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BlackRhino Linux Now Available for PlayStation 2

Mr. Spock writes "BlackRhino Linux has been released for the PlayStation 2. It's developed independently by xRhino, a middleware developer. Check out the details and download instructions on the official website. A Playstation 2 Linux kit is required to use BlackRhino."

233 comments

  1. Slashdotted - Here's the FAQ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative


    What is BlackRhino GNU/Linux?
    BlackRhino is a free Debian-based GNU/Linux software distribution for the Sony PlayStation 2. It contains over 1,200 software packages to aid in using and creating programs for the Sony PlayStation 2 Linux kit. The programs range in functionality from simple games, to text editors, compilers, web servers, windowing systems, database systems, graphics packages, mail servers and a variety of other tools and utilities.

    Why was BlackRhino developed?
    Initially, BlackRhino was created by xRhino in an effort to bring a commercial Debian-based GNU/Linux distribution to the Sony PlayStation 2 for hobbyists and developers alike. As events unfolded, BlackRhino became useful in other ways and it was finally apparent that a public release should be made. For more information, see the project history.

    What are BlackRhino's vital statistics?

    Package Count Breakdown by Section:
    admin: 49
    base: 55
    comm: 9
    deprecated: 94
    devel: 258
    doc: 49
    editors: 31
    games: 8
    graphics: 40
    interpreters: 106
    libs: 169
    mail: 21
    main: 6
    math: 6
    misc: 8
    net: 95
    oldlibs: 7
    otherosfs: 11
    shells: 9
    sound: 57
    tex: 17
    text: 50
    utils: 46
    web: 14
    x11: 73
    Package Count Total: 1,292
    Total Size: 1.2 Gigabytes

    Help! BlackRhino doesn't have a package I need!
    Then you should consider becoming a package maintainer and submitting that package!

    How may I contribute?
    There are plenty of ways! To name a few...

    Become a package maintainer and submit new packages (or maintain existing ones).
    Generate discussion on the BlackRhino listserv.
    Generate discussion on the BlackRhino forums.
    Provide a repository mirror.
    If you have other ideas, please feel free to contact xRhino.

    What is a package maintainer?
    The person who is responsible for maintaining a package. This can entail initial package creation from software source, keeping the package up-to-date with the latest software version, testing the package contents and verifying correct interaction with the BlackRhino system, and releasing an updated package into the official BlackRhino repository. For more information on the Debian packaging system (which BlackRhino uses), have a look at their FAQ.

    How do I submit new packages?
    There is no automated way of submitting packages at this time, so a small submission proposal must be sent to xRhino. Once the proposal is approved, binary and source packages will be accepted and added to the official repository.

    May I provide a repository mirror?
    Absolutely! We're always happy to give BlackRhino higher availability. Contact xRhino and all the arrangements will be made.

    1. Re:Slashdotted - Here's the FAQ by Gortbusters.org · · Score: 4, Funny

      Don't ya love hearing about a new distro? Something cool and exciting with a name that just makes you want to go download it? Hmmm, SilverIguana Linux!

      --
      --------
      Free your mind.
    2. Re:Slashdotted - Here's the FAQ by RTPMatt · · Score: 1

      well you people maasged to kill that server fast

    3. Re:Slashdotted - Here's the FAQ by NewWazoo · · Score: 1

      WTH?

      The site is most certainly not slashdotted. Whore.

      Brandon

    4. Re:Slashdotted - Here's the FAQ by amunter · · Score: 1

      WTH?

      How can the poster be a karma whore if they posted as an AC? Did you not even look at the post before accusing them of whoring?

    5. Re:Slashdotted - Here's the FAQ by meshko · · Score: 1

      so this is not a whore but a troll, it still should not be a +5.

      --
      I passed the Turing test.
    6. Re:Slashdotted - Here's the FAQ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "well you people (managed) to kill that server fast"

      No doubt! When First Post claims Slashdot Effect, you just KNOW that server is in trouble!!!
      That sound you hear is the Sysops' pager, reminding him of his failures.

    7. Re:Slashdotted - Here's the FAQ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just in case someone can't read this site, here are the contents, of slashdot!

      In SOVIET RUSSIA, Servers slashdot PEOPLE!
      YOU FAIL IT!
      Subway? Eat fresh!
      First Ninnle Post~!

      Re:Slashdotted - Here's the FAQ (Score:4, Funny)
      by Gortbusters.org (637314) on Tuesday March 04, @04:02PM (#5435902)
      (http://www.gortbusters.org/)
      Don't ya love hearing about a new distro? Something cool and exciting with a name that just makes you want to go download it? Hmmm, SilverIguana Linux!
      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Launch Event (Score:0)
      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 04, @04:41PM (#5436261)
      Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Visual Studio .NET 2003 Launch Event

      04/24/2003 09:00 AM - 04/24/2003 05:00 PM
      Language: English-American

      Washington State Convention & Trade Center
      Ballroom 6A-C

      800 Convention Center Place
      Seattle Washington 98101
      United States

      General Event Information
      Products: Visual Studio and Windows Server.

      Recommended Audience: Developer, IT Professional and Technology Executive.

      At this launch event, you'll get a first look at Windows Server 2003 and Visual Studio .NET 2003! You'll learn how their enterprise-class reliability and updated features will help you do more with less - including how to quickly build connected solutions that can increase the value of your business while driving down overall costs. Following the keynote, this event will divide into three separate learning tracks, allowing you to choose the content that best applies to your job and the needs of your organization. There will be plenty of time for Q&A after each session.

      IT Implementation Track - You'll learn how the improved security, reliability, scalability, and management features in Windows Server 2003 can help provide a dependable and scalable platform for your organization. We'll outline how these features can enable you to reduce costs and increase productivity through server consolidation, identity management, secure network access and efficient systems management. We'll also talk in depth on how to migrate existing Windows NT 4.0 systems to Windows Server 2003.

      System and Application Architecture Track - Learn how Windows Server 2003 and Visual Studio .NET 2003 can enable you to realize the potential of a service-orientated architecture. We'll discuss Microsoft's best practices and recommended strategies for heterogeneous interoperability through XML Web services and address how Visual Studio .NET 2003 addresses common deployment and manageability problems.

      Development Track - See how Visual Studio .NET 2003 builds on the success of its predecessor to deliver increased scalability, reliability, connectivity and productivity. We'll address using ASP .NET to build server-side mobile Web applications, using Windows Server 2003 as a part of the .NET framework, introduce the improvements included in C++ .NET, and introduce Web Services Enhancements - security, routing, and attachments for Web Services.

      Event attendance is FREE, but space is limited so register today!
      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Re:Launch Event (Score:0)
      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 04, @05:17PM (#5436541)
      "Orientated" is not a word. Stupid MS.
      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Black Rhino? WTF? (Score:0)
      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 04, @04:02PM (#5435903)
      Have they just given up all pretense and now just name all new LOONIX distributions after endangered species?!!
      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Re:Slashdotted - Here's the FAQ (Score:1)
      by RTPMatt (468649) on Tuesday March 04, @04:02PM (#5435904)
      well you people maasged to kill that server fast
      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Re:Slashdotted - Here's the FAQ (Score:0)
      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 04, @05:23PM (#5436583)
      "well you people (managed) to kill that server fast"

      No doubt! When First Post claims Slashdot Effect, you just KNOW that server is in trouble!!!
      That sound you hear is the Sysops' pager, reminding him of his failures.
      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Re:Slashdotted - Here's the FAQ (Score:1)
      by NewWazoo (2508) on Tuesday March 04, @04:06PM (#5435943)
      (http://devils.eng.fsu.edu/)
      WTH?

      The site is most certainly not slashdotted. Whore.

      Brandon
      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Re:Slashdotted - Here's the FAQ (Score:1)
      by amunter (313014) on Tuesday March 04, @04:17PM (#5436029)
      WTH?

      How can the poster be a karma whore if they posted as an AC? Did you not even look at the post before accusing them of whoring?
      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Re:Slashdotted - Here's the FAQ (Score:1)
      by meshko (413657) on Tuesday March 04, @04:37PM (#5436217)
      (http://www.scorch2000.com/)
      so this is not a whore but a troll, it still should not be a +5.
      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      SITE IS NOT SLASHDOTTED! (more links) (Score:0)
      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 04, @04:33PM (#5436180)
      Thanks for the text contents of the site even though the site is not slashdotted!
      Here are some more links I found while searching Google...

      xRhino [xrhino.com]

      official website [xrhino.com]

      Linux kit [playstation2-linux.com]

      More on Debian [slashdot.org]

      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Debian alpha version avalible. (Score:-1, Troll)
      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 04, @03:55PM (#5435839)
      Apt-get it now [debian.org]
      [ Reply to This ]

      Games!!! (Score:5, Funny)
      by $$$$$exyGal (638164) on Tuesday March 04, @03:56PM (#5435849)
      (http://slashdot.org/~$$$$$exyGal/jour nal/#naked | Last Journal: Monday March 03, @01:21PM)
      The programs range in functionality from simple games ...
      AWESOME!!! Now I can finally play games on my PS2!!!

      [ Reply to This ]

      Re:Games!!! (Score:-1, Troll)
      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 04, @03:58PM (#5435867)
      Fuck off ekrout.
      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Re:Games!!! (Score:-1, Troll)
      by asramchusak (652686) on Tuesday March 04, @03:58PM (#5435871)
      (http://www.islamicfoundation.org/)
      W hatever point you are trying to make has been cheapened by your excessive referral to explicit websites in your journal.

      Although, contrary to popular belief, I as a Muslim am not judgemental, all I can ask is that you show more concern towards how you are perceived by the community at large.
      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Re:Games!!! (Score:-1, Offtopic)
      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 04, @04:02PM (#5435895)
      As opposed to $$$$$exyGal, who is not a gal, and is a troll.
      Stop biting the trolls and just mark him off as an enemy, like I did. All my enemies get a -0 penalty, so I ... well, I still see the posts, I just get a little Enemy Pip along with the Friend of a Friend Pip and Enemy of a Friend Pip.

      All I need to do is get $$$$$$$$$$exyGuy to set me as an enemy, and then I can have four little obnoxious pips next his name. Stupid Slashcode...

      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Re:Games!!! (Score:2)
      by B3ryllium (571199) on Tuesday March 04, @04:05PM (#5435924)
      (http://www.beryllium.ca/)
      You've gotta give it credit for one thing, though.

      Obnoxious pips for obnoxious pips.
      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Re:Games!!! (Score:-1, Flamebait)
      by J0hn Carm4ck (655189) on Tuesday March 04, @04:24PM (#5436108)
      (Last Journal: Tuesday March 04, @04:39PM)
      >> Yes, I am a Muslim. No, I am not a Terrorist.

      Yes, I am the worlds most renowned game developer.

      Yes, lots of you rag-heads will be cannon fodder in my new upcoming game:

      DOMMALAKKY3.

      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Re:Games!!! (Score:0)
      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 04, @04:34PM (#5436192)
      You need not look into his journal. By mentioning it, you are confirming my suspicion that all muslims are fanatics. If you are "not judgemental", why are you pestering the troll known as $*exyGal? Why don't you just shut up? Would you like me to look into your mosque and start criticizing anything I see as offensive to the community at large? Would you like me to read the Quran and criticize whatever I disagree with?
      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Re:Games!!! (Score:0)
      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 04, @05:30PM (#5436633)
      Get a life.
      Man up, you fucking pussy. This is the terrority of karma whores and trolls. If you can't handle it, you're in the wrong place. Or was your message just a very successful troll? Nice work, man, I had you wrong at first, but now I understand you're just one of us. Welcome to the club.
      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Re:Games!!! (Score:2)
      by Jason1729 (561790) on Tuesday March 04, @04:00PM (#5435886)
      Now you can play *simple* games on your PS2. Hopefully that should mean eye candy doesn't get in the way of playability and the games will be better :)

      Jason
      ProfQuotes [profquotes.com]
      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Re:Games!!! (Score:2, Interesting)
      by denzombie (561408) on Tuesday March 04, @04:17PM (#5436033)
      (http://warriorpoet.org/ | Last Journal: Saturday February 08, @01:46AM)
      Yesh!
      I can play nethack on my playstation!
      Wheee!
      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Re:Games!!! (Score:0)
      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 04, @04:08PM (#5435956)
      I hope to God one of those games is Metal Gear Solid!!!!!

      Snaaaakkkeeeee
      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      $$$$$exyGal == Ekrout (a guy) (Score:0)
      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 04, @05:49PM (#5436789)
      $$$$$exyGal is a fan whoring guy...want proof? Check out these links
      $$$$$exyGal's obsession with fans (scroll down to the end of the porn links):
      http://slashdot.org/~$$$$$exyGal/journal [slashdot.org]

      Ekrout's obsession with fans:
      http://slashdot.org/~ekrout/journal [slashdot.org]

      Notice that Eric Krout compares his # of fans to the same type of people in both cases!

