Hacking (vWii) - Tri-Core Linux

[FaTaL_ErRoR]

It was made pretty clear in fail0verflow's talk that the ARM did not disable the other 2 Espresso cores. Not only that, but Maxternal has actually been able to start them (just not with Linux yet).



Unfortunately, we can't do that without an IOSU exploit or hardware hacks.




That's not how it works at all. Switching into vWii mode runs an ARM binary called cafe2wii. cafe2wii disables all the new Wii U hardware (extra memory, GPU, DRH). sets up some vWii compatibility shims, and starts vWii IOS, which just launches the System Menu. The System Menu is a PPC ancast image that just disables the other 2 Espresso cores. There's no emulation involved, everything is done through hardware.

hmm interesting. Always thought cafe to wii binary was vm. Commanded program from arm to run on ppc processor. Always thought the ancast image was part of the arm binary as in the part of the vm sent to ppc.
Very interesting....So how did you guys figure out that this is not indeed a vm but done through hardware?

 

[Marionumber1]

hmm interesting. Always thought cafe to wii binary was vm. Commanded program from arm to run on ppc processor. Always thought the ancast image was part of the arm binary as in the part of the vm sent to ppc.
Very interesting....So how did you guys figure out that this is not indeed a vm but done through hardware?

It wasn't us who figured this out, fail0verflow said all this in their talk.

 

[FaTaL_ErRoR]

It wasn't us who figured this out, fail0verflow said all this in their talk.

Just curious does anyone have a copy of the cafe2wii binary? If needed you don't have to post it just hit me up with it. I am very curious how vwii is running if it's not software. I understand that hardware may be locking things but there has to be software running in order for things to work. And if wii ran on bare metal and vwii does not it would have to in some way be emulated. (thus the v=virtual in vwii) And if the vwii is set to run single core than it will never be able to run all three cores as in multithreading. (you may be able to somehow activate them but they won't multithread) I am truly curious because if you are able to activate the other cores and achieve multithreading then essentially you have escaped the vwii jail. I only am curious because I know a few people that may be able to help but just by looking at even what fof talked about it seemed the vwii was in fact a virtual machine.

 

[Marionumber1]

Just curious does anyone have a copy of the cafe2wii binary? If needed you don't have to post it just hit me up with it.

I don't have access to the cafe2wii binary, since even though we can download it from NUS, it's encrypted with the Starbuck ancast key.

I am very curious how vwii is running if it's not software. I understand that hardware may be locking things but there has to be software running in order for things to work. And if wii ran on bare metal and vwii does not it would have to in some way be emulated. (thus the v=virtual in vwii)

Of course there's still software running in vWii mode, it's just that the hardware is responsible for locking everything down. The "v" in vWii does not mean that there's any emulation going on; vWii mode is still running on the baremetal.

And if the vwii is set to run single core than it will never be able to run all three cores as in multithreading. (you may be able to somehow activate them but they won't multithread)

That does not make any sense. If you can activate them (and you can), you can run whatever code you want on them, so multithreading is definitely possible.

I am truly curious because if you are able to activate the other cores and achieve multithreading then essentially you have escaped the vwii jail.

Uh, disabling the other 2 Espresso cores was only a very small part of the vWii jail. In fact, cafe2wii isn't even responsible for disabling those cores: it's the System Menu or NANDLoader that does it. cafe2wii disables a lot of Latte hardware, like the extra memory, new GPU, and DRH, and enables compatibility modes for the disc drive and VI hardware.

I only am curious because I know a few people that may be able to help but just by looking at even what fof talked about it seemed the vwii was in fact a virtual machine.

Absolutely nothing fail0verflow said implies that vWii is a virtual machine. They mentioned hardware lockouts throughout the talk, and never made any mention of a VM.

 

[Dr.Hacknik]

The only similarity between linux and the Wii U os that I'm aware of is that they're both OS's that have a kernel, end of discussion lol.

Moving right along, for those who didn't see my status update yesterday, I found my copy of brawl . Softmodded the vWii on my new Wii U a few minutes ago, dumping the vWii NAND as we speak (safety measure)

He he, lolz! But there are some Linux related Components, mainly open-source.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

He he, lolz! But there are some Linux related Components, mainly open-source.

