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Hackers Get Linux Running On a PlayStation 4 (engadget.com)

Posted by Soulskill on from the linux-is-inevitable dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Two years after the PlayStation 4 was released, and two weeks after it was jailbroken, a group of hackers has now successfully installed Linux on it. "...it appears that the fail0verflow team utilized a WebKit bug similar to the one recently documented by GitHub user CTurt and then took things up a notch. CTurt's workaround focuses on the PlayStation 4's Webkit browser, which is tricked into freeing processes from the core of the console's operating system by an improvised webpage. The PS4 is powered by Sony's Orbis OS, which is based on a Unix-like software called FreeBSD. With a route into the console's system, fail0verflow then identified weaknesses in the PlayStation 4's GPU. It specifically called out engineers from semiconductor company Marvell, accusing them of 'smoking some real good stuff' when they designed the PlayStation 4's southbridge chip."

9 of 108 comments (clear)

  1. A UNIX like system? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      "is based on a Unix-like software called FreeBSD"....HA!.

    1. Re:A UNIX like system? by Dwedit · · Score: 5, Funny

      It's a UNIX system, I know this!

    2. Re:A UNIX like system? by unixisc · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yeah, but FreeBSD is based on and built upon that. I don't doubt that FreeBSD would pass that test suite. But unless and until someone runs it and it gets that certification, it IS more accurate to call it UNIX like

  2. Okay by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 3, Funny

    Okay, I gotta say that's pretty impressive. Not that Linux will run a PlayStation 4, but that they could do what it takes to get it installed and running.

    In a similar vein, I was on the Microsoft campus the other day. One of the instant bean-to-cup coffee machines wouldn't work, it was basically frozen solid with a non-responsive touchscreen. I unplugged it and plugged it back in. (I'm not kidding, that's what MS support would have suggested, right?)

    Lo and behold, when it booted up I saw it was running Slax, a Linux variant often found in embedded systems.

    I laughed- if only the MS employees knew that this subversive OS was the one making them their morning coffee (the lifeblood of every corporation) they'd probably be up in arms about it. lol

    --
    Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
    1. Re:Okay by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Microsoft don't hate Linux anymore.

      Actually, they do.

      Oh, sure, the "official" stance is that Linux and MS are the "bestest friends evar!1!", but the company and the employees still hate Linux. They see it as a threat and they wish it would die. They are not Linux-friendly and they trash-talk it whenever the subject comes up. Ask me how I know.

      --
      Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
    2. Re:Okay by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      How do you know ?

      I've been looking around Azure recently, and it's absolutely full of linux.

      Yes, they have Linux distros as some of the choices, but so what? They only do this because some of their clients insist on Linux. It's no different than going to a Toyota dealer and buying a Honda Accord off their trade-in lot. Sure, they'll sell it to you, but they'd rather sell you a Toyota and will do everything in their power to sell you one rather than an the Accord.

      Trust me, I work with these people and they really, truly do not like Linux or anything about it. They'll make it available to you in order to make money through Azure (which isn't half bad, actually) but they'd much, much rather that you use one of their canned Windows images.

      --
      Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
  3. Re:Replace FreeBSD with Linux? Bad deal by Mazhe · · Score: 5, Funny

    systemd MUST run everywhere! there is no place for everything else.

  4. Re:Linux vs Unix? by _Sharp'r_ · · Score: 3, Informative

    Linux is "Unix-like". It was made to be similar to Unix in behavior, but be based on different underlying code.

    FreeBSD is literally Unix (descended from the "Berkely Software Distribution" of Unix). It's not the only version of Unix, but it's more Unix in origin than say, Ubuntu or Redhat are Linux in origin, as they also inherit significant parts of their origins from GNU utilities. No one with any comprehension of their history would call them "Linux-like", though.

    As I've said elsewhere, the jailbreak is the accomplishment.

    --
    The party of stupid and the party of evil get together and do something both stupid and evil, then call it bipartisan.
  5. Re:Linux vs Unix? by MtHuurne · · Score: 4, Informative

    FreeBSD comes with compatibility for running Linux executables, but it doesn't let you run the Linux kernel unless you run it in a VM, which doesn't seem to be the case here judging from the boot logging. Getting the Linux kernel to run on the bare hardware means adding drivers to run on the PS4 hardware, which is PC-like but not exactly a PC, and I doubt Sony published their FreeBSD hardware drivers. Doing that in just 2 weeks time is pretty impressive in my opinion.