Use any PPC Linux distro with PS3!!!

[Sephiroth_VII]

TuxThe day of the Japanese PS3 launch came and went. And with it, it brought along a ton of news. But you still haven't seen the best bit yet! You see, before Sony even released more info about Yellow Dog Linux for the PS3, Power Developer has already released kernel patches and a bootloader so that you can try out Linux on your PS3.

Yes, this is huge news in itself. But that's not all. Apparently, you can install ANY linux distro on your PS3 as long as it has a PowerPC build available - and that includes just about every popular distribution of Linux out there. A quick hop to my favorite distro websites shows that all of them run on PowerPC processors, which means that all of them will probably run on the PS3.

Here's a small list of the Linux distros which run on PowerPC (PPC)
Ubuntu
Fedora Core
SUSE (Paid) / openSUSE (Free)
Gentoo

I'm sorry if I haven't listed your favorite distro here. You can make your way to DistroWatch.com and check out your distro's site to see if they have a build for the PPC. There's a very good chance that it will be supported. Also, some sites might list the PPC builds as "Apple Macintosh" versions. They are built for PowerPC and they should run on the PS3, though don't come after my head if they don't. Now here's some of the info from the PS3 kernel patch documents.

The patch is for kernel 2.6.19. You can download the plain vanilla kernel here and patch it yourself. But that's beside the point, because the documents which are released here, have a small how-to on installing Fedora Core 5 on your PS3. And the only things you need are:

* Other OS installer (otheros.self)
o You can get the binary from http://www.playstation.com/ps3-openplatform/
* kboot image compressed by gzip (otheros.bld)
o You can find this in Addon Packages CD.
* Fedora Core 5 PPC install DVD
o You can get Fedora Core 5 PPC install DVD from Fedora Project (http://fedora.redhat.com/)
* Addon Packages CD.

The only thing which we currently don't have is the Other OS installer. A quick check on the mentioned site reveals that Sony hasn't yet put it up there. A few more days, I think. The Addon Packages CD would probably be supplied with the PS3 itself, or so I think.

And finally, for everyone here who's hungry to tinker with the material before the PS3 is released in the US, here's the kernel patches, the bootloader, and a bunch of documents to make it easier for you. I'm so envious of our Japanese friends right now who'll probably be busy tinkering with their PS3.

Note: The files are bzip2 compressed. To extract them, use WinRAR / 7-zip if on Windows, or tar if on Linux.

Download Link: [Patches for Linux kernel 2.6.19]
Download Link: [Patches for bootloader for the PS3]
Download Link: [Corresponding documents for Linux on the PS3]

Source (http://ps3.qj.net/Kernel-patches-and-documentation-for-PS3-Linux-Boot-any-PPC-linux-distro-on-your-PS3-/pg/49/aid/72608)

[VG Aficionado]

Woohoo! :hugegrin:

[Applefiend]

Oh man that's sick, Mame out the box.

http://www.usinglinux.org/emulators/

Last one to get Windows 95 running on it through bocks is a sissy.

[fanoOne]

Very interesting :buldge:

But this PPC Linuxes are CELL optimized or use only the PowerPC part of it (PPE)?
I think YDL will be more optimized...

The installation is a little strange... you to install have to install otheros.self
on PS3 flash memory and restart PS3... to real install the Linux DVD :beer:
I tought you to use the install other OS on XMB and it do all!!!
Maybe if it's not on a usb/ms it search online... in the same site
you will download the file (when they'll be online) I suppose...

The strange thing is they want you use a pen or MS... you can't use a CDR/RW?

It's unclear if you can install other OSes (more thant one I intend!!!) and if in this case will be a sort of "boot menu"...

fanoOne

[Raitei]

Fano0ne, there is a system setting that you go to to chose which os to boot. Apparently you can set any OS to launch by defaul

[Amenophis]

High Five!!!

[Garfunkel]

I wouldn't install ubuntu or whatever until they are optimised for cell. you won't have "next-gen" performance.

[Carn]

Very interesting :buldge:

But this PPC Linuxes are CELL optimized or use only the PowerPC part of it (PPE)?
I think YDL will be more optimized...

