Hijack v344 is now available.

New in this version:

(1) FTP Filesystem source code is in the kernel source tree, but NOT configured or compiled in by default. No bloat that way, but it's still there for people like me who build their own kernels. This will eventually move to the RioReceiver kernels.

(2) Added a new Hijack config.ini option: trace_fs=1 When set, this option causes all file accesses to be logged via the serial port. Very useful for seeing what the player thinks it is doing at any point in time..

(3) More comprehensive support for /empeg/fids?/_xxxxx/ subdirectories. Hijack now detects the "new" fids (tunes & playlists) layout in /empeg/fids?/*, and automatically redirects ALL accesses to the appropriate subdirectory, if one exists. This means that if you convert your fids subdirs to this new format using the attached script, fidsift.sh (download and run it on your player, once ever), Hijack will ensure that all subsequent sync operations respect and use the new structure, whether they want to or not!

Background: the player software (v2 and v3) already supports the new structure, but has a deficiency whereby it normally does not download new tunes into the subdirs, even when such subdirs already exist. For playback and database rebuilds, the player software DOES look in the subdirs, as well as the top level /empeg/fids?/ directories. This and subsequent hijack versions now force the player software to always use the subdirectories if they exist, and ONLY the subdirectories -- preventing accidental duplication and confusion when the same file name may exist in both places.

Switching your player over to the new structure is EASY -- just download and run the attached script once on your player. Running it more than once is okay too, but not needed (harmless).

EDIT: script is available here.

Why do this? It can dramatically speed up access to tunes on a heavily loaded player (thousands of tracks, or even tens of thousands of tracks), cutting "sync" times by 20-50% or more. It also speeds up the Hijack web interface, and helps the player slightly during normal music playback.

Why not do it? If you ever upload new tracks to the player later without Hijack installed, then things will work just fine -- until you reinstall Hijack. At that point, nothing bad happens, but you will need to re-run the attached script before the uploaded tunes can be accessed through Hijack. Hardly a blip for anyone, I suspect.

I would especially like to see Paul try this out.

Cheers