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Ubuntu 7.04 on PS3First impressions and installation guide. |
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As Ubuntu Feisty Fawn (7.04) has just been released two days ago, I thought it would be nice to give it a try on my brand new PlayStation 3 (PS3) gaming console. I should mention though,
that I tried a few other PS3 LiveCDs and none worked for me like Ubuntu did. Today I am gonna teach you guys how to install this wonderful Linux distribution (as a second operating system) on your PlayStation 3 console. For those of you who think for a second (and who are scared) that this will replace their PS3 operating system, well you guys are wrong because this will NOT erase your PlayStation 3 native operating system (XMB) and it will just run as an alternative OS on your PS3 console. Ready? Are you excited? Let's go! Things needed:Great, now before we start to install Ubuntu 7.04 on your PS3, you are going to need a few things: 1. An USB flash drive or a Memory Card (PS3 can read only SD/miniSD Memory Card, Memory Stick PRO (Duo) and CompactFlash). Or as an alternative, you can use a portable hard disk if you own one. 2. An USB keyboard and mouse so you can navigate through your Ubuntu PS3 Linux, and to be able to go back to the PS3 OS. 3. Last but not least the Ubuntu Feisty Fawn PS3 ISO image, which you can always download from Softpedia. Prepare your PlayStation 3 for Ubuntu:You will need to partition the PS3 hard drive, otherwise you will not be able to install Ubuntu. Open your PS3, Log in and go to "Settings -> System Settings", scroll down until you find the "Format Utility", press X on it and go to "Format Hard Disk" (last option). You'll be asked if you want to format your hard disk, so press Yes and then you must choose a partition setting for the hard drive. Select the "Custom" option, then select "Allot 10GB to the Other OS" option and do a "Quick Format". When it's done, reboot your PS3. The KBoot installation:As I don't have a USB flash drive, I have used an SD memory stick for this operation and it worked just perfect. Create a folder, on your USB stick (drive), called PS3 and inside this folder create another one called OTHEROS. Put the otheros.bld file in the OTHEROS folder. Go to "Settings -> System Settings -> Install Other Os" and hit X to detect and install the Ubuntu boot loader. Boot the Ubuntu PS3 LiveCD and install itAre you wondering how to access what you've just installed above? Go to "Settings -> System Settings -> Default System" (press X) and select Other OS. You'll be asked if you want to quit your PS3 system and start the other OS (of course you do), so choose Yes and wait for the PS3 to reboot. In a few seconds you will see "Ubuntu PS3 KBoot Loader" text on the top of your screen. Insert the Ubuntu PS3 LiveCD in your PS3, hit enter (on your keyboard, which should be attached to your PS3 right now) and wait for the LiveCD to start. You can install Ubuntu at anytime just by double clicking on the Install icon situated on the desktop. The installer steps are very easy so I am pretty sure you'll manage to install it. Go back to the PS3 OSTo get back to your PS3 OS, reboot the Ubuntu system and at the KBoot prompt, type: boot-game-osand hit enter. Wait for the PS3 to reboot and you'll be logged in to the XMB (PlayStation 3 operating system). ConclusionsAfter some long testings, I've realized that Ubuntu is the best match for the PlayStation 3 gaming console. It can recognize all the components of your PS3 machine, like the firmware version, the hard disk of course, the Gelic network card and the USB and Bluetooth ports. The most important piece of hardware (in my opinion) is the Blu-ray drive, that works very well in Ubuntu (you can insert blu-ray discs and see their content, isn't this wonderful?). Here are some screenshots I've made of Ubuntu Feisty Fawn running on my PlayStation 3 console: Have fun and play safe!
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Good (3.9/5) |
16 vote(s) |
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User opinions: |
| Comment #1 by: onlineparasite on 22 Apr 2007, 03:21 GMT | reply to this comment | typo
"are you exited" should be "are you excited"
thanks
Anis |
| Comment #1.1 by: marius.nestor on 22 Apr 2007, 20:19 GMT | Thank you for notice that! |
| Comment #2 by: paulsundvall on 22 Apr 2007, 12:33 GMT | reply to this comment | That looked nice and easy!
