Gentoo on Play Station 2

[T0M3K]

I recalled that I have a Linux kit for PS2.
I wonder if I can somehow place Gentoo on it.
The only problem or inconvience I found was that PS2 Linux required to boot from CD and then load some settings from Memory Card.
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http://www.dslr.net/

[jjasghar]

http://playstation2-linux.com/projects/gentoo-ps2/

never tried it, and i think you need a hdd.
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#include <LinuxUser #324070>
main()
{
printf("and i'm sorry my spellign sucs.");
}

[T0M3K]

Thanx, I just found that.
It's not the newest release but looks promising
_________________
http://www.dslr.net/

[jjasghar]

yeah it's been like that since....man a long time ago. maybe if we flood him with email he might start up again. but i know for a fact that you can get gentoo(x) on the xbox.
_________________
#include <LinuxUser #324070>
main()
{
printf("and i'm sorry my spellign sucs.");
}

[Kumba]

I actually gave some help to the guy who worked on this port. But someone wound up leaking the information to Slashdot, and the guy suddenly disappeared. The port is open to anyone willing to dedicate the time to finishing it (which, mind you, will not be an easy task).


--Kumba
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"The past tempts us, the present confuses us, the future frightens us. And our lives slip away, moment by moment, lost in that vast, terrible in-between."
--Emperor Turhan, Centauri Republic

[jjasghar]

what would have to be done?

not that i'm a good. or even developer, but i have a ps2 and a grasp of gentoo, i could "try" if you gave me some direction....
_________________
#include <LinuxUser #324070>
main()
{
printf("and i'm sorry my spellign sucs.");
}

[Kumba]

Any attempts made on the finishing the PS2 Port will not be easy undertakings. Keep this in mind. First, you'll need a rather deep understanding of the portage system, mainly in how profiles work, the stage building process, and how catalyst is used to build install stages (there are docs available on this on the Gentoo site). An understanding of a compiler toolchain also helps, as any PS2 Linux port will not be able to make use of the default gcc versions available. At the least, any PS2 port will most likely be using an outdated gcc and binutils version, compared with the available version to normal gentoo systems. Because of this, a PS2 port will need to be locked down to these specific toolchain versions to avoid issues.

Other things are a small understanding of the MIPS architecture, at least as far as what it is, the various ABI's (o32, n32, n64), ISA's (MIPS-I,-II,-III,-IV), and CPUs commonly found (R4x00, R5000, R10000, etc..). These don't really help on PS2 itself, but being aware of them, and understanding what they are helps one to understand why the MIPS architecture has been a favourite among game console developers (i.e., PSX was an R3000 MIPS, N64 was an R4300, Most SGI systems are MIPS, etc...).

Lastly, no leaking to slashdot :P This drove the last guy off I think, but I'm really not sure. After the work got posted on slashdot, I do know the server at his work that was hosting the stages felt the brunt of a slashdotting, but he disappeared off IRC shortly thereafter.

All in all, your greatest asset will be pure and simple luck.


--Kumba
_________________
"The past tempts us, the present confuses us, the future frightens us. And our lives slip away, moment by moment, lost in that vast, terrible in-between."
--Emperor Turhan, Centauri Republic

[jjasghar]

that sound's cool and all, but i'll be honest, i've never "developed" anything. i want to, but i'm still learning networking with linux in general. assuming i did want to do something along these lines, what should i start reading? i bet it's safe to say i should learn C right?
_________________
#include <LinuxUser #324070>
main()
{
printf("and i'm sorry my spellign sucs.");
}

[HydroSan]

[jjasghar]

well that's hardcore depressing

i really want to start some form of project....and i was hoping this would have been it....i could try to make a livecd or something....
_________________
#include <LinuxUser #324070>
main()
{
printf("and i'm sorry my spellign sucs.");
}

[HydroSan]

Quite honestly, I think screwing around with MIPS assembly is way too much trouble. Seeing as how you haven't learned any C yet, it'll be damn hard to learn something like Assembly, especially on a sort of non-standard architecture. Though I guess there is probably already a GCC for some form of MIPS and Linux can obviously be compiled under MIPS, but if the PS2 isn't a -standard- MIPS, then you'll have to port the entire Linux kernel, GCC, libc, Grub, ReiserFS/ext*, binutils, etc, etc...

Of course, most of that seems to be done already, so I'm probably wrong. I'm just saying IF. So take a look at that thing, and see if you can make anything out of it.
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I was a Gangster for Capitalism, by Major General Smedley Butler.

Server status: Currently down, being replaced with fresh install - 20% completed.

[stonent]

Well you don't have to entirely shoulder the responsibility. The PS2 linux kit community has done some pretty decent stuff with the limitations that Sony has given to them. You could technically stay with their kernel or used some of the patched ones on their forum. Untar a mips stage1 and try to bootstrap it and see what happens.

Is the R5900 backwards compatable with other Mips executables?
_________________
Inspiron 4100 & Sun UltraAXe
Portage on Solaris|Dell Laptop Hacks
The way you feel about organized religion is the same way I feel about organized socialism.

[mattmatteh]

anyone working on the ps2 port? or is it dead? anyone use the old port thats out now? does that work, i was thinking of installing it when and if i get free time.