: automatic backup to USB storage device if /mnt/usb1/Drive1/OpenLGTV_BCM/make_backup file exists
* ADD: executing scripts from USB storage device from /mnt/usb1/Drive1/OpenLGTV_BCM/autorun/ dir at boot
* ADD: auto mount-binding /mnt/user/modules/wl.ko to /mnt/lg/res/lgres/wl.ko, so if you have new/modified driver for wireless card you can just put in /mnt/user/modules/ and it will be used at start
* ADD: erase lginit partitions at boot if not erased
* ADD: support for Yahoo Widgets (both Engine and Data) mounting from /mnt/usb1/Drive1/OpenLGTV_BCM/{ywe,ywedata}
* ADD: support for Yahoo Widgets Data used as ramdisk (set to max 80MB) if ywedata partition is not available in both NAND flash or USB storage device
* ADD: support for Samsung Yahoo Widgets (by default drop support for LG Yahoo Widgets - Samsung offer all the LG has and it's newer platform and a lot more widgets)
* ADD: adding Yahoo Widgets NetCast item by default for EU models
* ADD: if there's no 'ywe' dir on 'addon' partition then set Yahoo Widgets Engine dir to /mnt/usb1/Drive1/OpenLGTV_BCM/ywe
* ADD: RELEASE is started now in tmux, so it's possible to control RELEASE over telnet or SSH, too
* ADD: /mnt/user/cfg/settings file with configuration variables for OpenLGTV BCM scripts
* ADD: possibility to enable all available NetCast services (disabled by default, be careful as it sorts all of them alphabetically and some do not have it's icons)
* ADD: add OpenLGTV BCM WebUI NetCast option as first service - WebUI is still TODO [not UI available yet but sample testing code from nicola_12345]
* ADD: add support for ~/.ssh dir (linked to /mnt/user/.ssh) - for example for autorised_keys file to be able to login via SSH using public key authorisation, even without password
* ADD: support for /mnt/user/cfg/settings file updates after version upgrades
* ADD: at first time installation make backup of writable partitions - useful for Yahoo Widgets backup before changing to Samsung platform
* ADD: development versions (devel, alpha, beta) are taking more logs and info from current firmware and hardware at first time installation procedure, give there to us for making better support of yours model
* CHANGE: update install.sh and create_img.sh scripts to support autoupgrade
* CHANGE: use better names for backups with information which is rootfs and which lginit backups before autoupgrade/install
* CHANGE: move backup, flashed file and logs to 'flashed' subdir after successful flash
* WARN: from now on, install.sh makes installation automaticaly and reboots TV after successful flash, without confirmation

Once more - I need testers, logs and feedback
[ alpha image link removed ]

[alint]

Hi,
have an LD750 with the latest official firmware, and would like to upgrade (the official one has some issues with DLNA). How can I do it? Backup then upgrade. I've seen on some sites that the firmware update is possible from an USB stick, but don't think yours works this way. Let me know what I have to do and I'll give you feedback on your work, which I'm sure it's great.

Thanks.

[xeros]

alint, first make backup using this instruction http://openlgtv.org.ru/wiki/index.php/How_to_backup_TV_firmware.
If yours firmware is 3.20.18 or newer then you'll have to get back to older one to get access to debug menu.
About DLNA issues, OpenLGTV BCM wont help you with it, yet. I can advice you to try different DLNA server software for yours PC.
I'm going to start work on support for multimedia files playback from NFS and CIFS shares but need to finish Web UI for it first.

OpenLGTV BCM does support autoupgrades from USB stick/disk, but only after it's already installed in TV. These upgrades are using different image format than LG upgrades use. It first needs to be installed from Linux shell in TV and this needs debug menu access.

[jpdevillers]

Would id be any help if I post a download link for the BR zone firmware for the LD650?

Edit: here it is http://snu.lge.com:5100/GlobalSWDownloa ... ECURED.epk
The .pem file is here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/24867533/general_pub.pem