Extract and Compress Rootfs.Tar.bz2 Using Vu+ Zero 4k Receiver

The root file systems for enigma2 fta receivers are packaged in several different ways. A common compression method used in the 4K receivers is .tar.bz2. An image is downloaded in a compressed form which usually contains a folder, then a sub-folder with a group of files in it as seen in this screencap.
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The rootfs.tar.bz2 package contains all the root file system folders that are seen in the receiver's image or file system when viewed through FileZilla or other ftp program. Extracting or decompressing the rootfs.tar.bz2 package is easy to do, and can be done using the Zero 4K receiver. Once extracted, the files can be adjusted. You may add custom files or you may delete items such as pre-installed channels or satellite files. It is also very easy to compress the root files system back into the rootfs.tar.bz2 format and load your changes or modifications into the receiver.

Disclaimer:
Enigma2 receivers have been very generous for many years when it comes to downloading or installing bad or corrupted files. About the only way to make an enigma2 receiver useless is to destroy the bootloader, which I have seen maybe a handful of people do over a 5 year period. I can say with confidence that you will not harm your enigma2 receiver by loading a bad or corrupted rootfs.tar.bz2 file. A corrupted or bad rootfs.tar.bz2 file will cause the receiver to fail on boot, but reloading a good rootfs.tar.bz2 file after the receiver fails to boot will correct it. I am not responsible for any receiver failures by providing the information in this thread . Always load files at your own risk!

The rootfs.tar.bz2 file is found in many different brands or models of receivers. I will demonstrate using the Vu+ Zero 4K receiver, but the exact same or similar methods can be used on Octagon SF4008 and other receivers that have the same file format. It is a good idea to use a receiver that the image was created for. You do this so the file permissions will be set correctly. Modifying or decompressing the rootfs.tar.bz2 file outside of the intended receiver will work, but you may have some permissions that will need to be changed or modified. It is easiest to use the receiver, and only modify images for that particular receiver model.

Here is what you need:
(1) Vu+ Zero 4K receiver.
(2) Computer with telnet capability.
(3) FileZilla or other ftp program.

Pay Attention to details: Little things matter the most!

There are several different ways this process can be done, but what I will outline works. Feel free to make changes, take shortcuts, or modify procedures, but understand what you are doing and how it works!

(1) Start by backing up the image in the receiver. Make a Full Backup using BackupSuite or similar. Do this before doing anything else.
(2) Start a telnet session. Telnet into the box and make a root directory folder named 1. (Telnet commands listed below.)
(a) cd /
(b) mkdir /1
(c) ls
Use "ls" to verify that folder 1 was created in the root file system

Next, transfer the rootfs.tar.bz2 that you want to open or decompress to the folder 1 in the receiver.
Decompress it by doing this in telnet:
cd /1 (root@vuzero4k:/# cd /1)
tar -vxjf /1/rootfs.tar.bz2 (root@vuzero4k:/1# tar -vxjf /1/rootfs.tar.bz2)
The file will decompress. Watch the telnet output and verify there are no errors.

Delete the rootfs.tar.bz2 file from the folder 1 now. You do not need it anymore in this folder!
Leaving rootfs.tar.bz2 will cause it to be included when you compress these files. This will cause boot failure!
Make any changes to the file system that you desire.

Repack or Compress:
Make certain the Original rootfs.tar.bz2 has been deleted from the extracted file system. Check using the telnet "ls" command (root@vuzero4k:/1# ls).
Compress the file system usingtar cpjf /1/rootfs.tar.bz2 . (Please note the period after bz2!)

Quote:

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root@vuzero4k:/1# tar cpjf /1/rootfs.tar.bz2 .
tar: ./rootfs.tar.bz2: file is the archive; skipping

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Wait for the compression to finish. Look for this.

Quote:

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root@vuzero4k:/1#

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Check it using "ls". The rootfs.tar.bz2 should be in folder 1. The size of rootfs.tar.bz2 may be different when compared to the original. The NEW size of rootfs.tar.bz2 will depend on what changes were made.

Basically, that is all that has to be done. You may return the modded rootfs.tar.bz2 to its correct location in the image folder, and install the image into the receiver.
It would be a good idea to delete folder 1 from the system files if you are going to continue running the receiver without doing anything else. Restoring the backup is an easy way. You may also remove folder 1 from the system using telnet or FileZilla.

There is a lot of customizing that can be done with enigma2 receivers. File systems like rootfs.tar.bz2 make changing things very easy. I would like to see more interest in modifying enigma2 systems, especially in North America. I am open to ideas or suggestions.

OpenATV preloads channels and bouquets for satellites that are useless in North America. the channels and bouquets are stored in a zip file located in /etc of an uninstalled image. Simply delete this file and the European channels and bouquets will be deleted.

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