PS3/PPC Linux. Yellow dog Linux 6.01 and other PPC distros

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As this could be of interest for a few wanting to use Linux on PS3 or Power PC platform (cell structures) I will post whatever relevant info and news I can find here. Please add "on topic" content if available.

Using Linux on PS3 is not the best solution but its possible and continually under development. "Yellow Dog Linux" are available for any Power PC platform and the developers work in close cooperation with Sony to ensure that the PS3 is well supported.

See info here by Gatecrasher for the older version YDL 5.0
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=73966

Here is some more links to get started.
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=yellowdog

Installing Yellow Dog Linux 6.1 on PS3 Step-by-step installation tutorial with screenshots!

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Installing-Yellow-Dog-Linux-6-1-on-PS3-100880.shtml

YellowDog 6.1 20081119_ISO
ftp://mirror.anl.gov/pub/yellowdog/iso/
ftp://mirror.anl.gov/pub/yellowdog/iso/yellowdog-6.1-ppc-DVD_20081119.iso

Newer version:
ftp://ftp.yellowdoglinux.com/pub/yellowdog/iso/yellowdog-6.1-ppc-DVD_20090201_NEW_PS3.iso

Please note: 3.66 Gig


Yellow Dog Linux v6.1 Offers Advanced Cell Experience
http://us.fixstars.com/news/2008/2008-11-19.shtml

For developers, v6.1 offers the latest stable kernel, an updated GCC, the open portion of the IBM Cell SDK v3.1, and through a working relationship with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, YDL v6.1 now ships with the new Cell Superscalar.

With the appearance of new multicore processor architectures, the Cell Broadband Engine included, there is a need for new programming paradigms. CellSs is a programming model that addresses the automatic exploitation of functional parallelism from a sequential application with annotations.

Yellow Dog Linux v6.1 supports:
- Sony PS3.
- Apple PowerPC G4, G5.
- YDL PowerStation.
- IBM System p (JS2x, 510, 520, 540).

Yellow Dog Linux v6.1 offers these updates over v6.0:
- Kernel 2.6.27
- GCC 4.1.2
- Cell SDK 3.1
- Firefox 3.0
- OpenOffice 2.3 (v3.0 coming to YDL.net Enhanced soon!)
- X.org 1.4.999 with xrandr 1.2.2
- Dramatically improved, automated wireless config.
- GUI configuration tool for YDL.net.
- Bluetooth support for the PS3 Sixaxis controller.
- Barcelona Supercomputing Center CellSs.
- ps3vram for fast, temp file storage or swap using PS3 video RAM.
Click to expand...

Just a Yellow dog Linux support site. :D

http://us.fixstars.com/products/ydl/home.shtml

How do I download and install YDL?
http://us.fixstars.com/support/downloads/

A GUIDE TO INSTALLING YELLOW DOG LINUX 6.1
http://us.fixstars.com/support/installation/ydl6.1_ps3_guide.pdf

Yellow Dog Solutions/Support

Yellow Dog Linux v5.x (no longer shipping)
http://us.fixstars.com/support/solutions/ydl_5.0/index.shtml


TOPIC: Use Flash memory for swap space on a PS3
http://us.fixstars.com/support/solutions/ydl_5.0/ps3-flash-mem.shtml

Hardware Supported with YDLv6.x
http://us.fixstars.com/support/hardware/sony.shtml

How to Enable Video Playback in Yellow Dog Linux 6.1
http://www.insidetech.com/news_feed...Playback-in-Yellow-Dog-Linux-6-1-101664.shtml



Other Distros and info:
http://ps3.qj.net/Kernel-patches-an...PPC-linux-distro-on-your-PS3-/pg/49/aid/72608

How-To: Install Ubuntu On Your PS3 For Vintage Gaming Emulation
http://gizmodo.com/5143547/how+to-install-ubuntu-on-your-ps3-for-vintage-gaming-emulation
 
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Programming high performance applications on the Cell BE processor

Specific for programmers some information on Ps3/Linux programming.

An introduction to Linux on the PLAYSTATION 3
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/power/library/pa-linuxps3-1/

Program the synergistic processing elements of the Sony PLAYSTATION 3
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/power/library/pa-linuxps3-2/

Meet the synergistic processing unit
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/power/library/pa-linuxps3-3/

Program the SPU for performance
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/power/library/pa-linuxps3-4/index.html?S_TACT=105AGX16&S_CMP=EDU
 
Busy downloading Yellow dog Linux disto 6.1. :D Now 59% of 3.66 Gig @ 10-20 KB/s was 86 KB/s at 7AM. LOL, data traffic congestion on the net seems bad.
 
Now have the following PS3/PPC distro's

yellowdog-6.1-ppc-DVD.iso 20081119

Newer version:
yellowdog 6.1_NEW_PS3.iso 20090201

Ubuntu-8.10-alternate-powerpc+ps3.iso

Next step is to backup PS3 and install Linux. First need to aquire a USB2.0 to SATA/IDE convertor for PS3.
 
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So: What can you use your YDL PS3 for?

http://www.yellowdog-board.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=4711&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

1) As a JAVA development envrioment along with Eclipse as the IDE. Thanks to ppietro's assistance here on the YDL message board in getting it properly configured with IBM's Java engine. Anyone taking college JAVA classes can use it for their assignments not to mention as a off-site development box.

2) Replacement for Microcraps virus-friendly stuff...I use the free / open source Open Office instead of Microcrap's virus-friendly Office for creating my spreadsheets, word processing, powerpoint, etc. for work.

3) Use the free / open source MySQL database engine instead of Microcrap's virus-friendly Access / SQLServer.

4) Have a web server and the free / open source PHP script language running to create / host dynamically created web pages.

5) Do my personal / gambling / consulting finances using freeware / open source financial software
( Microcrap's Money to quote Donald Trump was "Fired !" ).

6) With DOSBOX, can play the "classic" DOS games that Winblows no longer supports or can run.
Click to expand...


- Runs the next services flawesly and performant:
- Apache2
- Subversion
- PHP
- CUPS
- MySql
- Samba
- Trac
- Mldonkey
- Mediatomb

Well, for me, is the perfect home/development server
And, because I'm programmer, I usually like learn new things, so I have the PS3 for Cell programming too : )
Click to expand...
 
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