      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Woo hoo! NetHack, Empire, ... (Score:2)
      by Speare (84249) on Tuesday March 04, @07:10PM (#5437244)
      (http://www.halley.cc/ed/)

      Great, now I can run all those classic ASCII games on my television set. It'll be even better than when I connected a VIC-20 to an old 1950s Philco television.

      Be careful, it's a new moon tonight.

      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Fourth post (Score:-1, Troll)
      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 04, @03:56PM (#5435851)
      Did I get the 4th one at least ?
      [ Reply to This ]

      Ummm OK.... (Score:-1, Flamebait)
      by dfn5 (524972) on Tuesday March 04, @03:57PM (#5435857)
      (http://www.maraudingpirates.org/)
      Le t me run out right now and buy a playstation 2 so I can run Linux on it.... NOT!!
      --
      "Going to war without the French is like going deer hunting without an accordion player."
      - Donald Rumsfeld

      [ Reply to This ]

      questions about PS2 linux (Score:3, Interesting)
      by stratjakt (596332) on Tuesday March 04, @03:57PM (#5435858)
      (Last Journal: Sunday September 29, @01:10PM)
      First off, where the hell do you get it from?

      And I'm wondering about this:
      "NOTE: Linux Kit (for PlayStation 2) is a tool for Linux enthusiasts and programmers only. It will NOT enhance your PlayStation 2 games. The hard disk drive formatted for Linux cannot be used with HDD-compatible PlayStation 2 games."

      So can you still play games? If you wanted to play a HDD compatible game (if one existed) would you have to switch HDDs?

      And whats the deal with the requirements?
      "REQUIRES A PLAYSTATION 2 SYSTEM, VGA MONITOR [WITH SYNC-ON-GREEN CAPABILITY] AND MEMORY CARD (8MB) (FOR PLAYSTATI0N 2) [DEDICATED TO LINUX KIT USE], ALL SOLD SEPARATELY."

      1st off, why cant I use the TV as a display? And what is an 8 meg memory card needed for if it comes with a 40 gig HDD?

      [ Reply to This ]

      Re:questions about PS2 linux (Score:5, Informative)
      by zhar (533174) on Tuesday March 04, @04:02PM (#5435900)
      (http://www.goldtwo.net/ | Last Journal: Wednesday July 17, @08:15AM)
      You can still play games on your PlayStation 2, and you would have to switch HDDs if you wanted to play a HDD compatable game. None are yet availible however. The VGA moniter with Sync-on-green is need for the install, and you can use a tv as the display, but it's low resolution will not look pretty and you will have to do the install "blind". The 8Meg memory card is needed to contain the boot up info and Playstation configuration. If you already have one, look at it under the sony memory card manager. You should see a file that has Playstation 2 configuration info in it.
      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Re:questions about PS2 linux (Score:5, Informative)
      by cide1 (126814) on Tuesday March 04, @04:03PM (#5435910)
      (http://icdweb.cc.purdue.edu/~herbertd /index.html | Last Journal: Friday September 27, @12:42PM)
      Yes you can still play games. If a second harddrive was ever released, you might have to switch, but not neccessarily. Once installed, you can use a TV as the display. The memory card is needed to bootstrap the machine. They arent trying to screw you here, what you see is what you get. I bought it about a year ago, and am pretty happy. However, the first distro was Redhat 5.2 based, which sucked. This should give a big boost to the community, as a modern set of libraries makes it sooooo much easier to port applications.

      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Re:questions about PS2 linux (Score:3, Funny)
      by msporny (653636) on Tuesday March 04, @04:04PM (#5435918)
      (http://www.zenmachine.org/)
      You can actually use a TV as the display... its a simple change in one of the boot scripts.

      Unfortunately, Sony decided that it would confuse consumers too much to allow the PS2 Linux kit to be compatible with games... there are also a number of technical reasons this wasn't done. Sorry, you can only use the PS2 Linux kit to run Linux. The kit is provided mostly so hobbyist game programmers can get some real experience programming games on real game hardware.

      Its also gives some people a kick to run a web server off of their PlayStation 2.

      -- manu

      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

      Re:questions about PS2 linux (Score:1, Informative)
      by stratjakt (596332) on Tuesday March 04, @04:08PM (#5435958)
      (Last Journal: Sunday September 29, @01:10PM)
      But

      WHERE DO I GET IT?

      I'm serious. I went to my local indie game shop who can always procure the rarest and most obscure games on a weeks notice (they carry GP32 and Wonderswan fer cryin out loud), and asked about the PS2 linux kit, and they looked at me like I had a booger in my nose.

      In retrospect, I may well have had a booger in my nose.

      You have a link from a site to order this thing from for a US PS2?

      [ Reply to This | Parent ]

    8. Re:Slashdotted - Here's the FAQ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You have an odd definition of troll.

  2. Games!!! by $$$$$exyGal · · Score: 5, Funny
    The programs range in functionality from simple games ...

    AWESOME!!! Now I can finally play games on my PS2!!!

    --
    Very popular slashdot journal for adul
    1. Re:Games!!! by Jason1729 · · Score: 1

      Now you can play *simple* games on your PS2. Hopefully that should mean eye candy doesn't get in the way of playability and the games will be better :)

      Jason
      ProfQuotes

    2. Re:Games!!! by B3ryllium · · Score: 1

      You've gotta give it credit for one thing, though.

      Obnoxious pips for obnoxious pips.

    3. Re:Games!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I hope to God one of those games is Metal Gear Solid!!!!!

      Snaaaakkkeeeee

    4. Re:Games!!! by denzombie · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Yesh!
      I can play nethack on my playstation!
      Wheee!

      --
      --- Evil robots don't kill people, Mad scientists kill people.
    5. Re:Games!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You need not look into his journal. By mentioning it, you are confirming my suspicion that all muslims are fanatics. If you are "not judgemental", why are you pestering the troll known as $*exyGal? Why don't you just shut up? Would you like me to look into your mosque and start criticizing anything I see as offensive to the community at large? Would you like me to read the Quran and criticize whatever I disagree with?

    6. Re:Games!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Get a life.
      Man up, you fucking pussy. This is the terrority of karma whores and trolls. If you can't handle it, you're in the wrong place. Or was your message just a very successful troll? Nice work, man, I had you wrong at first, but now I understand you're just one of us. Welcome to the club.

    7. Re:Games!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Being a muslim doesn't necessarily make you a terrorist, but it DOES show that you are a gullible fool who'll swallow whatever fairy tales you are spoonfed. Religion is a bunch of bullshit conjured up by a bunch of drunken guys sitting around a campfire a few thousand years ago. Don't worry though, you are in good company with all the other gullible christians, jews, hinduists, buddhists, shintoists, etc. (Personally I think all of you fuckers should try to get with the 21st century.)

    8. Re:Games!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Now you can play *simple* games on your PS2. Hopefully that should mean eye candy doesn't get in the way of playability and the games will be better :)

      If you were trying to sound like an old fart, you succeeded. ;)

    9. Re:Games!!! by balthan · · Score: 1

      Controllers these days almost have enough buttons.

  3. questions about PS2 linux by stratjakt · · Score: 4, Interesting

    First off, where the hell do you get it from?

    And I'm wondering about this:
    "NOTE: Linux Kit (for PlayStation 2) is a tool for Linux enthusiasts and programmers only. It will NOT enhance your PlayStation 2 games. The hard disk drive formatted for Linux cannot be used with HDD-compatible PlayStation 2 games."

    So can you still play games? If you wanted to play a HDD compatible game (if one existed) would you have to switch HDDs?

    And whats the deal with the requirements?
    "REQUIRES A PLAYSTATION 2 SYSTEM, VGA MONITOR [WITH SYNC-ON-GREEN CAPABILITY] AND MEMORY CARD (8MB) (FOR PLAYSTATI0N 2) [DEDICATED TO LINUX KIT USE], ALL SOLD SEPARATELY."

    1st off, why cant I use the TV as a display? And what is an 8 meg memory card needed for if it comes with a 40 gig HDD?

    --
    I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
    1. Re:questions about PS2 linux by zhar · · Score: 5, Informative

      You can still play games on your PlayStation 2, and you would have to switch HDDs if you wanted to play a HDD compatable game. None are yet availible however. The VGA moniter with Sync-on-green is need for the install, and you can use a tv as the display, but it's low resolution will not look pretty and you will have to do the install "blind". The 8Meg memory card is needed to contain the boot up info and Playstation configuration. If you already have one, look at it under the sony memory card manager. You should see a file that has Playstation 2 configuration info in it.

      --


      DRINK DUFF (responsibly) DRINK DUFF (responsibly) DRINK DUFF
    2. Re:questions about PS2 linux by cide1 · · Score: 5, Informative

      Yes you can still play games. If a second harddrive was ever released, you might have to switch, but not neccessarily. Once installed, you can use a TV as the display. The memory card is needed to bootstrap the machine. They arent trying to screw you here, what you see is what you get. I bought it about a year ago, and am pretty happy. However, the first distro was Redhat 5.2 based, which sucked. This should give a big boost to the community, as a modern set of libraries makes it sooooo much easier to port applications.

      --
      -- the computer doesn't want any beer, no matter how much you think it does. NEVER, EVER feed your computer beer.
    3. Re:questions about PS2 linux by msporny · · Score: 3, Funny

      You can actually use a TV as the display... its a simple change in one of the boot scripts.

      Unfortunately, Sony decided that it would confuse consumers too much to allow the PS2 Linux kit to be compatible with games... there are also a number of technical reasons this wasn't done. Sorry, you can only use the PS2 Linux kit to run Linux. The kit is provided mostly so hobbyist game programmers can get some real experience programming games on real game hardware.

      Its also gives some people a kick to run a web server off of their PlayStation 2.

      -- manu

      --
      Manu Sporny (skype: msporny, twitter: manusporny, G+: +Manu Sporny)
      Founder/CEO - Digital Bazaar, Inc.
    4. Re:questions about PS2 linux by stratjakt · · Score: 1, Informative

      But

      WHERE DO I GET IT?

      I'm serious. I went to my local indie game shop who can always procure the rarest and most obscure games on a weeks notice (they carry GP32 and Wonderswan fer cryin out loud), and asked about the PS2 linux kit, and they looked at me like I had a booger in my nose.

      In retrospect, I may well have had a booger in my nose.

      You have a link from a site to order this thing from for a US PS2?

      --
      I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
    5. Re:questions about PS2 linux by cide1 · · Score: 1

      http://www.us.playstation.com/purchase/hardware/

      This is where you buy it, I havent heard of anyone else selling it.

      --
      -- the computer doesn't want any beer, no matter how much you think it does. NEVER, EVER feed your computer beer.
    6. Re:questions about PS2 linux by msporny · · Score: 5, Informative

      You can buy the PS2 Linux kit online at:
      http://www.us.playstation.com/purchase/hardware/
      Buy PS2 Linux Kit

      --
      Manu Sporny (skype: msporny, twitter: manusporny, G+: +Manu Sporny)
      Founder/CEO - Digital Bazaar, Inc.
    7. Re:questions about PS2 linux by stratjakt · · Score: 1

      200 DOLLARS!

      Screw you buddy
      (sob)
      thanks for nothing
      (sob)

      So then I tells him "Screw you buddy! Thanks for nothing!"

      --
      I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
    8. Re:questions about PS2 linux by AxelTorvalds · · Score: 1
      My girlfriend ordered my copy from sony's site. Playsation2.com.

      No HDD compatible games on PS2. The HDD won't work with them, says Sony.

      Games work just fine, you put a different DVD in and swap memory cards and play your games.

      You can use the TV but you need a VGA monitor to install it.

      The memory card is needed to load the kernel in to RAM. It's like a BIOS on a PC. You need code that can read the drive in memory and running before you can read the drive.

    9. Re:questions about PS2 linux by luwain · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Seems like an awful lot of trouble to run Linux. And the Linux Kit costs $199.00!!! You can get a
      whole computer system at WALMART pre-installed with Lindows for about $50.00 more (a playstation 2 alone costs $200.00, and I have to buy a monitor!?). Why would I want to screw with my Playstation 2 to turn it into a Linux system that needs me to port applications -- obviously this is just for a hobbyist with time and money to burn.... a little TOO geeky for me...

    10. Re:questions about PS2 linux by detritus. · · Score: 1

      Here's the Offical Site.

      As for the system requirements, you can use a TV, but you need a sync-on-green monitor to initially install linux (why, i'm not sure, but the website has a list of tested monitors). You can also find instructions for a "blind" install, that will guide you through the various keystrokes of installing and changing the boot configuration file to TV mode. The most obvious advantage to having a sync-on-green monitor is the higher screen resolutions and refresh rates - a TV just doesn't cut it.