One good reason for using the PS3 with linux is because of its (supposedly high) number crunching performance. Could you please test the performance with the following command:
time pi 1000000 >/dev/null
thank you,
paul |
| Comment #2.1 by: marius.nestor on 22 Apr 2007, 20:21 GMT | Here it is:
marius-ps3@marius-ps3-desktop:~$ time pi 1000000 >/dev/null
real 0m35.989s
user 0m34.605s
sys 0m0.353s
you're welcome! |
| Comment #3 by: paulsundvall on 23 Apr 2007, 06:11 GMT | reply to this comment | Thanks, thats interesting!
On my PIV@3 GHz I get
real 0m10.616s
user 0m10.225s
sys 0m0.200s
and on my Core Duo@1.833 GHz I get
real 0m12.605s
user 0m12.525s
sys 0m0.080s
That means the ps 3 is rather slow for this test. |
| Comment #3.1 by: marius.nestor on 23 Apr 2007, 06:45 GMT | you're right... on my Core Duo@2.4Ghz (overclocked) I have even smaller results then yours... something like 0m08....
But I will try to run some other benchmarks.... I'll post the results later |
| Comment #3.2 by: mrtn on 14 Nov 2007, 11:05 GMT | Lower values is better performance. So the PS3 wins as it should. |
| Comment #4 by: ceros on 23 Apr 2007, 23:45 GMT | reply to this comment | A USB drive is not needed as the installer disc will contain the boot loader in the proper directory that the PS3 will scan (/PS3/otheros/otheros.bld). This is of course assuming you have firmware 1.60 or greater loaded on the PS3. All you would have to do is insert the disc and then start from the steps to install the "Other OS" and continue.
More info can be found at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PlayStation_3 |
| Comment #5 by: ceros on 23 Apr 2007, 23:55 GMT | reply to this comment | Also, there some misinformation in the article about kboot. kboot is not just from or for Ubuntu and it's not specifically made for the PS3.
http://kboot.sourceforge.net/ |
| Comment #6 by: Bobaf1 on 26 Apr 2007, 06:39 GMT | reply to this comment | Wireless network.
I've heard that the wireless network in the ps3 does not work with linux, do you have any idea if there is some fix for this, or some workaround? |
| Comment #7 by: marius.nestor on 26 Apr 2007, 06:42 GMT | reply to this comment | Unfortunately I don't have a wireless network, so I can not test it...
Thanks for the info ceros! |
| Comment #8 by: zenic on 28 Apr 2007, 01:11 GMT | reply to this comment | There are two reasons for this: firstly, the PS3 has 8 cores on it. one core is a PPC (power pc) and the other 7 are SPEs (synergistic processing element), although only 6 are enabled. The pi program only runs on the PPC core, which is general purpose and not very fast. secondly, the playstation uses a hypervisor (i.e. an emulator) to make sure that you aren't doing anything that you shouldn't (like trying to rip a bluray disc or something).
To write a high performance app for the PS3, follow this article:
http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/power/library/pa-linuxps3-1/
the number crunching it can do is pretty amazing. |
| Comment #9 by: d_lusu on 28 Apr 2007, 11:50 GMT | reply to this comment | can someone help, at kboot i type live and a desktop loaded with the examples folder and install option, but my mouse and keyboard no longer worked... what should I do? |
| Comment #10 by: Everett on 26 Jun 2007, 00:56 GMT | reply to this comment | Does this install work for a PS3 connected to a standard TV? Has anyone else installed this yet? Any problems, suggestions?
I was going to get YDL but the install is not easy for a 480i set.
