Requirements

- BootMii (either installed as boot2 or as IOS)
- SD(HC) card (at least 1GB, 2GB recommended)
- USB keyboard

Preparing the SD card

You have to create 2 partitions. One little FAT16/32 for BootMii, HBC and the kernel and one big ext3 for the filesystem ("userland"). You can do this for example with gParted in Ubuntu. If you don`t have Ubuntu installed, use the latest LiveCD. For this tutorial it is important to set the descriptions of the partitions.

- Backup your current BootMii folder
- 1. partition: At least 32 MB, FAT16/32, "kernel" as description
- 2. partition: Remaining free space, EXT3, "filesystem" as description
- Copy your BootMii folder to the first partition

Installing the kernel

The mike kernel must be booted via BootMii! If you boot it with the homebrew channel, wifi and other things won`t work.

There are two ways to boot the kernel:

1.)
The first one (and also the recommended one) is to copy the kernel to the first partition of your sd card, for example to the BootMii folder. To boot the kernel you can use the sd card explorer in BootMii and select the kernel. It could happen that it doesn`t work and return to the BootMii main menu. If this happens try to update to the newest BootMii version (beta4). If it also doesn`t work with beta4 then you have to use the second way.

2.)
With the second way you will have to replace the executable of the BootMii GUI with the kernel. This should always work, but the disadvantage is that the kernel will boot immediately after launching BootMii. So you won`t see the GUI of BootMii. If you need the BootMii GUI you may use a second sd card for Linux only.

- Rename the file "ppcboot.elf" in the BootMii folder to "ppcboot.elf.backup"
- Download the latest mike kernel (mikep5) with your appropriate TV mode:

- 480i PAL: http://downloads.sourceforge.net/gc-linux/...480i(PAL60).elf
- 576i PAL: http://downloads.sourceforge.net/gc-linux/...i.576i(PAL).elf
- 480p PAL: http://downloads.sourceforge.net/gc-linux/...i.480p(PAL).elf
- 480i NTSC: http://downloads.sourceforge.net/gc-linux/....480i(NTSC).elf
- 480p NTSC: http://downloads.sourceforge.net/gc-linux/....480p(NTSC).elf

- Rename the kernel to ppcboot.elf and copy it to your BootMii folder
- If you have BootMii beta1 or beta2 you need to download the latest armboot.bin to prevent an error with the mike kernel: http://downloads.sourceforge.net/gc-linux/mikep1-armboot.bin. Rename it to "armboot.bin" and replace it with the one in your new BootMii folder. If you are running BootMii beta3 or later you might skip this step, because it should already include a newer version of armboot.bin

Installing the filesystem

- Download XWhiite 0.2 to your Desktop: http://hbcapps.com/debian-etch-4.0+whiite-...ite-0.2.tar.bz2
- Open a terminal and login as root (sudo su)
- Change the directory to your Desktop:

cd /home/yourusername/Desktop

- Extract the filesystem to your sd card:

tar -C /media/filesystem/ -xjvf debian-etch-4.0+whiite-0.1+xwhiite-0.2.tar.bz2

- Backup your xorg.conf:

cd /media/filesystem/etc/X11/
cp xorg.conf xorg.conf.backup

- Open your xorg.conf and set your TV mode (pal or ntsc):

gedit /media/filesystem/etc/X11/xorg.conf

- Find the Subsection "Display" in the section "Screen"
- Replace "pal_50" with "ntsc_60" if you have a NTSC TV
- If you have the problem with the "small line" try to remove the lines with "HorizSync", "VertRefresh", "Modeline "pal_50"" and "Modeline "ntsc_60"" in the section "Monitor" and the whole subsection "Display"

- Now you can try to boot your Wii with Linux.

Getting WiFi to work

- Download the necessary debian packages and put them to /media/filesystem/home/wii/:

- nano: http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/...ch1_powerpc.deb
- wpasupplicant: http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/...5-2_powerpc.deb
- wireless-tools: http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/...f.1_powerpc.deb
- udev: http://security.debian.org/debian-security...ch1_powerpc.deb
- libiw28: http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/...f.1_powerpc.deb
- libvolume: http://security.debian.org/debian-security...ch1_powerpc.deb
- wifi firmware: http://sourceforge.net/projects/gc-linux/f...tar.gz/download

- Boot your Wii Linux
- Open a terminal and login as root (pwd is "whiite")
- Install the packages:

cd /home/wii/
dpkg -i *.deb

- Extract the wifi firmware:

cd /
tar -xzvf /home/wii/openfwwf-5.2-bin.tar.gz

- Edit the wifi settings:

nano /etc/network/interfaces

- For WPA 1/2 add this:

auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂwpa-ssid YOUR_SSID_GOES_HERE
ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂwpa-psk YOUR_SECRET_GOES_HERE
ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂwpa-key-mgmt WPA-PSK
ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂwpa-pairwise TKIP CCMP
ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂwpa-group TKIP CCMP
ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂwpa-proto WPA RSN
ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂwpa-ap-scan 1
ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂwpa-scan-ssid 1

- For WEP (ASCII string key) add this:

auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂwireless-essid YOUR_SSID_GOES_HERE
ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂwireless-key YOUR_ASCII_SECRET_GOES_HERE

- For WEP (binary key) add this:

auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂwireless-essid YOUR_SSID_GOES_HERE
ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂwireless-key s:0123-4567-89

- Test your wifi connection:

ifup wlan0
ping www.google.com

- If you get responses: CONGRATULATIONS! Now your Wii will automatically connect your wifi on every boot

And what now?