      The 8MB memory card stores the linux kernel. Sony's Linux distribution (redhat based) comes on two PS2 DVD's. In order to boot into Linux, you need the PS2 DVD which loads as a game would on the PS2. The DVD has a boot menu on it, which loads the kernel from the memory card into memory. Then it detects the hard drive, network adapter, etc.. and begins the boot process.

      There's a ton of information on sony's site, as well as very informative discussion groups. I've had mine for almost a year now, and have had a ton of fun with it. The requirements have discouraged alot of people from getting one, but to be honest, they are worth the burden. Sony's willingness to open up the PS2 to developers is truly awesome -- there still hasn't been a game written (or ported) that makes use of the PS2's graphics power.

    11. Re:questions about PS2 linux by CronoCloud · · Score: 1

      Don't need a monitor to install anymore. Turns out there's a joypad sequence that will let you choose the display mode when you first boot it up. It's Select+R1 for NTSC.

    12. Re:questions about PS2 linux by child_of_mercy · · Score: 1
      for your $200 you get:

      40 Gb HD

      USB keyboard

      USB Mouse

      Ethernet Thingy that bolts onto HD and rapes obscure back port of PS2 you probly never knew was there.

      Install media and instructions

      Even out of the box (before getting black rhino) the thing makes a rocking terminal if you already have a linux server in the house.

      --
      'There is a Light that never goes out.'
  4. So you need the Linux kit to use this by N0decam · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Let me get this straight - I need the linux kit to run this linux distro?

    Wake me up when there's a bootable DVD distro that doesn't require any additional hardware.

    Back in my day all we had for input devices were dual shock controllers :P

    1. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by monthos · · Score: 1

      you will be waiting a long while then im sorry to say. you cant boot anythign unless its official sony software or you are using a modchip, but then again that would fall under the "additional hardware" category.

    2. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by gilesjuk · · Score: 1

      Exactly, the internal port of the PS2 is PCMCIA based (IIRC), it has two USB ports and firewire (all standard stuff) . Why then do we need all this custom stuff to run an OS? Answer: more cash for Sony.

    3. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by b1t+r0t · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Well, it does sort of help to have the hard drive interface. If you look at an official PS2 network adapter, you'll notice there's already an IDE and power connector on the back of it, ready to attach a hard drive to. The only other things missing are a mounting frame/rails for the hard drive, and the Linux disc itself.

      The real question should be: is there any way to get this to work with the network adapter and a generic hard drive, but WITHOUT Sony's Linux disc?

      --

      --
      "Open source is good." - Steve Jobs
      "Open source is evil." - Microsoft
    4. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by Bagheera · · Score: 1

      As in understand it the "Linux kit" includes the hard drive and ethernet card. Even if you could boot it to Linux without a drive and NIC, it would be more or less useless - except for the coolness factor of seeing an X desktop of some form on your TV.

      Considering what you want, me thinks you'll be sleeping for quite some time.

      --
      Never attribute to malice what can as easily be the result of incompetence...
    5. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by brianosaurus · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Yeah. That was a major bummer when I found that out.

      I bought a PS2 network adapter to play THPS4. It has an IDE connector, so i plugged a spare drive on it. The drive does nothing, but whatever.

      So the sony linux kit comes with a network adapter, a 40G hard drive, a keyboard, mouse, and the all important magical sony linux dvd. All for $200. (oh yeah, and the PS2 linux claims to ONLY work on the HD it comes with, for some reason).

      But I already have the network adapter, a HD, keyboard, and mouse. So if I want to run linux, I'm effectively paying $200 for GNU software. I don't quite understand how that works within the GPL. Please explain it to me.

      Anyhow I can't bring myself to spend $200 for a bunch of hardware I don't need, so I won't be running linux on my PS2 anytime soon.

      --
      blog
    6. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by brianosaurus · · Score: 1

      For kicks I plugged a spare HD I had lying around into the network adapter. It does spin up, and the little green light goes on when the network adapter gets activated, but the only thing its doing right now, probably, is contriubuting to the noise and heat coming from the PS2.

      --
      blog
    7. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by Anonvmous+Coward · · Score: 1

      "Wake me up when there's a bootable DVD distro that doesn't require any additional hardware. "

      Wake me up when there's a reason to even boot into Linux on the PS2. At least the XBOX has a hard drive and an ethernet port, I suppose something interesting could be done then.

    8. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by battjt · · Score: 1

      I could play with the vector processing hardware.

      Some of us are programmers, not just computer users.

      Joe

      --
      Joe Batt Solid Design
    9. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by pebs · · Score: 2, Interesting

      But I already have the network adapter, a HD, keyboard, and mouse. So if I want to run linux, I'm effectively paying $200 for GNU software. I don't quite understand how that works within the GPL. Please explain it to me.

      The GPL only claims that the software is free. You can make copies of this software and distribute them (the GPL parts anyway). You can run the software on whatever it'll work on, be it a PS2 or a PS2 emulator if one existed. Now as I understand Sony's Linux distro has some proprietary components such as the runtime environment and system manuals. This is where Sony gets you. They also have a EULA that places some restrictions on the distribution of software you develop. Seems like with BlackRhino you shouldn't be restricted, as the EULA should not apply to the hardware.

      Anyhow I can't bring myself to spend $200 for a bunch of hardware I don't need, so I won't be running linux on my PS2 anytime soon.

      Yeah, everyone I talked to who has Sony's Linux kit said that it was a waste of money. I've toyed around with Dreamcast Linux, though. That is kinda nice and didn't cost as much for the necessary hardware and the software is free as in beer and speech.

      --
      #!/
    10. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by Stonent1 · · Score: 1

      The japanese PS2 uses a pcmcia port and an external hard drive. The American version is a edge connector similar to the ones used in the drive bays on laptops. I wonder if someone will port Knoppix over to the PS2 maybe get it running with a mod chip ? :) Knoppix is debian based too.

    11. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by CronoCloud · · Score: 1

      The PS2 Linux kit comes with a 40GB HD and Ethernet only Network adapter.

    12. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by Anonvmous+Coward · · Score: 1

      "The PS2 Linux kit comes with a 40GB HD and Ethernet only Network adapter."

      Are you correcting me or answering the parent poster's question?

    13. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by Bagheera · · Score: 1

      Ah, very true. But even then what you can do would be limited by the inability to save your work. Remember, we were talking just a bootable DVD here and no additional hardware - not even the memory cards. Without any way to save, it would probably be rather frustrating to lose everything each time you had to shut down the console.

      --
      Never attribute to malice what can as easily be the result of incompetence...
    14. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by yomegaman · · Score: 1

      Without any extra hardware there'd be no place to save your programs, or space to use for VM or compiler temporary files. It seems like it'd be pretty tough to do any development without a hard drive.

      BTW: you can code? Wow, you are so 1337!

      --
      ...wearing a skin-tight topless leather jumpsuit, with cutaway buttocks and transparent crotch panel.
    15. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by gilesjuk · · Score: 1

      Exactly, how much is a PS2+kit? got to be more than the cost of building a Mini-ITX system.

      Why Mini-ITX I hear you say? well the hardware in a Mini-ITX system is a bit slow compared with a faster PC and so is a PS2. Ok the PS2 does DVD, but stick a H+ in there and you're sorted.

    16. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by Yaztromo · · Score: 1

      But I already have the network adapter, a HD, keyboard, and mouse. So if I want to run linux, I'm effectively paying $200 for GNU software. I don't quite understand how that works within the GPL. Please explain it to me.

      Gladly. The GPL doesn't prevent you from charging for the software it covers. It primarily requires that you make the source available, and requires that the license remains in tact.

      Sony hasn't done anything to violate the GPL. It provides the source for all of the GPL (and other open source licensed) portions of the kit on the 2-DVD set that comes with it. They haven't modified the licenses for any of the kits components (as I have the kit, I can legally copy the source RPMs on CD for you...if you're willing to pay me to do so ;) ).

      Nothing against the GPL here. The fact that you don't want to pay for the kit, and the fact that Linux on its own won't run on the PS2 without extra hardware and software doesn't infringe upon your rights under the GPL.

      Yaztromo.

    17. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > There are 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary > and those who dont. -- Thinkgeek Er, that covers 2 people, but what about the other 2? 00 - don't understand binary 01 - ??? 10 - do understand binary 11 - ??? Methinks the originator of this "clever" joke doesn't fuckin' know binary either. :p

    18. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What's wrong with using a NASD storage device and saving your files via samba or nfs? :p
      You do NOT necessarily need a locally attached DASD. :p

    19. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by maynard · · Score: 1

      ...So if I want to run linux, I'm effectively paying $200 for GNU software. I don't quite understand how that works within the GPL. Please explain it to me.

      All you need do is ask Sony for their source diffs and cross compile for MIPS. See? They follow the letter of the GPL and you're left wasting a bunch of time figuring out how to boot the sucker. Good luck! --M

    20. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by yomegaman · · Score: 1

      The original message specified "no extra hardware". I agree that remote mounts would work fine but that would require buying the optional network interface.

      --
      ...wearing a skin-tight topless leather jumpsuit, with cutaway buttocks and transparent crotch panel.
    21. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >> There are 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary
      >> and those who dont.
      > Er, that covers 2 people, but what about the other 2?

      10 = (1 * 2^1) + (0 * 2^0) = 2

      Two types. Not four. Get it now, bub?

    22. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by battjt · · Score: 1

      No, my PS/2 has firewire and USB. Much of my network experience is via plip, ppp, slip, and the 25$ network. I think I could put something together (there are IP over usb and ip over firewire).

      Do you think that everyone on /. is a programmer?

      Joe

      --
      Joe Batt Solid Design
    23. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You misunderstood. He's not talking about combinations for a 2 bit binary number.

      There are 0 (0) types of people in the world
      There is 1 (1) type of person in the world
      There are 2 (10) types of people in the world
      There are 3 (11) types of people in the world

      Do you see?

    24. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, he doesn't see, because he also has no fuckin' clue how binary works.

      Go back to your career in retail, the dot-com revolution is over, bub!

  5. Finally! by alwsn · · Score: 1

    A Playstation 2 Linux kit is required to use BlackRhino

    Finally the wide based and easy to use system that will unlease the power of linux on the masses!

  6. Where's the fucking source code by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't see a source code link...

    1. Re:Where's the fucking source code by msporny · · Score: 4, Informative
      The source code for the entire distribution is available through any one of the BlackRhino Linux mirrors.

      For example, if you wanted the source code for the entire compiler, you just go into the BlackRhino Debian-esque repository like so:

      http://blackrhino.openlists.com/pool/main/g/gcc-2. 95/

      and then you can download the gcc_2.95.2-16.tar.gz file and there ya go, full source code. This applies to any package available on BlackRhino Linux. You might want to check out how to build Debian packages first in the Debian Package Maintainers Guide.

      -- manu

      --
      Manu Sporny (skype: msporny, twitter: manusporny, G+: +Manu Sporny)
      Founder/CEO - Digital Bazaar, Inc.
  7. Not a very strong entry.... (joke) by dmorin · · Score: 4, Funny
    I don't trust any distro that could be KO'd by Mike Tyson in 49 seconds.

    Mike Tyson just destroyed Clifford "Black Rhino" Etienne about a week ago, ya see.)

    "I got nothin against Linux....but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of its child processes."

  8. Black Rhino? WTF? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Have they just given up all pretense and now just name all new LOONIX distributions after endangered species?!!

  9. Black Rhino? by blitzoid · · Score: 1

    So... does it come with GNU/Bird, that little app that cleans up useless files and empties logs?

    --
    I am a filthy pirate.
    1. Re:Black Rhino? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dude, I had to think about this for a bit to get the joke.

      This _is_ /. so please lower your standard!

      (I do find it a good joke btw..lol)

  10. Or... by swasson · · Score: 4, Informative

    I could go down to Wal-Mart, slap $300 down on the counter, get one of those generic PCs (loved by /.'ers everywhere) and stick linux on that!

    --
    "Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" -- Homer Simpson
    1. Re:Or... by rirugrat · · Score: 1

      Since when can you buy Lindows/Non-OS cheapo PCs in the Walmart store? I thought they were only available online?

      Chris

    2. Re:Or... by monthos · · Score: 1

      of coarse you dont get the thrill of running linux on an alternative archetecture, or as the kit is meant to me used by, progarmming your own software on a REAL console. Its not to be used in the way of a replacement pc. Not to mention at the same time your solution would be Larger, Lacking features (like tv-out) and on the side would play games slower than the ps2 would (if you like playing games) :)

    3. Re:Or... by brianosaurus · · Score: 1

      I think Walmart was Lindows's first retail outlet. search slashdot for "walmart" and "lindows" and you'll probably find the announcement.