Thanks |
| Comment #10.1 by: marius.nestor on 26 Jun 2007, 05:51 GMT | The screenshots are made on a standard TV. So, yes.. it works very well on a standard TV. But you may wanna try HELIOS. See here -> http://news.softpedia.com/news/HELIOS-on-the-PlayStation3-Installation-and-First-Impressions-55924.shtml |
| Comment #11 by: Mandrashee on 06 Jul 2007, 18:47 GMT | reply to this comment | It all looks very nice, but I have a small question or actually two.
Just after i bought my shiny PS3 I got a 120GB hard disc successfully installed, as a don't think 60GB would be enough either for XMB or for Ubuntu, if I should have all my videos, images and music uploaded. I was somehow surprised to find out that I could only use 10GB for Ubuntu or 10GB for the XMB. Is there anyway to assign about 50GB partition to Ubuntu and leave the rest to the XMB?
Secondly i have never burned an ISO, is it possible to burn the Ubuntu ISO to a DVD RW? |
| Comment #11.1 by: marius.nestor on 08 Jul 2007, 17:08 GMT | Hi! Unfortunately there is no option to format the hard drive as you want. To have 50 GB for the Ubuntu partition, you could assign 10 GB to the XMB (if you have a 60GB PS3 hard drive). But you have an 120 GB PS3, so if you assign 10 GB for XMB, you will have 110 GB for Ubuntu.
As for the second question, you can not burn the Ubuntu ISO image to a DVD RW... it's a 700 MB ISO, so it can only be burned on a CD-R or CD-RW disc. |
| Comment #11.2 by: Andrew Creek on 25 Mar 2008, 06:18 GMT | Actually you can burn a 700MB iso to a dvd disc. There is a program call Power ISO, this will actually convert the iso on the fly to burn to DVD. |
| Comment #12 by: Spidersprog on 08 Aug 2007, 12:11 GMT | reply to this comment | Can this distro output HD I have a 1080i panel. |
| Comment #12.1 by: marius.nestor on 08 Aug 2007, 13:13 GMT | Hi!
Yes, it can. See here for more details: http://psubuntu.com/files/archive/edgy.html |
| Comment #13 by: Shadowcaster on 28 Oct 2007, 10:17 GMT | reply to this comment | Once this is on is there a way to get it off safely. I read at another site:
" Ubuntu never lets go. It just keeps putting itself back. Even repartitioning the drives did not help get it off." |
| Comment #14 by: link91 on 02 Nov 2007, 22:04 GMT | reply to this comment | HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was installing ubuntu in my ps3, but I forgot to brake my hard drive in 2, now my ps3 is not working some one pleas HELP !!!!!!!!!!!! |
| Comment #14.1 by: marius.nestor on 02 Nov 2007, 23:21 GMT | Hi! First of all, I don't think that you can install Ubuntu on your PS3 without partitioning the hard drive.... anyway, to get out of the Ubuntu OS... reset the PS3 and when you see the boot prompt... type:
boot-game-os
and hit enter. The PS3 should reboot and enter XMB. |
| Comment #15 by: link91 on 03 Nov 2007, 15:44 GMT | reply to this comment | Thxs, but the problem is that i dont see anything in my screen !!!!!!! |
| Comment #15.1 by: marius.nestor on 03 Nov 2007, 21:12 GMT | Can you boot from a Ubuntu LiveCD? Insert a LiveCD with Ubuntu on your PS3 and see if it starts to boot... if it works, when the desktop appears, open a terminal and type:
boot-game-os |
| Comment #16 by: Shadowcaster on 03 Nov 2007, 23:28 GMT | reply to this comment | Umm still looking for a answer to my question, and not willing to try this without one.
Question:
Once this is on is there a way to get it off completely. I read at another site:
" Ubuntu never lets go. It just keeps putting itself back. Even repartitioning the drives did not help get it off."
Is this true, and if not how can it be done so that the above statment wont happen to me?? |
| Comment #16.1 by: marius.nestor on 04 Nov 2007, 19:55 GMT | Hi Shadowcaster!
