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Managing the PlayStation 3 Wi-Fi Network

Posted by timothy on from the sony-makes-some-neat-stuff dept.

LinucksGirl writes "In this article Terra Soft show you how to configure and encrypt, step-by-step, the built-in Wi-Fi network that comes with the Cell Broadband Engine-based Sony PlayStation 3. And, as a little bonus, get 16 quick steps that explain how to switch from a wireless network back to a wired network on the PS3."

46 comments

  1. 16 steps? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    That's terrible.

    1. Re:16 steps? by 4D6963 · · Score: 1

      That's terrible. But.. even if they're quick?
      --
      You just got troll'd!
    2. Re:16 steps? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      even if.

    3. Re:16 steps? by ivan256 · · Score: 1

      How many steps does it take to set up Wi-Fi on the manufacturer-supported linux distribution for the Xbox 360 (bonus for including the number of steps required on the basic or arcade editions)?

    4. Re:16 steps? by mweather · · Score: 2

      Let's ignore the fac t you have to buy Xbox Live.

    5. Re:16 steps? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Let's ignore the last three posts.

    6. Re:16 steps? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Hi there,

      We're in mid-2008 now. The prices are now very similar. A 40GB PS3 is $399.99, and a Xbox360 Premium , with a wireless adapter is $449.98. Now, if you're thinking of the Xbox 360 Arcade, then yes it's cheaper, but only marginally if you include the wireless adapter @ $379.98. If you take the arcade, add in 1 month of Xbox Live, and maybe 1-2 Xbox Live Arcade game, then yea you're almost on track. You'd be missing out on a hard-drive though, and you'd need a recharge pack for your controller unless you're content with using batteries.

      As for buying 3 Xbox 360 Arcades ? You're a bit off there :P

    7. Re:16 steps? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But lets ignore the fact you could buy like, 3 Xbox 360 basics for the price of a PS3. Or one and the WiFi adaptor plus several games and some Xbox Live.

      Really? You didn't do too well in math, did you?

    8. Re:16 steps? by sYkSh0n3 · · Score: 1

      Actually, I just witnessed a friend pick up the ps3 for $400 at Wal-mart and he recieved a $100 gift card which he then used to purchase MGS4. Amazon is showing the price of the 360 basic package for $209 (used). And the 360 with only a 20gb hd is $350 (new). So, they are about on equal ground in price, but the ps3 offers a bigger hard drive (or A hard drive) and can play blu-ray movies. Doesn't sound like a very difficult choice to me.

    9. Re:16 steps? by Blakey+Rat · · Score: 2, Informative

      It's exactly 15 steps too many.

      The one step should be "plug in network cable."

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      Comment of the year
    10. Re:16 steps? by Nyall · · Score: 1

      exactly. The PS3 is a kitchen and sink device. If you want the extras its a very good deal. Don't forget that wireless is built in to the ps3. For the 360 that will cost you extra.

      --
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification
    11. Re:16 steps? by EGSonikku · · Score: 0, Troll

      Lets ignore the fact that people actually are on Xbox Live, as opposed to the 10's of people on PSN.

      --
      - "Scientia non habet inimicum nisp ignorantem"
    12. Re:16 steps? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except after playing roughly 10 games you will have filled your 40GB hard drive with the mandatory-to-play files. 4.5GB install to play Assassins Creed? So now you've filled up the hard drive and have to buy a new one that's bigger and install it yourself. While most of us on /. can do it, the average player can't. Way to go SONY.

    13. Re:16 steps? by mollymoo · · Score: 1

      How would that set up your Wi-Fi connection? It does bring to mind one of the nice features of the PS3 though - when you plug in the USB cable to the controller it automagically sorts out the Bluetooth pairing for you. It's a fairly minor thing I know, but a nice touch.

      --
      Chernobyl 'not a wildlife haven' - BBC News
    14. Re:16 steps? by donaldm · · Score: 1

      Except after playing roughly 10 games you will have filled your 40GB hard drive with the mandatory-to-play files. 4.5GB install to play Assassins Creed? So now you've filled up the hard drive and have to buy a new one that's bigger and install it yourself. While most of us on /. can do it, the average player can't. Way to go SONY.

      Very few PS3 games require much in the way of cashing files. I have the 60GB PAL version and I have only used up 20GB (mostly demo games) even after a year. If you look in the manual you can follow the pictures on how to change your hard drive or if you are the type of person who can't do this (you know, the 12:00 o'clock flasher people) then you can always pay the kid next door to do it for you.

      In Australia I can get an 80GB disk for AU$43, a 250GB disk for AU95 to a 320GB disk for AU$139 so I am sure you can get a better price in the USA since AU1.00 is approx equal US$0.958.

