Dune Firmware Zone

System Storage

Overview

Dune media players (all models except Dune HD Ultra and Dune HD Mini) have support for so called "System Storage". System Storage is a dedicated storage device (typically a 2GB+ USB Flash Drive), permantently attached to the player and configured in a special way. System Storage is used by the player for its needs, to provide certain player functions (see below). If you do not need these player functions, you do not need System Storage. When System Storage is attached, it is not visible to the user as a normal storage device in the player's file browser.

Player functions which require System Storage

The exact set of player functions which may utilize or require System Storage depend on a particular player model and a particular firmware version. Here is the summary of possible usages of System Storage in firmware version 110127_2105_beta:

• Extra Applications.
  • Player models: Dune Blu-ray models based on Sigma Designs 863x chipset: Dune BD Prime (1.0), Dune HD Base (1.0), Dune HD Center, Dune HD Base 2.0.
  • Usage: on these player models, some firmware components do not fit into the main flash memory and are installed into System Storage during firmware update (when System Storage is available). These firmware components are: web browser, SMB server. When System Storage is not attached, the corresponding player functions can not be used. The current status of Extra Applications can be checked via "Setup / Information". When the firmware is updated, the Extra Applications are reinstalled/updated automatically.
• Blu-ray cache (also known as Blu-ray local storage).
  • Player models: all Dune player models having support for Blu-ray playback.
  • Usage: some Blu-ray discs (e.g. those using Blu-ray Profile 1.1/2.0, BD Live, Bonus View, BD-J) may require this (especially when BD Live functions are used and some content is downloaded by the Blu-ray disc from Internat).
• Special "Internet Radio" and "IPTV" folders.
  • Player models: all Dune player models having support for System Storage.
  • Usage: required by special "Internet Radio" and "IPTV" folders on the main screen (can be enabled via "Setup / Applications / Internet Radio" and "Setup / Applications / IPTV"). When System Storage is attached, it is possible to put some content (typically links to Internet Radio stations and IPTV channels) into these folders. This content is stored by the player in the System Storage.
• Main screen shortcuts.
  • Player models: all Dune player models having support for System Storage.
  • Usage: required in order to create shortcuts to favorite media resources on the main screen ("POP UP MENU / Add to main screen"). All user-created shortcuts (configuration and icons, when assigned) are stored by the player in System Storage.
• Data cache for applications based on "dune_folder.txt" mechanism.
  • Player models: all Dune player models having support for System Storage.
  • Usage: required by "dune_folder.txt" based applications which use "icon_archive" function. The player stores downloaded icon archives in System Storage.
• Data cache for other applications (such as "KartinaTV" application).
  • Player models: all Dune player models supporting such applications.
  • Usage: such application cache some data (e.g. downloaded from Internet) in System Storage.

How to check if you already have System Storage

Depending on player model and a particular reseller, Dune player may be shipped with a preinstalled System Storage. To check if the player already has System Storage, go to "Setup / Information" and check the status of "System Storage" line.

How to configure System Storage

The easiest way to configure System Storage is to attach an empty USB flash drive (1GB+) to the player and just perform firmware update (e.g. reinstall the currently installed firmware version). Firmware update can be performed, in particular, using the built-in online firmware update mechanism ("Setup / Misc / Firmware Upgrade"). During firmware update, the player will detect the empty USB flash drive and will propose to initialize it as the System Storage.

Starting with firmware version 110127_2105_beta, it is also possible to configure System Storage via "Setup / Misc / System Storage / Initialize System Storage" function. Again, you need to attach an empty USB flash drive to the player, the player will recognize it and propose to initialize it as the System Storage.

How to configure System Storage on HDD partition

When there is an HDD permanently installed in / connected to the player, it is possible to configure System Storage on a small dedicated partition of this HDD. I.e., the HDD is split into two partitions, the first one (e.g. 2GB) is used as the System Storage, and the second one (all the remaining space) is used in the usual way.

If you already have an HDD already properly partitioned into two partitions (e.g. using a PC), you just need to ensure that the first HDD partition is empty, and the second HDD partition is not empty, and then initialize System Storage exactly in the same way as when using USB flash drive. The system will recognize the small empty HDD partition and propose to initialize it as the System Storage.

If you have an empty HDD w/o partitions, you can partition this HDD into two partitions on Dune. Starting with firmware version 110127_2105_beta, this is possible using the "Setup / Misc / System Storage / Initialize System Storage" function: when the player detects an empty 100GB+ HDD, it proposes to partition it into two partitions and initialize the first partition (2GB) as the System Storage. In the previous firmware versions, you can use a special DSF service file to do this (see below).