Well, for you, I have just 'Quick Format' my PS3's hard drive, using the "Allot 10 GB for the Other OS" option and when I have entered the Other OS... there was no Ubuntu anymore, just the kboot promt (so you can switch back to XMB, the PS3 OS).
Anyhow, I have never heard of such thing... an OS that "puts himself back"... maybe in 20 years someone will make an operating system that "puts himself back" :)
Have fun! |
| Comment #17 by: link91 on 05 Nov 2007, 01:18 GMT | reply to this comment | ohh yeah I think that is wonna work, but can someone explain me better hat ubuntu live CD because Im new at thxs. |
| Comment #19 by: Carlos on 05 Dec 2007, 02:02 GMT | reply to this comment | If I wanted to connect my HP printer, would i have to download linux drivers or would it auto install?
Can you type or read Japanese text?
Thanks! |
| Comment #19.1 by: marius.nestor on 05 Dec 2007, 15:01 GMT | Hello!
I have no idea if your printer need drivers or not, but you can connect it to see if it works (or not) :)
I can't type or read Japanese text, sorry!
Anyway, stay close for a new tutorial with Ubuntu 7.10 on PS3.
Have a nice day! |
| Comment #20 by: mikeyboy on 19 Dec 2007, 17:36 GMT | reply to this comment | Hi, help please!!! I installed ubuntu 7.10 off psubuntu.com on my new ps3 40 gig.. after following all the procedures.. the ubuntu Live disc never boots up... it just stays at the boot up screen. i tried typing boot-game-os... and it says "boot-game-os not found.
ii tried restarting the ps3 several times, and it just keeps loading up the ubuntu boot up screen and will not get back to XMB.
I left the ubuntu live disk to load all night lastnight. after hitting "ENTER" when it asks... a few more text runs down the screen.. and there it halts.
please help me fix this problem!! :( |
| Comment #20.1 by: marius.nestor on 19 Dec 2007, 18:28 GMT | Hi!
First of all, restarting the PS3 will not do anything. It will not return you to the XMB! The only thing that will return you to the XMB is by typing:
boot-game-os
at the kboot: prompt! Hit ENTER!
So....
1. remove the Ubuntu 7.10 CD from the PS3
2. restart the PS3
3. If you see the kboot: prompt.... type boot-game-os and hit ENTER |
| Comment #21 by: Silverscope on 16 Jan 2008, 19:05 GMT | reply to this comment | Hi,
i'm trying to download this for ps3, but i'm stuck at 48%
does somebody have a solution?
or can somebody host it on rapidshare or something.
thx
regards,
Silverscope |
| Comment #22 by: Serrimnon on 19 Jan 2008, 14:39 GMT | reply to this comment | For some reason when I get to the kboot loader, I insert the cd, type install and it says error. Can someone help me with this? |
| Comment #23 by: Josh on 08 Feb 2008, 03:45 GMT | reply to this comment | I lost all my games on my PS3 partition, but my settings remain. What went wrong and can it be fixed?
Also, when I put in the Ubuntu Disc it just says that there's a problem finding the "rootfs".
I don't know what that is but I followed the guide perfectly. |
| Comment #24 by: kim on 15 May 2008, 11:12 GMT | reply to this comment | hey ive installed ubuntu with ease, worked fine this guide, however i cant seem to connect it to the internt, like the ps3 connects fine but when i switch to ubuntu it doesnt work, the internet was plugged in when i instaleld does that matter?
if anyone knows i would appreiciate it greatly thanks. |
| Comment #25 by: cletus on 16 May 2008, 21:09 GMT | reply to this comment | in order to get ubuntu to recognize the wireless card in the ps3, you must download drivers for the wifi radar application. Only then can you get the wireless to work. Also, for you who lost your game files, this cannot be reversed(unless you can find data recovery software for this, though highly unlikely), because you reformatted your drive when you alloted the 10gbs for the os. Anytime you reformat a drive, you need to back up data prior to doing so, as it will rewrite over everything. |
| Comment #25.1 by: Techkidguru on 15 Aug 2008, 07:25 GMT | Where do I get the wireless drivers?????
