techSanctuary

After moving, I decided to forego a traditional landline. With a cable modem and cell phone, it just wasn't needed. Unfortunately, I forgot about my Series 1 TiVo.

These instructions describe how to network a Series 1 Tivo over a serial cable, to a Gentoo Linux machine, using PPP. These instructions are based on those found here. This setup assumes that the Gentoo Linux machine is already properly configured to access the internet over a LAN.

NOTE: I've added a polished version of these instructions to the Gentoo-Wiki.

Tivo

Attach the supplied serial cable to your TiVo. Attach the other end to your Gentoo Linux machine using a null-modem adapter. On your TiVo, change your dialing prefix.

,#211

Gentoo

If you don't already know which serial port you are using, perform the following.

# cat /dev/ttyS0

Start a "Test Call" and look for garbage. Type Ctrl-C to quit. If you didn't see garbage, try /dev/ttyS1 and so forth. Emerge PPP if needed. # emerge -Dav ppp Edit /etc/sysctl.conf to turn on IP forwarding in the kernel. This change requires a reboot. net.ipv4.ip_forward = 1 Modify /etc/conf.d/net.ppp0 so that it has the following options. You should change "ipaddr" to the IP of your Gentoo Linux machine. The "remip" option can be any unused IP on the same subnet. In this case I've made it one more than "ipaddr".

debug=no
persist=yes
hardflowctl=no
escapechars=no
peerdns=no
ipaddr=192.168.1.6
remip=192.168.1.7
netmask=''
mru=''
mtu=''
username=''
ondemand=no
pppoptions='maxfail 0 proxyarp local nocrtscts noauth lcp-max-configure 100'

Start the pppd daemon.

# /etc/init.d/net.ppp0 start

Try a "Test Call" again. If everything is working properly, add it to your default run-level.

# rc-update add net.ppp0 default

Congratulations. Your TiVo can now "dial-in" without a landline.