PS3 2.6.21 Kernel ebuild / Controller via Bluetooth

[garlicbread]

This is a new ebuild / overlay for the PS3 git release of the kernel for 2.6.21
it includes a patch against 2.6.21 to bring it up to the same state as the ps3 git tree
and some other patches which may be useful as well
Note I've only tried this out on the ppc64 platform (not 32bit ppc)

Layman setup
overlay now setup via layman
I figure this will only need to be temporary since most of this will eventually find it's way into the main tree anyway
but since I've got other overlays in use myself on several other machines for other reasons I've now got the update of this automated via scripts

to get this working

1. install layman

[RaZoR1394]

Thanks. At first glance I would add dtc as a dependency for ps3-git-sources and also use dtc from git not from the latest build. I say this because I had compilation problems with dtc-20060419. I personally don't know how to make ebuild use git but I know It's possible. Let's hope that this one boots for me. My manual 2.6.21 build I tried did not work :/. It resulted in a lockup during init.
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[garlicbread]

that's strange so far I've tried out both the ps3-git-kernel ebuilds with just the dtc release in the overlay (20060419 instead of git) and I've had no problems with booting or compiling
something to note is that you have to use the uncompressed vmlinux, not the compressed zImage
zImage won't compile, and even if it does the kboot bootloader won't accept it (not yet anyway)
(I re-compiled 2.6.16 originally which doesn't need dtc, but it's zImage wouldn't work)

here's a binary copy of the kernel / initramfs / modules directory I'm using (about 28Mb) this was created with the dtc 20060419
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/garlicbread/Projects/PS3Linux/ps3-kernel-build-2.6.21-r1.tar.bz2

I was going to use the git.eclass originally, and I did manage to figure it out
(git-clone copies the whole git tree and all changes, git-archive seperates out a tar archive of the specified release)
however it's a pain in the arse as you have to make a full clone of the tree before extracting the version / date release you want
for dtc this might not be so big but for the ps3-git tree it's nearly 160Mb, which is why I thought it'd be better to generate the diff's before hand and stick them in the files dir to save downloading / load on the git servers

I mentioned this above but just remembered the bit about configuring genkernel
make menuconfig
make vmlinux (zImage or just make on it's own won't work)
make modules
make modules_install
cp vmlinux across to /boot/kernel-version

make sure /usr/src/linux is symlinked properly
make sure MODULES_USB="scsi_mod ps3pf_storage sd_mod ehci-hcd uhci-hcd usbhid"
is set in /usr/share/genkernel/ppc64/modules_load
genkernel initrd

add entry to /etc/kboot.conf for the new kernel / initramfs etc

[puntjuh]

So, which files should i download there and where do I place them ? I'd like to update my ps3's kernel.
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[garlicbread]

If you just want pre-compiled binaries
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/garlicbread/Projects/PS3Linux/ps3-kernel-build-2.6.21-r1.tar.bz2
there shoud be a kernel file / initramfs file to go into /boot/
and a seperate directory to copy over for the kernel modules
(normally all kernel modules are stored in /lib/modules/<kernel version>)

but you'll still need to edit /etc/kboot.conf to specify a new line for the new kernel
different lines can be selected at boot by hitting the tab key at the initial kboot: prompt
e.g. gentoo_test=
but it's best to leave the default gentoo= line in for 2.6.16 until your sure the new kernel is okay
just in case the new entry doesn't work for any reason and you need to get back in to change the configuration


if you want to compile your own sources
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/garlicbread/Projects/PS3Linux/PS3-overlay.tar.bz2
you'll need to download / extract the archive and set it up as an overlay
(which means adding the direcrtory path to /etc/make.conf for the overlay once you've moved it into the right place)

I'm not going to go into the details of overlays
but there is more info here
http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/overlays/userguide.xml
(it's just a way of adding custom packages / ebuilds that layer ontop of the default /usr/portage tree)

[puntjuh]

Cheers mate, that's all i need to know . If i screw up, i know i did it wrong, learning is a painful fun process .
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It's not teh size of the hammer, it's how you wield it!

[Crymson]

Hey Garlicbread - thanks for making the kernel binary!

I do have a few questions though. I got the new kernel installed, everything looks ok, but I can't get in to Gnome anymore. XDM says it starts OK, but when I type "startx" it fails and returns me to the command line.

Does this have something to do with your kernel being ppc64? I was using 32-bit U/L before. Are there some steps I need to take to recompile everything on my system for 64-bit U/L?

I think this will all work, and I'm really anxious to go and play some games on the emulators, but without X, I'm kinda stuck.