      --
      blog
    4. Re:Or... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Far as I know, it is still true. Of course, he could easily have written "browse to the Walmart online computer section... click a couple times emulating me slapping down some cash, wait a couple of weeks, THEN install it on there"

      But, I think the original did a better job of the point trying to be made.

    5. Re:Or... by Egekrusher2K · · Score: 1

      $200 dollars for a Lindows PC at Wal-Mart. Not $300.

      --
      Listen to my experimental-industrial-techno!
    6. Re:Or... by FatalTourist · · Score: 1

      Anytime someone gets Linux to run on something different or someone converts a game system there's always a "what's the point" comment. I think we've covered the reasons for this already, so please go back and check the comments for "X-Box cluster", etc. Of course, it's possible that people know this and they are just trolling.

      --


      Escape Pod Films: Sketch Comedy and Web Series
    7. Re:Or... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Linux and games? Huh whatcha talking about?
      Yeah sure using linux is like gambling with sanity. but thats all

  11. Linux on the desktop! by krammit · · Score: 1

    Now I don't want to hear any more complaints about linux not being a viable gamers system. This doesn't count as dual booting because...um....dang.

    --
    "Watch your cornhole, bud."
  12. But the price by ExEleven · · Score: 1

    Is there any way of a DIY ps2 Linux Kit, there not worth there price if ya ask me.

    1. Re:But the price by Egekrusher2K · · Score: 1

      Score: -1, Unintelligable.

      --
      Listen to my experimental-industrial-techno!
  13. Nice, but.... by creative_name · · Score: 2, Redundant

    This is certainly fun/interesting/cool etc. but I don't really see the point of putting Linux on your PS2 - other than to say you did it. I bought the PS2 to play PS2 games, if I want to run Linux I'll scoot over to my PC.

    Don't get me wrong, 'yay' for doing things for the hell of it, but what's the point of this past that?

    --
    Posting as directed.
    1. Re:Nice, but.... by stratjakt · · Score: 5, Insightful

      >> but what's the point of this past that?

      You're a coder with an interest in running code against PS2 hardware, or anything other than an x86 for that matter.

      It's neat to write some code and get it running on a Sega Genesis, Gameboy, SNES, TG16, or whatever.

      This is the first time you've been officially sanctioned by the merciful corporate gods to be able to do so.

      --
      I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
    2. Re:Nice, but.... by DunbarTheInept · · Score: 1

      You can use it to develop PS2 programs, not just play them.

      --

      Don't label something "offtopic" unless you know the topic well enough to tell what's on topic.

    3. Re:Nice, but.... by Slurpee · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Don't get me wrong, 'yay' for doing things for the hell of it, but what's the point of this past that?

      Simple. I'm a developer who works with set top boxes and interactive TV. We wanted to do a proof of concept using the PS2 as a STB (Set Top Box). The POC would do things like digital TV, VOD (Video On Demand), and Interactive TV.

      A Sony PS2 Dev kit will cost you $100,000 USD. A Sony Linux Kit will cost you $150. You also can't get a dev kit unless your work has been "OKed" by Sony in Japan. They will OK games work....but will rarely other stuff....certainly without lots of negotiation etc.

      So we bought 5 ps2s and Linux kits. Sure, we missed out on a lot of sampe code, dev help, and all sorts of stuff, Inside of 6 months our dev team had a working POC. Digital TV (off cable/Sat), VOD, games downloads, as well as some sorts of iTV. I'm sure we could have done it in 4 months if we had Sony support...but it would have taken 6 months just to get the OK (in fact, we are still waiting for it). Sony (and others) loved our demos. Talked big time the possibilities. Lots of talk. No action.

      Anyway, 4 days ago our project was buried as our company has decided that Cable TV ain't their core buisness.

      Our code is now rotting away in CVS, never to see the light of day. And it was cool stuff. Such is life.

  14. Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Because you get all but one of the developers manuals, and can access all the hardware in basically the same way as games do. Which could be real handy if you want a job in ps2 game development.

    1. Re:Why? by Vince · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I use my PS2 Linux kit as a set-top embedded device. It makes a very nice home MP3 player (I have a cherry GTK GUI going on it), and I can play old NES games on it. These are things you could do with a cheap PC, but if you already have a PS2, I think it's better to go with the Linux kit.

      Oh, and that 40G hard drive it came with is by far the biggest one I have outside my TiVo, so I sometimes use it as a file server, though it's not great for that.

    2. Re:Why? by GreenBugsBunny · · Score: 0

      I would be interested because it would be a convenient multimedia device. That is assuming that samba or nfs and a media player are available. I already have the PS2, ethernet, & a media library. It would be pretty easy to get it to go through my home entertainment system this way without buying more hardware.

      Besides, there's definitely a "cool factor"

    3. Re:Why? by CronoCloud · · Score: 1

      Yep, there's samba. And you can install mplayer, xmms, etc.

  15. Ahh, so that's why... by rograndom · · Score: 4, Funny

    Here I am surfing around looking for stuff to do with my PS network adapter. I come across the Linux for Playstation 2 site, but none of the other pages on that site will load. Database errors and all that. "Well somebody needs to fix their site." i thought. Well off to Google to find some other sites. What do I see at the top of the search results?

    News: BlackRhino Linux Now Available for PlayStation 2 - Slashdot - 4 minutes ago

    Well, that explains it.

  16. $$$$exyGal might by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    $$$$exyGal can do that for you, infact, I think he will jump at the chance to jerk off young boys.

  17. Projects? by c3rb · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm curious as to what kinds of projects people might use this (or any flavor of linux on a PS2) for. The only practical thing I can think of is some kind of a cheap game development platform, but then who is your target audience? Other PS2/Linux owners? What are people using these platforms for? (not a flame, just curious)

    1. Re:Projects? by monthos · · Score: 1

      That is exactly the intended audience to be honest. im not really sure why this is slashdot material becouse the audience is rather small. its for anyone who currently owns the ps2 linux kit, and would rather run debian than a redhat varient on it. very useless for me, but i doubt many people otherwise.

    2. Re:Projects? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      You open your source. Sony and commercial vendors pick the bones clean of anything worthwhile you wrote.

      Sony sells a linux kit for $200 and MSFT is still the /. villain. It boggles the mind.

    3. Re:Projects? by Jellybob · · Score: 1

      I could see it being used as PVR/Media player/whatever, since you could use the network capability to stream files from your server with a couple hundred gig of space, and you have DVD, video out, and the ability to wire it into your 5.1 stereo.

    4. Re:Projects? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, rather than unloading at least half a thousand bucks on a new PC, why not have one piece of hardware to do your computing and play your games? PS2 is cheap, remember. Sure it won't do for most of us who looooove a decked-out system, but with my little brother going off to university next year, I'm sure this would be exactly what he needs. Not everyone needs heavy development tools, and although the site is /.'d so I haven't had a chance to look at all the packages, there MUST be an office suite of sorts on there. Really set him up with Mozilla, OOo and Gaim, and his needs are met!

    5. Re:Projects? by DunbarTheInept · · Score: 1

      Most of that $200 is probably for the hardware that the kit comes with: A keyboard, mouse, 40 GB hard drive. Subtract the cost of those out of the total and the remaining cost is roughly on-par with a typical linux distro in a box.

      The only real problem here is that they don't sell those hardware pieces as a kit without the linux distro.

      --

      Don't label something "offtopic" unless you know the topic well enough to tell what's on topic.

    6. Re:Projects? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And a printer?

    7. Re:Projects? by brandorf · · Score: 1

      There actually hasn't been much in the way of source releases for the ps2 yet. Most of the projects shown on playstation2-linux.com are ports of existing software, like nofrendo and mame, and trying to get the latest kernel versions.

      --


      Bork Bork Bork!!
    8. Re:Projects? by brandorf · · Score: 1

      Mozilla won't compile on the PS2 yet, though we'll have to see if BlackRhino's updated libraries can help, and openoffice.org is almost unbearably slow. For gui's you'd have to go with IceWM or another lightweight WM, as the kit comes with very early versions of KDE and Gnome, and even those are pretty slow. (Remember you only have 32mb of ram to work with)

      --


      Bork Bork Bork!!
    9. Re:Projects? by CronoCloud · · Score: 1

      No Mozilla, it won't compile. I don't think OpenOffice will either. Abiword does, as will Koffice for KDE2. Gaim, up to 59.8 does. You can most certainly hook a printer up to it, I use an HP 680c with mine. You can also hook a digital camera to it, at least with the XRhino kernel. Now that's with the standard stuff. Might be easier to get Mozilla running with this Black Rhino stuff.

    10. Re:Projects? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      One of the uses I have put mine to is as an X terminal in my living room. I display mozilla on it from my Linux server. Works really well.

      Mozilla is available now for the PS2 I haven't bothered trying it though since it will I suspect run very poorly.

    11. Re:Projects? by Ashran · · Score: 1

      Taken from pricewatch - these are retail prices and sony will most likely pay less than half for it.
      $59.00 40.0GB EIDE 5400 RPM
      $07.10 Fujitsu - Keyboards
      $02.00 Generic - Mice
      $16.00 3COM - NEN-Networking Cards
      -
      $84.00 TOTAL
      A S.u.S.E Linux 8.1 Personal for 35 and Professional for 58 from the vendor around the corner.
      I'd buy a modchip instead of that.

      --

      Before you email me, remember: "There is no god!"
    12. Re:Projects? by DunbarTheInept · · Score: 1

      You are forgetting that for something like SuSE Linux, there are a lot more customers to absorb the up-front cost of getting the distribution together, making sure all the libraries are in place, recompiling every application for the platform, and so on. For PS2, everything needs to be recompiled. x86 binaries won't work, programs that assume x86 won't compile nicely without tweaking, and so on. And there will be fewer buyers to absorb that cost. If I was in the market for a cheap development platform for PS2, I would not mind paying $116.00 for having someone else go through all that effort. (For an individual package it's easy, but I don't want to do it for thousands of packages.)

      They are also recouping the cost of providing the ability to put a hard drive in place, which typical PS2 users never use. (So you are subsidizing the cost of putting the IDE bus in there in the first place, and the USB port for the keyboard, and so on.)

      --

      Don't label something "offtopic" unless you know the topic well enough to tell what's on topic.

    13. Re:Projects? by JohnFluxx · · Score: 1

      My guess would be that the kind of people that want linux on a PS2 would be the kind of people who together wouldn't mind, and probably enjoy, compiling everything for it.

      Sony was just being plain greedy.

    14. Re:Projects? by CronoCloud · · Score: 1

      you're right I must have missed seeing the Mozilla last night. It works, better than Amaya or kfm. Not as fast as dillo or links-graphic. Go ahead and do the complete install, chatzilla works too. There's no SSL in it though, I think. But otherwise it seems ok so far. I'm going to put it through it's paces and see what happens.

  18. why would you want a PS2 Linux Development Kit. by single_user_mode · · Score: 5, Insightful

    i have seen alot of people buying the PS2 Linux Kit as altenative to a linux based PC, sure you can do it but whats the point?

    the reason to play around with a PS2 Linux Development kit is _not_ as an alternative to a PC running Linux. If you want that, go buy a PC. Also, its not really an appropiate setup for learning about 3D graphics, once again a PC is cheaper and easier with DirectX and OpenGL etc.

    what it is appropiate for;

    1. another 'embedded' platform for hardcore kernel hackers to get intimate with the exotic hardware porting etc. These ppl. may find the black xRhino of interest.

    2. the number one reason, is for up and coming game developers to have a better chance getting a foot in the gaming industry. it is a chance to understand and develop for a modern and relevant console...anyone who wants to take it on, should already have a strong grasp of low level C, assembler, 3D graphics etc. for these ppl, the release of the black xrhino is not really so important, as they are already trying to cut the OS out as much as possible ( or using special OS modules eg. SPS2, which open up the hardware to user space) to get as low and and dirty to the hardware as possible.

    --
    remove NOT from email.
    1. Re:why would you want a PS2 Linux Development Kit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Ohh big whoop
      The Dreamcast has both Linux and NetBSD running on it. It has a huge homegrown development scene with tons of support including a freeware development library called KOS.
      Plus you don't need a Linux kit nor mod chip to develop on it or run your own software and you can't beat it's price of $20 ~ $45.

      Some links:

      www.dcemulation.com
      dcdev.allusion.net

    2. Re:why would you want a PS2 Linux Development Kit. by single_user_mode · · Score: 1

      and you point is?

      as it realtes to the reason i posted for having this kit...

      1. netbsd and linux have been ported...for years now actually...thats not really cutting edge for kernel hackers who want to flex there skills on newish hardware, right?

      2. dreamcast is dead, get over it, move on...if you want to get a foot in the gaming industry, _relevant_ console development experince is what you need... the PS2 Linux development kit offers that + more.

