ubuntu for the PS3
You can download a PDF of this guide here:[Please register to see this link. ]
Introduction
This page gives instructions on how to install Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, and Edubuntu onto a PS3. The instructions contained in this page will work if you have the PS3 firmware version 1.60 or greater installed.
Download Distribution Users of standard definition TVs are recommended to use the alternate installer discs to install Ubuntu as you will have a very low resolution to go through the installer wizard of the desktop installer discs. The links below are where the Live-CD images are located. Download the Ubuntu distribution you intend to install on the PS3. Note that unofficial updated installation discs for Ubuntu Feisty Fawn were made. A link is provided to those discs followed by the address for the official installation discs.
* Ubuntu: [Please register to see this link. ] [Please register to see this link. ]
* Kubuntu: [Please register to see this link. ]
* Xubuntu: [Please register to see this link. ]
* Edubuntu: [Please register to see this link. ]
Once you have downloaded the CD images, burn the images onto a CD.
NOTE: There is currently a problem with the desktop installer (Bug 106683). You will have to manually setup the partitions during the setup, else the entire system will lock up during the setup wizard. When manually setting up the partitions, select 10GB for the main partition and setup the rest to be used for the swap area (i.e. filesystem type SWAP). You may well find that the Other OS partition (which appears as sda in the installer) has no partition table, in which case you will need to let the installer create one. This is fine and doesn't overwrite the real partition table on the PS3 disk (sda is a virtual disk created by the PS3 for Other OSes)
Prepare the PS3
WARNING: These next operations WILL ERASE EVERYTHING on your PS3. Be sure to back up the data that you want to restore later once you've formatted the PS3 hard drive (i.e. your game save data, configuration data, etc.).
1. In the XMB of the PS3, go to [Settings] > [System Settings] > [Format Utility] > [Format Hard Disk].
2. In the following prompt, choose "Yes".
3. Next choose "Custom" to choose a custom partition setting.
4. At the following prompt, choose "Allot 10GB to the Other OS" to choose 10GB of hard drive space for use with the other OS. (NOTE: You may also choose to "Allot 10GB to the PS3" however it is not necessary as 10GB is enough to run Ubuntu.)
5. At the next prompt, choose "Quick Format". (Choosing "Full Format" will take longer to complete than a "Quick Format.")
6. Once you choose a partition setting from the previous step, the PS3 will format the entire drive and create two partitions, one for the XMB and the other for use with the other OS. Once formatting is completed, the PS3 will prompt you to restart the system. Press "X" on the controller and your system will reboot.
Install kboot and Boot into the Live CD
1. Insert the CD you burned the Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, or Edubuntu image into the PS3.
2. In the XMB, go to [Settings] > [System Settings] > [Install Other OS].
3. The "otheros.bld" file will be detected on the CD by the PS3. Press "X" on the controller to select "OK" which is automatically highlighted at this prompt. After selecting "OK", the kboot boot loader will be installed.
4. In the XMB, go to [Settings] > [System Settings] > [Default System].
5. Choose "Other OS" as the default.
6. At the following prompt you will be asked if you want to boot into the Other OS now. Choose "Yes."
7. The PS3 will restart and boot into a command line prompt. The prompt will look like this.
Quote:
kboot:
1. At this prompt just hit enter. A live session of either Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, or Edubuntu will run (depending on what Ubuntu derivative you burned onto the CD).
At this point you will have a complete desktop session of Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, or Edubuntu running off the CD on your PS3. From here you may choose to do a hard drive installation. Just double-click on the "Install" icon and a wizard will guide you through the setup process.
Booting Back to the XMB To boot back into the PS3 XMB, you must be at the kboot prompt. At the prompt, type "boot-game-os".
Quote:
kboot: boot-game-os
An alternative in case the above doesn't work is to turn off the PS3. Then hold down the power button on the PS3 until the PS3 beeps twice. The PS3 will boot into the XMB and prompt you to choose the default video setting.
Alternate Install Discs
There are alternate (non-live) install CDs available for Ubuntu, Kubuntu, and Xubuntu, located at:
* Ubuntu: [Please register to see this link. ] [Please register to see this link. ]
* Kubuntu: [Please register to see this link. ]
* Xubuntu: [Please register to see this link. ]
NOTE: At this moment there is a bug (Bug 106694) that may leave you at the initramfs prompt instead of booting into Ubuntu. After installing Ubuntu, at the kboot prompt, type:
This will get you booted into Ubuntu. A quick fix for this issue so that you don't have to type the above command to boot into Ubuntu everytime you boot is to go into a terminal session and type the following.
Quote:
sudo sed -e 's/sdd1/sda1/' -i /etc/kboot.conf
Below is what the system's /etc/kboot.conf should contain.
Video Modes
Depending on what video output you are using for your PS3, you may need to boot the installer with a different video mode. To do this, type install video=ps3fb:mode:X at the kboot prompt, where X is (from ps3-video-mode):
i need help iv installed ubuntu 7.10 on my ps3 but the screen is the wrong size not gettin full windows i hav lg hdtv with the hdmi lead all plugged in wen i go to screen resolution i can not change anything there is only one setting can anyone help me please
denja is right. you need to get the kboot file for the specific linux distribution that you are loading. The kboot for YDL is in the downloads section. Don't use this for other installations.
can someone help me out.....
after the installation of Ubuntu 7.10. ... The ps3 restarts and a black screen comes out saying this;
Please stand by while rebooting the system.
5336.707717] ps3-ohci-driver sb_08: remove, state 4
5336.708065] usb_usb4: USB disconnect, address 1
blah blah.........
am i doing something wrong ?
i waited for more then 30mins and nothing happens...
i pressed ENTER on my keyboard and nothing...
i took off the CD b4 restarting ps3
Installation Guide for Ubuntu on PS3
