This is the initial public release of my ‘fwtool’ firmware manipulation tool.\u00a0 The utility can be used to ‘unpack’ a firmware update “.bin” file into the component pieces (kernel, rootfs, (optional)wifi firmware), or to ‘pack’ these files back into a “.bin” firmware update file.<\/p>\n
Here is a link to the code (source code, Linux x86, MacOS x86 binaries inside): fwtools_20100826c.tgz<\/a><\/p>\n WARNING: Patching\/modifying firmware is not for everyone!\u00a0 You could very easily BRICK your iSpot if you make a mistake!\u00a0 Also,\u00a0loading custom\/patched firmware into your iSpot\u00a0will likely VOID your warranty!\u00a0 Proceed with caution!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The simplest use case is to unpack the “.bin” file to a directory which will contain the component files.\u00a0 For example (use “-unpack infile.bin outdir” args):<\/p>\n “kernel.bin” is a Linux compressed kernel image (with ‘header app’ that decompresses it) targetted for an ARM CPU.<\/p>\n “rootfs.bin” is a JFFS2 root filesystem image (“kernel.bin” and “rootfs.bin” go together)<\/p>\n “wifi.bin” (not always part of “.bin” file) contains the firmware for the WiFi daughterboard. It is a Linux compressed kernel image (with built-in initrd<\/em> ramdisk) targetted for a MIPS CPU.<\/p>\n At this point, you can inspect\/patch\/replace files in\u00a0the output directory.\u00a0 Once you are finished, you can\u00a0pack them back up into a new “.bin” file.\u00a0 For example (use “-pack indir outfile.bin” args):\u00a0<\/p>\n As described in “Why don\u2019t firmware \u2018downgrades\u2019 work on the iSpot?<\/a>“, the iSpot will refuse to install a firmware “.bin” file if the “svn version” is less than or equal to the current firmware’s version, or<\/em> if the kernel\/rootfs md5sum is found in a ‘blacklist’ table in the current firmware.<\/p>\n In order to allow for downgrading to old\/blacklisted software, I’ve added a couple of options to the “-pack” process:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n So, in order to modify an ‘illegal’ (old\/blacklisted) “.bin” file in such a way that it will be accepted by the iSpot, first unpack the “.bin” to a directory.\u00a0 Then, pack the directory back into a new “.bin” – specifying “-svn-ver ####” with a value that is larger than the currently running firmware’s version, and “-tweak-md5”:<\/p>\n Disclaimer: information on this site is for educational purposes only, and intended to help iSpot owners experiment with their own devices. I do not condone any hacking for illegal purposes, such as stealing service, etc.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This is the initial public release of my ‘fwtool’ firmware manipulation tool.\u00a0 The utility can be used to ‘unpack’ a firmware update “.bin” file into the component pieces (kernel, rootfs, (optional)wifi firmware), or to ‘pack’ these files back into a … Continue reading $ .\/fwtool -unpack iSpot_Software_080510.bin 080510_expanded\r\nWrote '080510_expanded\/kernel.bin' successfully\r\nWrote '080510_expanded\/rootfs.bin' successfully\r\nWrote '080510_expanded\/wifi.bin' successfully\r\nWrote '080510_expanded\/fwinfo.txt' successfully<\/pre>\n
$ .\/fwtool -pack 080510_expanded iSpot_Software_080510_new.bin\r\nLoaded '080510_expanded\/fwinfo.txt' successfully\r\nLoaded '080510_expanded\/kernel.bin' successfully\r\nLoaded '080510_expanded\/rootfs.bin' successfully\r\nLoaded '080510_expanded\/wifi.bin' successfully\r\nWrote iSpot_Software_080510_new.bin successfully<\/pre>\n
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$ .\/fwtool -unpack iSpot_Software_080510.bin 080510_expanded\r\nWrote '080510_expanded\/kernel.bin' successfully\r\nWrote '080510_expanded\/rootfs.bin' successfully\r\nWrote '080510_expanded\/wifi.bin' successfully\r\nWrote '080510_expanded\/fwinfo.txt' successfully\r\n\r\n$ .\/fwtool -pack -svn-ver 1822 -tweak-md5 080510_expanded iSpot_Software_080510_allow_downgrade.bin\r\nLoaded '080510_expanded\/fwinfo.txt' successfully\r\nLoaded '080510_expanded\/kernel.bin' successfully\r\nLoaded '080510_expanded\/rootfs.bin' successfully\r\nLoaded '080510_expanded\/wifi.bin' successfully\r\nWrote iSpot_Software_080510_allow_downgrade.bin successfully<\/pre>\n