The only thing about the Wii U that's open-sourced is the web browser, and that's in the process of being hacked to pieces

 

[TeamScriptKiddies]

He he, lolz! But there are some Linux related Components, mainly open-source.

TotalInsanity4 is correct! If cafeOS itself was open source jor parts of it we would've likely had a well developed homebrew scene not too long after launch as Nintendo would essentially be holding our hand every step of the way (by providing some or all of the OS code).

I'm honestly not sure if you're trolling or if you really just don't know what you're talking about. I can't tell lol

 

[FaTaL_ErRoR]

TotalInsanity4 is correct! If cafeOS itself was open source jor parts of it we would've likely had a well developed homebrew scene not too long after launch as Nintendo would essentially be holding our hand every step of the way (by providing some or all of the OS code).

I'm honestly not sure if you're trolling or if you really just don't know what you're talking about. I can't tell lol

I don't think he is trolling. Google can really point you in the wrong direction if you let it.
luke
because They post source code (open source definition).
And if you are attempting to view encrypted data via an ide or anything else and are using linux as your operating system you are watching your linux attempt to open parts using what it sees as the part needed to open it. (It may not even be the right script to open it just what linux thought was the one needed) Then you see an error runnin "insert whatever script"then you google that function and come up with linux. You follow?
TSK anything new to share with triunix?? Or you been too busy?

 

[TeamScriptKiddies]

I don't think he is trolling. Google can really point you in the wrong direction if you let it.
luke
because They post source code (open source definition).
And if you are attempting to view encrypted data via an ide or anything else and are using linux as your operating system you are watching your linux attempt to open parts using what it sees as the part needed to open it. (It may not even be the right script to open it just what linux thought was the one needed) Then you see an error runnin "insert whatever script"then you google that function and come up with linux. You follow?
TSK anything new to share with triunix?? Or you been too busy?

Sadly, I've been swamped as of lately, its the end of the semester for me so final projects, getting ready for final exams yada yada yada. I get out around the beginning of May and will be off for the summer, so I'll have plenty of time to work on it then. If you'd like to take a look at any of the code, you can find links to all the source code involved here: http://catsandcampers.wix.com/trinuxtowinit#!sourcecodes/c82

That site needs some serious updating and cleaning up so ignore the irrelevant out of date crap lol. I'll get to that eventually..... This is an open source project, so anyone is free to jump in and contribute whatever . However, I don't want to get you in any sort of trouble, as you've previously stated, you have an official dev kit. If you received that direct from Nintendo then you would've had to sign a Non-disclosure Agreement/Contract and I don't know exactly what that entails....

 

[FaTaL_ErRoR]

I don't think he is trolling. Google can really point you in the wrong direction if you let it.
luke
because They post source code (open source definition).
And if you are attempting to view encrypted data via an ide or anything else and are using linux as your operating system you are watching your linux attempt to open parts using what it sees as the part needed to open it. (It may not even be the right script to open it just what linux thought was the one needed) Then you see an error runnin "insert whatever script"then you google that function and come up with linux. You follow?
TSK anything new to share with triunix?? Or you been too busy?

Hey what the heck?? Like half of my post was deleted.. Please drop me an explanation next time. Since it was removed I won't re post it. But please next time let me know when you delete part of my post.

 

[Etheboss]

Hey what the heck?? Like half of my post was deleted.. Please drop me an explanation next time. Since it was removed I won't re post it. But please next time let me know when you delete part of my post.

If a mod or admin had been editing your post you would see it, so my guess is something went wrong just after posting it..
I do not see how you can blame someone for that..

 

[TeamScriptKiddies]

Its a glitch, its been happening to me a lot lately. The minute I post something I have to double check, because sometimes its automatically cutoff. I'm not sure what the issue is. Just go ahead and repost.

UPDATE 4/22/15: Hey guys, just dropping by to let everyone know that I will be getting out of school for the summer around May 8th. Expect things to pick up right around then <3. I'm just up to my neck in final projects, preparing for final exams etc right now. End of the semester hustle then I'm free til sept lol. Hopefully we'll see that kernel exploit sometime soon, Marionumber1 and NWPlayer123 and Hykem . Then we can get working on porting trinux to U mode. Otherwise we'll be slamming our heads against a wall trying to implement SMP in vWii mode

In all seriousness though, take your time guys. You're all amazing, don't feel pressured, release when you're ready .

