help understanding plugins

[davekra]

Got my VW PN last week and have read and searched but still don't understand some things.

Plugins:
What is SSA?  What is VIOT?  What do they do?  
I dont see plugins offered at phatnoise.com so where would one get them?
Would I need to install them before I do the DMS hack and repair stuff?

I've got an 80gig hdd on the way...is there a difference between the bootloader hack and the DMS hack and repair?  
For the bootloader hack how does one install the phathack patch?

Thanks for your time.
davidk

[judb]

I suggest that you read the wiki entrys on the phathack script and the DMS Hack CD.  They both accomplish the same goal, however, each has its own set of potential issues.  The CD is easy to use but if you have a non standard (or in other words, something we didnt run into when we built the CD) setup it will not work properly for you and you'll end up having to use the manual method.

As for plugins, i'll let someone else feild that question..

[davekra]

Yeah, I read the wiki.  I always seem to have trouble understanding things till I can get my hands dirty.  
One thing about the bootloader writeup is
"Copy the phatpatch (http://downloads.phathack.com/bushing/phatpatch) program to your PhatBox, and somehow execute it. (Left as an exercise to the reader.)"
does this method require adding a serial port?

I guess if I can get one of these methods to work that will be good enough, right?

Are any of the pluging a must have?

Thanks again.
davidk

[judb]

There are two more wiki entries... the script method and the cd method..

the script method already provides you the things you need to execute the patch.

the CD does all the file copying for you.

The patch file itself, if you use that method, requires you to do shell scripting or have a serial port setup to access the box AND scripting to enable the serial port.