- Now you can update your system (as root!):

apt-get update
apt-get upgrade

- You can also install a "normal" desktop environment like XFCE4. It`s more comfortable to use, but will use more RAM and will run slower. But it`s quite usable.

apt-get install xfce4

- Install whatever you want! Have fun!

Problems and their solutions

Problem: No sound
Solution: CODEusermod -G audio


by elmurato
revision 5


PS: If something isn`t clear feel free to ask so that I can improve this tutorial. Thanks!

Sources

http://www.gc-linux.org/wiki/WL:whiite-linux
http://www.tehskeen.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9777
http://www.gc-linux.org/wiki/MINI:KernelPreviewThree
http://www.gc-linux.org/wiki/WL:Wifi_Configuration

 

[hojnikb]

You can run "sync; echo 3 > /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches" as root if you're running out of memory.

 

[p_koelio]

i've installed everything as told in the tutorial but, don't know how, i can't login on debian! it loads the system, at runlevel 2, the syslog etc. after the wii mote loading it gets me a countdown (10sec) to reboot and the option to abort it pressing any key. ok, i'll press and now it makes me login, i type root and it tells me "Login incorrect"... wtf?! i try to login with something else and it ask me for a pass but obviously there is only the root user!
can someone help me?

p.s. a week agot it worked fine, i've installed xfce4, vlc codecs etc.

 

[snomile]

Anyone got NTFS working on this ?
Becouse i'm trying with fuse and ntfs-3g but i'm out of luck...

to make ntfs-3g working for you , you have two choices :
[*]load the FUSE module via "modprobe fuse" (which I failed on lenny)[*]directly compile the FUSE device into you linux kernel
I don't know how to modprobe fuse on lenny , it seems that Wii Debian Lenny lacks of some important files, the /lib/modules/ dir is empty. So I compiled a kernel with linux kernel 2.6.32 and mikep5 patch and FUSE and TUN(for openVPN installation) .The download URL is here

Just download and replace the original one on your SDCard /bootmii/mikep5.elf or /bootmii/ppcboot.elf .You may notice this kernel image is larger than the original one (2.75MB > 2.57MB ) ,because it has FUSE and TUN inside.

Please note :
1.You must boot this kernel via bootmii ,if you boot it with Homebrew Channel , some device may won't start up ,I dunno why .
2.This kernel is based on 2.6.32 , so it works with Debian lenny perfectly, not etch . If you want a kernel based on 2.6.27 ,you could compile one by your self . This is the guide from GC-Linux

 

[fishears]

nice work snomile

 

[hojnikb]

Anyone got NTFS working on this ?
Becouse i'm trying with fuse and ntfs-3g but i'm out of luck...

to make ntfs-3g working for you , you have two choices :[*]load the FUSE module via "modprobe fuse" (which I failed on lenny)[*]directly compile the FUSE device into you linux kernelI don't know how to modprobe fuse on lenny , it seems that Wii Debian Lenny lacks of some important files, the /lib/modules/ dir is empty. So I compiled a kernel with linux kernel 2.6.32 and mikep5 patch and FUSE and TUN(for openVPN installation) .The download URL is here

Just download and replace the original one on your SDCard /bootmii/mikep5.elf or /bootmii/ppcboot.elf .You may notice this kernel image is larger than the original one (2.75MB > 2.57MB ) ,because it has FUSE and TUN inside.

Please note :
1.You must boot this kernel via bootmii ,if you boot it with Homebrew Channel , some device may won't start up ,I dunno why .
2.This kernel is based on 2.6.32 , so it works with Debian lenny perfectly, not etch . If you want a kernel based on 2.6.27 ,you could compile one by your self . This is the guide from GC-Linux

Nice, ill defenetly give it a try.NTFS is a must-have for me!

 

[hojnikb]

But first i must hexedit it to fit my needs.

 

[hojnikb]

Just tried this new kernel and NTFS WORKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great job snomile !

Which torrent client that has web ui would be best for wii ?

 

[snikerz]

Which torrent client that has web ui would be best for wii ?

Transmission ( http://www.transmissionbt.com/ ) is awesome and has an awesome web interface

 

[hojnikb]

I've already have transmission, but it seems that it doesnt have webui.Must be an old version..

 

[maurimauri29]

would it be cheeky of me to ask for a kernel with samba too?

or at least some instructions on how to compile my own kernel.
Cheers
Mauri

 

[duplo]

@snomile

If you could complie the kernel with bridge support my happiness would go to infinity, sort of.

