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You keep archives of your personal files, do the same for Audrey

Compact Flash cards are getting cheaper -- your time isn't

You are going to want to learn how to save Audrey's memory. After having spent a lot of time and worry with the hacking procedures, it's time to make an archive of Audrey's complete software load.

SORRY This tutorial is 'bas-ackwards'. Since many folks have already learned how to get to the point in the hacks where you get 'root', I'm assuming that it won't be long before either folks are swapping Compact Flash cards, or we will find a way to do the thing via some web-based files.


So we'll start with how to get Audrey to Boot from the Compact Flash

First, make sure that Audrey's power is off (using a power strip ?)

Either you make it yourself, or someone makes it for you.

The Compact Flash card slips in easily after you've removed the external cover of the socket.

Note that the 'label' side of the CF is facing the back of the Audrey.

And there is one edge which obviously is populated with pin-holes...

The 'Secret' Power-On sequence

Update !
According to scythic of the Linux bbs:
First, It's always best to try booting from the flash image (by holding down just the "Datebook" icon).
If this works, the flash is probably safe. If not, you don't corrupt your Audrey
This will take some time, and when finished, you will notice that there is a definite 'flicker' to the normally steady screen.
Not to worry. This is just an artifact of running from the CF card image.

To completely 'refresh' Audrey from a 'known good' Compact Flash 'clone card :

With the power Unplugged, depress and hold both the Datebook and the Power on/off buttons.

Hold them in
while you plug in the power, or switch on the power strip.
.

Hold them until you see a black screen that announces:
Loading from Compact Flash

Almost Cloned

You'll also see other messages, in white letters on a green background, and a sort of 'progress chart'.

What is happening is that the contents of the 'clone' Compact Flash card are being tested for reasonableness, and if it looks good, Audrey will erase its internal Flash memory, then copy the 'clone' CF to the internal Flash memory.

So, if you have a power failure while in the middle of this procedure, pray, then go back to the top of this procedure and do it again...?

When the process is finished, you will see a message asking that you remove the Compact Flash card.
If Audrey doesn't boot herself automatically, and go to the 3COM Presents screen, just do another power cycle.

TOO Cloned !

Obviously, if you have more than one Audrey, you cannot assign the same IP address to each one. This clone process will also give the 'cloned' Audrey an IP address that is the same as the one that you used to create the CF card.

You Must give 'this' Audrey a new IP address.

Just push the Audrey Options button, touch the Audrey Options button, and then touch the Internet Settings icon, and then touch the Advanced Information. Then just change the last number of the IP address to whatever you need to make this Audrey 'unique'.

Most likely the 'clone' card you just used includes some of the 'hacks' to the Audrey's operational system

This means that this Audrey can now be used to 'flash' another Compact Flash card, (or cards). And of course share them with others :-)


You Must get 'root' before you can create a Compact Flash Image
( Many thanks to 'tdemark' and the linux-hacker list )


Note: At no time is there any reason to enter the '[' or ']' keys.
These are only used for clarity.


Start by snatching some 'button' files
from this nice soul : .
Go there and download them with your browser or ftp client. They are :
A little thing about getting these files

It could be that your Stuffit Expander preferences are not set correctly. Please see the
steps for setting 'never' in the preferences to convert these files.

PUT these files at the top directory of your Mac (top disk, inside, NOT on the desktop)

Back at the Audrey to set up the 'shell' window
ON the Mac where you downloaded the files... Back at the Audrey in the 'shell' window NOTE: You are now EDITING a VERY important document.
Just be careful and remember that you can bail out at any time by just shutting off the power :-)


We are going to 'comment-out' three lines, and insert a couple of lines in a text document.

Navigate around this 'page' using the arrow keys.
We will edit each of these lines :
Just a few exact keystrokes :

Note: This is not a tutorial about how to use the text editor 'vi'
With the exception of the use of the CURSOR (arrow) keys,
enter the Keys exactly as they are described below:

That's all there is to 'getting root'.

Now SAVE Audrey's memory to a Compact Flash card

Do a power-down of any sort for at least 60 seconds, and when she
recovers, push the Audrey Actions button, and then touch 'Audrey Options'.
You should now see two new icons Shutdown and Shell

Just touch the Shell icon and you'll see a 'terminal window' with 'root' priviledges.

Now just in case you were wondering... YES this is a dangerous thing.
But it's nothing more than a few keystrokes...

From here you can 'save' your Compact Flash image (and all your hard work)

Assuming that you have a Compact Flash card, of at least 32MB, insert it)
( we're still at the prompt ? )
It should take between one and three minutes for this to complete.
When you see the command line prompt again, Audrey's memory has been saved.
You should remove the CF card
And now maybe why not reboot Audrey ?

update 10/20/01: Do NOT turn the Power OFF while you have a CF card inserted in the CF slot.
You can push the power on/off button, but do not switch the AC off...

To use this new Audrey image, to restore or clone another Audrey

It's been bas-ackwards indeed, but maybe you can see why ?

How to get VNC onto the Audrey

The Audrey Tips and Links page

Back to the main Audrey page

A great site dedicated to Audrey, with more great links

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Copyright 2007, Sand Hill Engineering All rights reserved.

Mac Made

Last modified: October 20, 2007
Michael Ferguson, webmaster@shed.com