Thanks again mate!
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[garlicbread]

the kernel binary is compiled for 64 bit / ppc64 not for 32bit

if you need a 32bit kernel you'll need to compile from source code
also I'm not sure if you'll need to alter one of the configuration options in the kernel config to tell it to compile 32bit

to get the source code setup you can setup the overlay I've provided
or just extract the 2.6.21 kernel sources directly and try to patch manually using the patches in the files dir
I think I'll try to setup something via layman to make this simpler for setting up the overlay

On a side note I've just spotted this for Bluetooth
http://www.pabr.org/sixlinux/sixlinux.en.html
this should allow us to use the 6 axis controller (and I suspect the remote) under Linux via Bluetooth

[garlicbread]

Full credit goes to the authors of the original web site for this one

After a bit of experimentation
I've found that 2.6.21 already contains the needed patches for getting the controller to work under BT
all I needed to apply was a minor patch to bluez-utils-2.25-r1
I'll get this added into the overlay when I've got time

looking at the instructions from http://www.pabr.org/sixlinux/sixlinux.en.html
we'll need bluez-utils that's been patched
and bluez-hcidump (I'll also have to add this to the overlay as it's got a missing keyword for ppc64 in the default tree)

this is as far as I've got

1. edit /etc/conf.d/bluetooth
   change the line that reads
   

   Code:

   # Start hidd (allowed values are "true" and "false") HIDD_ENABLE=false # Arguments to hidd HIDD_OPTIONS=""

   
   to
   

   Code:

   # Start hidd (allowed values are "true" and "false") HIDD_ENABLE=true # Arguments to hidd HIDD_OPTIONS="--nocheck"

   
   
   
2. in /etc/bluetooth/hcid.conf
   make sure the lines for auth and encrypt are commented out
   this appears to be the default for gentoo
   usually located right at the bottom of the config file
   

   Code:

   # Authentication and Encryption (Security Mode 3) #auth enable; #encrypt enable;

   
   
   
3. restart bluetooth
   

   Code:

   /etc/init.d/bluetooth restart

   
   
   
4. run
   

   Code:

   hcidump -V -x

   
   to see what's going on
   press the PS button on the controller
   
   
5. you should see a load of crap flow past the screen and the lights on the controller should now start to flash
   the controller is now connected to the PS3
   you can just stop hcidump at this point as it's not needed
   
   
6. you can also run hidd this should show something like
   

   Code:

   <Address> Sony Computer Entertainment Wireless Controller [054c:0268] connected

   
   
   
7. if we do the following
   

   Code:

   cat var/log/messages

   
   I get something along the lines of
   

   Code:

   input: Sony Computer Entertainment Wireless Controller as /class/input/input3

   
   
   
8. we should now have an entry in /dev/input/js0
   which we can test via the jstest (emerge the joystick package for this)
   

   Code:

   jstest /dev/input/js0

   
   
   
9. Also tried this with the Bluetooth Remote controll
   it created a new event entry e.g. /dev/input/event3
   when I ran evtest on this however I couldn't get any output
   
   
10. to break the connection / reset the controller
    

    Code:

    hciconfig hci0 down hciconfig hci0 up /etc/init.d/bluetooth restart

    
    

Notes
this does appear to work but I'm not sure how open this leaves the BT connection on the PS3 in terms of security etc
so further fiddling may be required to enable authentication etc
Also it looks as if to connect the PS3 controller via Bluetooth to a device other than the PS3 you first need to send some special commands via the USB cable to the controller to give it the correct master address
(I'm wondering if Sony have asked him to pull the code for this from the site as sixpair.c doesn't appear visible)
connecting the controller to the PS3 still leaves the LED's flashing so there must be some special command to send to just set one of the LED's to on all the time as an indicator
From the looks of things the motion detection isn't visible via js0, but there is some mention of it being possible via a raw hci connection, not sure if this is visible under hcidump

[puntjuh]

Hi, i used your example .config to compile kernel 2.6.21-r1.
But now when i try to do: make vmlinux

I get the following stream of errors:

[anunakin]

To compile the kernel on a 32bit ul, you need install sys-devel/kgcc64

And use this:

[puntjuh]

trying to : emerge -av kgcc64 results in:

[ebuild N ] sys-devel/kgcc64-4.1.1 USE="-multislot -test" 38,283 kB
[blocks B ] sys-devel/gcc-powerpc64 (is blocking sys-devel/kgcc64-4.1.1)

Total: 1 package (1 new, 1 block), Size of downloads: 38,283 kB


Is it safe to remove gcc-powerpc64 ?
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[anunakin]

[RaZoR1394]

[hozt]

I know that I am close, but I am getting an error when I try to boot the new kernel:

>> Loading Modules
>> Activating mdev
>> Determining root device
!! Block device /dev/sda1 is not a valid root device
!! The root block device is unspecified or not detected

Here is the line from my kboot.conf
This one works
gentoo='sda1:/boot/kernel-genkernel-ppc64-2.6.16-ps3 initrd=sda1:/boot/initramfs-genkernel-ppc64-2.6.16-ps3 root=/dev/ram0 real_root=/dev/sda1 init=/linuxrc video=ps3fb:mode:1 rhgb'