• dune_service_init_system_storage.dsf
  • Initializes System Storage on an empty USB flash drive (or an already existing empty HDD partition), w/o reinstalling the firmware.
  • NOTE: Recommended for 3.0+ models only. Not recommended for 1.0/2.0 models (using this service on 1.0/2.0 models will correctly initialize System Storage, but will not install Extra Applications; Extra Applications can only be installed by updating/reinstalling the firmware).
  • NOTE: The USB flash drive (or an existing HDD partition) intended to become System Storage must be empty (and this USB flash drive or HDD partition must be the only empty storage attached to the player). If it is not empty, delete all files from it or reformat it first (e.g. using the player built-in format function: choose USB flash drive or HDD partition in the main menu, press INFO RC button, choose "Format Partition"). Do not put this service file to the USB flash drive you want to become System Storage; use some other USB flash drive for storing this service file!
• dune_service_make_system_storage_on_hdd_partition.dsf
  • Reformats am empty HDD to two partitions, and initializes System Storage on one of these partitions, w/o reinstalling the firmware.
  • NOTE: Using this service on 1.0/2.0 models will correctly initialize System Storage, but will not install Extra Applications; Extra Applications can be installed later by updating/reinstalling the firmware.
  • NOTE: The HDD intended to be reformatted by this service must be empty and must contain just single partition or no partitions at all (and this HDD must be the only such a HDD attached to the player). If it is not empty or contains several partitions, reformat it first (e.g. using the player built-in format function: choose HDD in the main menu, press INFO RC button, choose "Format Disk").
  • NOTE: This service reformats the HDD to two partitions (one using 2GB and second using the rest of HDD), and initializes the first 2GB partition as System Storage. The second partition is NOT formatted by this service; if you want to format it (and you probably do), you can format it e.g. using the player built-in format function: choose the HDD in the main menu, press INFO RC button, choose "Format Partition").
  dune_service_format_system_storage.dsf
  • Completely reformats an already attached System Storage.
  • NOTE: All data stored on System Storage (including Blu-ray Local Storage data, Extra Applications (for 1.0/2.0 models), and content of Internet Radio and IPTV folders on the main menu will be lost!
  • NOTE: Using this service on 1.0/2.0 models will correctly initialize System Storage, but will not install Extra Applications; Extra Applications can be installed later by updating/reinstalling the firmware.
  dune_service_clear_bluray_local_storage.dsf
  • Clears all Blu-ray Local Storage data, keeping all other data (if any) stored on System Storage.
  • NOTE: It is recommended to use this service if you encounter any problems with Blu-ray playback to restore correct player operation; sometimes, Blu-ray playback problems can be caused by inconsistent or damaged Blu-ray Local Storage data. If this does not help to eliminate the problems, you can also try to completely reformat System Storage (in some cases, this also may help).
  dune_service_deinit_system_storage.dsf
  • Deinitializes an already attached System Storage. The currently attached System Storage becomes the usual storage that can be accessed and browsed via the player menu in the usual way.
  • NOTE: After deinitializing System Storage, the resulting storage will typically contain various system files (will not be empty). To reinitialize this storage as System Storage again, you will need first to delete all these files or reformat it.

Flash Memory Storage

Dune player models based on Sigma Designs 864x/865x platforms, starting with firmware version 110127_2105_beta, have support for so called "Flash Memory Storage". Flash Memory Storage is an area of the main flash memory that can be used to store data instead of System Storage in some cases.

In firmware version 110127_2105_beta, Flash Memory Storage can be used to store the following data:

• Data cache for applications based on "dune_folder.txt" mechanism.
• Data cache for other applications (such as "KartinaTV" application).

The purpose of Flash Memory Storage is that it makes it easy to use the corresponding player functions for the users not having System Storage attached. When System Storage is available, Flash Memory Storare is not used (System Storage is used instead).

Flash Memory Storage availability and capacity depends on a particular Dune model:

• Dune HD Max, Dune HD Duo: Flash Memory Storage is always available and its capacity is ~100MB (due to total 256MB of main flash memory in these models).
• Dune HD Base 3.0, Dune BD Prime 3.0, Dune HD Smart D1/H1/B1: Flash Memory Storage can be enabled/disabled (disabled by default) and its capacity is ~16MB. Enabling Flash Memory Storage is performed automatically when it is needed for the first time, or can be performed manually via Setup. When Flash Memory Storage is enabled, some optional firmware components (asian fonts) are removed from the flash memory. When firmware is reinstalled/updated, Flash Memory Storage becomes disabled again and these optional firmware components are restored automatically (until Flash Memory Storage is required again by some application). If these optional firmware components are required, Flash Memory Storage can not be used (System Storage should be used instead).
• Dune HD Lite 53D: Flash Memory Storage is always available and its capacity is ~16MB.

Setup section "Miscellaneous / System Storage" allows to see the current status of Flash Memory Storage and provides the following functions:

• "Enable Flash Memory Storage": allows to enable Flash Memory Storage (only for Dune models where Flash Memory Storage is optional, other Dune models have Flash Memory Storage always enabled).
• "Clear Flash Memory Storage": deletes all data from Flash Memory Storage.