CCcam generator: how to create a working C-line config

When the server does not connect, the first instinct is to find some cccam generator online, insert the credentials there, and get a ready-made line. It works. Sometimes. But if you do not understand what is being generated and why, the first non-standard case will break you. I will break down the syntax down to the last character — after that, you won't need any generator.

What is a CCcam generator and why is it needed

Essentially, a cccam generator is just a templater. It takes the server address, port, username, and password, and then assembles a line from them according to a fixed syntax. No magic. Everything the generator does, you can do manually in 30 seconds.

The principle of the CCcam protocol

CCcam is a client-server protocol that operates over TCP. The standard port is 12000, although providers often use 10000, 15000, or arbitrary values. The client establishes a connection, goes through authorization with the username/password, after which the server starts sending decrypted CW (Control Words) for ECM requests.

Each connection is described by a single line in the configuration file. This is the line that any cccam generator generates — there is nothing fundamentally complicated in the process.

The difference between manual generation and online tools

Online generators are convenient only until you start thinking about what happens to the data after you click the "Generate" button. The server address, username, and password — that's all that's needed for unauthorized access to your account. A third-party site may save this data, sell it, or use it for its own purposes.

Manually forming the line takes less than a minute and does not require passing credentials to third parties. This is not paranoia — it's basic hygiene.

When the generator really helps and when it harms

The generator is justified if you need to quickly generate dozens of lines according to one template — for example, when mass configuring receivers. In this case, it's better to write a simple bash script locally rather than trust an online tool.

It harms when it creates the illusion of a correct line with actually incorrect parameters. The generator does not check the syntax for validity — it simply substitutes values. An extra space or incorrect case will go unnoticed, and CCcam will not pass authorization because of them.

Structure of C-line: breakdown of each parameter

The basic template of the line looks like this:

C: hostname.example 12000 username password

Four fields separated by spaces. Additionally, parameters for resharing may follow after the password. Let's break down each field separately.

Syntax of the line C: hostname port username password

C: — identifier of the line type. The colon is mandatory, and there must be a space after it as well. Without this, CCcam will simply ignore the line.

hostname — DNS name or IP address of the server. If the provider gives a domain name likesrv1.example.com, use it — it's convenient when changing IP. But keep in mind that the receiver's DNS cache may hold the old address for several hours after the change. Sometimes it's faster to specify the IP directly.

12000 — TCP port. Exactly the one specified in your account. Not 12001, not 12000 "by default" if the provider gave another — an exact match is mandatory.

username andpassword — credentials. Both fields are case-sensitive.MyUser andmyuser — different usernames.

Additional flags (no { 0 0 0 0 } and nodeid parameters)

The full line with resharing parameters looks like this:

C: hostname.example 12000 username password { 0 0 0 0 }

Four zeros in curly braces disable resharing — the receiver connects as a pure client and does not pass cards further. This is a standard and safe configuration for most users.

If resharing is needed, values set limits:{ 1 0 0 0 } — allow one level of resharing. The parameternodeid is rarely used and is needed to identify a specific node in the network — the provider usually specifies whether it is needed.

Case sensitivity and spaces

This kills more configurations than any other errors. CCcam is case-sensitive in the login and password — this is a fact. But invisible problems are worse: when copying a line from an email or web interface, a space or newline character often gets attached at the end.

If authorization fails with explicitly correct data — open the file in a hex editor or check viacat -A /etc/CCcam.cfg. The sign$ must be immediately after the password, without any extra characters before it.

File cccam.cfg: main configuration directives

C-line is one line for one server. But the filecccam.cfg also contains global settings for the daemon itself. Without understanding these directives, the server will either not start or will not work as you expect.

Path to the file: /var/etc/cccam.cfg and /etc/cccam.cfg

The standard location depends on the firmware:

• Enigma2 (OpenATV, OpenPLi, OpenViX) —/etc/CCcam.cfg
• Enigma1 (old Dreambox DM500/DM600) —/var/etc/cccam.cfg
• Linux server (Debian/Ubuntu) —/etc/CCcam.cfg or the path specified when starting the daemon
• VU+, Mut@nt with non-standard images — sometimes/usr/keys/CCcam.cfg

If unsure — connect via Telnet or FTP and executefind / -name "CCcam.cfg" 2>/dev/null. You will find it in a second.

DIRECTIVES SERVER LISTEN PORT and ALLOW TELNET

If you are using the receiver as a server (sharing access with others), you need to explicitly set the listening port:

SERVER LISTEN PORT : 12000

SERVER LISTEN PORT sets the TCP port on which CCcam waits for incoming connections.WEBINFO LISTEN PORT — built-in web interface for monitoring connections, very useful for debugging.ALLOW TELNET : yes opens the possibility of management via Telnet — for production installations, it is better to setno.