      --
      remove NOT from email.
    3. Re:why would you want a PS2 Linux Development Kit. by filmcritic · · Score: 0

      Well, if any or all of the open source projects are any indication, someone will get that shitty game fuxracer ported to run on PS2 hardware by,....oh....2008? I guess you really think Sony gave away their costly proprietary devkits somehow in the joke that is PS2 linux. It's useless without the real, COSTLY kit.

  19. Another thing to consider.... by webroach · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...is that this is NOT about the cool things you can do with linux. It's about a tool for people who are interested in learning how to develop games for console systems.

    I agree, if you just like playing games on your PS2 and working with linux in general, then the PS2 linux kit is a HUGE waste of money.

    HOWEVER: For the people out there who would like to someday make a living actually developing games for the PS2, it's a VERY inexpensive way to come really close to Sony's actual Playstation DevKit (last time I looked, the prices for a DTL-10K from Sony was WAAAYYYY more than the price of the linux kit.)

    Remember, it's just a matter of the right tool for the job. If you're coding for AMD, use an AMD system. If you're coding for the PS2.....

    1. Re:Another thing to consider.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "It's about a tool for people who are interested in learning how to develop games for console systems."

      So, are you saying these game tools don't exist or that Linux can do it better (e.g. "Linux does everything better than Windows" /. camp)

      OR, are you saying that instead of using Linux to write games for Linux, they should write for PS2?

      "If you're coding for AMD, use an AMD system. If you're coding for the PS2..."

      If you are coding for the palm, use palm OS's built in C++ compiler. Undocumented, naturally.

    2. Re:Another thing to consider.... by webroach · · Score: 1

      Actually, no. There are, I'm sure, any number of good tools available on the Windows platform.

      I'm not a member of the "Linux does everything better than Windows" camp, either. I gave up on the "which is better" war quite a while ago. I use IRIX at home, which makes me NO AUTHORITY on linux.

      The simple fact is that, for the Playstation, linux is the development OS of choice. Since the PS2 is a proprietary system, it makes sense to put the prefered OS on the target hardware.

      If someone puts Windows on the PS2, more power to them. But I really can't see that happening any time soon.

  20. Real coding experience on real console hardware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    The PS2 Linux kit lets an aspiring developer get to grips with the most popular console in the world. The coding experience gained on this kit is in many cases identical to that which you would gain using the T10k pro dev kit. There's some fascinating hardware in there, including the two Vector Units that give the PS2 its power. These are custom parallel vector processors with dual pipelines and can perform four floating-point multiply-adds plus an integer op per cycle.

    There's nowhere you can get your hands on this kind of vector hardware outside of your local supercomputing facility. There's no compiler for these either, so it's asm all the way - a real challenge.

    The kit is available worldwide, online only:

    US
    Europe, Africa, Middle East
    Japan
    Australia
    New Zealand

    1. Re:Real coding experience on real console hardware by vandel405 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You would be writing a Linux Game then, not a ps2 game.

      If you write a ps2 game, you get to run in super user mode and touch all the hardware. If you write your game on linux. well you wrote it on linux, not ps2. You would run as a user program, and wouldn't get to touch the hardware. Have you ever deved on a console?

      I have if you count GBA as a console.

    2. Re:Real coding experience on real console hardware by Abcd1234 · · Score: 1

      Well, the GBA is just a slightly different animal (I know, I dev for it as well :). On higher-end consoles, the games sometimes run on some sort of rudimentary OS (eg, I thought the Dreamcast used WinCE?). 'course, that doesn't change the fact that you might directly access the hardware anyway, but there's still an OS layer to simplify certain common operations.

      Incidentally, there's no reason a game written to run on Linux for the PS2 couldn't run in root mode and access all the hardware directly.

    3. Re:Real coding experience on real console hardware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      If you knew what you were talking about, you'd know that the T10K pro kit is basically upgraded PS2 hardware and an x86 Linux PC in a big box. The Linux kit just combines the two units into one. There are kernel extensions to allow direct hardware access, and indeed direct hardware access is what the pro dev manuals cover. At the same time the linux aspect allows network and hard disk access, and real debugging support.

      Give me the manuals the professionals use any day over some hacked up, incomplete homebrew GBA nonsense...

    4. Re:Real coding experience on real console hardware by single_user_mode · · Score: 1

      as for 'touching' the hardware...sure you can

      --
      remove NOT from email.
    5. Re:Real coding experience on real console hardware by cant_get_a_good_nick · · Score: 1

      (eg, I thought the Dreamcast used WinCE?).

      IIRC, the DreamCast was actually OS-less. It had enough firmware to boot from the CD. The development kit that could actually talk to the hardware was only ported to WinCE, and one other platform (netBSD I'm reaching for, but not sure) so essentially you were locked into booting your DreamCast into WinCE or the other platform (again, think it was NetBSD).

    6. Re:Real coding experience on real console hardware by arbitrary+nickname · · Score: 1

      Linux gets in the way a bit: The hardware (VIF/GIF) sees physical memory... The CPU sees virtual memory (through the MMU) There appears to be no way to allocate a big block of contiguous physical memory under PS2 Linux

    7. Re:Real coding experience on real console hardware by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      afaik theres two official commercial devkits for dreamcast, sega's own katana and then the wince, the wince stuff is loadad off form the game cd's..
      wince games tend to be slower(/uglier) though..

      i might be wrong too, since i got my dreamcast just few weeks ago(used, dirt cheap, fun homebrewed stuff available, mp3 players & etc, even one that can be used without external display by using the vmu's little lcd for display).

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    8. Re:Real coding experience on real console hardware by single_user_mode · · Score: 1

      granted.

      if interested checkout SPS2 module [ https://playstation2-linux.com/projects/sps2/ ], although @ current release, it will only gaurantee 4K physically consecutive chunks, chaining them togeather with the DMA is not really a problem and is considered a more PS2 'style'.

      --
      remove NOT from email.
    9. Re:Real coding experience on real console hardware by xScruffx · · Score: 1

      If you have a screwdriver/hammer, Linux aboslutely cannot keep you from touching the hardware. Period.

      xScruffx

    10. Re:Real coding experience on real console hardware by entrigant · · Score: 1

      OK Let me explain something to you about linux. Linux has a directory under the root directory called "/dev". In /dev there are a bunch of files called device files. These device files allow user space programs to read, and even sometimes write to these files. But that's not the best part.. see, these device files are "special" files that are letting the info saved into to them to pass into the kernel (waaay oversimplified), which then passes it on to the hardware. It's simply mind blowing.

      But that's not all! That's just one of MANY methods available to let userspace programs use hardware.

    11. Re:Real coding experience on real console hardware by vandel405 · · Score: 1

      I'm not a unix guru but is super user the same as kernal mode? IE, if a program runs as root, does the code actually run in kernal mode without VM and what not? Some how i doubt it, but may very well be wrong.

    12. Re:Real coding experience on real console hardware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Superuser mode (or more frequently supervisor mode) when talking about hardware doesn't refer to running as root on Unix (which is still user mode as far as the hardware is concerned), but running in "kernel mode".

      Even the kernel on many systems runs with virtual memory mappings enabled, although the kernel virtual memory space is often (but not always) physically contiguous and just permanently mapped to a different location.

  21. Re: x by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    y?

  22. Re:I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS SOB IS STILL MODDED UP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Then wake me up when I can use free software on my PS2 without giving Sony 200 dollars. /.'ers seem to demand the ability on their xboxes. Could it be they hold MSFT and Sony to different standards?

  23. SITE IS NOT SLASHDOTTED! (more links) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Thanks for the text contents of the site even though the site is not slashdotted!

    Here are some more links I found while searching Google...

    1. Re:SITE IS NOT SLASHDOTTED! (more links) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't forget the slightly aged but still interesting codingstyle.com articles:

      Codingstyle Interview with PS2 Linux Developers
      PS2 Linux Kit Roundup

  24. yeah but.... by ludeyork · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...can you run linux on it? Oh wait... nevermind.

  25. Why? by xmutex · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I am not trolling here, I'm seriously interested.. Why would anyone care to run Linux on their PS2?

    --

    jack's bicycle is music to my ears
  26. Launch Event by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Visual Studio .NET 2003 Launch Event

    04/24/2003 09:00 AM - 04/24/2003 05:00 PM
    Language: English-American

    Washington State Convention & Trade Center
    Ballroom 6A-C

    800 Convention Center Place
    Seattle Washington 98101
    United States

    General Event Information
    Products: Visual Studio and Windows Server.

    Recommended Audience: Developer, IT Professional and Technology Executive.

    At this launch event, you'll get a first look at Windows Server 2003 and Visual Studio .NET 2003! You'll learn how their enterprise-class reliability and updated features will help you do more with less - including how to quickly build connected solutions that can increase the value of your business while driving down overall costs. Following the keynote, this event will divide into three separate learning tracks, allowing you to choose the content that best applies to your job and the needs of your organization. There will be plenty of time for Q&A after each session.

    IT Implementation Track - You'll learn how the improved security, reliability, scalability, and management features in Windows Server 2003 can help provide a dependable and scalable platform for your organization. We'll outline how these features can enable you to reduce costs and increase productivity through server consolidation, identity management, secure network access and efficient systems management. We'll also talk in depth on how to migrate existing Windows NT 4.0 systems to Windows Server 2003.

    System and Application Architecture Track - Learn how Windows Server 2003 and Visual Studio .NET 2003 can enable you to realize the potential of a service-orientated architecture. We'll discuss Microsoft's best practices and recommended strategies for heterogeneous interoperability through XML Web services and address how Visual Studio .NET 2003 addresses common deployment and manageability problems.

    Development Track - See how Visual Studio .NET 2003 builds on the success of its predecessor to deliver increased scalability, reliability, connectivity and productivity. We'll address using ASP .NET to build server-side mobile Web applications, using Windows Server 2003 as a part of the .NET framework, introduce the improvements included in C++ .NET, and introduce Web Services Enhancements - security, routing, and attachments for Web Services.

    Event attendance is FREE, but space is limited so register today!

    1. Re:Launch Event by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Orientated" is not a word. Stupid MS.

    2. Re:Launch Event by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Orientated; p. pr. & vb. n. Orientating.] [From Orient.]

      1. To place or turn toward the east; to cause to assume an easterly direction, or to veer eastward.

      2. To arrange in order; to dispose or place (a body) so as to show its relation to other bodies, or the relation of its parts among themselves. A crystal is orientated when placed in its proper position so as to exhibit its symmetry. --E. S.

  27. Info on the kit from a user. by chobee · · Score: 5, Informative

    The kit is 200.00 usd. What you get. Black usb keyboard, and mouse that say ps2 on it, a 40gb hd, ethernet adapter (ethernet only not ethernet/modem combo). I recently playtested the everquest online game and used the keyboard instead of the game controller to comunicate. I could have used any usb keyboard really. I used the network adaptor that came with the linux kit instead of buying one. So almost all the items you get from the kit can be used in your normal gaming. I'm using the kits ethernet adapter to play SOCOM, atv rage 2, and all of sony's other online stuff. Also the only thing that stops you from using the hd as a hd for your other games is you don't have any utility to partion it and format it. If you friend bought the hd kit and loans you his setup cd your in business. You don't need all 40gb to run linux anyway. So all in all I could have bought the parts seperatly and saved some 50 dollars but wouldn't have been able to play with linux on my ps2. Just cool to play around with. All these add-ons I want for my ps2 plus it runs linux. FYI the additional 8mb memory card is basically the holder for your lilo install. Check out the forums in the /. artical and read all about it. TONS of info there. -Cho

    1. Re:Info on the kit from a user. by Yim · · Score: 1

      Ok, let's have a little breakdown of price vs. features:
      $200 core system
      $200 linux kit
      $400 15" cheapo LCD flatscreen
      $150 external USB CD burner
      $50 VGA adapter
      ----
      $1000 PS2 linux computer

      or

      $1000 eMac + OS X

      I'm not sure what most others would choose, but I think I'd go for the Mac. Simple, factory backed and, surprise surprise, works with all the components installed. Not to mention comes with a ton of other features that the 2 year old playstation does not contain. Leave the console to the games, about the only thing it really needs is the HDD so it can store savegame files. It's just a bit too expensive for not as many features when compared to a brand new computer

      --
      -Yim
    2. Re:Info on the kit from a user. by damiam · · Score: 1

      No one's suggesting you use the PS2 as a computer. The idea is that it's an easy way to get developers familiar with the PS2 hardware and capabilities without having to sell them an entire dev kit.

