Telnet hack on Kobo Mini

njpollard · 02-09-2013, 01:06 PM

Hi all,

I'm a reaonably proficient Linux user and developer, but having real problems getting the basic telnet hack working on my new Kobo Mini.

It seems that my amended KoboRoot.tgz file isn't being installed on the reader when I restart it.

As a simple test I've just added the following as the second line of /etc/init.d/rcS (as suggested in https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=197652 ):

Code:

echo hello > /mnt/onboard/hello.txt

I've created a tar file containing just that file (with the relevant path), added it to the .kobo directory on my device and unplugged. My Mini says updating, and reboots but doesn't create the hello.txt file.

I'm running firmware 2.3.1.

Any ideas? I've spent 6 hours trying variations on a theme and I'm ready to resign from my job as a programmer becuase I'm clearly too stupid!

Below is a link to my KoboRoot.tgz file if someone would be kind enough to check I haven't done something obviously wrong.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/108669071/KoboRoot.tgz

Thanks in advance,
Neil

PeterT · 02-09-2013, 01:24 PM

When I look at the tar file I think I see etc\init.d

Looking at one from Kobo I see .\etc\init.d

KevinShort · 02-09-2013, 01:30 PM

The problem is that you're trying to echo to /mnt/onboard before it has been mounted. Move the echo line to the end of the rcS file and it should work.

njpollard · 02-09-2013, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinShort

The problem is that you're trying to echo to /mnt/onboard before it has been mounted. Move the echo line to the end of the rcS file and it should work.

Thanks for your help. I put the command before the call to nickel and that now works. I should have examined rcS more closely.

I at least know that the KoboRoot is being unpacked now.

However, I've now replaced that line with:

Code:

/mnt/onboard/run.sh &

And put the echo statement into run.sh in the USB root of the Mini and it's no longer working

I've also tried:

Code:

/bin/sh /mnt/onboard/run.sh &

KevinShort · 02-09-2013, 06:51 PM

try changing the line to the following:

Code:

/mnt/onboard/run.sh > /mnt/onboard/run.log 2>&1 &

It should then create a log file that will tell you what's going wrong.

njpollard · 02-10-2013, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinShort

try changing the line to the following:

Code:

/mnt/onboard/run.sh > /mnt/onboard/run.log 2>&1 &

It should then create a log file that will tell you what's going wrong.

Thanks again for your help. I have an answer. No idea why this doesn't work, though:-

Code:

line 134: /mnt/onboard/run.sh: not found

The run.sh script is in the same directory as run.log

njpollard · 02-10-2013, 04:08 PM

Have managed to get telnet access by adding the relevant commands to the end of rcS rather than using run.sh.

That's also helped me to work out what's wrong: the run.sh file I was editing had an odd character in the first line (after #! /bin/sh). It was visible using vi but not my normal editor on my PC.

Thanks to KevinShort for all your help, and to PeterT, too, for your suggestion.

DomesticExtremis · 02-10-2013, 05:34 PM

Was it a '\r' by any chance? (iirc shows as ^M in vi).
If so, you need to run your files through dos2unix before placing on the Kobo.

02-09-2013, 01:06 PM	#1
njpollard Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2013 Device: Kobo Mini	Telnet hack on Kobo Mini Hi all, I'm a reaonably proficient Linux user and developer, but having real problems getting the basic telnet hack working on my new Kobo Mini. It seems that my amended KoboRoot.tgz file isn't being installed on the reader when I restart it. As a simple test I've just added the following as the second line of /etc/init.d/rcS (as suggested in https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=197652 ): Code: echo hello > /mnt/onboard/hello.txt I've created a tar file containing just that file (with the relevant path), added it to the .kobo directory on my device and unplugged. My Mini says updating, and reboots but doesn't create the hello.txt file. I'm running firmware 2.3.1. Any ideas? I've spent 6 hours trying variations on a theme and I'm ready to resign from my job as a programmer becuase I'm clearly too stupid! Below is a link to my KoboRoot.tgz file if someone would be kind enough to check I haven't done something obviously wrong. https://dl.dropbox.com/u/108669071/KoboRoot.tgz Thanks in advance, Neil

02-09-2013, 06:51 PM	#5
KevinShort Addict Posts: 348 Karma: 209937 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Virginia, US Device: Kobo Wifi, Kobo Glo	try changing the line to the following: Code: /mnt/onboard/run.sh > /mnt/onboard/run.log 2>&1 & It should then create a log file that will tell you what's going wrong.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Kobo mini Glo?	Joonlego	Kobo Reader	7	01-17-2013 08:36 PM
How do you like your Kobo Mini?	bcgirl	Kobo Reader	8	12-14-2012 01:40 PM
Kobo Mini: So, which is it?	twowheels	Kobo Reader	5	12-13-2012 09:19 AM
Mini Kobo Mini	robdrob	Kobo Reader	57	10-31-2012 04:29 PM
Kobo Touch Telnet Images	CdnBloodlust	Kobo Developer's Corner	8	08-10-2012 05:31 AM

02-09-2013, 01:24 PM	#2
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,166 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	When I look at the tar file I think I see etc\init.d Looking at one from Kobo I see .\etc\init.d

02-09-2013, 01:30 PM	#3
KevinShort Addict Posts: 348 Karma: 209937 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Virginia, US Device: Kobo Wifi, Kobo Glo	The problem is that you're trying to echo to /mnt/onboard before it has been mounted. Move the echo line to the end of the rcS file and it should work.

02-10-2013, 04:08 PM	#7
njpollard Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2013 Device: Kobo Mini	Have managed to get telnet access by adding the relevant commands to the end of rcS rather than using run.sh. That's also helped me to work out what's wrong: the run.sh file I was editing had an odd character in the first line (after #! /bin/sh). It was visible using vi but not my normal editor on my PC. Thanks to KevinShort for all your help, and to PeterT, too, for your suggestion.

02-10-2013, 05:34 PM	#8
DomesticExtremis Addict Posts: 243 Karma: 359054 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: default	Was it a '\r' by any chance? (iirc shows as ^M in vi). If so, you need to run your files through dos2unix before placing on the Kobo.