Linux Install on PS3? The "Other OS"!

[Pako]

Here are some references for those brave enough to format their PS3 hard drive and to install a Linux Dist on their PS3.

Have you done it? Share your experience and 'tricks'.

Fedora 5 install Instructions:

Yes, 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)
HTTP Download - [here]

Bittorrent Download - [here]

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.

View: [Forum discussion thread]

Yellow Dog 5.0 for PS3 Install Instructions
Download PDF Here

Give us your impressions. I'll give it a shot after I get a different Hard Drive for it. Will report back as I progress through the install.

 

[DuckRacer]

Considering there's only about four people on here with a PS3, don't expect a ton of feedback from them.

But nonetheless, when you get it set up, tell it how it is and take some pics.

 

[Pako]

Figured I'd get a head start on the thread.

 

[Jeremy Ricci]

Personally, I'm not going to install it, just because I want to give it about 6 months to see if it causes any stability issues in the long run. We'll see how things pan out.

 

[Pako]

I just about installed it last night. I had it all ready to go, but realized that the PS3 will boot into Linux, not the game OS when the PS3 is turned on. This is a problem as non technical users also use the PS3 for DVD watching, as well as game play. I probably would have installed it if the default boot image was the GameOS with an option to launch Linux from the PS3 Game GUI, but for now this is not the case.