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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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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.
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
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.
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.
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:
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.