As I understand it one have to set: "networking -> 802.1d Ethernet Bridging" to either yes or module somewhere, (I don't have a clue on how to complie linux kernels.)

I have tried to turn my Wii into a router but it seems as ethernet bridging must be enabled in the mikeP5 kernel.

 

[hojnikb]

Its great to have Wii as a Linux PC but has its limitations (eg RAM, bad gpu drivers) but it can handle torrents with transmission upto ~270KB/s (not my full net speed but it works..).
Somebody could make a nice Wii friendly GUI (based on LXDE for example) or atleaset fix that bad looking xvkbd ..

 

[tswii]

Hi all,

i just registered, followed the thread and managed to get it working up to page 15. So wii connected to a mediaplayer, but ntfs not mounted yet, after the last apt-get upgrade to less space on the sd so it's going for a reboot loop now (own mistake)

But i woundered if it is possible to create a kernel with ntfs and samba support so the ntfs partition on a mediaplayer can be reached from network to update media files. and maybe reach the wbfs partition. The ext3 partition works great

anyone who has the same ideas ?

great forum by the way.

 

[Deleted-171178]

Would it be possible to use SNEEK to get this working on boot1 fixed Wiis?

 

[hojnikb]

Somebody posted kernel with fuse module already in.Search it and it and install ntfs-3g.Then ntfs should work.

 

[snikerz]

Would it be possible to use SNEEK to get this working on boot1 fixed Wiis?

Install BootMii as IOS. Works perfectly

 

[tswii]

Somebody posted kernel with fuse module already in.Search it and it and install ntfs-3g.Then ntfs should work.

that kernel with fuse is lenny based, so i ugraded to lenny wit distro-upgrade but ran out of space.
So a new try (and hopefully no error this time) with a 8Gb SD will do it, I think. Your answer does raise questions what combination is best?

like to run a distro with ntfs support to manage my mediaplayer (iomega screenplay) remotely by ssh (1st partition) OR
use a samba share to put files on the 1st partition remotely AND
manage my WBFS (2nd partition) with wiithon from wii (uses to much memory, i think) AND
have a 3rd partition with ext3 for storage (not in use yet)

anyone with the same idea and what do you use? any suggestions anyone?

tried whiite 0.1, xwhiite (etch) no ntfs, update with mikep5 with fuse (kernel 2.6.32) but doesn't work (or do I do something wrong) updated to lenny (ran out space)
after replacing the SD>> lenny up and running Ok, throughput is variable but around 650kb/s (i thought 200kb/s was max), now apt-get upgrade and so on.

used: http://www.gc-linux.org/wiki/WL:whiite-linux#Introduction

suggestions for a purpose are welcome, so are good tips of usefull apps to run on it

 

[tswii]

Anyone got NTFS working on this ?
Becouse i'm trying with fuse and ntfs-3g but i'm out of luck...

to make ntfs-3g working for you , you have two choices :[*]load the FUSE module via "modprobe fuse" (which I failed on lenny)[*]directly compile the FUSE device into you linux kernelI don't know how to modprobe fuse on lenny , it seems that Wii Debian Lenny lacks of some important files, the /lib/modules/ dir is empty. So I compiled a kernel with linux kernel 2.6.32 and mikep5 patch and FUSE and TUN(for openVPN installation) .The download URL is here

Just download and replace the original one on your SDCard /bootmii/mikep5.elf or /bootmii/ppcboot.elf .You may notice this kernel image is larger than the original one (2.75MB > 2.57MB ) ,because it has FUSE and TUN inside.

Please note :
1.You must boot this kernel via bootmii ,if you boot it with Homebrew Channel , some device may won't start up ,I dunno why .
2.This kernel is based on 2.6.32 , so it works with Debian lenny perfectly, not etch . If you want a kernel based on 2.6.27 ,you could compile one by your self . This is the guide from GC-Linux

I'm using your kernel as ppcboot.elf but no ntfs support with lenny. Any ideas what goes wrong?
wifi does work though.
external ext3 partition can be reached

 

[hojnikb]

You need to manualy mount the disk with ntfs-3g.It doesnt detect it automaticly (atleast in my case)
Also i suggest you format your corrent sd card and install a fresh debian lenny, rather than installing etch and then upgrading.Its already compiled somewhere in gc-linux sf.net.Search for whiite 1.10.
Its best to make a startup script that automaticly mounts disk at boot.

after replacing the SD>> lenny up and running Ok, throughput is variable but around 650kb/s (i thought 200kb/s was max), now apt-get upgrade and so on.

Thats really fast, are you sure its that much ? Couse AFAIK there is a limitation in b43 driver for wifi that limits speed to ~3Mbit
The DMA engines of the 4318 core cannot be used due to the already described hardware interface (the 4318 core has no way to directly access the host memory via the SDIO interface). Thus, reception and transmission of frames must be performed through the 4318 FIFO engine which, according to the b43 developers, is only capable of offering 2-3 Mbps.

 

[tueidj]

I would believe 650kb/s; I've seen wifi do ~700kb/s in my own experiments using IOS (not linux).