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NetBSD on PS2

Posted by timothy on from the sure-why-not dept.

zmcgrew writes: "Linux has been out for the PS2 for a while, but what about the *BSD users? Well, now NetBSD is availible for the PS2! This means that NetBSD is now availible for 2 gaming consoles, the Dreamcast, and now the PS2. Wonder if the Game Cube and X-Box are in the works? =) I quote from the page, " To boot the kernel, you will require a special boot disc from SONY. The playstation2 can not read CD-Rs. Currently, the only such disc available is the SONY Playstation 2 Linux distribution, sold only in Japanese markets." Well, this leaves a bunch of people out, but maybe someone will figure out how to get the PS2 to boot & read CD-Rs... *Ahem* Maybe a *Co-Weekend project-ugh* for someone? =)" Looks like this port appeared last month -- which means that in a week or so, NetBSD will probably be running on the graphics subsystem alone ;)

3 of 32 comments (clear)

  1. yes but you cant get it in the US. by azephrahel · · Score: 2, Insightful
    I was looking at this awhile ago and the beef I have, we can't use it.
    PS2's can't read burned CD's apparently.
    The linux distro is stamped and sold for use ONLY in Japan afaik.
    And finnaly the NetBSD port isn't really a full port, its just a kernel+bootloader that could be used, if it were stamped.
    Did I get this all right?
    It was one thing when NetBSD came out with support for AMD's X86-64bit, because there were emulators developers were supposed to use to get ready. So there was something to run it on.
    This on the other hand...well, you just can't run it yet. :(
    When I saw the headline, I thought, ohh wow,
    • now
    we can actually see it boot, but no.
    Its pretty agrivating a ps2 can't read burned disks :/
    --
    You are only young once, but you can stay immature indefinitely.
  2. Not on Game Cube by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Unless you have the ability to make baby disc, I doubt that you'll see a port for the Game Cube.

  3. More than I thought! by littlebilly · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Ok first I thought this was cool. After reading some of the posts here and elswhere I figured that it was pretty limited. I checked out www.ps2linux.com a site mostly in japanese. It appears that a PS2 linux kit is available that contains
    10/100 baseT ethernet adapter
    A Hard Drive (couldn't determine size)
    USB keyboard
    USB Mouse 2 button + Scoll wheel button
    A cord that as far as I can tell will attach a monitor
    PS2 linux Beta Release 1 DVD DISK
    - PlayStartion 2 Runtime Enviroment
    PS2 Linux Beta Release 1 install kit
    Linux 2.2.1 + 2.2.18
    XFree86 3.3.6
    gcc 2.95.2
    Mesa Graphics Synthesizer
    Playstation 2 ( cant determine what this software is)

    check out this screenshot
    http://www.ps2linux.com/images/pv/screenshot.jpg
    It shows someone running gimp,and compiling somthing in kterm

    I wonder what performance is like? A large swap on the hard drive is probably needed.
    IF this becomes available in US I will pick it up.