Important: spaces around the colon in directives are mandatory.SERVER LISTEN PORT:12000 without spaces will not be recognized.

F-line for granting access to clients

F-line describes the credentials for incoming clients — those who connect to your server:

F: client_username client_password 1 0 0 0 0

Fields after the password: allowed number of resharing levels (1 — allow one level), then four zeros for CAID restrictions. If you want the client to receive only certain packages, this is where it is configured.

ParameterRESHARE at the file level sets a global limit:RESHARE : 1. The value0 completely prohibits resharing for all clients.

Generating configuration for OScam as an alternative

OScam has long replaced native CCcam on most modern receivers. It is more flexible, actively supported, and can work with multiple protocols at once. At the same time, C-line from CCcam is converted to OScam configuration quite straightforwardly.

Sections [reader] and [account] in oscam.server and oscam.user

OScam configuration is divided into files:

• /etc/oscam/oscam.conf — global settings of the daemon
• /etc/oscam/oscam.server — description of readers (card sources)
• /etc/oscam/oscam.user — client accounts

Each reader is a separate section[reader] inoscam.server. Each client is a section[account] inoscam.user. This separation provides much more control than a monolithicCCcam.cfg.

Conversion of C-line to OScam protocol cccam format

We take the line:

C: hostname.example 12000 myuser mypassword

We turn it into a sectionoscam.server:

[reader]

label — arbitrary name of the reader, only for identification in the logs.protocol = cccam tells OScam to use the CCcam protocol for this connection.device — host and port separated by a comma without spaces.

The parameters cccmaxhops and cccreshare

cccmaxhops sets the maximum depth of resharing from which OScam will accept cards from this reader. The value1 means "only direct cards," the value2 — cards through one intermediate node. The higher the value, the greater the ECM delay.

cccreshare controls whether OScam will pass the received cards further to its clients.0 — do not pass,1 — pass to one level. For client use without resharing, set0.

Here OScam wins over native CCcam: you can precisely control the priority of readers throughgroup andservices, direct specific CAID to specific servers, and configure fallback in case of connection loss.

Troubleshooting common connection errors

The status "Connected" in the CCcam interface does not mean that everything is working. It only means that the TCP connection is established and authorization has passed. The next part is a separate story.

Status Connected, but the card does not open channels

Three most common reasons:

Incorrect CAID or provider. The server provides cards for other packages — not for those required by your receiver. Check in the CCcam web interface (port 16001 by default) which CAID and provider ID are available through the connected server, and match them with what the desired channel requires.

Hop limit exceeded. The card is visible in the list, but its hop count is above the allowable limit. This is classic with long re-sharing chains — the card is theoretically available, but delay and hop limitations accumulate along the way through three or four nodes. Solution: reducecccmaxhops and check if the card has disappeared from the list — this will confirm the diagnosis.

Incorrect system time. This kills the ECM calculation even with a completely correct config. A discrepancy between the receiver's time and the real time of more than a few minutes causes decryption errors. Check with the commanddate in Telnet and synchronize via NTP if necessary:ntpdate pool.ntp.org.

Connection refused error and port check via telnet

The first step in diagnosing any failure is to check if the port is accessible at all:

telnet hostname.example 12000

If you getConnection refused — the server is not listening on this port, or the firewall is blocking it. IfConnection timed out — packets are not reaching the server at all. This could be NAT on the internet provider's side blocking outgoing port 12000, or iptables on the server itself.

To check from a Linux server, usenc -zv hostname.example 12000 — for more informative output. If the port is accessible from the outside, but CCcam does not connect — the problem is with authorization, check the logs.

CCcam log by default:/tmp/CCcam.log or/var/log/CCcam.log depending on the firmware. Look for linesCORRECT LOGIN orWRONG LOGIN — they will appear immediately after the connection attempt.

Problems with ECM/EMM and receiver time

If you see in the logsECM time: XX ms with numbers above 1000-1500 ms — this is already a problem. Normal ECM time for a direct connection: 200-500 ms. Anything above means either a long re-sharing chain, or an overloaded server, or network delays.

EMM errors (got EMM, but ignoring) are usually not critical for viewing — EMM is used for updating card keys, and their processing on the client is often intentionally disabled.

A separate problem is the conflict of multiple readers with the same CAID. OScam and CCcam both try to send the ECM request through several sources simultaneously, which creates a race and unpredictable behavior. In OScam, this is resolved throughgroup and explicit priority; in CCcam — by the order of the C-line in the file (the first line has the highest priority).

Another case that is often overlooked: the provider changed the IP address, the DNS name has already been updated, but the receiver cached the old address. Restarting the CCcam daemon will reset the DNS cache. In OScam, you can forcibly reconnect the reader through the web interface without restarting the entire service.