NCM services

NCM contains services for internal file path and content management.

Location Resolver services

lr

This is "nn::lr::ILocationResolverManager".

Cmd	Name	Arguments	Notes
0	OpenLocationResolver	#StorageId
1	OpenRegisteredLocationResolver	None
2	RefreshLocationResolver	#StorageId
3	[2.0.0+] OpenAddOnContentLocationResolver	None

The only sysmodules which use this service are FS, Loader, and NS. boot2 has access but doesn't use it.

ILocationResolver

This is "nn::lr::ILocationResolver".

Cmd	Name	Notes
0	#ResolveProgramPath
1	#RedirectProgramPath
2	#ResolveApplicationControlPath
3	#ResolveApplicationHtmlDocumentPath
4	#ResolveDataPath
5	#RedirectApplicationControlPath
6	#RedirectApplicationHtmlDocumentPath
7	#ResolveApplicationLegalInformationPath
8	#RedirectApplicationLegalInformationPath
9	#Refresh
10	[5.0.0+] #RedirectApplicationProgramPath
11	[5.0.0+] #ClearApplicationRedirection
12	[5.0.0+] #EraseProgramRedirection
13	[5.0.0+] #EraseApplicationControlRedirection
14	[5.0.0+] #EraseApplicationHtmlDocumentRedirection
15	[5.0.0+] #EraseApplicationLegalInformationRedirection
16	[7.0.0+] #ResolveProgramPathForDebug	Unofficial name
17	[7.0.0+] #RedirectProgramPathForDebug	Unofficial name
18	[7.0.0+] #RedirectApplicationProgramPathForDebug	Unofficial name
19	[7.0.0+] #EraseProgramRedirectionForDebug	Unofficial name

If the supplied #StorageId is 1 (Host), a different set of internal functions is used to handle these commands. In this more restricted set of functions, #ResolveApplicationControlPath is stubbed and only returns error 0x608.

The Get* commands load the ContentPath from linked-lists' entries in memory using the input #ProgramId. When the command fails to find an entry for the specified #ProgramId, 0x408 is returned for #ResolveProgramPath and 0xA08 is returned for the rest.

The Set* commands always return 0 and add a new entry to the list. If a matching entry is found, it's removed first.

ResolveProgramPath

Takes an #ProgramId and a C descriptor. Used for NCA-type1.

RedirectProgramPath

Takes an #ProgramId and a X descriptor with a ContentPath. Used for NCA-type1.

Inserts a new entry with flag set to 0.

ResolveApplicationControlPath

Takes an #ApplicationId and a C descriptor. Used for NCA-type3.

ResolveApplicationHtmlDocumentPath

Takes an #ApplicationId and a C descriptor. Used for NCA-type4.

ResolveDataPath

Takes an #DataId and a C descriptor. Used for NCA-type3.

RedirectApplicationControlPath

Takes an #ApplicationId and a X descriptor with a ContentPath. Used for NCA-type3.

[9.0.0+] Now takes an additional 8-bytes of input.

Inserts a new entry with flag set to 1.

RedirectApplicationHtmlDocumentPath

Takes an #ApplicationId and a X descriptor with a ContentPath. Used for NCA-type4.

[9.0.0+] Now takes an additional 8-bytes of input.

Inserts a new entry with flag set to 1.

ResolveApplicationLegalInformationPath

Takes an #ApplicationId and a C descriptor. Used for NCA-type5.

RedirectApplicationLegalInformationPath

Takes an #ApplicationId and a X descriptor with a ContentPath. Used for NCA-type5.

[9.0.0+] Now takes an additional 8-bytes of input.

Inserts a new entry with flag set to 1.

Refresh

Takes no input. Frees all linked-lists' entries that have flag set to 0.

RedirectApplicationProgramPath

Same as RedirectProgramPath, but inserts a new entry with flag set to 1.

[9.0.0+] Now takes an additional 8-bytes of input.

ClearApplicationRedirection

Takes no input. Frees all linked-lists' entries that have flag set to 1.

[9.0.0+] Now takes a type-0x5 input buffer, no output.

EraseProgramRedirection

Takes an #ProgramnId. Used for NCA-type1.

Removes the entry that matches the input ProgramId.

EraseApplicationControlRedirection

Takes an #ApplicationId. Used for NCA-type3.

Removes the entry that matches the input ApplicationId.

EraseApplicationHtmlDocumentRedirection

Takes an #ApplicationId. Used for NCA-type4.

