Linux On Your Dreamcast

A reader writes: "Looking for a low-cost way to get started with embedded Linux? Or a fun weekend project? In this detailed how-to article at LinuxDevices.com, Bill Gatliff explains everything you need to do to install Linux on a Sega Dreamscast gaming console. Even the necessary Linux kernel, bootloader, and utility kernel patches are included and available for download. Nuffa those mindless video games ... it's time to become an embedded Linux hacker ;)" First time I saw this was in Japan with VA Japan folks -- very cool watching it boot.

Comments

Bah, Been done

[gazbo]

I'm putting Windows 3.11 on my Dreamcast

Linux inside

[(trb001)]

Yeah, it's impressive, but I'm waiting for the ultimate hack...linux embedded in a person. Finally make that 'Linux inside' tattoo worth getting...

--trb

DreamCast - Poor mans webserver

[jfried]

Buy a few dreamcast install linux and apache and you have a cheap webserver farm.
Mix that with an NFS mount and a DataBase Server and you could run slashdot off it.

I wonder how well a dreamcast rack mounts?

Old news

[reynaert]

It's nice to see the portability of Linux demonstrated. And you can use it to really freak out some non-Linux people.

But has this any practical use? A TV screen isn't any good to display text. It isn't useful for developing games either. The Dreamcast community has created tools that are far better suited for that.

Really, it's a nice hack. But it's been on slashdot before (Dreamcast runs Linux, X-Windows on Dreamcast).

Re:Old news

[Jace of Fuse!]

A TV screen isn't any good to display text.

It's not terrible, actually, but it isn't great, either.

Hardly important, though, considering the Dreamcast can be plugged into a VGA monitor.

With a Keybaord, a Mouse, and a couple of Gamepads, the Broadband adapter, and a VGA box, the only thing the Dreamcast was missing to take over as a cheap Internet gaming machine was some kind of Hard Drive with a self booting OS. The ZIP drive that was slated for it would have provided just that, but horrid Dreamcast sales put an end to all that.

So instead we get to see the Playstation 2 attempt to take that market, and if you ask me, the Playstation 2 isn't really a much better console and it costs much more than the Dreamcast. (I could go on and on about why the PS2 is a major disappointment but most people reading won't care, and those who do are fanatical Sony Fanboys who will flame me... so blah)

For shame.

Been Running NetBSD on Mine For a while

[doon]

Netbsd> Has had a dreamcast port for a while now. It runs great. Have been running it at home for a while. FYI....

-Doon

One Useful App

[barnaclebarnes]

MAME.

Dreamcast+MAME =A cheap arcade emulator with 2000 games. sweet.

Re:One Useful App

[Jace of Fuse!]

Actually...

Many emulators already exist in a self booting stand alone form for the Dreamcast.

One could say that the Dreamcast does not need Linux at all, but that somewhat defeats the whole "Doing it for the sake of doing it" spirit.

Still, This Site is dedicated to Dreamcast specific emulators.

DC has VGA 640x480 support as well + other modes

[cybrthng]

DC has a VGA adaptor for 20 bucks that works great, defaults to 640x480 but i've read from dev sites that it goes higher.

I have my DC connected to a flatpanel monitor i picked up from ebay and love it.

CD Images

[Puk]

If you're as lazy as me, you can get a DC Linux CD image from dcemulation on their DC Linux page. They also link to an image for Padus DiscJuggler on the news page, but I won't link that here.

Note that I am also so lazy that I haven't downloaded said image, or even gotten around to fixing my broken dreamcast. :)

-Puk

Realize Linux/Dreamcast's true purpose

[mrossbrown]

It's nice to see the portability of Linux demonstrated. And you can use it to really freak out some non-Linux people.

For starters, read the article before posting ... but I know that's asking a bit too much from this crowd.

But has this any practical use? ...The Dreamcast community has created tools that are far better suited ...

The Linux/Dreamcast port (in my vision at least) is designed for embedded Linux hacking, not to turn the DC into a powerful PC-like workstation. It has 16 megs of system RAM, more than enough to run most Linux apps as is anyway.

When Karl Kalleberg and myself started the port at LinuxDC (yes, not the same as the originial .jp port, for reasons I won't go into, but we're all friends now :P), the idea was to provide an embedded Linux system as an alternative for the hobbyist Dreamcast developers instead of the plucky toolkits (libdream, KOS, etc.) that were available. LinuxDC is *designed* to go as close to the metal as possible.

I'm still doing DC kernel hacking, check out the Task Manager on the SF project page for info on what's currently being worked on.

Really, it's a nice hack.

I wouldn't expect you to understand, as you obviously are inhibited from reading in some sort of way, but anyway, the port of Linux to the SuperH processor (to which the LinuxDC port belongs) is very real. Just browse your latest mainline kernel tree in the arch/sh/ directory for code relating the the DC and other SuperH boards.

If there are true kernel hackers, people interested in porting apps, testers, or people who are serious about tinkering with embedded Linux development feel free to stop by linuxdc.org. The developers are usually on #linuxdc on irc.openprojects.net.

Have fun, and thanks goes to Bill for the well-written article :P.

M. R.

Some info ...,

[EGSonikku]

Ive seen a lot of questions asked about the Dreamcast, plus a few inaccuracies posted, so here is my sad little attempt to inform :)

Some people are too lazy to follow the link to see the Dreamcasts tech specs, so here is the condensed version:

Hitachi SH4 @ 200MHz
8MB NEC PowerVR2 Gfx
2MB Yamaha Audio
12x GD/CD Drive
16MB System RAM
56k Modem Included (US Model)

Also there is some confusion as to pricing. In the US the Dreamcast's MSRP is $79.95 and many stores are selling for less than that to clear out remaining stock.

As for Input, the Dreamcast has 4 controller ports and a Keyboard and Mouse are available through standard game outlets. So you couild have Keyboard, mouse, and even a gamepad plugged in (xmame ;p) with room to spare.

As for burning (and people having trouble doing so). Burning a bootable DC CDR can be tricky, any mistake WILL result in a coaster. There are several good dreamcast burning guides around at sites like http://www.boob.co.uk and http://mc.pp.se/dc/

Also despite rumors to the contrary, there are NO US or European Dreamcast's that won't boot CDR's. Sega only released 2 units in Japan ( The Sakura Tisen LE DC and the Hello Kitty DC) that won't boot CDR's. They had originaly wanted to do the same for the US, but Sega stopped production of the Dreamcast before this could be implemented.

Other than linux, there is also a Dremcast port of NetBSD (and indeed, this port seems to be more active than the linux port). Details @ http://www.netbsd.org/Ports/dreamcast/ .

Dan Potter has also made a homebrew Dreamcast/GBA Operating System / development library called KallistiOs (KOS) which is completly open source and well documented, which can be found at http://dcdev.allusion.net.

Hope this is usefull to someone !