      --
      It's hard to be religious when certain people are never incinerated by bolts of lightning.
    3. Re:Info on the kit from a user. by chobee · · Score: 1

      I like the mac os option the only thing is I already have computer and I'm not trying to replace it. I already have a ps2. I already have a monitor. Really the parts of the linux kit I personally was interested in was the hd and the network adapter. Matching keyboard and mouse is just kinda stylish. Linux on it was just a cool addition I was willing to pay for. Linux on the ps2 in my experience was slow and gnome was very unstable. I didn't even come with a web browser at the time. All in all it no pc replacement. -Cho

    4. Re:Info on the kit from a user. by CronoCloud · · Score: 1

      part of the problem is that the default Windowmaker installation does NOT install certain things, like the iputils and KDE. On the kit KDE is much better than Gnome. In fact KDE2 runs better on the kit than the included version of Gnome does. And once you've got KDE installed you've got kfm as a web browser. But, I use links-graphic and dillo myself.

  28. pfft. by fluxrad · · Score: 1

    how about a beowulf cluster of PS2's running GNU/Got Gritsux 4.0 (Natalie).

    --
    "It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once." -David Hume
  29. GNU/me too by skajake · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    GNU/I just insalled GNU/Linux on my GNU/Computer.

    --

    ~ Maintainer of the Skajake Projects

  30. Re: x by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    y not?

  31. hmmm..... by maniac/dev/null · · Score: 2, Interesting

    i have the network adapter for ps2, and i noticed it has what looks to be a hard drive connector and power connector. has anyone tried using the regular network adapter to do something like this? i realize i might need to format/install linux on the hard drive before putting it in my ps2, but i'd rather do that than spend some money on a linux kit.

    1. Re:hmmm..... by Vince · · Score: 1

      You need the Linux kit for the special boot disk that allows you to load a Linux kernel, which must be on a dedicated memory card.

    2. Re:hmmm..... by brandorf · · Score: 1

      That wouldn't work, as any linux you install on it through a pc would not be compatible, the PS2 runs Ps2 Binaries, not x86 binaries. In theory, you could buy the the Network adaptor and any IDE hard disk, and install linux. But the Hard disk would have to be modified so it fits securely in the bay (the official Sony Disk (actually a Samsung in disguise, or so Linux tells me) larger than a normal drive, and has built in drive rails to keep it from rattling around). But even then, you'd need the PS2 format software to install and run linux.

      --


      Bork Bork Bork!!
    3. Re:hmmm..... by brandorf · · Score: 1

      Actually, you can still use the memory card for games after the Installation has put the kernel on it, the linux file is only 2.5mb. But the card gets formatted when it does this.

      --


      Bork Bork Bork!!
  32. *ponder* by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Memory card = teh b00t.

    No memory card = teh sux0r!!!!

    Now, all we need is something like this for 'normal' computers. Insert card to boot machine. If you do not have a card, please attempt to boot the machine, and security will arrive shortly to shoot you repeatedly.

    MmmMmmmm. Physical security.

    1. Re:*ponder* by brandorf · · Score: 1

      In the Playstation's example, you need only the CD to boot, as there is a static kernel on that disk you can boot, your personal kernel is on the MC. Seriously, it would be awesome if allcomputers come with a solit state slot. Ps2 memory cards for example, hold nearly 6 times as much data as a floppy disk, has faster acess times, has built in DRM (ala MagicGate), and is nearly indestructible. Something like that could easily become a all purpose document storage and security dongle.

      --


      Bork Bork Bork!!
    2. Re:*ponder* by Yaztromo · · Score: 1

      Using the memory card to boot up the system has its usefulness, as it is where the kernel resides. It allows one to have different kernels and different kernel settings on each memory card, and then allow you to boot up from whichever one you prefer or need. It's a useful way of playing with multiple boot kernels -- having a similar system on PCs would certainly be quite useful IMO.

      Yaztromo.

  33. CD/DVD based smart distro by icemax · · Score: 1, Interesting

    What I would like to see is a CD/DVD based PS2 Linux distro that does *NOT* require the PS2 Linux kit nor the HDD. It could be manufactured as an official ps2 "game" a la GameShark or it could be burned by end-users and booted by means of hardware modification (for copied^H^H^H^H^H^H homebrew apps only of course). How this could be done: 1) Linux cd/dvd boots like a normal ps2 game 2) Autodetects sony broadband adaptor / usb ethernet device 3) DHCP to get network up and running, if no DHCP fall back to 192.168.1.210 or something crazy like that 4) NFS mount from another box on your LAN for file space ie /mnt/computer1 5) Basic config files stored on a ramdisk (memcard). /etc/memcard/ for instance 6) Have ssh, basic user account, etc setup on boot. This would allow for a diskless based PS2 linux distro. Some work would have to be done to intelligently map replaced files from the DVD to an NFS mount, maybe a custom filesystem with some intelligence. New kernels could be stored on the memcard, 8megs of space is alot to play with if your only storing a kernel+some config files+a remote file mapping table IMHO. Anyone up for this project?? :)

    --


    __________
    Love conquers all... except CANCER
    1. Re:CD/DVD based smart distro by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't think sony would allow that, because then what's to keep you from playing a non-sony owned linux ported version of a game they make royalties off of? Or any pirated PS2 game for that matter?

      I bet you they have done it, but I also bet that sony has their testes in a nice clamp.

    2. Re:CD/DVD based smart distro by icemax · · Score: 0

      Obviously this would be a *real* tough sell to get Sony approval. I was more suggesting in the para-legit homebrew arena for someone to create this.

      --


      __________
      Love conquers all... except CANCER
  34. google cache of PS2 Linux .com by gearheadsmp · · Score: 4, Informative

    here's the Google cache of playstation2-linux.com, as the site has been Slashborked.

    1. Re:google cache of PS2 Linux .com by Mr.+Spock · · Score: 1

      Whoops. That'll teach me to head out to lunch with a /. story pending. Postgres usually survives a /.ing, but I guess today's readers were just particularly enthusiastic. It's back now, of course.

  35. That's not entirely accurate... by Mr.+Spock · · Score: 2, Informative

    The HDD is incompatible with games, however your PlayStation(r) 2 can still play games just fine. Just wanted to make sure people don't get the wrong idea. Also, it turns out that it is possible to boot your kit the first time on a TV, you just have to hold the appropriate keys down on your DualShock controller at boot time. Check out the faq.

    I still recommend a monitor though. TVs aren't the greatest when it comes to reading text.

    -Adam Bertsch
    Sr. Systems Administrator
    Sony Computer Entertainment America

    1. Re:That's not entirely accurate... by CronoCloud · · Score: 1

      I myself wouldn't recommend using any connection quality less than S-Video with the kit. Using anything else you'll have to bump up text sizes a bit to read it. That's for X mind you, straight text console is fine no matter what. As usual YMMV depending on your TV.

    2. Re:That's not entirely accurate... by dotgain · · Score: 1

      I've still got a couple of Commodore 1084S monitors, which are great. They've got Y/C inputs (svideo) and RGB, as well as straight PAL composite video, and a pair of speakers, and a handy button to switch between them. Some even have a completely useless "Green" button. "Blue only" would have been nice, for those that know what that's for.

    3. Re:That's not entirely accurate... by CronoCloud · · Score: 1

      I originally used my kit with a 1902A! However, it died, and I replaced it with a Philips 14rf50s which is suspiciously a lot like the old Commodore monitors. It also died recently and I need to get it repaired.

  36. $$$$$exyGal == Ekrout (a guy) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    $$$$$exyGal is a fan whoring guy...want proof? Check out these links

    $$$$$exyGal's obsession with fans (scroll down to the end of the porn links):
    http://slashdot.org/~$$$$$exyGal/journal

    Ekrout's obsession with fans:
    http://slashdot.org/~ekrout/journal

    Notice that Eric Krout compares his # of fans to the same type of people in both cases!

    1. Re:$$$$$exyGal == Ekrout (a guy) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      maybe they work in the same cafeteria?

  37. Diskless Linux boot? by g4dget · · Score: 1

    Is there some way of booting the PS/2 into Linux without a HD (from DVD or the network)? That way, it might make a decent component of a compute cluster, or one could develop PS2 games in Linux for wide distribution. But a PS2 with the Linux kit just doesn't seem worth it.

    1. Re:Diskless Linux boot? by msporny · · Score: 1
      Yeah, with enough kernel hacking and patience. Gray (one of xRhino's Linux miniturization experts) got a very impressive system crammed into 2mb. You can use the cramfs feature in the 2.2.21-pre1-xr7 xRhino Linux Kernel to append the filesystem to the end of the kernel image, you end up with a 4MB kernel/rootfs image, which you then put on the memory card.

      You can then point the DVD-based bootloader to the image on memory card and boot without the need of a HDD unit, which is pretty useless but fun to do anyway.

      You can download the CRAMFS enabled kernel from the xRhino Linux Kernel project located at:

      https://playstation2-linux.com/projects/xrhino-ker nel/

      If memory serves, which it usually doesn't with me, we used blackbox to provide most of the basic linux commands. The system had samba, full networking support, a web server and some other neat stuff.

      As a compute cluster the PS2's raw number crunching power is pretty impressive... but its relatively high price and lack of a high-speed network interconnect kills it as a good clustering solution.

      What it is good at though is teaching programmers how to write MIPS assembler, work with relatively small memory requirements, do advanced embedded development, program vector processing units, program sound processing units, perform DMA by hand, and mess with incredibly low-level graphics programming. Its a great embedded development training platform...

      -- manu

      --
      Manu Sporny (skype: msporny, twitter: manusporny, G+: +Manu Sporny)
      Founder/CEO - Digital Bazaar, Inc.
  38. Re:Not a very strong entry.... (joke) by Paladine97 · · Score: 1

    Mike Tyson is pretty hard in that first 1:30. He just keeps throwing those uppercuts at you. And if you don't dodge, watch out man because you're going to be hitting the floor!

    Get up Little Mac!

  39. sad behavior on sony's part by frankmu · · Score: 1

    "Sony Computer Entertainment becomes concerned that, because RockSteady is built on BlackRhino GNU/Linux, it will not be compatible with future PlayStation hardware revisions. Therefore, RockSteady is not published and joins BlackRhino in limbo while xRhino pursues other projects."

    does this mean people will not be able to use the PS2 Linux platform to produce commercial games? Is sony misleading the linux community by providing the kit?

    i have the kit, but got tired of the retread RedHat on it. It will be nice to use Debian for a change!

    --
    Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
    1. Re:sad behavior on sony's part by msporny · · Score: 1
      Glad to hear that you're going to try out the BlackRhino distribution :)

      I'll attempt to answer your questions and somebody from Sony can correct me if I'm wrong...

      The PS2 Linux platform was being evaluated as a possible game development mechanism, but as far as we know it will not be due to several technical considerations.

      Sony isn't misleading the Linux community by providing the kit, they are simply stating "Hey, we support homebrew development, here is a kit for you homebrew developers". They really went out on a limb by releasing the kit... I can't imagine that they're making any money from it... infact, they are probably losing money on the kit. What they're hoping (and this is completely my opinion) is that a couple of thousand people will familiarize themselves with PS2 development and might become PS2/PS3 developers in the future.

      There are so many knock-on effects that happen as a result of releasing a kit such as this that nobody knows what will happen, but somebody up in Sony thought "Hey, this is going to help us in the long run..."

      So, I don't think they're being deceptive in any way and having spoken with most of the people involved with the project at Sony... they're being honest and straight-forward with the PS2 Linux community... more than they have to be at times.

      -- manu

      --
      Manu Sporny (skype: msporny, twitter: manusporny, G+: +Manu Sporny)
      Founder/CEO - Digital Bazaar, Inc.
  40. Usefull... by xchino · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I had a friend who got the Linux kit for his PS2, instead of buying a walmart PC. I was skeptical of it at first, especially since he knew nothing about Linux or computers in general, and was looking for this to be a cheap first PC (I had a hard time explaining how it wasn't really a PC). I did have to walk him through the install a little, but as soon as he had a desktop he was using it as well as many Windows user's use their desktops. He's since moved on to a real Linux PC as well, as well as moved away from the RedHat based Kondora Linux(that's what the Sony Linux distro is based on) but he still uses Linux on that machine as a desktop.

    The PS2 Linux kit isn't for everybody, but it's not JUST for developers either. If you think you would like it or could use it, then it's probably for you. If you can't think of why anyone would want to Linux on their PS2, then it's probably just not for you.

    --
    Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It's just that yours is stupid.
  41. Re:Makes me thirsty for a raging cow brand product by EugeneK · · Score: 1

    Boy, me too! A Mr. Pibb would really hit the spot!
    I mean, a Doctor Peter, umm..or whatever!

    Now gimme my t-shirt!

  42. Woo hoo! NetHack, Empire, ... by Speare · · Score: 1

    Great, now I can run all those classic ASCII games on my television set. It'll be even better than when I connected a VIC-20 to an old 1950s Philco television.

    Be careful, it's a new moon tonight.

    --
    [ .sig file not found ]
  43. Mini-ITX Linux compatibility by eyegone · · Score: 1
    Are the Mini-ITX boards from VIA (the only manufacturer that I know of) actually Linux compatible?