The installation is a little strange... you to install have to install otheros.self
on PS3 flash memory and restart PS3... to real install the Linux DVD :beer:
I tought you to use the install other OS on XMB and it do all!!!
Maybe if it's not on a usb/ms it search online... in the same site
you will download the file (when they'll be online) I suppose...

The strange thing is they want you use a pen or MS... you can't use a CDR/RW?

It's unclear if you can install other OSes (more thant one I intend!!!) and if in this case will be a sort of "boot menu"...

fanoOne

I think they just run on the PPU.

[lshian]

OS run on PPU is ok, the only thing is the applications has to be optimize for the spu to see the different.

[frosty]

^that is true. Even if the OS is made for the spus, the apps will too have to be programmed to take advantage of them. (i'm no programmer, but it would seem so)

[Kiosko]

Truly impressive. Now they need to announce OS PPU Cell-enabled.

[curryking1]

Alrighty, now it seems all that needs to be done is to get 100 million PS3s sold again and we might be seeing Cell optimized Linux computers out there, now THAT would newsworthy material (not that this isn't).

[Garfunkel]

^that is true. Even if the OS is made for the spus, the apps will too have to be programmed to take advantage of them. (i'm no programmer, but it would seem so)

Yes, however it won't be that difficult many will compile the programs for cell if they have the knowledge. The linux community is always quick to acknowledge a opportunity to grab market share and to increase awareness of open source. This will be high on the list.

[frosty]

Well, whenever Sony releases a Cell optimised version of it's Vegas editing software, that's when my PC gets officially replaced. Video editing is something Cell is made for. It's unparralelled encoding and decoding performance on audio and video make it any video editor's wet dream. The 512 MB RAM may be a limiting factor, though I've edited smoothly on a system with 512 MB of PC2100 and a 2 GHZ amd processor, so PS3 should be able to handle it just fine.

[fanoOne]

For the lucky guys that already have PS3:


PS3 LinuxYes, the void has been filled! You will be able to install Fedora Core 5 on your PS3s right now if you have all the components ready! The void we're talking about here is the OtherOS Installer which has just been released by Sony on their Open Platform for PLAYSTATION site. So let us be the first ones to tell you how it's done. We're getting our own PS3 in a few hours and we'll make sure that you have the whole install process with pictures later on. Until then, check out the instructions:

First, download all of the components that I've listed here.

* PS3 Linux Addon CD - Burn it on a CD at a slow speed (4x - 16x)
* OtherOS Installer by Sony
* Fedora Core 5 PPC image (DVD) - Burn it at a slow speed (2x - 8x)
o HTTP Download - [here]
o Bittorrent Download - [here]
o More HTTP Mirrors - [here]

You will need a USB keyboard and a mouse to use Linux on your PS3! Make sure you have it before jumping into the installation!

Alright, once you have these things ready, here's how you prepare your PS3 for another operating system, which in our case, is Fedora Core 5.

* You'll need a USB storage drive (can be a Memory Stick, Compact Flash drive, external hard disk, etc..)
* Now plug the drive into your PC.
* Make a folder called "PS3" in the root of the storage drive.
* Inside the PS3 folder, make an "otheros" folder.
* Move the otheros.self to the otheros folder on the USB storage drive.
* Now, use a software like WinRAR to open the Addon CD ISO which we just downloaded.
* Inside that ISO file, navigate to the kboot folder where you'll find a file - otheros.bld
* Extract that single file to the otheros folder on your USB storage drive.
* Now, remove the USB drive from your PC and plug it into the PS3.
* Now before we do anything, make sure to format your PS3's Hard Disk.
* Make two partitions, one for Linux and the other for the PS3 Game OS. If it's a 20GB disk, you can make 2 partitions of 10GB each.
* If it's a bigger disk, the partitioning scheme is upto you.
* Now go to the Settings Menu -> System Settings -> Install Other OS.
* Click on OK to start the installation. This will install the kboot image to the PS3.
* Once done, it will go back to the menu.
* Navigate to Settings -> System Settings -> Default System and select "Other OS".