Removes the entry that matches the input ApplicationId.

EraseApplicationLegalInformationRedirection

Takes an #ApplicationId. Used for NCA-type5.

Removes the entry that matches the input ApplicationId.

ResolveProgramPathForDebug

Same as ResolveProgramPath, but uses a redirection shim on top of the real program path.

NS uses this command if ns.application!redirected_rom_storage_id_for_debug is different than 0x00.

RedirectProgramPathForDebug

Same as RedirectProgramPath, but uses a redirection shim on top of the real program path.

NS uses this command if ns.application!redirected_rom_storage_id_for_debug is different than 0x00.

RedirectApplicationProgramPathForDebug

Same as RedirectApplicationProgramPath , but uses a redirection shim on top of the real program path.

[9.0.0+] Like #RedirectApplicationProgramPath this now takes an additional 8-bytes of input.

NS uses this command if ns.application!redirected_rom_storage_id_for_debug is different than 0x00.

EraseProgramRedirectionForDebug

Same as EraseProgramRedirection , but uses a redirection shim on top of the real program path.

NS uses this command if ns.application!redirected_rom_storage_id_for_debug is different than 0x00.

IRegisteredLocationResolver

This is "nn::lr::IRegisteredLocationResolver".

This works like #ILocationResolver, but only two types of NCA paths can be gotten/set. In addition, each type has a fallback path that can be set for a single #ProgramId at a time.

Cmd	Name	Arguments	Notes
0	ResolveProgramPath	#ProgramId + C descriptor	Used for NCA-type1.
1	RegisterProgramPath	#ProgramId + X descriptor ContentPath [9.0.0+] Now takes an additional 8-bytes of input.	Sets the Type 0 fallback TID and path to the provided arguments.
2	UnregisterProgramPath	#ProgramId	If the Type 0 fallback TID is == argument TID, unregisters the fallback path. Otherwise, noop.
3	RedirectProgramPath	#ProgramId + X descriptor ContentPath [9.0.0+] Now takes an additional 8-bytes of input.
4	[2.0.0+] ResolveHtmlDocumentPath	#ApplicationId + C descriptor
5	[2.0.0+] RegisterHtmlDocumentPath	#ApplicationId + X descriptor ContentPath [9.0.0+] Now takes an additional 8-bytes of input.	Sets the Type 1 fallback TID and path to the provided arguments.
6	[2.0.0+] UnregisterHtmlDocumentPath	#ApplicationId	If the Type 1 fallback TID is == argument TID, unregisters the fallback path. Otherwise, noop.
7	[2.0.0+] RedirectHtmlDocumentPath	#ApplicationId + X descriptor ContentPath [9.0.0+] Now takes an additional 8-bytes of input.
8	[7.0.0+] Refresh	No input/output.
9	[9.0.0+] RefreshExcluding	Type-5 buffer	Unofficial name. Refreshes entries excluding those with application ProgramIds contained in the buffer.

IAddOnContentLocationResolver

This is "nn::lr::IAddOnContentLocationResolver".

Cmd	Name	Arguments	Notes
0	ResolveAddOnContentPath	#ApplicationId + C descriptor
1	RegisterAddOnContentStorage	#StorageId + #ApplicationId [9.0.0+] Now takes an additional #ApplicationId for the owner application.
2	UnregisterAllAddOnContentPath	None	Clears all registered titles here.
3	[9.0.0+] #RefreshApplicationAddOnContent	Type-5 buffer	Unofficial name
4	[9.0.0+] #UnregisterApplicationAddOnContent	#ApplicationId	Unofficial name

RefreshApplicationAddOnContent

Takes an type-5 buffer containing an array of #ApplicationId. Unregisters entries with IDs absent from the input buffer.

UnregisterApplicationAddOnContent

Takes an #ApplicationId for the application to unregister add on content entries for.

Location List Entry

Total size is 0x320 bytes.

Offset	Size	Description
0x0	0x8	Pointer to previous entry
0x8	0x8	Pointer to next entry
0x10	0x8	#ProgramId
0x18	0x300	ContentPath
0x318	0x4	Flag
0x31C	0x4	Padding

Content Manager services

ncm

This is "nn::ncm::IContentManager".