 

[TeamScriptKiddies]

Hey everyone,

See this latest post on my facebook: "So I got a call from Nintendo last night, I had a phone interview, and I passed! Once I fill out the necessary paperwork (online) I will be an official Wii U game developer licensed by Nintendo
smile emoticon.
The representative I spoke with informed me that if I want to get a jump start on development on my retail console, I can do that right away, but I'm restricted to browser based games until I get an official devkit. Once I have a devkit, I can work on porting over the browser games/creating new games that are eligible to be digital downloads on the Eshop.
Unfortunately, I don't have the funds for a devkit, so I might give crowdfunding a shot to get one smile emoticon
.
—

feeling excited."
https://www.facebook.com/chris.reynolds.31337

As a direct result of this, I can no longer work on Trinux or anyother reverse engineering/hacking projects for the Wii U. If I were to continue, I would be in breach of the Non-disclosure Agreement (Reverse Engineering clause), So I'm handing off this project back to Ninja_Carver , rightfully so, he knows much more than I do about linux anyways . Good luck for the unofficial homebrew scene, I just can no longer participate,

 

[jammybudga777]

thats good news well done dude dw about the homebrew scene or triinux it will get sorted when its sorted

 

[TeamScriptKiddies]

thats good news well done dude dw about the homebrew scene or triinux it will get sorted when its sorted

Thanks man! I'll be around posting about my latest develoopments (without giving away info, I shouldn't be of course lol).

 

[VinsCool]

Thanks man! I'll be around posting about my latest develoopments (without giving away info, I shouldn't be of course lol).

Will you then leak something worth it? or even give your dev console to marionumber1?

Kidding xD

 

[TeamScriptKiddies]

Will you then leak something worth it? or even give your dev console to marionumber1?

Kidding xD

Lol seeing as I cant afford an attorney or want to lose y developer status, that's a big fat no lmao. Wish I could be more help but now that I've gone official my lips are sealed.

I do however look forward to seeing the unofficial homebrew community flourish on the U but I can't take any part in it

 

[hdx]

Do you have any programming skills? I can't imagine people funding you a dev kit if you have no portfolio at all

 

[TeamScriptKiddies]

Do you have any programming skills? I can't imagine people funding you a dev kit if you have no portfolio at all

I've taken Microcomputers (Programming PIC16 and PIC18 families of Microc ontrollers in Assembly) and Engineering Eesentials and Design (Intro to MATLAB) and I'm a Supplemental Intructor in the latter course every Fall and Spring Semester. I also know some basic HTML (self taught) as well.

I'll be honest and admit right upfront that I'm still pretty noobish when it comes to programming, but this will be a good learning process for me. I'm an Electronics 3ngineering Major, so the primary focus of my program is hardware with some coding along the way...

 

[crono141]

Hey everyone,

See this latest post on my facebook: "So I got a call from Nintendo last night, I had a phone interview, and I passed! Once I fill out the necessary paperwork (online) I will be an official Wii U game developer licensed by Nintendo
smile emoticon.
The representative I spoke with informed me that if I want to get a jump start on development on my retail console, I can do that right away, but I'm restricted to browser based games until I get an official devkit. Once I have a devkit, I can work on porting over the browser games/creating new games that are eligible to be digital downloads on the Eshop.
Unfortunately, I don't have the funds for a devkit, so I might give crowdfunding a shot to get one smile emoticon
.
—

feeling excited."
https://www.facebook.com/chris.reynolds.31337

As a direct result of this, I can no longer work on Trinux or anyother reverse engineering/hacking projects for the Wii U. If I were to continue, I would be in breach of the Non-disclosure Agreement (Reverse Engineering clause), So I'm handing off this project back to Ninja_Carver , rightfully so, he knows much more than I do about linux anyways . Good luck for the unofficial homebrew scene, I just can no longer participate,

Can you tell us at all what the process to become an approved developer involved. As an amateur game dev myself, I'm curious about the process and cost involved.

I do all my work in Unity, so the prospects of publishing on a console really interests me.