Now that you've selected Other OS from the default system menu, when you restart your PS3, you will be greeted with the Other OS installer message. In case you're stuck with the Other OS installer and you want to go back to the Game OS, just press the Power button for 5 seconds or more when starting your PS3. Be advised that doing this will restore the PS3 to it's default factory resolution.

* Alright, now insert the Fedora Core 5 DVD into the PS3.
* Restart your PS3.
* When the PS3 starts, you will be greeted with the kboot message for the Fedora Core 5 installer.
* You can only install via a DVD, CDs aren't supported!
* When the installation starts, one Hard Disk will be recognised - sda Linux.
* At the kboot prompt, type in "install-fc sda"

Once it starts, you will see a message:

Please insert Fedore Core install DVD.
Is it OK? (y/n):
Just press y to begin install.

This will prepare your PS3 for Linux. Once done, you will be able to select one of the 2 install methods:

* Fedora Core minimum install
* Fedore Core full install

Select whichever install you want. We'd recommend a full install to reap all the benefits of Linux on your PS3. At this point, the real installation will start. It will ask a couple of questions, but they will be basic stuff. Remember that when you install Fedora Core 5 on your PS3, the second partition you made will be formatted and you will lose all your data on that partition.

The installer will start unpacking and installing the data to your hard disk. After a small while, you'll see this message:

Please insert a Addon Packages CD.
Is it OK? (y/n)
Remove the Fedora Core 5 DVD and insert the Addon Disc which you burned a while ago and press y.

A little while later, you will see the following message:

Install done.
Type reboot to start Linux or type halt to power off

Rejoice! You've just successfully installed Fedora Core 5 to your PS3. Now you could shut off your PS3 and take a walk outside. But knowing Linux nuts, I'm sure you'll be dying to check it out.

Just type in reboot to restart your PS3. When your PS3 starts, you will be able to login as root with the password you supplied during install. Just type it in and have fun with Fedora Core 5! You will be able to install any app as long as it has a PPC build of it. That includes most major applications like Mozilla Firefox, VLC player and more..

Now if you want to go back to the Game OS, just type in boot-game-os at the prompt. Have fun with Linux on your PS3. We will be updating this post with pictures of our own Linux installation as soon as we get our PS3, which will be in a few hours. In the meanwhile, make sure to read the official FAQ by Sony. For more info, download the documents here and go over them to know the full capabilities of Fedora Core 5 on your PS3.

Now please spare me so that I can go and beat the UPS guys up for delaying our PS3 delivery.


Source. (http://ps3.qj.net/PS3-Linux-The-void-has-been-filled-Full-install-instructions-for-Fedora-Core-5-/pg/49/aid/73144)

That link will be updated with images of Linux installation when their PS3 arrives....

In the meantime good installation :crazy:

fanoOne

[VG Aficionado]

Quite a complicated process. I'll leave that to those brave Linux users who'll enjoy venturing into that. I'll be fine with the one-click installation or the advanced options during the installation of Yellow Dog Linux.

Anyway, awesome news. Looking forward to hearing how well Linux runs and how useful it becomes in PS3 for those who can take advantage of it.

[Garfunkel]

anyone done this yet?

[VG Aficionado]

Updated sites:

http://www.playstation.com/ps3-openplatform/index.html

http://www.powerdeveloper.org/playstation.php

[fanoOne]

In this thread probably the first Linux Installation on a PS3...

http://www.ps3forums.com/showthread.php?t=40417

Images Link too...

fanoOne

[section]

Quite a complicated process. I'll leave that to those brave Linux users who'll enjoy venturing into that. I'll be fine with the one-click installation or the advanced options during the installation of Yellow Dog Linux.After reading a bit of the procedure the only complicated process here seems to be to inject PS3 specific bootloader into the distro ISO yourself and then burn the ISO on DVD, otherwise the installation is mostly the same as with YDL 5.0.

Yeah and you must anyway burn the free YDL5.0 ISO image on DVD after downloading it so for Fedora Core 5 it's only one additional procedure for which there are specific directions here :) I'd do this instantly if I had one PS3 available :)