Help with upgrading an older VortexBox Appliance.

[conwaynyc]

I have an old VB Appliance 2TB CD Ripping NAS running Vortex SW1.6, fedora 14, LMS 7.5.1 Can I anyone talk me through upgrading to version 2.3?
I have tried through the UI upgrade panel and the log returns:
08/01/2017 13:36:28 - Starting upgrade. (This can take a long time...) Loaded plugins: langpacks, presto, refresh-packagekit 08/01/2017 13:36:34 - Upgrade complete. Please reboot your VortexBox.
But after reboot, nothing has changed.
I am not too savvy technically, so any guidance would be appreciated.
I've put this appliance back in service after a long downtime and would really like to get the most current LMS player.

[jimmi]

You can only update to a newer version of Fedora and VB by reinstalling. Here's a link for both VB 2.3 and 2.4. If your VB appliance has a 64 bit processor you can go to 2.4. Both versions include LMS 7.9.1
Be sure to backup your music library before you start.

http://wiki.vortexbox.org/available_images

[conwaynyc]

Thank you for replying so quickly. I'm thinking this is over my head.
Is there somewhere I could send my Appliance in and have it updated?

[Doris1997]

Just upgraded mine from Ver. 2.2 to 2.4 it really was not difficult (do backup your music/movie directories to a usb drive)!

[conwaynyc]

Thank you Dorris1997 - can I ask a couple of questions? Do I need to connect a keyboard and monitor to the appliance for the reinstall? Is there a way to do it from my PC on the network - like if I boot my PC to Unbutu? Can you tell me the steps you used?

[Doris1997]

Read through this entire Procedure before starting:

Do use the complete below procedure for going to version 2.4 and be sure your platform is 64bit if not use the 2.3 iso.

Yes ... you absolutely need to connect a VGA monitor & keyboard and have a working ethernet connection & have that working Ethernet connection connected to your VortexBox before starting.

Excellent detailed instructions are on this forums wiki and you should use those as your primary instructions!

[Purchase a new hard drive and remove the old (this removed drive will be your "Fail Safe drive") just in case something goes wrong you can reinstall this drive and be right where you were before you started]!!!

If you feel that you do not have the ability to remove your old Hard Drive "stop and get competent help)!

1) IMPORTANT: Back up your music/movie libraries to a USB drive of adequate size using the Vortexbox GUI USB backup app. & select copy to USB backup (this can take some time).

2) IMPORTANT: Take a good readable photo of your Vortexbox "Configure Player" & "Network Configuration" page you will need this to restore any custom output port settings, take a photo of anything else in the Vortexbox GUI that you may want to save and restore.

Warning: remember to remove the power cord & beware of static discharge from your hands & all surfaces when handling all electronics & take care removing the cables from the old (Fail Safe hard drive) ... At least for now guard this drive with your life!

3) Remove the old "Fail Safe" drive & Install the blank new drive. (Remove the two cables at the drive side only not at the systemboard take care not to break or bend any of the connector pins) press the release tab of the connector & pull the connector straight out so you won’t break or bend any pins!

4) Download the un-zipped 2.4 iso image (use below link).

http://wiki.vortexbox.org/available_images

WARNING: Installing an image will erase all data on the drive.
During install when prompted answer any questions,
Once your image is installed you will be prompted to reboot
Remove the CD from the drive so it won't boot again.
Select reboot.

5) Burn the “un-zipped” 2.4 iso image to a blank 700mb CD-R using the free iso disc burning program (ISO Recorder, below link) that you can download using the below link that's on the forums wiki page, make the CD drive the first boot device in bios put the disc in the drive close the tray and reboot the appliance.

http://wiki.vortexbox.org/installing..._a_writable_cd

Your image is installed!

6) Extremely IMPORTANT: do the final below steps that are in the 2.4 install wiki instructions:

http://wiki.vortexbox.org/vortexbox_...n_instructions

Important: If you cannot connect to your Vortexbox with your web browser ... Your Vortexbox IP address has changed ... Login to your appliance at the command prompt type "ifconfig" without the quotes to find your new Vortexbox IP address.

7) Restore your music/movie libraries from your USB backup drive using the same Vortexbox GUI USB backup app however this time select restore from USB backup (this to can take some time)!

Important: Only If needed: Ensure all your external audio output device cables are securely seated in there respective ports of your appliance.

8) Only If needed: Restore your "Configure Player" settings that you photographed earlier.

Your Done!

Things you will need:

a) You will need an external USB drive that is of sufficient size to backup what's on your 2TB internal drive.

b) You should purchase a 3TB internal drive to swap out your active 2TB internal drive, this original drive will be your "Fail Safe".drive, purchase a Western Digital “Red”drive 5400rpm 64mb cache to keep you appliance overhead down.
(optional: add more memory if you can 2 sticks of 2gb for a total of 4gb).

c) Purchase a small box of blank 700mb CD-R's ( you will only need one) a Phillips screw driver.

WARNING: deviate from the above procedure at your own Risk!
If you feel that you do not have the ability to remove your old Hard Drive "stop and get competent help)!


Should you decide to try;

May the force be with you.

Are you in New York City?

[conwaynyc]

Yes, i am in NYC.
Thank you so much - this is brilliant! Especially using the new drive, which I never would have thought of.
I really appreciate your taking the time to list this out for me. I'm going to get all of the gear together and give it a go!
Much appreciated. Hopefully, success will be reported soon!

[jimmi]

You really should have a monitor hooked up to see what's going on. I'm surprised that Doris got it done going blind! Glad it's working for you. The approach for 2.4 is the same, although 2.3 with LMS 7.9.1 will be fine.

