skimpo.com
linux on playstation 2
the ...ram/ processor/ with internet?/ playstation 3. don't be so quick to sell your ps2. it can be optimized and put to good use
nextag,
ebay
amazon
but one fact still remains: i still have much research to do:
I wrote and asked:
As far as I know, the playstation 2 linux kit was officially discontinued June of 2004 and I would just like to ask if this site is up-to-date and if you still indeed sell the playstation 2 linux kit.
http://www.linuxplay.com/
linuxplay.com
All we sell now is the linux dvd software together with the monitor
cable and this can be purchased online.
Price Excluding VAT: Û31,50 Û37,01 Including VAT at 17.5%
study the forum
playstation2-linux com
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Sony will sell online the "Linux (for PlayStation 2)" Release 1.0 in the U.S. in May 2002. (A European version will come out that month, too, and the Japanese version earlier in April.)
This kit will include a Linux distribution on DVD that runs on the PS2 hardware, additional software, documentation, a 40GB hard drive, an Ethernet adapter, a USB mouse, a USB keyboard, and a computer monitor cable. The package will cost $200. (The PlayStation 2 is sold separately, though.)
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Linux for PlayStation 2 is a simple bundle consisting of the Linux installation DVDs, and a monitor cable, intended to be of interest to Linux hobbyists and games/graphics programmers. The HDD, network adaptor, keyboard and mouse components are no longer available. You can read the technical specifications for the parts and see what it looks like on the information page.
Besides the kit itself, you will require an original size PlayStation 2, a Memory Card (8MB) (for PlayStation 2), a standard USB keyboard, a USB mouse, a network adaptor, and an IDE hard drive with the standard arrangement of power and IDE connectors. We can supply USB keyboard and mice directly; please contact us via email if you wish to order these items.
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First of all, you need a Sony PlayStation 2, a memory card, and a game controller. Then you need the Linux kit. You can order this online from various places depending on where you live.
The Linux Gear
The kit consists of a 40-Gbyte hard disk that fits in the expansion bay of the PS2, a network adapter, a USB keyboard and mouse, a computer monitor cable, and two DVDs with a Linux distro and a PlayStation Linux runtime environment on one and development utilities and manuals on the other.
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The distribution is based on a Japanese variant of Red Hat (Kondara Linux), so the packaging system is RPM and the look is Red Hat 6.2. It runs on a 2.2.1 kernel. The community web site provides a 2.2.21 port with support for more USB devices and useful things like the ext3 file system.
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You can choose which graphical desktop environment you want by using sdr. Your choices include FVWM2, Gnome, KDE1x, Sawmill, TWM, and the default, WindowMaker. Other popular managers such as Blackbox compile and run easily, too.
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The PS2 runs Linux surprisingly well. You do have to take into account that it's running only 32Meg of RAM and so will be easily bogged down by apps requiring large amounts of memory. For example, this wouldn't be the best platform to consider manipulating large graphic files in the Gimp or playing around with big audio or video files.
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The distribution includes all the normal sorts of apps and tools, but some people will want to update or change versions. In the PS2 context, be aware that there isn't much RAM to play with (32MB) so that some compiling jobs might take a very long time. To help you in this, there are cross-compilers available.
One glaring omission in the apps line is a recent graphical browser. For console browsers there is lynx, and also links with links-graphics for X. One of the problems with mainstream graphical web browsers is that they're big ugly brutes that require a lot of RAM to run. Mozilla Firebird (now Firefox) is popular in the PS2 Linux community. For very speedy browsing, Dillo has also proved popular, just as it has on the iPaq and other similar systems, despite the reduced feature set.
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Whether the PS2 running Linux could be a one-box solution to playing games, computing, and playing CDs and DVDs really depends on what you'd like to do. Sony's conception is that PS2 Linux is for hobbyists and for people who might like to learn games and graphics programming and Linux itself.
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The ps2 linux kit was officially discontinued June '04 - it sounds at if that's a worldwide thing, so you're stuck paying the high dollar on ebay if you want a kit. BTW: don't lose any parts that are proprietary to the kit - my monitor cable came up missing after a linux expo - don't think I'm ever gonna find another one.
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The PS2 Linux community has a list of the packages on disk 2. An experienced Linux user will probably want to update at least some of these. Fortunately, the Compiled For Your Convenience project shares some precompiled packages. For anything else, you have cc and gcc to compile your source. If you want to keep the system elegant in the RPM way, you can make your own RPMs and share them.
