Sony Adds PS3 Support to Linux Kernel

mu22le writes "A few Sony patches to the Linux kernel have just been merged in the mainline tree, to be included in the 2.6.20 release. The patches add 'core platform support for the PS3 game console and other devices using the PS3 hypervisor.'" From the Linux Devices article: "Linux gained generic support for the Cell processor, on which the PS3 is based, with the 2.6.13 release in June of 2005. The new Sony-contributed patches to the 2.6.20 kernel appear to add machine-specific support for technology such as the PS3's memory architecture, DMA (direct memory access) model, and SMP (symmetric multiprocessing) model. A Yellow Dog Linux (YDL) distribution has been available for the PS3 since October, thanks to a development deal between Sony and YDL publisher TerraSoft. However, YDL so far has not been bundled with early PS3 shipments, despite earlier indications from Sony Entertainment's CEO, Ken Kuturagi."

Comments

At the moment

[joshetc]

At the moment this is the only reason I would even consider buying a PS3 sometime in the future. It is really great to see them supporting the Linux community by making porting to their console much easier...

Re:At the moment

[Anonymous Coward]

And what exactly are you going to do with Linux on a PS3? You might as well run Linux on an obsolete Intel processor, which is much cheaper and better supported. You don't think you're going to be able to fully use the hardware on the PS3 without an official dev kit, do you?

Glass

What is the point

[HappySqurriel]

Beyond the geek factor, what is the point of Linux on the PS3?

Does it do anything that you couldn't do with a much less expensive PC that you can install Linux on? I just don't get it ...

Re:What is the point

[xero314]

As I software developer with out a license to an existing Dev Kit or The money to set up a Cell Based server (the only other Cell development options) I could see the use in it as a learning tool. Oh plus it plays 3 generation on Console games, DVDs, CDs and BluRay disks, etc...

Re:What is the point

[Osty]

$600 isnt a bad price for a high end media PC.

What "high end" media PC has 256MB of shared memory? Low-end non-media PCs have 512MB of RAM (shared with the video card) these days. Even the Xbox 360 has 512MB of shared memory. A high-end media PC is more likely to have 1GB+ of system RAM and a video card with its own dedicated RAM. Multi-purpose machines need more RAM. Game consoles don't need as much because they have control over what they do with the RAM (few or no other processes running, access to the underlying hardware, etc).

Win Win scenario

[jmorris42]

I just hope Sony understands just what a winning scenario this could be for everyone.

Imagine. Play this right, let the bugs settle out for a few months and then start passing out ready to go DVDs on gaming mag covers. Sell a ready to rock kit with a preloaded memory key, DVD, keyboard and mouse. Instantly a PS3 is a gaming rig, BlueRay player AND a fully functional PC, ready for web browsing, OO.o, etc. Given just a small push and penetration could easilly hit 50% of an installed base likely to number in the tens of millions within two to three years.

For Sony the upside is realizing the sales pitch that a PS3 is more than a console, being able to make the pitch that a PS3 purchase for the kids is ALSO a PC purchase. Plus if it kills a few PC sales why should Sony care? Their desktop PC division is all but dead (laptops are of course another story, they make some cool lappies) and every Windows PC sale is money in their enemy's hand.

For us penguinheads we have to grit our teeth a bit at the idea of Sony succeeding but they ARE doing it the right way in this case so we have to be ready to give em props. Just imagine millions of DESKTOP LINUX installs. Millions! If PS3 ends up selling well and that penetration percentage goes much over 50% Linux could be the #2 desktop OS, pushing Apple to #3. Talk about irony, if Apple abandoned PPC for Intel and a PPC platform ended up defeating them. Balmer wouldn't be the only Steve hurling furniture. :)

Re:Win Win scenario

[jmorris42]

> that PS3 Linux would be of interest to anywhere near 50% of PS3 owners

And why not? What do most people use a PC for?

1. Internet: Web, IM, etc. PS3 running Linux can do that. Especially once the installed base gets big enough to ensure things like a current Flash and other needed bits are ported in a timely manner.

2. Games. Everyone always rips linux gaming with wiseass cracks like, yea, assuming you think Tux Racer is state of the art, etc. Duh, reboot and it is a Playstation 3 again, bet that can satisfy most people's gamer cravings. Remember, this is oficially supported Linux, no modchips and no worries about being locked out of playing games.

3. Basic productivity. OO.o can do that. Running a hog like OO.o in 256M will be a bit of bother but not insurmountable if you are only doing a bit of that stuff and on small home size documents.

4. Multimedia. The thing already supports direct YUV video modes in all of the HD, ED and SD resolutions under Linux. A Media player setup is a no brainer even if you have to download the packages from Europe. MythTV's frontend will love running on one.

Given that can't you see smart parents buying the kids a PS3 instead of an Xbox360 and a PC? Or that many owners will take advantage of the ability to have a spare PC when they aren't gaming?

> or that Sony will be able to sell tens of millions of PS3s in the next couple of years

Do you think it will still be $599 by next xmas? And that the supply issues with blue lasers will still limit supply of consoles? Ok.

Can't take full advantage.

[Kadin2048]

Except that I believe that you can't use many of the advanced features of the GPU because it currently lacks Linux drivers.

Also, at least as of a while ago, Linux didn't take advantage of all the SPUs within Cell; I'd hope that the Sony kernel modules mentioned in this article solve that problem, but I'm not sure.

Re:Thanks for digging this up

[rtb61]

Think of it more as a console accesory, remote keyboard and mouse with Linux and you are extending the capabilities of your game console to include a reliable working computer - email, internet browsing, office suite etc.(it is a just a matter of waiting for that option pack to be released), the inverse of a typical personal computer, with the addition of dual boot to the toy operating system 'windows', you also get an unreliable game console out of a working computer.