[davep]

I have a 1TB Vortexbox that I got a few years ago. I want to enable it to have at least 2TB. My understanding is that I can't do that unless I upgrade the version of VB. I think my CPU is only 32bit,which I understand to mean that I can only upgrade to VB 2.3. I cannot understand if the RAM is sufficient. Is Cache Size the same as RAM? Ideally, I wish I could just leave the internal drive alone and just have external drives that I could expand the size if necessary without having to open the box or upgrade the OS. The main thing, though, is that I seem to be running out of music storage space and need some way to get more storage space.

Here are the specs from my Specifications page:


Processors4
ModelIntel(R) Atom(TM) CPU D510 @ 1.66GHz
CPU Speed1.67 GHz
Cache Size512.00 KB
System Bogomips13301.92
PCI Devices-Audio device: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family High Definition Audio Controller
-Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller
-Host bridge: Intel Corporation N10 Family DMI Bridge
-IDE interface: Intel Corporation N10/ICH7 Family SATA IDE Controller
-ISA bridge: Intel Corporation NM10 Family LPC Controller
-PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge
-PCI bridge: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family PCI Express Port 1
-PCI bridge: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family PCI Express Port 3
-SMBus: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family SMBus Controller
-USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #1
-USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #2
-USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #3
-USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #4
-USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB2 EHCI Controller
-VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation N10 Family Integrated Graphics Controller
IDE Devicesnone
SCSI Devices-ATA WDC WD10EARX-00N (Direct-Access)
-Optiarc DVD RW AD-7280S (CD-ROM)
-Toshiba External USB 3.0 (Direct-Access)
USB Devices-Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
-(4x) Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
-(2x) C-Media Electronics, Inc. CM102-A+/102S+ Audio Controller
-Toshiba America Info. Systems, Inc.




Can someone please advise me of the best way to upgrade?

[Doris1997]

I'm sure I have the exact same appliance as you, I upgraded to Ver. 2.4 as well as going from a 1TB drive to a 3TB no trouble at all!

Your appliance is 64bit, ... backup your data on a external drive, buy a 3TB internal drive and just replace your 1TB drive this drive will become your Fail safe drive see my above detailed original install post)., burn the 2.4 iso to a CD-R and install.

Replacing the internal drive in that appliance is easy!

Should you decide to try;

May the force be with you!

[davep]

Thank you Doris! It looks like I lost the opportunity to do it this past weekend, but I will try to get prepared during the weeknights this week. You told me what I needed to know and your willingness to help me is truly appreciated! I have avoided upgrading my machine over these years out of fear that something would go wrong and I would be left in a mess -- especially since I don't know Unix. I will follow your advice and get the 3TB drive. I think I can swap it out with no problem. I will get Putty loaded up and submit the iscpu command as you suggest. The fact that you have the exact same machine gives me a lot of confidence. I think I can burn the CD-R on my own, so I will pursue that too, but it is super that you are willing to send me the disk if I need it.

[Doris1997]

Your Welcome!

No need for putty just connect a monitor & keyboard log into your VB ... you have a 64bit appliance ... I assume you already have a backup drive of sufficient size. You will still have your original drive with Vortexbox OS and all your data on it as well! Let us know how you make out.

Purchase a Western Digital "Red" drive to keep you appliance overhead down add more memory if you can 2 sticks of 2gb for a total of 4gb ... & May the force be with you!

[agillis]

If you purchased a VortexBox from Small Green Computer it is 64-bit and can use any VortexBox OS.

[davep]

Hi Doris! After an unforeseen delay, I finally was able to do the upgrade yesterday. All appeared to go well when installing ver 2.4. I decided not to replace the internal drive and instead decided to store my music on a spare 3TB external drive.

The install of 2.4 went well following your instructions. I then copied my music to the external drive from my backup, ensuring the folder structure was the same as per the instructions here:

http://wiki.vortexbox.org/how_to_use..._for_storage?s[]=usb&s[]=drive

All went perfectly there until the very last instruction, where it said to type this command:
chown squeezeboxserver:squeezeboxserver /storage/music/playlist

When I did, I got this response:
Cannot access /storage/music/playlist No such file or directory.

I hooked my drive back up to my PC to verify that it is there, and /storage/music/playlist is indeed in the file system. I then just went ahead and hooked everything up as if nothing was wrong, but I just get this message when I try to access it through the web server:

This site can’t be reached

So Doris, if I had simply replaced my 1TB drive with a 3TB, then I suppose I would have been ok. Now all I have is one big mess -- which is exactly why I was so reluctant to make any changes over the past 4 years. Since I have absolutely no knowledge of Unix, there is no way I can do anything at all on my own.

I also realized that I forgot to take a screen image of my port configuration settings before starting. In addition to all the Squeezebox devices, I also have two stereo systems that are directly connected via optical cables connected to the USB ports so they won't be working.

Because of that, I am now also short a USB slot (when you consider that I also need one for my backup drive) so I am hoping that a simple USB hub will handle that. In the meantime, if you have any idea how to help with this, please let me know. I suspect this comes back to Andrew, however. By the way, Andrew, this box was purchased from you at Small Green Computer.

[Doris1997]

Wow Dave I'm sorry to hear that you ran into a problem ... I'm sorry I do not know what to suggest and I hope Andrew or one of the resident Vortexbox Guru's (which I am not) will come to your aid my instructions deeply depended on your having your original internal drive as "fail safe" ... let us know how you eventually recover (which you should be able too) and try not to make things worst while you await a response! Good Luck!