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Another option is to switch to a Debian-based system. BlackRhino GNU/Linux is a complete distribution for PS2 with a concise HOWTO. There are several APT repositories for this project, as well as RPM version 4.0.2 for the original distro, which supports an apt-style interface for updates. See the PS2 Linux Community APT project.
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BlackRhino GNU/Linux
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What is BlackRhino GNU/Linux?
BlackRhino is a free Debian-based GNU/Linux software distribution for the Sony PlayStation 2. It contains over 1,200 software packages to aid in using and creating programs for the Sony PlayStation 2 Linux kit. The programs range in functionality from simple games, to text editors, compilers, web servers, windowing systems, database systems, graphics packages, mail servers and a variety of other tools and utilities.
Why was BlackRhino developed?
Initially, BlackRhino was created by xRhino in an effort to bring a commercial Debian-based GNU/Linux distribution to the Sony PlayStation 2 for hobbyists and developers alike. As events unfolded, BlackRhino became useful in other ways and it was finally apparent that a public release should be made. For more information, see the project history.
Why does BlackRhino need a PS2Linux Kit? Where can I get one?
BlackRhino need a PS2Linux Kit
BlackRhino is only available as a free download over the web, which means that the user needs a way to place it on his/her PlayStation 2 and boot to it. The PS2Linux kit provides all the needed hardware (hard drive, network adapter, etc) in addition to an on-disc Linux bootloader. To buy the kit, visit the PlayStation hardware store.
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The ps2 linux kit
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Development
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Sony's distribution of Linux is based on Kondara Linux, which in turn is based on Red Hat Linux. The documentation with this kit will give all the same information about the PS2 hardware that Sony provides its licensed game developers (but it won't give access to the system's anti-piracy mechanisms). This will include full details on the PS2's proprietary Emotion Engine core instruction set, the Graphic Synthesizer, and the Vector Processing Units. "The idea was to simply provide a functional and complete distribution of Linux on the PlayStation 2, while also giving access to the PlayStation 2's unique hardware," says Sarah Ewen, who works for Sony as one of its Linux engineers responsible for supporting the kit.
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Besides the sheer geek thrill of being able to do it, there's a practical reason for running Linux on a PlayStation 2. A lot of people expressing interest in this kit are hobbyists looking to gain experience in developing for a major game console. The Linux PS2 distribution makes home-brew game programming and experimentation on the PS2 platform affordable for such individuals. The only other alternative is to become a professional, licensed developer and lease a PS2 development kit from Sony--and the professional license and development kit cost many thousands of dollars.
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In terms of programming, the following graphics libraries are provided: libSDL (a fast, 2D graphics library), mesa, and ps2gl (a simplified GL clone, which makes use of the PlayStation 2's hardware). Ewen says, with these tools and enough effort on a programmer's part, it is possible to create games with graphics that are comparable to those of commercial PS2 games: "So the limitations really are few. You have almost unfettered access to the [graphics] hardware. There is nothing stopping programmers from coding 'right to the metal' using the Linux kit."
As for the portability of code from Linux on a PC system to the PS2, most applications written on a PC will compile on the PlayStation 2 with little or no modification. The significant difference is having to pass the --host option to the configure script. The kit supports languages typical to a Linux distribution, like C, C++, Perl, Python, Ruby, and Tcl. The only one missing is Java, although Kaffe has been ported by others in the Linux PS2 community.
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Bear in mind that developers aren't using PS2 Linux to make games for the PS2. They use a special development tool and libraries as well as a special development machine, the T10K. It looks like an oversized PS2 but has an x86 board in it as well as a PS2 board. This x86 board manages the hardware, giving graphics code exclusive access to the resources of the PS2, unlike in the Linux kit, where Linux is a drain on some of the PS2's resources.
PS2 Linux is a very useful learning place, though, and things such as the SPS2 module extend that usefulness. As they say on the project page, "A possible long-term goal for the project is to create an environment such that the same code can be compiled and run either within the Linux kernel or directly on the RTE, hopefully maximizing the similarity between Linux-based development and low-level development."
The End Bit
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warning
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Those interested in buying and playing around with the PS2 Linux kit should be aware of some things before getting it: Access to the PS2's DVD drive is restricted so that only official PlayStation discs can be read; and CD-Rs and DVD-R discs won't work in the drive. However, the USB ports on the PS2 are standard, so some USB external CD and DVD drive models that are supported under Linux could be used with this kit.
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The Playstation 2 comes with the following outputs, ports and slots:
Two Controller Ports
Two Memory Card slots
One AV Multi Cable Output
One Optical Digital Output
Two USB ports
I.Link (IEEE1394 connection). -also known as FireWire.