Cmd	Name	Notes
0	CreateContentStorage	Takes a #StorageId.
1	CreateContentMetaDatabase	Takes a #StorageId.
2	VerifyContentStorage	Takes a #StorageId.
3	VerifyContentMetaDatabase	Takes a #StorageId.
4	OpenContentStorage	Takes a #StorageId, [2.0.0+] Only returns a storage if one has previously been opened globally via CreateContentStorage.
5	OpenContentMetaDatabase	Takes a #StorageId, [2.0.0+] Only returns a storage if one has previously been opened globally via CreateContentStorage.
6	[1.0.0] CloseContentStorageForcibly	Takes a #StorageId. Calls IContentStorage->DisableForcibly().
7	[1.0.0] CloseContentMetaDatabaseForcibly	Takes a #StorageId. Calls IContentMetaDatabase->DisableForcibly().
8	CleanupContentMetaDatabase	Takes a #StorageId, and deletes the associated savedata.
9	[2.0.0+] ActivateContentStorage	Takes a #StorageId, and opens an IContentStorage for the StorageID to be gotten with GetIContentStorage. Note: Name is not official.
10	[2.0.0+] InactivateContentStorage	Takes a #StorageId, and closes the associated IContentStorage.
11	[2.0.0+] ActivateContentMetaDatabase	Takes a #StorageId, and opens an IContentMetaDatabase for the StorageID to be gotten with CreateContentMetaDatabase.
12	[2.0.0+] InactivateContentMetaDatabase	Takes a #StorageId, and closes the associated IContentMetaDatabase.
13	[9.0.0+] InvalidateRightsIdCache
14	[10.0.0+] GetMemoryReport

IContentStorage

This is "nn::ncm::IContentStorage".

Cmd	Name	Notes
0	#GeneratePlaceHolderId	Returns a random UUID for the Content Storage.
1	CreatePlaceHolder	Takes a #ContentId, a #PlaceHolderId, and a s64 filesize.
2	DeletePlaceHolder	Takes a #PlaceHolderId.
3	HasPlaceHolder	Takes a #PlaceHolderId and returns an output u8 bool.
4	WritePlaceHolder	Takes a #PlaceHolderId, a u64-offset, and type-0x5 input buffer. Writes the buffer to the file for the placeholder path at the specified offset.
5	Register	Takes a #ContentId and a #PlaceHolderId, no output. Moves the Placeholder NCA content to the registered NCA path.
6	Delete	Takes a #ContentId.
7	Has	Takes a #ContentId.
8	GetPath	Takes a #ContentId and a type-0x1A output buffer containing a ContentPath.
9	GetPlaceHolderPath	Takes a #PlaceHolderId and a type-0x1A output buffer containing a ContentPath.
10	CleanupAllPlaceHolder	No input/output. Deletes and re-creates the Placeholder directory.
11	ListPlaceHolder	This is like #GetNumberOfRegisteredEntries, but for the Placeholder directory.
12	#GetContentCount
13	#ListContentId
14	#GetSizeFromContentId
15	DisableForcibly	No input/output. Closes/Flushes all resources for the storage, and causes all future IPC commands to the current session to return error 0xC805.
16	[2.0.0+] RevertToPlaceHolder	Takes two #ContentId and a #PlaceHolderId, no output. Creates the registered directory NCA path, and renames the placeholder path to the registered NCA path.
17	[2.0.0+] SetPlaceHolderSize	Takes a #PlaceHolderId, and a s64 size, no output.
18	[2.0.0+] #ReadContentIdFile
19	[2.0.0+] #GetRightsIdFromPlaceHolderId
20	[2.0.0+] #GetRightsIdFromContentId
21	[2.0.0+] WriteContentForDebug	Takes a #ContentId, a u64 offset, and a type-0x5 input buffer. On debug units, writes the buffer to the NCA's registered path. On retail units, this just aborts.
22	[2.0.0+] GetFreeSpaceSize	Gets free space for the storage.
23	[2.0.0+] GetTotalSpaceSize	Gets total space for the storage.
24	[3.0.0+] FlushPlaceHolder	Flushes resources for the storage without closing it.
25	[4.0.0+] GetSizeFromPlaceHolderId
26	[4.0.0+] RepairInvalidFileAttribute
27	[8.0.0+] GetRightsIdFromPlaceHolderIdWithCache
28	[13.0.0+] RegisterPath
29	[13.0.0+] ClearRegisteredPath

GeneratePlaceHolderId

Generates a random #PlaceHolderId for use as a placeholder.

Calls nn::util::GenerateUuid(), which internally calls nn::os::GenerateRandomBytes(16);

GetContentCount

Writes the total number of entries which can be read by GetEntries, to cmdreply <SFCO_offset>+0x10.

