Playstation Linux Boot CD like Knoppix?
 

Hell-o,

Is there anything like a Linux boot disc for the Playstation 2 kind of like Knoppix?

I am not interested in playing downloaded games or anything like that.


Blessed Be,

Jason Hodges

hmmm, if you say so ((wink, wink))........If sony does not make one for it, then maybe it does not exisit....

try to google for "toms bootdisk"

I don't think there are any homebrew community projects for PS2 Linux as Sony officially supported Linux and produced a Linux PS2 kit. There are no longer in production in North America (and is no longer available on their site for that reason), but you can still find some information on their site here: http://www.us.playstation.com/periph...?id=SCPH-97047

You can still pick up a kit if you are in Europe, Africa, or the Middle East (see here: http://www.linuxplay.com/) and possibly some other places ( http://playstation2-linux.com/faq.ph..._and_how_much). If you are located in North America, maybe you could pick one up on eBay.

Actually, there's BlackRhino, which is a community distro supported by Sony (they host the software distribution servers). You'll still need a PS2 Linux kit to use it though. As you're in the US (the kits from outside the US won't work on the US PS2) you may have to wait until the PS3 is released, as the hard drive that Sony are supposed to releasing for that will come with Linux pre-installed on it.

Actually, I don't want to play downloaded games (I know -- something must be wrong with me:) ). I was hoping to just tinker with something and maybe have it look on my network and play some mp3s or internet radio or something like that.

I did a search for toms bootdisk and found a floppy version, which really doesn't help me much. Thanks though.


Blessed Be,

Jason Hodges

I didn't know that the PS3 will come with Linux. Will it be a full OS or just Linux running things under the hood?


Blessed Be,

Jason Hodges

I looked at the kits. They are too expensive, and I have a Slim PS2 (which really isn't that big a problem because you can get a new case plus hard drive mod kit for it for around $20 that'll provide room for a hard drive.). It's just a lot of money to spend on something when a newish computer that'll do more is around the same amount of money.

I really still a newbie when it comes to these things even though I've been a Linux user for years. If Linux will run on a PS2, how hard would it be to make something like Knoppix run on it? Is a question of Sony having hardware checks in the machine so that you can't boot from a disc or is it software like video drivers and such?


Blessed Be,

Jason Hodges

Full OS, like the PS2. It may not come with Linux at launch, as putting a hard drive in a console causes it to be classed as a computer instead of a toy in Japan, which makes it subject to higher export tax, so Sony are hoping to release the hard drive later.

my two cents worth...

check out
h**p://w**.i42.net/?cat=9

** cos me not enuff post.. methinks...

Thanks for very useful info, jabster2k

Followed the instructions on the page mentioned above and got my PS2 to boot BlackRhino Linux! Works like a charm, can download and install packages from distribution mirrors and compile my own from source code - PS2 really can do everything one would expect from a Linux box!

So far I have not figured out a way to boot without using a "rescue" CD though. Presumably it should be possible to boot stright from HD using some kind of bootloader on the PS2 memory card (?) I will have to google around on how to do that.

I anyone here has more useful Playstation 2 Linux pointers, please post.

I also made a torrent for the BlackRhino distro patched by CERF4 image mentioned in the link jabster2k posted. Even if you don't have PS2 network adapter and/or HD installed (USB keyboard will be needed), you can boot Linux from CD on your PS2! Without HD installation and network in it's bare form it's just the console with few commands, do not expect anything fancy like Knoppix. Still, if you want to try it out, search for CERF4 on isohunt.com or mininova.org. The download is only 43 megabytes.