Expansion Bay
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usb listwa
usb keyboard, mouse
memory cards
ram, processor?
Internal hard disc drive
Network Adaptor
Computer Monitor Cable (for PlayStation 2) (with audio connectors)
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The playstation 2 linux kit (which I've seen online for 25 to 50 Euros) includes a 40 GB internal hard disc drive, an ethernet network adaptor (10/100 Base-T Ethernet interface), a computer monitor cable with audio connectors, a USB Keyboard and Mouse and finally the Linux for PlayStation 2 version 1.0 software distribution on 2 DVD-ROM Discs.
PlayStation 2X Network Adaptor ( included in the playstation 2 linux kit)
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If you choose to run Linux on a monitor it must first of all be a "sync on green" monitor. Seeing as how writers of spec sheets seem not to think this is a feature worth mentioning (assuming there is a spec sheet), you'll need to check the monitor database to see if yours is OK. See the PS2 Linux community supported monitor database and a list of pass and fail models.
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The X2VGA 2 High Definition VGA Transcoder by Neoya is designed to work with any gaming console or video device that has a standard component video output, such as the Playstation 3, Playstation 2, Wii, GameCube, Xbox 360, and Xbox, etc. With the X2VGA 2TM and a standard VGA monitor, users can play their favorite games at 480p, 720p, 1080i, or 1080p resolutions - over double that of a standard TV! The X2VGA 2TM makes games come alive, delivering the sharpest, most realistic visuals available. Furthermore, the exceptional 480i EasyViewTM and Input AutoSelect features provided by the X2VGA 2TM make it easy for users to fully enjoy the mind-blowing audio and visual effects, but it costs 60 dollars and I think that some cables need to be bought as well.
There are several options for VGA boxes and similar devices, but they can cost anywhere from 30 to 80 dollars and beyond.
X2VGA+ or the newer X2VGA2
VDigi makes a couple interesting products which are easy to setup and use and support wide range of CRT/LCD monitors and go for 40 dollars such as the Video arrow VD-P3 PS3 VGA cable and the Video arrow VD-W2 Wii VGA cable, but they only work with the Wii and PS3, for which the two cables were specifically designed.
There are a couple 5" and 8" Digital LCD Monitors (by Joytech for example) out there that go for around $150.
I was thinking of getting one of the following monitors:
Nokia 445, 445X, 445 XPro, 445Xi, 445XiPlus, 446Pro and 446Xpro
Sony E400, HMD-A420 A420 FD Trinitron, GDM-W900, GDM-FW900
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You're better off using the hard drive for virtual ram because the ps2's memory cards apperently are slow.
I've heard of some users putting 120GB hard drives in their playstation 2 consoles...
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That leads to networking. The PS2 network adapter is a 10/100 BaseT Ethernet connector in a plastic box. To put the PS2 onto the Internet, use a USB modem, plug into an Ethernet network with Internet access, or do a similar thing with a WLAN 802.11b base station.
I chose to make an Ethernet crossover connection to my Mac but I had quite a few problems. First, I had a batch of network adapters that needed a new driver. I solved that with another adapter. The next problems mostly came from a lack of network experience with Linux. To cut a long story short, I settled for an SSH connection to the Mac as, for some reason, the Mac steadfastly refused to act as a DHCP server.
Apps and Additions
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i'd obviously prefer a wifi wireless network adapter, but
Linksys offers some products that may be more than sufficient such as the WET11 Wireless Ethernet Bridge, the WGA54G Wireless-G Gaming Adapter or the Wireless-B Game Adapter WGA11B - Network adapter. I also found that some use the Nyko Wireless Net Extender Wireless bridge but have little success connecting it to their playstation 2 consoles. I even found that some use a laptop as a wireless hub for their PlayStation 2 consoles.
Or I could simply use one of 2 laptops as a Wireless hub for your PlayStation 2. (after modifying the laptops, of course) I would need a Playstation 2 with a Network Adapter, (which comes with the Playstation 2 Linux Kit) the network access disk (for testing the connection), a laptop with both wireless and Ethernet connections (Built in, or PCMCIA work), running Windows XP or Server 2003, (this I will not do, but I will find an alternative method in time), an internet connection on a wireless network that my laptop can use (either using a wireless access point on a broadband router or a public subscription should work, as long as they do not block playstation game traffic) and a standard CAT5 crossover cable (I could, of course, use a network hub). I'll be able to tell by examining the ends of the cable. (It's simple. If the colors of the wires are in exactly the same order for both ends, it is not a crossover cable)
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