This is the one with the new kernel
linux='sda1:/boot/vmlinux-2.6.21 initrd=sda1:/boot/initramfs-genkernel-ppc64-2.6.21-g2858acb9 root=/dev/ram0 real_root=/dev/sda1 video=ps3fb:mode:1 rhgb'

Here is /etc/fstab
/dev/sda1 / ext3 noatime 0 1
/dev/sda2 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/sr0 /mnt/cdrom iso9660 noauto,ro 0 0
/dev/sdf1 /mnt/storage ext3 noauto 0 0
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
shm /dev/shm tmpfs nodev,nosuid,noexec 0 0
none /spu spufs defaults 0 0

I did label the sda1 partition according to the instructions. I have tried many different combinations in the kboot.conf without any luck. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[garlicbread]

are you missing init=/linuxrc on the 2nd line?

this is my /etc/kboot.conf at the moment

[RaZoR1394]

[anunakin]

[thetwister]

Hi,

I want to try your overlay and try to compile my own kernel. but without success
the thing is: if i try the source from kernel.org or your's there is no difference in the behavior of the system.

what i did:
- used the ps3_* example config for .config.
- used powerpc64make (as i had the same error massage as puntjhu and tested anunakin's workaround)
- kernel compiled now without any error
- powerpc64make modules - without error
- powerpc64make modules_install
- copied vmlinux to /boot/kernel-test

tryed genkernel with an without editet /usr/share/genkernel/ppc64/modules_load does not make difference.
and make a link /boot/initrd-test showing on the new initramfs.

edit the kboot.conf file:

(i just copied the working line to a newone an added 3 times test):
gentoo-test="sda1:/boot/kernel-test initrd=sda1:/boot/initrd-test root=/dev/ram0 real_root=/dev/sda1 init=/linuxrc video=ps3fb:mode:3 rhgb"

ok here is the Problem:
i reboot, see the kboot prompt choose my new gentoo-test. i see the ps3 is working, there come these few lines and the display shows only a black screen.
(tv must get an input 'cause if there is no input it shows a blue screen)

any help is welcome!!!

thx!

p.s. sorry for my bad english
greetz

[garlicbread]

I've not tried this with powerpc64make, I don't know if that's for use when compiling on a different system other than the PS3
if you're compiling on a PS3 in a 64bit system (on 2.6.16) all you should need to use is the normal make command

if you've got a 32bit system I think you will need to un-select 64bit inside "make menuconfig"
as the default ps3 config defaults to 64bit
to be honest I've not tried this on a 32bit system only on 64bit
but if the correct option is selected I'm guessing it should compile with the usual make commands on the PS3

also you can't use
gentoo-test="sda1:/boot/kernel-test initrd=sda1:/boot/initrd-test root=/dev/ram0 real_root=/dev/sda1 init=/linuxrc video=ps3fb:mode:3 rhgb"
it would have to be
gentoo_test="sda1:/boot/kernel-test initrd=sda1:/boot/initrd-test root=/dev/ram0 real_root=/dev/sda1 init=/linuxrc video=ps3fb:mode:3 rhgb"
for some reason the "-" can't be used in the label only "_" as a separator

[thetwister]

well, u r damn sure , i'm running a 32bit version on my ps3 i think (i'm not 100 % sure why )

i installed it with this howto:
http://ps3wiki.qj.net/index.php/Gentoo_Howto

an now i changed the flag for 64bit and i can compile it with normal make.

i can test ist, in perhabs one hour when kdebase is compiled (runs since a few hours now) an the kernel is compiled too

hope to have good news

but a question: is it possible to change to a 64 bit system? or have i do start at 0 ?

thank you!

greetz

[Crymson]

You'd have to start over from 0 to go to a 64-bit system. That's what I had to do, and I'm going to finish it when I get home from travel next week. I'll post up my results when I get it finished.
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[garlicbread]

I must admit I've not got any experience with just the ppc / 32bit arch
for me instead of http://gentoo.osuosl.org/experimental/ppc64/stages/stage4-970-ps3_32ul.tar.bz2
I'm using http://gentoo.osuosl.org/experimental/ppc64/stages/stage4-970-ps3_64ul.tar.bz2

I know that when you go into to configure the kernel with

[anunakin]

OK I using kernel 2.6.16, with patches from Sony and with wireless/wifi support and bluez patches, I do all right ... and can see sixaxis at kbluetoothd... and hidd works

[garlicbread]

if you look here http://www.pabr.org/sixlinux/sixlinux.en.html
there was a patch for HIDD that was included in as part of 2.6.21 kernel that's not present in 2.6.16
the patch itself is part of the basic vanilla 2.6.21 tree
so any PS3 kernel sources based on 2.6.21 should have this patch included

I've noticed it doesn't always work on first bootup of the machine
usually I try hitting the button on the controller, lights start to flash but /dev/input/js0 isn't always created first time

usually I try resetting the Bluetooth