Using the Linux kernel Image file (aka “piggy”) that recovered from camera I started rebuilding the original kernel configuration of VStarCAM H6837WI camera.
All we need to do is it:
$ strings piggy > strings_kernel_orig.txt $ strings Image > strings_kernel_new.txt
The “piggy” file is from camera and Image is the Linux kernel image that I compiled.
Basically we just need to compare strings_kernel_orig.txt and strings_kernel_new.txt using a file comparator as the meld program.
When you find a readable text in piggy that doesn’t exist in our Image then you need to search for this string in the Linux kernel source tree:
user@linux/$ grep -r somestring
You will find a C file with this string, then open the Makefile at this C file directory to discover which CONFIG_ symbol includes the compilation of this C file.
Now you need to open the kernel configuration menu (“make menuconfig”) and search (press “/”) for this CONFIG_ symbol. You need to enable the feature of this symbol and compile the kernel again.
Repeat the process from generating the string_kernel_new.txt and comparing until you get both kernel with same strings. Then you will have a very similar kernel firmware at end.
Note: You can also search for strange symbol like “nYgq,” etc
