CCcam C-line: setup, syntax, and connection

If you have received a line to connect to a sharing server for the first time and are looking at it without understanding — that's okay. The cccam cline format looks concise, but there is nothing superfluous in it: each field is strictly in its place. This article breaks down the syntax character by character, explains where to insert the line in CCcam and OScam, and provides a clear order of diagnostics if the connection is not established.

What is a C-line and what does it consist of

A C-line is a client line of the CCcam protocol. It tells your receiver or server which remote sharing server to connect to and with what credentials. Without it, the receiver only works with physical cards inserted locally.

The purpose of the C-line in the CCcam protocol

The CCcam protocol emerged as a proprietary solution for card sharing and became the de facto standard in the satellite television environment. A C-line (from the word "client") is a directive for an outgoing connection: your receiver acts as a client and requests ECM decryption from the remote server.

When an encrypted channel requires a Control Word, your decoder sends an ECM request via the C-line to the specified host. The server decrypts it using a physical card and returns the CW. All this happens in milliseconds — if everything is set up correctly.

Breaking down the syntax field by field

The standard format of the line looks like this:

C:<host> <port> <username> <password> [no] [{ params }]

Let's break down each argument:

• C: — a mandatory label, case is important, only the uppercase "C" and a colon.
• <host> — the domain name or IP address of the server. For example,share.example.net or185.10.20.30.
• <port> — the TCP port of the server. Most often 12000, but the server can listen on any port from 1 to 65535.
• <username> and<password> — credentials. Case sensitivity is strictly observed:User1 anduser1 — these are different logins.
• [no] — an optional flag. If specified, CCcam will not transmit information about your local cards to this server (the so-called "no share back").
• [{ params }] — a block of additional parameters in curly braces. Here you can set, for example,{ hop = 1 } or a restriction by CAID.

Example of a working line:

C: myserver.dyndns.org 12000 clientuser SecretPass123 no { hop = 1 }

The difference between C-line, N-line, and F-line

Confusion about line types is a common issue for beginners, so let's quickly clarify.

N-line — this is a line of the Newcamd protocol (not CCcam). The format is different: it starts withN: and contains an additional DES key. Some servers support both protocols, but the lines are not interchangeable.

F-line — this is a CCcam server directive for adding a client. It starts withF: and describes who is allowed to connect to your server. C-line is for incoming connections, F-line is for outgoing.

Where to write C-line: files and paths

This is one of the most common questions, and it's not as simple as it seems — the paths depend on the firmware image and what you are using: CCcam or OScam.

CCcam.cfg and path /var/etc/CCcam.cfg

The standard path to the CCcam config is/var/etc/CCcam.cfg. On Gemini, OpenPLi, and OpenATV images, it is exactly there. But there are variations:/etc/CCcam.cfg (old Dreambox images),/usr/keys/CCcam.cfg (some builds for VU+).

If you don't know the exact path — find it with the command:

find / -name "CCcam.cfg" 2>/dev/null

C-line is simply added to the file as a separate line. The order of lines matters: CCcam tries them in sequence, the first working one is used as the main. After editing the file, the daemon needs to be restarted:

killall -9 CCcam&& /usr/bin/CCcam&

Or via init:

/etc/init.d/CCcam restart

Connecting C-line in OScam through oscam.server

In OScam, C-line is not inserted directly — this is a common mistake. You need to create a reader section in the file/etc/oscam/oscam.server.

Converting cccam cline to OScam format looks like this. The original line:

C: myserver.dyndns.org 12000 clientuser SecretPass123

Turns into a reader block:

[reader]

Parametergroup must match the group inoscam.user for your clients.cccversion — the version of the CCcam protocol that your client presents to the server; usually2.3.0 works fine, but if the server rejects the connection, try2.1.4.

Multiple C-lines and server priority

CCcam supports multiple C-lines simultaneously. In the config, you can write 5–10 lines or more. The first line has the highest priority, and the others are used as fallback when the primary is unavailable.

ParameterDELAY inCCcam.cfg sets the delay before attempting a fallback connection in milliseconds. For example:

DELAY 0

A zero value means immediate switching, which is usually preferred.

In OScam, the priority of readers is managed through the parametersreconnecttimeout and the order of sections inoscam.server, as well as throughcccreshare.

Checking connection and server status

Configured — now you need to make sure that the connection is actually working and not just "looks connected."

The CCcam web interface on port 16001

CCcam raises a built-in web server. By default, it is available on port 16001. In the browser, open:

http://<IP-receiver>:16001

The port can be changed inCCcam.cfg with the directiveWEBINFO LISTEN PORT 16001. The page shows active C-lines, connected servers, accepted cards, and the number of connected clients.

A green status next to the server line means the connection is established. If it is red — look further.