ListContentId

Takes an output buffer, s32 offset and gets all entries starting at that offset. Returns number of entries read.

Each entry is a #ContentId.

The total read entries is exactly the same as the number of "<hex>.nca" directories in the storage FS(or at least under the "registered" directory?).

GetSizeFromContentId

Takes a #ContentId as input.

Returns the total size readable by #ReadContentIdFile. This is the same as the size-field in the NAX0 "<ContentId>.nca/00" file.

ReadContentIdFile

Takes a type-0x6 output buffer, a #ContentId as input, and a s64 file offset.

Reads plaintext NCA file contents from the Registered path for the ContentId.

GetRightsIdFromPlaceHolderId

Takes a #PlaceHolderId, returns a #RightsId.

Gets the Rights ID for the #PlaceHolderId's placeholder path.

GetRightsIdFromContentId

Takes a #ContentId, returns a #RightsId.

Gets the Rights ID for the #ContentId's registered path

IContentMetaDatabase

This is "nn::ncm::IContentMetaDatabase".

Cmd	Name	Notes
0	Set	Takes a #ContentMetaKey, a type-5 Content Records buffer and a u64 size.
1	Get	Takes a #ContentMetaKey, a type-6 buffer to write Content Records to and a u64 size. Returns the actual number of bytes read into the buffer. First 8 bytes of the data is header (u16 numExtraDataBytes, numContentRecords, numMetaRecords, padding). After the header is numExtraDataBytes of additional data, after which follow content records and content meta keys. Set takes this same data as input.
2	Remove	Takes a #ContentMetaKey, and removes the associated record.
3	GetContentIdByType	Takes a #ContentMetaKey and a u8 #ContentMetaType. Returns a #ContentId.
4	ListContentInfo	Takes a type-6 buffer to write Content Record entries to, a #ContentMetaKey, and a s32 index into the Content Record entries to start copying from. Returns a s32 entries_read.
5	List	Takes a type-6 buffer to write #ContentMetaKeys to, a u32 #ContentMetaType, a #ProgramId, a u64 ProgramId_Low, and u64 ProgramId_High. Writes into the buffer all Content Meta Keys with low <= record->title_id <= high, and record->type == type. Returns s32 numEntriesTotal, numEntriesWritten. Additionally requires record->title_id == TID, if record->type is Application, Patch, Add-On, or Delta, otherwise, you can pass 0 for type to ignore the type and list them all in the range.
6	GetLatestContentMetaKey	Takes a #ProgramId, and returns the #ContentMetaKey with the highest version field for that ProgramId.
7	#ListApplication
8	Has	Takes a #ContentMetaKey and returns an output u8 bool indicating whether that record is present in the database.
9	HasAll	Takes a type-0x5 input buffer containing an array of #ContentMetaKey, and returns whether all of those records are present in the database.
10	GetSize	Takes a #ContentMetaKey, and returns the size of the associated Content Records.
11	GetRequiredSystemVersion	Takes a #ContentMetaKey, and returns u32 from ContentRecords + 16 (only if the content meta key has type Application or Patch).
12	GetPatchId	Takes a #ContentMetaKey, and returns the update #ProgramId for that record.
13	DisableForcibly	Closes the meta database, and causes all future IPC commands to the current session to return error 0xDC05.
14	#LookupOrphanContent	Takes a type-6 byte buffer, and a type-5 buffer of #ContentIds.
15	Commit	Flushes the in-memory database to savedata.
16	HasContent	Takes a #ContentMetaKey and an #ContentId. Returns whether the content records for that content meta key contain the ContentId.
17	ListContentMetaInfo	Takes a type-6 #ContentMetaKey output buffer, a s32 offset into that buffer, and an input #ContentMetaKey.
18	GetAttributes	Takes a #ContentMetaKey, and returns u8 from ContentRecords + 6.
19	[2.0.0+] GetRequiredApplicationVersion	Does the same thing as GetRequiredSystemVersion, but for AddOnContents.
20	[5.0.0+] GetContentIdByTypeAndIdOffset
21	[10.0.0+] GetCount
22	[10.0.0+] GetOwnerApplicationId

ListApplication

Each 24-byte entry (officially "ApplicationContentMetaKey") is as follows:

 meta_record meta_record;
 u64    base_title_id;

This function takes in a type 6 buffer to write entries to, and a u8 "filter" type. If filter is zero, all update records will be copied to to the output buffer (space permitting). Otherwise, only titles with type == filter_type will be copied to the output buffer.

