Hacking Question Questions about Kosmos CFW - Emunand, EmuMCC and updating FW

[moonblood666]

So I've decided to go from my current FW 7.0 to 8.1. I have downloaded the most recent KOSMOS version and the sig patches via this page. I just clicked on the minimal installation button as well as the option for sig patches since I only wanted to update Kosmos. Now I have the option of booting into CFW (SYSNAND) and CFW (EMUMCC) as well as Stock (Sysnand). From here on I need your help.

If any of the below Questions seems stupid/misinformed, keep in mind I'm new to the Switch hacking scene.

1. EMUMCC is the Emunand right? I can somehow boot into it, but I haven't created an Emunand, how is that possible? Or is it not Emunand?
   
   
2. If EMUMCC is no Emunand, what is it for?
   
   
3. How do I create an Emunand? Will it create copies of all my installed NSPs as well? Should I delete the games before then, to save space and time?
   
   
4. If I created an Emunand and boot into it, can I just update with the installed game's updater and the FW will not be changed for the Sysnand?
   
   
5. What is the better method: a) updating the Emunand and keeping the Sysnand as it is or b) updating the Sysnand with ChoiDujourNX and using AutoRCM to prevent fuse burning?
   

 

[OrGoN3]

So I've decided to go from my current FW 7.0 to 8.1. I have downloaded the most recent KOSMOS version and the sig patches via this page. I just clicked on the minimal installation button as well as the option for sig patches since I only wanted to update Kosmos. Now I have the option of booting into CFW (SYSNAND) and CFW (EMUMCC) as well as Stock (Sysnand). From here on I need your help.

If any of the below Questions seems stupid/misinformed, keep in mind I'm new to the Switch hacking scene.

1. EMUMCC is the Emunand right? I can somehow boot into it, but I haven't created an Emunand, how is that possible? Or is it not Emunand?
   
   
2. If EMUMCC is no Emunand, what is it for?
   
   
3. How do I create an Emunand? Will it create copies of all my installed NSPs as well? Should I delete the games before then, to save space and time?
   
   
4. If I created an Emunand and boot into it, can I just update with the installed game's updater and the FW will not be changed for the Sysnand?
   
   
5. What is the better method: a) updating the Emunand and keeping the Sysnand as it is or b) updating the Sysnand with ChoiDujourNX and using AutoRCM to prevent fuse burning?

1. If you didn't create an emunand, you aren't booting into one.
2. Emummc/emunand, same thing.
3. https://nh-server.github.io/switch-guide/user_guide/emummc/partitioning_sd/ You need a complete backup (rawnand) to create an emummc. If you make a backup of your current sysnand, it will include anything installed to the system. Do you have an original backup from when you first modded the system? That would work as well. Contents or not won't matter. It makes the same size backup regardless.
4. To use the installed game's updater, you have to communicate with Nintendo servers. That results in a ban 10 times of 10. So I suggest to not do that. Best is to install the game's update the same way you installed the game: with a title installer (goldleaf, tinfoil, tinfoil, tinfoil, thinfoil, etc).
5. Sysnand should only ever be updated by Nintendo. You should never use another bootloader to load stock/sysnand. So I recommend against autoRCM. I recommend updated sysnand for online play, and then keep CFW at whatever version you'd like.

 

[moonblood666]

1. If you didn't create an emunand, you aren't booting into one.

But it boots into "something" when choosing that option. What does it boot into then?

3. https://nh-server.github.io/switch-guide/user_guide/emummc/partitioning_sd/ You need a complete backup (rawnand) to create an emummc. If you make a backup of your current sysnand, it will include anything installed to the system. Do you have an original backup from when you first modded the system? That would work as well. Contents or not won't matter. It makes the same size backup regardless.

I think I have that backup on the SD card. But how do I boot into this? How do I use it? Does perhaps the EmuMMC option detect the backup on the SD card automatically and boot into that? The weird thing is that the games I installed after that are also available.