Webif OScam: the Readers tab and status CONNECTED

In OScam, the web interface is available on the port specified inoscam.conf with the parameterhttpport. By default, it is 8888:

http://<receiver IP>:8888

Go to the "Readers" tab. For each reader, the status should displayCONNECTED. If the status isDISCONNECTED orFAILED — there is a problem with the network or authorization data.

It also shows the number of accepted cards (cards) and the average ECM time. Normal ECM time is 100–400 ms. If it consistently exceeds 800 ms — the server is overloaded or there are routing issues.

Reading logs and checking ECM responses

For CCcam, the log is usually located at/tmp/CCcam.log or/var/log/CCcam.log. To view in real time:

tail -f /tmp/CCcam.log

Look for lines likecard shared,ECM and timestamps. Successful sharing looks something like this:

[Server]<username>: 1 card(s) shared, ECM: 234 ms

In OScam, the log is configured inoscam.conf in the section[logging]. With the levellogfile = /var/log/oscam/oscam.log andloglevel = 5 you will see all ECM requests and responses with timestamps.

Typical C-line errors and their resolution

Most problems with cccam cline fall into three categories: network, authorization data, configuration. Diagnosis should be done in this order — from network to config.

Connection refused and closed port

The first thing to do when the connection is refused is to check if the server port is accessible at all. Command:

telnet myserver.dyndns.org 12000

If you getConnection refused or timeout — either the server is down, or the port is blocked by a firewall on the server side or by your provider. Some ISPs block non-standard TCP ports. In this case, ask the provider cccam cline to provide a line on port 80 or 443 — they are almost always open.

If telnet connects but hangs — the server is listening on the port, but the CCcam daemon is not responding. The problem is on the server side.

Incorrect login/password or case sensitivity

CCcam distinguishes case in the login and password. If the server returnsaccess denied or the connection drops immediately after handshake — most likely, there is a typo or a password copied with a space at the end.

Copy the line into a plain text editor (for example,nano) and manually check each character. Pay special attention to zero/letter O, charactersl/1/I and spaces around the fields.

In OScam, the same applies: the fieldsuser andpassword in the reader section must match byte-for-byte with what the server owner provided.

The server is visible, but channels do not open (no cards / freeze)

This is a separate and frustrating situation: the status in the interface is green, the connection is established, but the channels freeze or do not open at all.

Possible reasons:

• No required CAID. The server does not provide a card for your provider. Check which CAIDs are declared and compare them with what your channel requires.
• Time desynchronization. ECM requests have a timestamp. If the time on the receiver differs from the server time by more than 30–60 seconds, the server may discard requests. Synchronize NTP:ntpdate pool.ntp.org
• The local card overrides sharing. If a physical card with the same CAID is inserted in your receiver, CCcam will use it instead of the sharing line. This is not an error — the priority of the local card is higher.
• Protocol version mismatch. Old servers on CCcam 2.0.x may refuse clients withcccversion = 2.3.0. In OScam try settingcccversion = 2.1.4 or2.0.11.
• Source overload. Server connected, but ECM time jumps above 1000 ms and channels freeze. The problem is with the source, not with you.

How to choose a reliable C-line source

Technically competent configuration won't help if the source of the line itself is unreliable. Here's what to look for — without advertising specific services.

Stability criteria: uptime and ECM time

A stable source is primarily a predictable uptime. A good indicator: 98–99% per month. Below 95% is already questionable.

ECM time should not only be low but also consistent. An average of 200 ms with rare peaks up to 400 ms is normal. If the average is 600 ms and constantly jumps — either the server is overloaded, or there is an unstable transit node between you and the card.

Also pay attention to the reconnection frequency. If the connection drops every few hours — this is a sign of a problematic host. A good server maintains the connection for days without interruptions.

Supported CAID and packages

Before paying or negotiating access, make sure that the source actually provides the CAID you need. Common ones: 0x0500 (Viacess), 0x0604 (Irdeto), 0x0963 (Videoguard), 0x1800 (Nagravision), 0x0B00 (Conax).

Specifically clarify: is this a local card on the server or a forwarding from another source? The higher the hop count (number of forwards), the higher the ECM and the lower the stability. Hop = 0 means a local card — this is the best option.

Signs of an unstable source

There are several clear signs that the cccam cline source is unreliable:

• Constant drops and auto-reconnects — several times a day without visible reason.
• High and unstable ECM, averaging over 800 ms.
• One physical card is shared with a very large number of clients simultaneously — this overloads the server and raises ECM to unacceptable values.
• Lack of response from the administrator when problems occur.
• No information about the declared CAID and the number of clients on the card.

The best way to check the source before long-term use is to monitor ECM for 24–48 hours at different times of the day, especially during prime time (19:00–23:00), when server load is at its maximum.