    I've heard bad things.

    --
    "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
    1. Re:Mini-ITX Linux compatibility by gilesjuk · · Score: 1

      Well since people have been known to use them for embedded tasks I would imagine so.

      I can certainly see a VIA C3 selection in the processor section of the 2.4.20 debian kernel sources.

      The platform is actually known as the VIA Eden platform and there's plenty of info here:

      http://www.via.com.tw/en/Products/eden.jsp

      Quote from the FAQ

      --------Start--------
      4. What kind of applications will use the VIA Eden? Platform?

      A: Based on the industry standard x86 architecture, the VIA Eden? Embedded System Platform is fully compatible with Microsoft Windows XP and a full range of Embedded Windows, Windows CE, and the latest Linux operating systems and applications. Compatibility is further enhanced with its support for all the most popular Internet programs and plug-ins.

      --------End--------

    2. Re:Mini-ITX Linux compatibility by robotbrain · · Score: 1

      Yes, see here for everything you need to know -
      http://linitx.org/forum

    3. Re:Mini-ITX Linux compatibility by eyegone · · Score: 1
      Thanks for the pointer!

      --
      "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
  44. So how fast is it? by Bitmanhome · · Score: 1

    As I read all this info, there's only one question I really wanna know -- How fast is the PS2 under Linux? BogoMIPS would be interesting, but read benchmarks should be easy to run.

    --
    Not that this wasn't entirely predictable.
    1. Re:So how fast is it? by Scumbag+Tracker · · Score: 1

      Hope this answers your question:

      cpu : MIPS
      cpu model : R5900 V1.4
      system type : EE PS2
      BogoMIPS : 392.40

      It's not too bad but I'd hate to compile a kernel on it. ;-)
      It's unusable for playing full screen mpegs, etc. but one of these days
      somebody might optimize SDL which would help things out.

      --
      I track known Slashdot scumbags on my foes list!
    2. Re:So how fast is it? by Tet · · Score: 1
      cpu : MIPS
      cpu model : R5900 V1.4
      system type : EE PS2
      BogoMIPS : 392.40

      Now I'm jealous. Even though I have a newer revision CPU, you still have 0.01 bogomips on me :-)

      cpu : MIPS
      cpu model : R5900 V2.0
      system type : EE PS2
      BogoMIPS : 392.39
      --
      "The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike." -- Delos B. McKown
  45. Reasesn to use the PS2 Linux Kit. by Yaztromo · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Hi Everyone:

    I've been a PS2 Linux kit owner/user from day 1. Some people think that owning and using this kit is silly unless you're a game developer, but I dismiss those allegations as quite incorrect :).

    I see two excellent uses of the PS2 with Linux installed on it in my home:

    1. The PS2 makes a fantastic media server. With it's digital optical audio out (which can output 48000khz PCM, Dolby Digital, and DTS), and a digital receiver (I have a Denon AVR-1601) and 40GB hard drive, it's a fastastic MP3/Ogg Vorbis audio player (indeed, the build of Ogg Vorbis available through vorbis.com was built by yours truly). Additionally, as it supports NTSC as well as VGA output, it also makes a good video server.
    2. It extends my investment in the PS2 hardware. How many people here own an old console system that is just sitting in a closet somewhere? Game consoles are designed with an approximate 5 years of usefulness as a video game console. There are millions of useless consoles out there in the world, that are relegated to the closet, basement, garage, or dump when a newer, better system comes along.

      When the PS3 comes along, chances are good that, like the PS2, it will be backward compatible. If this is the case, and I buy one, I normally wouldn't have any use for my PS2 anymore. However, with the PS2 Linux kit installed, I can continue to make use of my hardware investment by dedicating the system exclusively to Linux, running network tasks. The system is more than fast enough to act as a mail server, a personal webserver, a file server, or any number of other tasks.

    I initially bought my PS2 for games. But they won't be making PS2 games forever. Linux, OTOH, will be around forever, making the hardware investment more useful for a longer amount of time.

    Yaztromo.

    1. Re:Reasesn to use the PS2 Linux Kit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Video server? I wish. One of the big reasons I bought the fucking thing was, I wanted to watch "Enterprise" episodes I download every week from the 'net and watch them on my large screen TV. But mplayer displays them as slow as shit in full screen mode. If there have been any improvements in this regard, would you be kind enough to post details to getting fast full screen mpeg video output?

    2. Re:Reasesn to use the PS2 Linux Kit. by Yaztromo · · Score: 1

      For MPEG playback, get the SDL (Simple DirectMedia Layer) port from:

      https://playstation2-linux.com/projects/libsdl

      Be sure to use this for playback, and not X. X sucks up quite a bit of memory on the PS2, and imposes its own video performence limits. SDL appears to be a better choice.

      Hope this helps!

      Yaztromo

    3. Re:Reasesn to use the PS2 Linux Kit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks for the info, I already have those rpm's installed. I wasn't aware I didn't have to be in X, however. What are you using for playback? Mplayer? And how did you compile it? Thanks again for any additional info...

    4. Re:Reasesn to use the PS2 Linux Kit. by Thrikreen · · Score: 1

      I use mplayer, there's some info on the community forums about compiling it and switching to interlaced mode and such.

      As for slowness, I converted the anime videos I downloaded to 320x240 mpegs and that seems to work best since AFAIK it's still handled all through software (no hardware acceleration through the vector units yet). A bit grainy, but tolerable on the TV.

      And slouching on the couch looking at a 32" tv sure beats sitting on a computer chair looking at a 19" monitor! =)

  46. A PS2 developers perspective on the PS2 Linux kit by msporny · · Score: 4, Insightful
    This thread as well as the couple surrounding it make great examples of why one would want to use the PlayStation 2 Linux kit. As stated throughout the comments, the PlayStation 2 Linux kit is not for everybody... perhaps I can shed some light on why a developer in the PS2 industry would want to use one.

    I'm one of the guys that put the BlackRhino Linux distribution together and also, one of the founders of xRhino.

    We started the company for the sole purpose of bringing Linux to the PlayStation 2, this was far before we even knew of Sony's PS2 Linux efforts. How great would it be, we thought, for everybody to have access to this incredibly advanced piece of hardware through Linux. As we now know, Sony was thinking the exact same thing.

    A typical PlayStation 2 developer sits at a standard PC, edits his/her PS2 code, compiles it on the PC and then uploads it to a big honkin' machine called a DTL-10000. These big honkin' machines aren't cheap... infact, you could buy a good used car for the price of one of these boxes. Couple that with you have a team of 15 developers and that is a huge amount of up-front investment for a start-up game company... and thats just for the hardware.

    While developing our PS2 commercial application, we were able to use much cheaper PS2 debug units to write, compile and test our code on. Instead of a big honkin' machine that cost the same as a good used car, we spent 1/10th of that on an equally powerful development machine for each developer.

    Coding on the PS2 Linux kit allows a PS2 developer to test out ideas and use pre-built Linux libraries to speed development along without tying up expensive development hardware.

    So, the PS2 Linux kit lets a developer save time during product creation by using cheaper hardware to accomplish the same code, compile, run, debug cycle.

    It also helps the developer in another way, which was our main point with BlackRhino Linux and our PlayStation 2 product. Our commercial product is called RockSteady and it is a MP3 and Internet Radio player for the PlayStation 2. It would play MP3s off of any Samba share on your network, and it would also stream Internet Radio from the web and play it on your home stereo system.

    While developing the product under BlackRhino Linux, we didn't have to worry about writing a networking stack from scratch, or a MP3 decoder, or a scripting engine, or an XML parser, or anything a typical Linux programmer takes for granted. Since we were running Linux, we could use all the development tools available under the open-source sun.

    Linux has one of the most solid networking stacks out there, libmad was our MP3 decoder, Python our scripting language, libxml2 was our xml parser and SDL was used for graphic display. It wasn't nearly as fast as coding natively, but we were able to put a complete application together using about 1/5th of the resources it would have taken to do it the traditional way... and that is the true power of using Linux to do PS2 development, it saves you precious development resources (time and money).

    I thank those of you that have Linux kits for explaining why somebody would want to use one... again, its not for everyone... but it sure is a great little development box.

    -- manu

    --
    Manu Sporny (skype: msporny, twitter: manusporny, G+: +Manu Sporny)
    Founder/CEO - Digital Bazaar, Inc.
  47. MP3 Player with Digital Audio Output by msporny · · Score: 2, Informative
    Just one possibility for non-programmers:

    The PlayStation 2 has a SPDIF digital optical out that could connect to a very nice home theatre system.

    Use Samba to mount your MP3s from your PC.
    Using XMMS, you could play all of your MP3s over your home stereo system in full digital glory.
    The same goes for most Internet Radio stations.

    -- manu

    --
    Manu Sporny (skype: msporny, twitter: manusporny, G+: +Manu Sporny)
    Founder/CEO - Digital Bazaar, Inc.
  48. Debian? by rweir · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    What's with the Debian logo? If it's based on Debian, maybe you could have mentioned it in the blurb? Also, if it's just a port of Debian GNU/Linux (fuck off, it matters here), why aren't they getting the Debian project involved? Here is a list of the different architectures (and kernels, and userlands) that Debian has been ported to; i've never even heard of a machine with a fucking little-endian MIPS chip, but apparently enough Debian-folk have that it's now an officially supported architecture. I wonder why the Blackrock people didn't go this route?

    1. Re:Debian? by msporny · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Well, the reasons for not getting the Debian project involved are many... basically, BlackRhino Linux was never going to become a publicly supported Debian release and there are some problems with the bootloader and the Debian way of doing things.

      That option is open to the project now, if the Debian people want to support the small PS2 Linux development community. We welcome them to contact us... it would be very cool to merge BlackRhino into the Debian collective, the real question is... will it be practical and legal for the Debian community to support such a small developer distribution?

      There are also things that don't quite fit with the Debian way... such as the PS2 Linux kit is not freely available/open. The bootloader for the system is still closed and thus the PS2 Linux Kit is not an "open" system by definition... Debian requires that all core packages be made of unencumbered software, which the bootloader clearly is not... this is probably the main reason why we haven't bothered contacting the Debian community.

      As for your other comments... Blackrock people!? Jeeez, we spent all that time coming up with such a witty distribution name only to have people mock us... =P

      We prefer to be called "BlackRhino people", or "those freaks over there", or even "half-crazed crack-monkeys"... but "Blackrock people", you wound us deeply, my fellow Slashdotter... :P

      -- manu

      --
      Manu Sporny (skype: msporny, twitter: manusporny, G+: +Manu Sporny)
      Founder/CEO - Digital Bazaar, Inc.
    2. Re:Debian? by rweir · · Score: 1

      Thanks for your comments, it sure seems like an interesting project. I didn't mean to make a crack at your name, I was just half asleep when I posted :)

  49. BlackRhino installation requires partition change? by Scumbag+Tracker · · Score: 1

    According to the installation documentation, BlackRhino needs a 4 Gb partition to be defined on a newly installed Sony Linux system. The thing is, I've already been using my Kondara-based default installation with my own partitioning scheme, and I do not really want to change it. Why is this necessary, and what happens to the 4 Gb partition once the BlackRhino install has been finished?

    --
    I track known Slashdot scumbags on my foes list!
  50. Other useful links by msporny · · Score: 1
    There are a couple of other links that some of you might be interested in:

    BlackRhino Linux press release
    http://blackrhino.xrhino.com/main.php?page=press

    Sony PS2 Linux Kit Community Webpage
    http://playstation2-linux.com/

    Sony PS2 Linux Kit coding contest
    http://playstation2-linux.com/projects/codingconte st/

    BlackRhino Linux download page
    http://blackrhino.xrhino.com/main.php?page=downloa d

    xRhino Linux kernel website
    http://playstation2-linux.com/projects/xrhino-kern el/

    BlackRhino PlayStation 2 Linux Community Project Page
    http://playstation2-linux.com/projects/blackrhino/

    BlackRhino Linux Project Mailing List
    http://playstation2-linux.com/lists/listinfo/black rhino-general

    -- manu

    --
    Manu Sporny (skype: msporny, twitter: manusporny, G+: +Manu Sporny)
    Founder/CEO - Digital Bazaar, Inc.
  51. Re:BlackRhino installation requires partition chan by msporny · · Score: 1
    The 4GB partition is what the BlackRhino distribution gets installed -into-. In other words, the distribution must be uncompressed to somewhere, and that 4GB partition is it. You can make that partition any size you want or wipe out one of the already created partitions and use that to house the BlackRhino Linux distribution.

    If you already have Kondara installed, great! Installing Kondara is the hardest part of the installation. Back-up and wipe out all the files in one of your already created partitions and install BlackRhino into that newly cleaned partition. Note: Do not delete the Kondara partition, you might still need it after the BlackRhino Linux installation.

