BlackRhino Linux Now Available for PlayStation 2

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BlackRhino Linux Now Available for PlayStation 2

Posted by michael on Tuesday March 4, 2003 @08:51AM from the charging-penguins dept.

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."

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questions about PS2 linux by stratjakt · 2003-03-04 08:57 · 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?

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I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
So you need the Linux kit to use this by N0decam · 2003-03-04 08:59 · 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 b1t+r0t · 2003-03-04 09:26 · 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?
  
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  --
  "Open source is good." - Steve Jobs
  "Open source is evil." - Microsoft
2. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by brianosaurus · 2003-03-04 09:32 · 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.
  
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3. Re:So you need the Linux kit to use this by pebs · 2003-03-04 10:46 · 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.
  
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  #!/
Re:Games!!! by denzombie · 2003-03-04 09:17 · Score: 2, Interesting

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

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--- Evil robots don't kill people, Mad scientists kill people.
Another thing to consider.... by webroach · 2003-03-04 09:28 · 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.....
Re:why would you want a PS2 Linux Development Kit. by Anonymous Coward · 2003-03-04 09:48 · 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
Re:Why? by Vince · 2003-03-04 09:51 · 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.
hmmm..... by maniac/dev/null · 2003-03-04 10:00 · 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.
*ponder* by Anonymous Coward · 2003-03-04 10:01 · 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.
CD/DVD based smart distro by icemax · 2003-03-04 10:18 · 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?? :)

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Love conquers all... except CANCER
Re:Debian? by msporny · 2003-03-04 17:03 · 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.
Re:Nice, but.... by Slurpee · 2003-03-04 17:46 · 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.