Copying Files

[RobWilliamsLB]

Am i supposed to copy the files from mmc/cgi-bin/ into the SD Card root directory? Is what my SD card root directory looks like? Also is exFat same as Fat 32? Sorry for all the bad questions. I have attempted instructions but am unsuccessful to this point.

[guino]

it should look like this:

-rwxr-xr-x    1 wagner   root           263 Jan 27 11:29 set
-rwxr-xr-x    1 wagner   root          7956 Jan 15 16:47 jpeg-arm
-rwxr-xr-x    1 wagner   root           102 Dec  4 15:31 ppsMmcTool.txt
-rwxr-xr-x    1 wagner   root           927 Dec  4 18:00 env
-rwxr-xr-x    1 wagner   root          1115 Dec  5 00:15 initrun.sh
-rwxr-xr-x    1 wagner   root            40 Nov 24 15:28 passwd
-rwxr-xr-x    1 wagner   root       1152216 Nov 23 18:50 busybox
drwxr-xr-x    2 wagner   root          8192 Jan 14 23:13 cgi-bin
-rwxr-xr-x    1 wagner   root          1327 Nov 24 00:28 index.html
-rwxr-xr-x    1 wagner   root            18 Nov 24 00:22 httpd.conf
-rwxr-xr-x    1 wagner   root           539 Dec  2 16:46 custom.sh
drwxr-xr-x    3 wagner   root          8192 Aug 30 12:10 SDT

And the main/mjpeg/cleanup/snap.cgi should be inside the cgi-bin directory.

exFAT is not the same thing as FAT32 and this probably be the reason why you can't get it to work. Make sure you use a tool that allows you to format in FAT32 (or use the app to format the SD card while it is in the device -- if available in your app). Also pay attention to the files you placed in the SD card -- most of yours have 100KB in size which looks like they were not downloaded correctly. I recommend using this link https://github.com/guino/Merkury720/archive/main.zip to download the repo entirely, then copy everything under mmc to the root of the FAT32 formatted SD card. Then use this link to download busybox separately (this part you did correctly it seems): https://github.com/guino/Merkury720/blob/main/mmc/busybox?raw=true

[RobWilliamsLB]

Thanks so much for you help and guidance! It is now working and I am able to use my $7 merkury cam as a webcam!

[nerdtool]

Hi Guino!
Its obvious you've really analyzed these webcams! I have a similar problem with my WalMart-purchased Merkury 720p webcam. I managed to do the initial port 80 hack to get the following info:
{
"devname":"Smart Home Camera",
"model":"Mini 7C",
"serialno":"064485682",
"softwareversion":"2.7.6",
"hardwareversion":"M7C_AK_V10_1245",
"firmwareversion":"ppstrong-a2-tuya2_geeni-2.7.6.20210207",
"authkey":"xIJThBBU4XAhG5xxgU7ajjFSYXT6DQTn",
"deviceid":"pp019d39425574c8c2c2",
"identity":"LC5004CS1E01201204",
"pid":"aaa",
"WiFi MAC":"b4:c9:b9:ce:01:eb"
}

I then downloaded the main.zip that you linked to on your github page. I copied the contents of the \mmc directory to the root of an SD card. I then downloaded the busybox you linked to directly to the SD root. I noted that there is no \SDT directory in the files I copied from the .zip file. I did the reboot while holding the reset button for 5 and alternatively 10 seconds. Neither time worked and I don't get the hack directory to be created. I formatted the SD in the camera using the app. Not certain what I'm missing.

Not certain if you are still maintaining this but any help would be most appreciated.
Regards,
NerdTool

[guino]

@nerdtool make a zip of your SD card files except for anything under SDT (which is a directory the camera creates). I can take a look for you -- it is common for people to download the files wrong or not have the correct data in the env file. Additionally I need the results from http://admin:056565099@IP/proc/cmdline for your device to make sure it is set correctly.

[nerdtool]

Wow! Thanks for the speedy response! Attached is the Zipped contents of the SD card. Also, here is the results from the cmdline: mem=64M console=ttySAK0,115200n8 mtdparts=spi0.0:256k(bld)ro,64k(env)ro,64k(enc)ro,64k(sysflg)ro,2496k(sys),4608k(app),640k(cfg) ppsAppParts=5 ip=192.168.1.99:::255.255.255.0 eth=00:55:7b:b5:7d:f7 Best Regards, NerdTool <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail&utm_term=icon> Virus-free. www.avast.com <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail&utm_term=link> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

…

On Mon, May 3, 2021 at 11:12 AM Wagner ***@***.***> wrote: @nerdtool <https://github.com/nerdtool> make a zip of your SD card files except for anything under SDT (which is a directory the camera creates). I can take a look for you -- it is common for people to download the files wrong or not have the correct data in the env file. Additionally I need the results from ***@***.***/proc/cmdline for your device to make sure it is set correctly. — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#5 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AODQWL3ARITLKAR5IZLVH6TTL3DQBANCNFSM4WXN2GMQ> .

[guino]

@nerdtool you replied the email -- this does not post the attachments into githib -- you either need to post the zip in github (using web browser) OR email me directly (my email is listed on my github account).

[guino]

@nerdtool I looked over your files and everything appears to be correct. I have the same exact camera here so I know it can work. The only thing to notice with this model is that I have seen it not like some SD card brands/models when rooting (installing the hack) -- once it's installed you can use any card you like. I have used a Samsung EVO 32Gb card to install it without issues but had problems with other brands so that's something to keep in mind.
Another user has said that only after he re-partitioned and formatted the SD card in linux that he was able to install the hack (I didn't have to do that but it is possible I may have done it in the past).
My suggestion is: try different cards/brands and/or different FAT32 format tools to see if you can make it work. Once the hack is installed you should be able to use any SD card you want with it (it's only the bootloader that is 'picky' about the card brand/formatting).

[nerdtool]

Awesome! the \hack directory was created and I now see all the other directories for the cgi files. I also turned on the image storage and the \SDT directory was created. I assume because the \hack directory was created, it was successful. Now do I need to copy the ppsapp file from your patch files?
I cant find one that corresponds directly to my version number: ppstrong-a2-tuya2_geeni-2.7.6.20210207
ppstrong-a2-tuya2_geeni-2.7.5.20200221 is "closest." Should I use that or could that brick my camera?

[guino]

@nerdtool glad you got the hack installed -- you should be able to use any SD card you want from now on, just make sure you copy all the files from the current SD card into the new one if you switch.

There's no patch for your version of ppsapp yet so you should just post a zip of your ppsapp here in github and I can patch it for you (or you can try your hand at it with the instructions from https://github.com/guino/ppsapp-rtsp, i.e. if you want to 'learn'), it's no big deal for me to do it.

[Dazenlucki]

Please Help I cant get it to work.