plz help i need the wifi |
| Comment #26 by: Legend on 14 Aug 2008, 00:35 GMT | reply to this comment | Ive just finished following the guide and installing LINUX UBUNTU onto the PS3 and well at first i was impressed! However the main reason i did download and install- (DONT bother buying a new hard drive until you have actually tested it and are happy with it)- anyways, the main reason i installed was so that i could watch movies in files unsupported by the PS3 os- ie rmvb, movies that require codecs and so forth. ANyways. I was up last night 4 hours reading tutorials and FAQ's on how to install VLC and ive got to say its way harder than expected. In addition there is problems installn LINUX-
No1- after installation and registration the console restarts and there is some text which requires you to press 'ENTER'- however I tried over and over again but the keyboard would not power up at that stage, I then tried with several other keyboards same problem! Secondly- the time - the time is always wrong and when you change it you get an error and your system fails to start up properly! 3rdly- think about it whats the point of using the PS3 it only has 2 usb ports- 1 for keyboard 1 for mouse? When i tried to transfer data via flash it was a mission!
Anyways switching back the 'conventional' method using CLI doesnt work either- jus switch off from bak and switch back on- then press n hold the start up button 3 times and voila u will b bak 2 ur ps3 OS and in my case DELETE LINUX!
Overall i feel its a waste of your time , (Money for those of you who did take their advice and buy another hard drive personally i didnt, but if u did and ur not happy - just insert the hard drive into ur main pc), and lastly a VERY complicated system! In the end ive connected the PS3 to my main PC which can stream those 'unplayable files'- which if u did buy the extra hard drive u can use it for streaming from ur PC- just use NERO or WMP- prefer NERO.
IF u r very keen to try this out- dont buy a new hard drive- dl and do a test run- im on a 40gb ps3 n it worked fine!
PS- waste of 500 mb dl rather dl movie lke dark knight! Plus the screen resolution is absolutely CRAP!
Lastly- The UBUNTU OS doesnt even recognise the WIRELESS CARD, network adaptor, LAN, and the bluetooth didnt pair up with the control!
WASTE OF A PS3 using LINUX |
| Comment #27 by: azx2driver on 06 Oct 2008, 09:06 GMT | reply to this comment | my question is you said to get the boot program from softpedia and download this to a memory card and then install an iso image to a cd. are these the same thing and if not where do i get the iso image, or if its the same thing then can i just do the complete install from the memory card, i am not very savvy at hacking my ps3, but any help would be appreciated. thanks |
| Comment #28 by: jake on 14 Oct 2008, 08:42 GMT | reply to this comment | wireless does work on ps3 if you install ubuntu |
| Comment #29 by: trasman on 28 Nov 2008, 18:18 GMT | reply to this comment | so i only download iso.bd file at the top and ubuntu 7.04 to a flashdrive then install it on the ps3 directly ???someone please reply . |
| Comment #30 by: Cal on 01 Jan 2009, 03:51 GMT | reply to this comment | http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ports/releases/feisty/release/ubuntu-7.04-desktop-powerpc+ps3.iso
IS BROKEN!!
someone, anyone know another dl???
thx |
| Comment #31 by: Marius Nestor on 01 Jan 2009, 14:18 GMT | reply to this comment | PLEASE TRY YELLOW DOG LINUX:
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Installing-Yellow-Dog-Linux-6-1-on-PS3-100880.shtml |
| Comment #32 by: Dermot on 03 Jan 2009, 22:29 GMT | reply to this comment | if i can get the kboot installer thing without the usb on the disk
does this mean i can use the usb drive instead of having to burn a disk? |
| Comment #33 by: dallas on 09 Feb 2009, 21:39 GMT | reply to this comment | how can i get wireless on my ubuntu? and if i cant can i get internet using ubuntu on ps3 at all?
thanks |
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