      --
      There ain't no such thing as proprietary standards only proprietary formats. Standards are by definition open.
    15. Re:16 steps? by Blakey+Rat · · Score: 1

      Reading comprehension is fundamental:
      1) The part I was referring to is talking about 16 steps to switch *back* to a wired connection after having used a wireless connection. I still stand by my statement that this should take exactly one step.
      2) Of course, I also wrote that post before it was clear that this article is actually about Linux on the PS3, not the PS3's own OS. Thanks, shitty Slashdot editors, for not doing your job!

      It does bring to mind one of the nice features of the PS3 though - when you plug in the USB cable to the controller it automagically sorts out the Bluetooth pairing for you. It's a fairly minor thing I know, but a nice touch.

      Or I'll just use my Xbox which "automagically" works even if you never, ever, plug your wireless controller cable in.

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      Comment of the year
    16. Re:16 steps? by somersault · · Score: 1

      If you take the arcade, add in 1 month of Xbox Live, and maybe 1-2 Xbox Live Arcade game, then yea you're almost on crack

      There we go, fixed that for you.

      In the spirit of things, this is suggesting being on crack in the bad don't know what you're doing sense, rather than the good "OMG I'm addicted cuz this is awesome" sense. As you may be able to tell, I own a PS3.

      Go Sony. Boo Microsoft. Insert other such highly mature statements and pointless debating points here.

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      which is totally what she said
    17. Re:16 steps? by somersault · · Score: 1

      I think I may still have my 10GB Linux partition on my PS3, so that's 25% gone right there, but it hasn't been a problem even after downloading a few demos, installing/playing stuff like MGS4 (3 install sessions so far I think), MGSOnline, GTA4, CM:Dirt, GRID, Uncharted, Guitar Hero III, etc. Not all of those games require install files but meh. Assassin's Creed is meant to be pish so I'm not playing it, but I doubt many games require that amount. GTA, MGS and Gran Turismo I can see, but things like Guitar Hero can just play from the BR (though they do download and install patches). Anyway, while I will probably install a larger hard drive eventually, I definitely don't need to. I could easily delete the installed data for a few of those games (the saved data is kept separately) if I had a need to play something else. I don't tend to jump quickly between games either, apart from when it comes to local multiplayer Guitar Hero will come out no matter what I've been playing on single player. I don't get why people see the need to bash consoles just to make their own personal purchase decisions feel valid. Besides, the XBox360 apparently has games that require installation too?

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      which is totally what she said
    18. Re:16 steps? by mollymoo · · Score: 1

      Or I'll just use my Xbox which "automagically" works even if you never, ever, plug your wireless controller cable in.

      Pressing the little button on the back of the controller and the button on the XBox to pair them is isn't "automagic". It's not hard, but it's not automagic.

      --
      Chernobyl 'not a wildlife haven' - BBC News
    19. Re:16 steps? by Blakey+Rat · · Score: 1

      Maybe, but I've never had to do that, ever.

      Honestly, I didn't even know there was a little button on the controller until I just read that... I figured the one on the Xbox was for third-party peripherals.

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      Comment of the year
    20. Re:16 steps? by mollymoo · · Score: 1

      Perhaps the controllers you get with them are pre-paired, but I know whenever my 360-owning friend gets a new controller it needs to be paired before it'll work.

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      Chernobyl 'not a wildlife haven' - BBC News
    21. Re:16 steps? by VisiX · · Score: 1

      Let's ingore the fact that you can get XBL for $40 a year american (prepaid cards are cheaper than the online prices of $50 and they actually give you 13 months instead of 12). After taxes that is $3.33 a month to expand the scope of every xbox game I own and possibly add a significant amount of replay value. I believe it is well worth it.

      Conversly, I have used the PS3 online network and I believe that it is not currently worth $3.33 a month. The good PR Sony gets for allowing people to use it for free most likely greatly outweighs the cost benefit of charging the few people that would pay for it. Do you really believe that Sony would not choose to charge for PS3 online services if they thought people would pay?

  2. Bad Summary/Headline by Pluvius · · Score: 5, Informative

    They forgot to mention the most important part: This is a guide for how to get the Wi-Fi to work under Linux. Which makes a lot more sense than having a guide for the relatively simple process of getting it to work in the PS3's native environment.

    Rob

    1. Re:Bad Summary/Headline by steveo777 · · Score: 1

      Yes, I was pretty appalled at first. But then I did something terrible and I read the article. I am no longer appalled.

      --
      This sig isn't original enough, it's time to come up with something witty...
  3. For Linux by residieu · · Score: 4, Informative

    The Summary might bother to mention that this is for using the wi-fi if you run linux on your playstation.

