kernel and firmware, what is it ? Huisun miniPTZ

patrickmx

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Hi,
I'd like to understand what's the diference between the system files.
To update my Huisun miniPTZ, I used files that I found here.
One is the firmware and the ZIP name begins with INPC.
The other one seems to be a kernel and it's name is UPG_S_Kernel_201611231524.zip

I did those updates for a while but I never understood what they are for.
Any one could be fine to explain their role ? I could be usefull for me to try to repair the problems that I have with this cam.
Thanks
 

alastairstevenson

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Any one could be fine to explain their role ?
The IPNC update file holds the main application and it's very many supporting files.
These include drivers for sensors, kernel extensions specific to the hardware, lots of small programs and scripts and data files that support the main application.

The term 'kernel' generally applies to the core Linux operating system that provides the 'engine' for all the programs that operate in a fully-booted system.
In this specific case, though, the 'kernel' part of the firmware update also includes some of the more basic components of the environment that prepare and describe the hardware and make it ready for the kernel to boot into.
In the 'kernel' part of the update are included the 'bootstrap', which is the first software to run at power-on. It loads up the 'bootloader' which sets up the hardware ready to then load up the 'kernel' which provides the running operating system for the applications to execute under.
There is also a data segment that holds the low-level hardware definition information that the bootloader and kernel require as part of their operation.

There is a close connection between modules and drivers and the kernel itself, which is why when a module or driver changes, and updated kernel is also required.

Shown below is an example of those components in extracted form from the firmware distribution :
Code:
alastair@PC-I5 ~/cctv/Huisun/camerafirmware/IPNC_S2l2.1.1_build20161229101557 $ ll
total 6440
drwxr-xr-x  4 alastair alastair    4096 Aug 24 19:39  ./
drwxr-xr-x 14 alastair alastair    4096 May  6 08:55  ../
drwxr-xr-x  2 alastair alastair    4096 Jan 16  2017  contents/
-rw-r--r--  1 alastair alastair 3140567 Jan 16  2017  IPNC_S2l2.1.1_build20161229101557.zip
drwxr-xr-x  2 alastair alastair    4096 Jan 16  2017  kernel/
-rw-rw-r--  1 alastair alastair 1714410 Nov 23  2016  package.bin
-rw-r--r--  1 alastair alastair     907 Jan 16  2017 'Upgrade Notes.txt'
-rw-r--r--  1 alastair alastair 1713532 Jan 16  2017  UPG_S_Kernel_201611231524.zip
alastair@PC-I5 ~/cctv/Huisun/camerafirmware/IPNC_S2l2.1.1_build20161229101557 $ ll contents
total 6572
drwxr-xr-x 2 alastair alastair    4096 Jan 16  2017 ./
drwxr-xr-x 4 alastair alastair    4096 Aug 24 19:39 ../
-rw-r--r-- 1 alastair alastair   12555 Dec  5  2016 ar0130.ko
-rw-r--r-- 1 alastair alastair   22764 Jun 22  2016 ar0230.ko
-rw-r--r-- 1 alastair alastair  101990 Jun  8  2016 exfat.ko
-rw-r--r-- 1 alastair alastair   35640 Jul 22  2016 fsck.vfat
-rw-r--r-- 1 alastair alastair    1373 Dec 29  2016 index.ini
-rw-r--r-- 1 alastair alastair 2264481 Dec 29  2016 ipnc.tgz
-rw-r--r-- 1 alastair alastair  239072 Jul 12  2016 M342_MiniPtz.bin
-rw-r--r-- 1 alastair alastair  250852 Nov  1  2016 M342_ZoomCam.bin
-rw-r--r-- 1 alastair alastair   44680 Jul 22  2016 mkfs.vfat
-rw-r--r-- 1 alastair alastair 3141154 Dec 29  2016 package.bin
-rwxr-xr-x 1 alastair alastair   21303 Sep  1  2016 S90ipnc*
-rw-r--r-- 1 alastair alastair   13512 Aug  2  2016 STM32F030F4_MiniPtz.bin
-rw-r--r-- 1 alastair alastair   10284 Oct 18  2016 STM32F030F4_PtContrl.bin
-rw-r--r-- 1 alastair alastair  535829 Dec 29  2016 web.tgz
alastair@PC-I5 ~/cctv/Huisun/camerafirmware/IPNC_S2l2.1.1_build20161229101557 $ ll kernel
total 3736
drwxr-xr-x 2 alastair alastair    4096 Jan 16  2017 ./
drwxr-xr-x 4 alastair alastair    4096 Aug 24 19:39 ../
-rwxr--r-- 1 alastair alastair  196608 Nov 23  2016 bld.bin*
-rwxr--r-- 1 alastair alastair   65536 Nov 23  2016 bst.bin*
-rw-r--r-- 1 alastair alastair     424 Nov 23  2016 index.ini
-rw-r--r-- 1 alastair alastair 1714410 Nov 23  2016 package.bin
-rwxr--r-- 1 alastair alastair 1769472 Nov 23  2016 pri.bin*
-rwxr--r-- 1 alastair alastair   65536 Nov 23  2016 ptb.bin*
alastair@PC-I5 ~/cctv/Huisun/camerafirmware/IPNC_S2l2.1.1_build20161229101557 $
 

patrickmx

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Thank for your answer. I understand better now.
So, the update that I did with IPNC_S2l2.1.1_build20170314122826.zip is the only that I have to do, because it contains all needed files. Fine ! (but doesn't solve my problems).
Have a nice day
 

alastairstevenson

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the update that I did with IPNC_S2l2.1.1_build20170314122826.zip is the only that I have to do, because it contains all needed files.
Be guided by the Upgrade Notes - they specify what must be done, and whether a kernel update is also needed.
 
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