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:

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).

DSF service files for working with System Storage.

You can also use the following service files ("DSF" files) for initializing System Storage and performing other operations on System Storage:

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:

For all other kinds of data that can be stored in System Storage, Flash Memory Storage can not be used, and System Storage is still required.

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:

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