    I was at first a little shocked that something that should be as simple as turning on the wi-fi requires a slashdot-worthy article. I'd expected Sony could shine the UI up enough to make it easy. But since this is for a linux environment that I guess is still a work in progress, I guess less polish is acceptable

    1. Re:For Linux by Bardez · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I want so badly to point out that this being for Linux makes it no more or less acceptable to have so many damned steps, but alas, I love the idea of Free Software too much to point this out...

      --
      Perception is the thin dividing line between reality and fiction.
    2. Re:For Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What's wrong with Poland?

    3. Re:For Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The story's presence on Slashdot implies that it relates to Linux.

    4. Re:For Linux by residieu · · Score: 2, Informative

      No it doesn't. There have been plenty of stories about all the consoles that have no connection to Linux.

    5. Re:For Linux by thecroc · · Score: 1

      Not in the Linux section though

  4. Probably a good idea (but not good enough) by paratiritis · · Score: 0
    This is a must, considering how stupid is running an unsecure Wifi net. But as someone said 16 steps? We are talking about gamers, not IT experts. Most will probably not know or ignore this

    Terra Soft did good, but Sony needs to do a lot better. They must provide a good security solution, that most gamers can use, and not force using an unsecured Wifi, or they are asking for trouble.

    1. Re:Probably a good idea (but not good enough) by bfizzle · · Score: 2, Informative

      Setting up secured wireless in the Default OS on the PS3 is pretty painless (about as painless as you can get entering a password with a joystick). It is even easier if you have a bluetooth or usb keyboard.

      If you would have RTFA you would have noticed this was for configuring wireless in Yellow Dog Linux, which I fail to understand how this could be Sony's fault. Care to explain further?

    2. Re:Probably a good idea (but not good enough) by paratiritis · · Score: 1

      Yes looking at places like this I had the impression that Sony supports this. If they only allow but do not support this then yes Sony is out of the loop.

    3. Re:Probably a good idea (but not good enough) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If Sony's actions with regards to Linux on the PS3 do not qualify as "support", what on earth does? They allow "unapproved" media to be run so that Linux can be installed, they include a hard-drive partitioner in the standard console OS to make Linux installation easier, and it was their firmware upgrade that allowed wireless to be used under Linux at all. Sounds pretty damn supportive to me.

    4. Re:Probably a good idea (but not good enough) by DrXym · · Score: 1
      The article shows you how to use WEP or WPA encryption. I agree that this is a pain in the butt to do but I don't see how its Sony's fault in this instance. Sony opened up the wireless to the VM so not it's up to Terrasoft to put a nice shiny UI on the whole process, not Sony.

      I also think that anyone bothering to stick Linux on a PS3 isn't just a gamer and should have a modicum of knowledge about Linux. That doesn't excuse YDL from making the process easy, but it does set expectations a little.

      As for doing wireless in the regular Game OS - it's very easy to do. I got mine talking WPA with my router no trouble at all. Its usually more effort to make the router work properly and lock down the MAC addresses than it is getting the client devices working.

  5. 2 more by JustOK · · Score: 2, Funny

    Step 17: ???

    Step 18: Profit

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    rewriting history since 2109
  6. Can't display article on PS3 browser by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's all very well, but I can't get TFA to display in my PS3's built-in web browser without getting a "there is not enough memory" error!

    1. Re:Can't display article on PS3 browser by Spatial · · Score: 1

      And people complain Firefox is a RAM hog... What browser does it use?

      The PS3 has 224MB of RAM to use (256MB total with 32MB reserved for the OS, and 256MB of VRAM). You'd think it could manage pretty much any website!

    2. Re:Can't display article on PS3 browser by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It uses a version of the NetFront browser. That's the first time I've had the error message though, there's probably something quirky in the design of that page that is tripping it up.

  7. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  8. 16 steps... by brkello · · Score: 1, Funny

    Wow. So I guess the PS3 is nearly as complicated as a woman.

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  9. wow did anyone mention by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    sony sucks?

  10. anon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    this is why i have not installed linux on my ps3 ... i thought linux was supposed to be easy to use?

  11. Sooner or Later by AndrewGOO9 · · Score: 1

    Sooner or later, I'm still gonna buy a Playstation 3, it doesn't especially make any difference, but for now I can enjoy the fact that I don't have to for the express purpose that my older brother and my best friend each have one. So as long as I can get my Metal Gear Solid 4 on, I'll be sound as a pound.

  12. Re: Now you're playing with power! by trdrstv · · Score: 1

    That's all very well, but I can't get TFA to display in my PS3's built-in web browser without getting a "there is not enough memory" error!

    That's interesting. It loads fine with the Wii's Opera browser.