4. To use the installed game's updater, you have to communicate with Nintendo servers. That results in a ban 10 times of 10. So I suggest to not do that. Best is to install the game's update the same way you installed the game: with a title installer (goldleaf, tinfoil, tinfoil, tinfoil, thinfoil, etc).

I'm installing NSPs via Fluffy and Tinfoil 0.0.2 and the Network install method. So I would need to search for FW 8.1 NSPs online to install it that way right?

 

[OrGoN3]

But it boots into "something" when choosing that option. What does it boot into then?



I think I have that backup on the SD card. But how do I boot into this? How do I use it? Does perhaps the EmuMMC option detect the backup on the SD card automatically and boot into that? The weird thing is that the games I installed after that are also available.


I'm installing NSPs via Fluffy and Tinfoil 0.0.2 and the Network install method. So I would need to search for FW 8.1 NSPs online to install it that way right?

1. I don't know what you did or didn't do, so I can't answer that.
2. Look on the guide I linked to. It has the directions. Just look around.
3. Are you updating a game or you system firmware? System firmware on emummc is updated via ChoiDujourNX. Game updates can be installed through fluffy and tinfoil. You just have to find them first. Same places you found the games. Games won't have updates specific to a firmware. While they may require a minimum firmware to install, they are labeled as their version number (example: Game [titleid] [v65336].nsp is an update for Game).

 

[moonblood666]

Hmmm... What files should my backup folder contain? I went through the procedure about half a year ago, so I'm not sure. The folder is about 29GB of size.

 

[OrGoN3]

Hmmm... What files should my backup folder contain? I went through the procedure about half a year ago, so I'm not sure. The folder is about 29GB of size.

Rawnand files, boot0, boot1, bis keys. 29gb is right for a nand backup. Nyx can dump all of those except bis keys, which can be dumped with lockpock_rcm or though the biskeydump payload.

 

[moonblood666]

Rawnand files, boot0, boot1, bis keys. 29gb is right for a nand backup. Nyx can dump all of those except bis keys, which can be dumped with lockpock_rcm or though the biskeydump payload.

Oh, I only have the Rawnand files. Guess I'll have to dump the boot1 and boot0 again (do I need to dump the Raw nand again as well or is the one from 6 months ago OK if I dump a new boot0 and boot1 now?). Are the bis Keys necessary? I think I didn't do those because they required scanning a QR code and I don't have a smartphone.

 

[OrGoN3]

Oh, I only have the Rawnand files. Guess I'll have to dump the boot1 and boot0 again (do I need to dump the Raw nand again as well or is the one from 6 months ago OK if I dump a new boot0 and boot1 now?). Are the bis Keys necessary? I think I didn't do those because they required scanning a QR code and I don't have a smartphone.

Sorry for the late reply my friend. Boot0/1 can be dumped by Nyx (hekate's gui) on any firmware. They do not change with updates, as they are console specific. You do not have to redump your nand. You can use the nand dump you have, and then upgrade that via ChoiDujouNX. Please remember that when you create your emummc from your real nand, accounts will be linked to the emummc. I strongly recommend either keeping emummc offline always, or using incognito. To apply incognito on Atmosphere, it's a pain. The easiest thing to do (in my opinion) is to download NX Nand Manager. Open the nand backup you have. Apply incognito to that. Done. Your nand backup now has incognito applied. Of course I STRONGLY recommend you make a backup of your nand backup before doing this, and also dumping/saving the prodinfo partition (can be done from NX Nand manager by right clicking it and saving it to a file).

Your Biskeys can be easily obtained through Lockpick_RCM. It'll write them to your console. THe benefit of these? WHen you're doing all of that NX Nand Manager work, you can enter your bis keys and decrypt the files if you want. Biskeys are needed in case your console goes kaput and your nand gets corrupt. You /definitely/ want to save these.