    -- manu

    --
    Manu Sporny (skype: msporny, twitter: manusporny, G+: +Manu Sporny)
    Founder/CEO - Digital Bazaar, Inc.
  52. So you can Get A Job... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... making PS2 games, and already have experience working with the hardware.

    At least, that's what Sony has to say about it.

  53. Re:BlackRhino installation requires partition chan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wait a second...I still don't get it. What happens to that partition after the installation process has completed? It is filled with /, /var, etc? Here's what I have so far: /dev/hda1 1011904 50596 909904 5% / /dev/hda7 30855456 8082684 21205232 28% /home /dev/hda6 5043900 957464 3830204 20% /usr /dev/hda5 1011904 15004 945496 2% /var

    (Not to mention a couple of swap partitions). I can't exactly "wipe" /dev/hda1 since that is my root partition, and quite frankly this is where I would like BlackRhino to be installed. (Btw, can't a CD be burned with a BlackRhino installation and then a fresh install be done that way?)

  54. Re:BlackRhino installation requires partition chan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    (Man, THAT looked nasty. Why does Slashdot have to reformat plain text? :p)

    Wait a second...I still don't get it. What happens to that partition after the installation process has completed? It is filled with /, /var, etc? Here's what I have so far:

    /dev/hda1 1011904 50596 909904 5% /
    /dev/hda7 30855456 8082684 21205232 28% /home
    /dev/hda6 5043900 957464 3830204 20% /usr
    /dev/hda5 1011904 15004 945496 2% /var

    (Not to mention a couple of swap partitions). I can't exactly "wipe" /dev/hda1 since that is my root partition, and quite frankly this is where I would like BlackRhino to be installed. (Btw, can't a CD be burned with a BlackRhino installation and then a fresh install be done that way?)

  55. any less crippled than Sony's Linux kit? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't see this answered in the FAQ...

    With Black Rhino Linux on the Playstation 2,
    can people build and boot their own kernels?

    I don't suppose people can read CD-Rs,
    can they?

    When I read about PS2 Linux Kit from Sony,
    it struck me as being awfully crippled.

    1. Re:any less crippled than Sony's Linux kit? by gcarper · · Score: 1

      > can people build and boot their own kernels?

      Absolutely. 99% of our PS2 kernel development at xRhino is done directly on a BlackRhino box. (However, the same support is native to the Kondara PS2Linux kit - we haven't added anything special to allow kernel development.) You can check out our latest kernel release over at playstation2-linux.com.

      > I don't suppose people can read CD-Rs, can they?

      On a factory machine, no. That is a PlayStation hardware limitation.
      (But you might want to experiment with DVD-Rs.)

      BlackRhino only adds Debian methodology and a plethora of extra software to the PS2Linux kit - circumventing Sony's protection mechanisms is not in the charter. ;>

      > it struck me as being awfully crippled.

      There's really only one crippled limb on the kit: the bootloader. It is closed and set-in-stone on the PS2Linux boot disc.

      C-ya,
      Gray

      --
      Gray Carper
      Director of Technology
      xRhino, Inc.
  56. Re:Reasons to use the PS2 Linux Kit. by Yaztromo · · Score: 1

    I'm generally using the "plaympeg" command that comes with one of the SDL packages. I usually pass into it the scaling parameters to allow whatever MPEGs I'm playing back to fill the screen, but this can be ommitted if you find the performance isn't up to par.

    Hopefully one of these days someone will write an MPEG playback program for the PS2 Linux kit that uses the PS2's built-in MPEG decoder chip.

    Yaztromo.

  57. Homebrew/ hacking PS2 Linux? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Somebody mentioned that the PS2 network adaptor is one and the same (or appears to be) as the Hard drive adaptor, and that you could just buy the network adaptor and then plug an IDE disk in. Is this true? What about the VGA adaptor, is this available separately too? Has somebody hacked it, or released a new one, which works with ANY SVGA (not just sync-on-green) monitors yet?

    Does anyone know of a page which documents the cheapest way to get a Linux system out of a PS2? I realise it would probably involve getting a modchip too as I heard you couldn't read CD-R's under PS2 linux unless you got your machine chipped, which in this case would seem like a perfectly valid reason to do so.

    Are Firewire CD-RW drives supported under (PS2) Linux? Could you attach a ATAPI CDRW to the PS2? How about a USB analogue sound input jack? Would that work?

    Finally, is it possible to upgrade the RAM in a PS2?

    Thanks!

    1. Re:Homebrew/ hacking PS2 Linux? by djupedal · · Score: 1

      Adapter will let you connect an IDE HD....it's all part of the reason to buy the Linux kit. The VGA adapter needs a sync-on-green monitor...that's the point you need to pay attention to.

      You don't want to bother with Firewire under Linux....it's not ready without tons of bother. I tried and regretted it.

      USB analog audio out? Why bother...the PS2 has an optical out...SPDIF. Use it and dummy down from there.

      Upgrade the RAM? Not without a hefty budget and a lab. Use a ram disk if it's an issue.

  58. Re:BlackRhino installation requires partition chan by gcarper · · Score: 1

    I'll take this one from Manu, as he's tied up chatting with the folks who e-mailed us with BlackRhino interest.

    > It is filled with /, /var, etc?

    Bingo. The base mini-image contains a complete root filesystem and is decompressed directly to the new partition. Once installed, you boot directly to the new partition and begin adding desired software through the usual Debian methods (apt-get/dselect).

    > I can't exactly "wipe" /dev/hda1

    And I certainly wouldn't expect you to. It's always nice to have a fall-back boot partition.

    You have a very well-planned partitioning scheme, and you are right, it makes BlackRhino's installation a little trickier. You know your needs best, but I'd suggest a little shuffling to make room for BlackRhino. For example, you could move the contents of /usr into another partition (perhaps leak a quarter of /home for that purpose) and use the newly-emptied partition to house BlackRhino.

    > this is where I would like BlackRhino

    Once BlackRhino is up and running, you can rearrange the partitions again if you like...wiping /dev/hda1 and putting it there.

    > can't a CD be burned with a BlackRhino
    > installation

    If you are using a stock PS2, no...there is a hardware limitation on CD-R reading. Also, if you plan on booting that CD, you'd need to develop a native PS2 installer or a loader to bootstrap a Linux-based installer. Sony carefully guards the important secrets of both processes (for good reason: piracy prevention), even from its licensed developers.

    However, if you'd like to experiment with other delivery/installation methods, we'd love to hear the results and would be glad to dedicate space on blackrhino.xrhino.com to the proven alternatives. (Root-over-NFS is a good example that we've used here, but thought it would be too messy as a practical installation method for everyone.)

    C-ya,
    Gray

    --
    Gray Carper
    Director of Technology
    xRhino, Inc.
  59. Serious Sadistic Pleasure by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What is it with these people? Do they get some kind of sadistic pleasure running linux on a microsoft box ?

    The next thing you know we will all be clamoring around making a windows emulator for linux. ... Oh wait we already did that.

    Nevermind.

  60. Logowatch (TM of the Register, I know) by NoCashValue · · Score: 1

    Using a white rhino in your logo when you're called Black Rhino seems pretty funny to me. The difference is the lip - white rhinos are grazers, eating grass etc on the ground and have a square lip. Black rhinos are browsers, eating off bushes, trees etc and have a more prehensile, beak-like lip.

    Just my little bit to alleviate my boredom here at work

    1. Re:Logowatch (TM of the Register, I know) by gcarper · · Score: 1

      > Using a white rhino in your logo when you're
      > called Black Rhino seems pretty funny to me.

      Hehe. We are actually called "xRhino", but the distribution is called "BlackRhino". The BlackRhino website has a black logo, the xRhino website has a white logo. xRhino is an equal opportunity employer. ;>

      > Just my little bit to alleviate my boredom
      > here at work

      Not me - my work day has been lightened by chatting with the good folks here!

      C-ya,
      Gray

      --
      Gray Carper
      Director of Technology
      xRhino, Inc.
  61. Re:BlackRhino installation requires partition chan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sounds pretty cool, and I'm willing to give it a shot. I'd probably move /var somewhere else and use it temporarily, and then if all is well wipe out /dev/hda and move BlackRhino there instead. But will I run into any issues doing so? Since I left the horror days of LILO for Grub, I'm scared of nuking my system by doing something stupid with Lilo. ;-)

  62. Re:BlackRhino installation requires partition chan by gcarper · · Score: 1

    > and I'm willing to give it a shot

    Awesome. Thanks!

    > I'd probably move /var somewhere else and use it
    > temporarily, and then if all is well wipe out
    > /dev/hda and move BlackRhino there instead.

    As long as you mean "/dev/hda1", that sounds like a great plan.

    > But will I run into any issues doing so?

    In theory, you should not. As long as you have a stable system running on /dev/hda5 after you move /var, there should be no problems wiping the old /dev/hda1 system to place BlackRhino there. Just make sure to edit the new /etc/fstab and your memory card's p2lboot.cnf to reflect the root partition changes.

    C-ya,
    Gray

    --
    Gray Carper
    Director of Technology
    xRhino, Inc.
  63. Re:BlackRhino installation requires partition chan by CronoCloud · · Score: 1

    What if you only have 2 partitions /dev/hda1 linux swap approx 139MB /dev/hda2 root filesystem approx 39GB ie the rest of the entire HD?

  64. Re:A PS2 developers perspective on the PS2 Linux k by Kirby-meister · · Score: 1
    "...I'm one of the guys that put the BlackRhino Linux distribution together and also, one of the founders of xRhino...Our commercial product is called RockSteady and it is a MP3 and Internet Radio player for the PlayStation 2."

    Hmm...xRhino...Rocksteady...me thinks someone is a big Ninja Turtle fan :)

  65. Re:BlackRhino installation requires partition chan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Then you're a fucking moron who doesn't know how to set up partitions properly, and it's time to reinstall. :-D

  66. Re:Reasons to use the PS2 Linux Kit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sorry, I'm a little confused as to how you are using plaympeg or mplayer without running X? I have tried and got an error about there being no video device available... :-(
    By the way, what I would REALLY like to do is to launch the player via a ssh connection (I don't have a keyboard or mouse connected to my PS2). Would a simple "export DISPLAY=:0.0" suffice?

  67. Re:Reasons to use the PS2 Linux Kit. by Yaztromo · · Score: 1

    You don't need to specify a DISPLAY environment variable if you're using SDL. That is only required for X. You should be able to start an X session through SSH -- just make sure that DISPLAY is set to the proper value (probably :0.0, unless you've been fiddling with your XFree86 setup to make it something else), and type "startx".

    As for running the MPEG player without X, just install all the SDL libraries from http://www.playstation2-linux.com, and run "plaympeg". You'll have to do this while logged into the PS2 at its console, however (you won't be able to activate this properly via an SSH or Telnet session). I usually pass it the "-s 640x480" parameter to force it to scale the video to fullscreen (the --fullscreen parameter doesn't seem to woky right on my setup), but that should be the only setup you need to do (beyond installing the SDL RPMs, that is).

    Hope this helps!

    Yaztromo.

  68. Bingo! by gcarper · · Score: 1

    Finally someone who gets our corporate in-joke! :>

    C-ya,
    Gray

    --
    Gray Carper
    Director of Technology
    xRhino, Inc.
  69. Re:Reasons to use the PS2 Linux Kit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Thanks, you've helped clear a lot of things up. But why can't I run plaympeg via ssh and have the results displayed on a local console? (I know it would be considered a "security feature" to avoid some random hax0r from displaying a pr0n video right in the middle of my debugging session, but this would be an incredibly convenient and powerful facility to allow in a networked entertainment console.) Isn't there some environment variable that could be set, or even a piece of the SDL code that could be changed to allow this?

  70. Re:Reasons to use the PS2 Linux Kit. by Yaztromo · · Score: 1

    I partially retract my previous statement :).

    It will work if you're logged in as root in your SSH session (either by logging in as root, or su'ing over to root). I generally don't use my root account for such things, so when I tried it last, it was as a regular user.

    I would have expected, however, that if you were logged in at the console as the same user you were logged into via SSH, that there wouldn't be any console access issues. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to work in practice -- I get the same error as if I had attempted to start a video while not logged into the console.

    If you're not worried about potential security issues, then you should be able to log in as root and initiate the video playback without any hassles. HTH!

    Yaztromo.

  71. Re:Reasons to use the PS2 Linux Kit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    D'oh! I didn't even think to try this. Of _course_ that makes sense. I'll give it a go when I get home this evening. :-D
    Thanks again.

  72. Last Post! by alpg · · Score: 0

    ... faster BogoMIPS calculations (yes, it now boots 2 seconds faster than
    it used to: we're considering changing the name from "Linux" to "InstaBOOT"
    -- Linus, in the announcement for 1.3.26

    - this post brought to you by the Automated Last Post Generator...