How To: Install any Linux distro on PS3

Although Linux distro's can be installed on a computer, the PS3 came along with the OtherOS feature and Linux was readily available (untill Sony later decided to remove the OtherOS feature from the slim models and a update for the fat models )

fast forward to 2011 and now OtherOS has made it's return, now with more distributions to chose from.
this guide shows you how to run any PowerPC based Linux distro on a PS3.

A PS3 with 16mb NAND (ones with 256mb NAND won't work) see spoiler to find out which NAND you have



A PowerPC based Linux distro

A blank disc (CD)

Kmeaw's CFW (custom firmware) installed

A external hard drive



Step 1. Download any Linux distro for the PowerPC x64 architecture, and burn to disc. The 3 most popular when it comes to the PS3 are.

Ubuntu: the world most popular Linux distrobution, it is easy to use and comes with many programs for users to get started.

Arch Linux: A distribution that's fast and lightweight, it comes with all the essentisals and nothing more, the rest is up to the user to decide what to have.

Yellow Dog Linux (YLD) : A distribution that was made specifically for the PS3, again easy to use and everything works out-of-the box.

step 2. Download BootOSPetitboot (bootos-v3.0-petitboot.pkg) A modified version of kmeaw's bootOS that uses the petitboot bootloader instead of
asbestOS. If you already have kmeau's bootOS then you need to uninstall it first before proceeding any further, to uninstall go over to the game section, then scroll down to the installed bootOS, then press triangle and then delete.

Step 3. Next download the lv2 patcher ver9 (lv2_v9.pkg)

place the 2 .pkg files on the root of a USB storage device, then proceed to install them via the CFW xmb. Run the BootOS installer, then
attach your external hard drive at this point.

Step 4. Insert your burned disc, then run the lv2 patcher, which should run petitboot, it will take a few minutes, so grab yourself a drink.

Step 5. from then on, the process should be fairly simple, install the distro then follow the on screen instructions, when you get to the partitioning screen, make sure to format your EXTERNAL HDD, not your internal HDD.

and thats it, you should have a fully working Linux distro on your PS3

Edited by Dter ic, 22 May 2011 - 02:24 PM.

Hackers didn't need to make Linux available, that was the whole point of OtherOS...It was officially supported to run Linux.

so an external HDD would be one that connects via USB? Why can't you use the internal ps3 HDD?

you could, but you would need to partition the internal HDD to make room for the linux installation, which is a bit more tricky.

I've always been intrigued by using my PS3 as a OS similar to windows. Would it be faster than my shitty 512mb RAM on my computer at the moment? Is it anywhere at all supported as much as Windows? Won't Sony just remove it again when they want?

PowerPC architecture's are becoming less common so your not likely to get the latest version of a distro.

it should be faster than your computer (you've only listed your RAM, so im taking a vague guess here)
but it hasn't got full RSX access, which should of made it even faster.
and remember that this is done in CFW so Sony could make a update, to remove OtherOS but as long as you don't then nothng is lost ( apart form PSN access)

Edited by Dter ic, 09 May 2011 - 09:20 PM.

nvm

Edited by RoboticBuddy, 26 May 2011 - 01:46 AM.

Would Natty Narwhal work? Also, can I dual boot with Kmeaw?

if you can find the powerpc 64 bit version of ubuntu 11.04 then i guess it might work (i haven't tried it as i don't have a working PS3 to test)

and if you unplug the external HDD that has the linux distro installed then it should boot GameOS

Edited by Dter ic, 01 June 2011 - 01:43 PM.

Does it support hardware such as the Blu-Ray player, Sixaxis Controller, graphics card, etc.?

all i know is that ubuntu 10.10 works out of the box (everything works) im not too sure about Natty Narwhal , you can give it a try if you want

Edited by Dter ic, 01 June 2011 - 02:05 PM.