Ed: these instructions are for the classic install of YDL 5.0 and can be used for installing the new version of YDL 5.02.
You can get a printer friendly version of this guide by clicking on the Thread Tools button above, and then select Show Printable Version
This guide will help you install Yellow Dog Linux 5.0 on your PS3.
With Linux installed on your PS3, you can run the Firefox browser (much better than the PS3 browser), GAIM instant messenger (compatible with AIM), Open Office (suite of apps like Microsoft Office Word, Excel), great image creator and editor GIMP, FTP client, email client, video player, games etc.
Before you get started, you should grab a couple things that will make your life easier.
1. USB mouse and keyboard
2. USB Drive, Memory Card or Blank CD
3. Blank DVD
4. Two or three cans of beer and/or Mountain Dew
Step One
Get the Yellow Dog Linux ISO file.
You can get the latest version YDL 5.02 here =>
http://ydl.osuosl.org/iso/yellowdog-5.0.2-20070711.iso
Then burn it to a blank DVD, use DVD Decrypter, it is in the Downloads section. Burn it a 1x speed, do not copy the ISO, you have to create an image onto the DVD.
Step Two
While you are downloading and burning the ISO file you can go ahead partition your PS3 hard drive to make room for the dog. Before you do this, make sure to back up your game saves onto a memory card or USB hard drive. After you backup, go into PS3 menu:
Settings===>System Settings===>Format Utility===>Format Hard Disk
You can not split the hard drive in half between the Game OS and Linux, you have to choose which gets 10 Gigs and which gets the rest. I would opt to give 10 Gigs to Linux and leave the rest to the PS3 Game system for future game saves and storage. You can hook up an external hard drive later. If you have a 20 Gig system, you definitely need to give 10 Gigs to Linux (Other OS) and the rest to PS3. Once you finally hit Yes to format your system will do go ahead and do it and then reboot with everything you had gone.
Step 3
Now you need some things off the net that will allow the boot and install to happen. They are both rather small files and are free to grab from the websites listed below.
1. the otheros installer:
otheros.self (this file is not needed if you are running the new Sony firmware 2.0 or greater)
2. the kboot file:
otheros.bld this file does not need to be downloaded and put on a separate drive if you are installing YDL 5.02 as it is already in the 5.02 iso file and will be on the DVD that you created
Go to the address below and right click on the file names and select "Save target as" (or "Save Link as" in Firefox) and save them to your PC harddrive.
http://www.terrasoftsolutions.com/support/install/ps3/
Then store these 2 files on a memory card, blank CD or USB drive. You HAVE to put them in a specific folder. Create a folder called PS3 (all Upper Caps), then inside PS3 folder, create a folder called otheros (all lower caps), and put both files in this folder.
Now you have to plug in a USB keyboard and Mouse to complete the installation. I got a cheap wireless mouse and keyboard with a USB hub from Walmart and that did the trick.
Put in your CD disk, USB drive, memory stick or whatever you loaded the files otheros files on. Then go to:
Settings===>System Settings===>Install Other OS
When you click this the PS3 will start scanning all available options for the necessary files. Once it does this, it will find the file otheros.self and will ask you to confirm it. Press X on the controller and then follow the onscreen instructions.
Once this is done you still have to tell the system to boot up with this new OS. Go to:
Settings===>System Settings===>Default System and select Other OS
Now put the DVD of Linux that you created in the drive. In order for the installer package to boot you have to restart the system, so restart it.
Step Four
After you restart the system, you will see two penguins in the upper left hand corner of the screen along with a whole lot of text scrolling.
This will happen every time you boot Linux. Eventually you will get a "kboot" text prompt.
In the future you will be able to boot back to the game OS by typing boot-game-os at the kboot promt, but for now just leave it be and the install will continue. If you don't see the kboot and the system seems to be stuck in a loop, your keyboard and mouse might not be supported. When this happened to me all I did was unplug the keyboard and it stopped. I then held the power button on the system for five seconds until it beeped and it rebooted to the dashboard no worse for wear. If this happens just repeat the second half of step three and start over.
Now comes the tricky part. If you are on an HD TV, you will automatically be placed in the graphical set up. You will know that this has occurred when the screen flashes and there are SIX penguins on the top of the screen as well as much smaller type. If this is the case then you should be good to go.
Assuming that you are doing the graphical install, the next parts are all rather easy. The only part that is a bit scary is when the system asks you some questions relating to whether or not you want to format the partition for Linux.
Just hit yes to the two questions and the system will start the overall install. When this is going on, I would recommend finding something else to do as it took my system almost a full hour to complete installation.
Once the system is installed, it will prompt you to create a root password. This is the system administrator password and goes with the login ID root. Make sure to remember it as you will need it to install or make any major changes to your system. It will then ask you to make a general user ID and password. WRITE THE NAME & PASSWORDS DOWN.
After all this fun, the system will reboot and you will be in the wonderful world of Linux. Yellow Dog has a fairly robust GUI so if you are used to windows, you will have no problem with this.
The 60 gig version is supported, so are all the others.
HOW TO GET BACK TO PS3 GAME OS:
You can either:
1. Type boot-game-os at the kboot prompt
2. Type boot-game-os in the terminal app when in Linux (must be logged in as root).
Once in the Game OS, to get back to Linux, change the boot preference in the system menu and restart the machine.
OK then. You have modded your PS3.