This func returns a s32 num_entries_total, and a s32 num_entries_written.

ReadEntryMetaRecords

Takes a type-6 #ContentMetaKey output buffer, a s32 offset into that buffer, and an input #ContentMetaKey entry. Returns a s32 for total_read_entries.

Reads the content meta keys stored in the entry's content records into the output buffer.

This is used, for example, with System Update title 0100000000000816, which contains content meta keys for all other systitles in its Content Records.

LookupOrphanContent

Takes a type-6 byte buffer, and a type-0x5 buffer containing an array of #ContentId.

This function was stubbed to return 0xDC05 in 2.0.0.

On 1.0.0: Initialized the output buffer to all 1s. Then, for each #ContentId in the input buffer, it checks if that ContentId is present anywhere in the database, and if so writes 0 to the corresponding output byte.

In pseudocode, the function basically does the following:

for i in range(len(out_buf)):

   out_buf[i] = 1

for i, ContentId in ContentId:

   if is_present_in_database(ContentId):
       out_buf[i] = 0

ContentId

This is "nn::ncm::ContentId".

This is a 0x10-byte entry. This is originally from the hex portion of "<hex>.nca" directory-names from this storage FS(like SD).

The ContentId is the same as the first 0x10-bytes from the calculated SHA256 hash, from hashing the entire output from #ReadContentIdFile.

PlaceHolderId

This is "nn::ncm::PlaceHolderId".

This is the same as #ContentId, except this is for placeholder content and originates from #GeneratePlaceHolderId.

ProgramId

This is "nn::ncm::ProgramId" or "nn::ncm::SystemProgramId".

This is an u64 ID bound to a program.

DataId

This is "nn::ncm::DataId" or "nn::ncm::SystemDataId".

This is an u64 ID bound to a data archive.

ApplicationId

This is "nn::ncm::ApplicationId" or "nn::ncm::SystemApplicationId".

This is an u64 ID bound to an application.

Value 0 is invalid.

PatchId

This is "nn::ncm::PatchId".

This is an u64 ID bound to a program patch.

DeltaId

This is "nn::ncm::DeltaId".

This is an u64 ID bound to a program delta fragment.

AddOnContentId

This is "nn::ncm::AddOnContentId".

This is an u64 ID bound to add-on content data.

SystemUpdateId

This is "nn::ncm::SystemUpdateId".

This is an u64 ID bound to system update data.

StorageId

This is "nn::ncm::StorageId".

Value	Name
0	None
1	Host
2	GameCard
3	BuiltInSystem
4	BuiltInUser
5	SdCard
6	Any

"None" and "Any" are meta storages.

nn::ncm::IsInstallableStorage returns true for BuiltInSystem, BuiltInUser, SdCard, and Any.

nn::ncm::IsUniqueStorage returns true for != None && != Any.

RightsId

This is "nn::ncm::RightsId".

This is a 0x10-byte struct. [3.0.0+] This is a 0x18-byte struct.

Offset	Size	Description
0x0	0x10	FS Rights ID
0x10	0x1	[3.0.0+] KeyGeneration
0x11	0x7	[3.0.0+] Padding

ProgramLocation

This is "nn::ncm::ProgramLocation".

Offset	Size	Description
0x0	0x8	#ProgramId
0x8	0x1	#StorageId
0x9	0x7	Padding

Path

This is "nn::ncm::Path".

This is a 0x300-byte structure, which contains a ContentPath.

ContentInstallType

This is "nn::ncm::ContentInstallType"

Value	Description
0x0	Full
0x1	FragmentOnly
0x7	Unknown (Invalid Content Install Type)

ContentMetaType

This is "nn::ncm::ContentMetaType"

Value	Description
0x00	Unknown (Invalid Content Meta Type)
0x01	SystemProgram (System Modules or System Applets)
0x02	SystemData (System Data Archives)
0x03	SystemUpdate
0x04	BootImagePackage (Firmware package A or C)
0x05	BootImagePackageSafe (Firmware package B or D)
0x80	Application
0x81	Patch
0x82	AddOnContent
0x83	Delta

ContentMetaKey

This is "nn::ncm::ContentMetaKey"

Offset	Size	Description
0x0	0x8	#ProgramId
0x8	0x4	Version
0xC	0x1	#ContentMetaType
0xD	0x1	#ContentInstallType
0xE	0x2	Padding

ncm:v

This service doesn't normally exist on retail.