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

 

[kennedn]

bump

 

[kennedn]

I managed to get it working

after like the 100th time, and I've uploaded a tarball of it with xfce4 desktop installed along with synaptic to easily download/install packages.

http://rapidshare.com/files/438987521/debi..._kennedn.tar.gz

Just follow the steps given in the tutorial at the start of this thred, exept skip the stuff about editing the xorg file and installing the wifi packages (still need to edit the /etc/network/interfaces file).

and use this command to untar the tarball to your sd card instead:

tar -C /media/filesystem/ -xavf debian-etch-4.0+whiite-0.1+xwhiite-0.2_kennedn.tar.gz (notice that the -xjvf command is now -xavf) this is because I (accidentally) compressed it in a slightly different format but oh well ;D no harm done.

 

[Coto]

I managed to get it working

after like the 100th time, and I've uploaded a tarball of it with xfce4 desktop installed along with synaptic to easily download/install packages.

http://rapidshare.com/files/438987521/debi..._kennedn.tar.gz

Just follow the steps given in the tutorial at the start of this thred, exept skip the stuff about editing the xorg file and installing the wifi packages (still need to edit the /etc/network/interfaces file).

and use this command to untar the tarball to your sd card instead:

tar -C /media/filesystem/ -xavf debian-etch-4.0+whiite-0.1+xwhiite-0.2_kennedn.tar.gz (notice that the -xjvf command is now -xavf) this is because I (accidentally) compressed it in a slightly different format but oh well ;D no harm done.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

This release allowed me to initialize Xorg otherwise I couldn`t install the proper hollywood libraries (Xorg frontend).

Really, I just merged this pack kennedn uploaded so nicely with 'whiite linux dol BETA installer' and everything went much better than ever! (Last night figuring things out I stayed awake up to 5AM)

Now I`m setting my WIFI settings and will start enjoying this!

 

[Circunsiso]

Hi! I am a bit confused on this but i really would love to put wifi on wiilinux. I just run xwhiite from a hdd image that's actually wilinux inside the image file. But how exactly i run it from bootmii? Can someone give me a hand explain with details on how to get it to work correctly or upload wiilinux already configured so i just have to do the network settings and get ready? Many thanks in advance!

 

[OriginalHamster]

Could you give more details for Windows users? I don't understand many of the instructions u___u

 

[OriginalHamster]

Can I make the SD partition direct with Windows?

 

[Circunsiso]

Hi! I´ve installed Ubuntu on a usb drive and made the 2 partitions with Gparted also extracted everything in the 2nd partition. Now what? I put BootMii inside the Kernel partition with the correct ppcboot.elf. But it happens that when i boot it from BootMii the words that appears just stays there. Do i have to wait longer? How long it takes to boot Xwhiite? Thanks in advance!

 

[Circunsiso]

I installed it already! Thanks for the old tutrial! But now im having trouble installing the wifi packages! Please there is someone there?

 

[bassilap]

I had a question about getting wifi to work. I have xwhiite up and running using mikep5 and and kennend's tarball (Thanks for that!!). But i'm having trouble with setting up the internet. I booted up through bootmii (selected the SD card picture, went to mikep5 elf...). But when I run ifup wlan0 or /etc/init.d/networking restart, i get an error "wlan0: ERROR while getting interface flags: No such device." Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[raiderscrusade]

I didn't read the entire thread.. but is there any videos etc showing this in action?

 

[Circunsiso]

In the package Kennend uploaded after everything is installed you only need to edit the interfaces file that is inside the filesystem partition in the folder etc,network,interfaces. But i have tried to put my SSID and my 10 digit WEP KEY but nothing. It does not connect wifi, perhaps someone could give a hint or tips about how to edit the interfaces file correctly? Hope to hear from you soon!

 

[Coto]

In the package Kennend uploaded after everything is installed you only need to edit the interfaces file that is inside the filesystem partition in the folder etc,network,interfaces. But i have tried to put my SSID and my 10 digit WEP KEY but nothing. It does not connect wifi, perhaps someone could give a hint or tips about how to edit the interfaces file correctly? Hope to hear from you soon!

You need to ASCII 2 HEX your current WEP passkey.

also, you could use quotes ('') to assing a ESSID and passkey.

Like:

//Regarding to __WEP KEY__
auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
wireless-essid 'Casa'
wireless-key '506572726f35'

Where WEP key means :

CODEASCII: Perro5
Hexa: 506572726f35

Remember, don´t put spaces between HEX codes, everything must be joined

Edit: Don´t forget to check which name was assigned to your wlan device , use iwconfig to see this.

My wii´s wifi got wlan1 instead wlan0 pointed in various tutorials, so you must change those settings in the interface file. Use nano to edit things (NANO -w [filename])

 

[bassilap]

Edit: Don´t forget to check which name was assigned to your wlan device , use iwconfig to see this.

My wii´s wifi got wlan1 instead wlan0 pointed in various tutorials

I don't know why I didn't think of that. Thank you much kind sir.
iwconfig gave me a command not found error. For some reason i had to install the wireless-tools package again. But wlan1 did the trick!

Many Thanks.

 

[Circunsiso]

The terminal only writes device not found. What could be wrong? Thanks!

 

[slc2015]

Hello,
I also followed the directions for the cube driver with no avail.
Can some one just post a working Xorg.conf so i can copy and paste without needing to download any RapidShare stuff?
Thanks,
Sam

 

[Circunsiso]

I finally get wifi to work! But i installed Marioga´s whiite lenny instead because it supports more stuff like pendrives hdd drives and also have a Gparted like partitioner!Thanks great tutorial but old for sure!

 

[C.S.I.]

Can I ask why anyone (besides a developer) would like to run linux or any other *nix environment of their Wii/PS3/Xbox360/anyotherconsole??

Isnt that what a PC is for??

For what does one hope to acheive ??

Curious......

 

[hojnikb]

Can I ask why anyone (besides a developer) would like to run linux or any other *nix environment of their Wii/PS3/Xbox360/anyotherconsole??

Isnt that what a PC is for??

For what does one hope to acheive ??

Curious......

Nope, Wii with linux can potetially have lots of uses.
You can run torrents or a small web server on it, so having linux on either theese consols isnt pointless.
Yes using Wii with linux as a PC is pointless, since you get an expensive pc with very low end hardware.

Also PS3s with linux are used by U.S. Army as a cheap Cell architecture cluster (Cell has quite a lot of FPU power).

 

[handy333]

Okay, I keep getting stuck at the install filesystem part
the download you put isn't working and the one I found isn't working

please help

 

[Thumpie Bunny Ev]

The major problem with this tutorial is that it requires you to have a linux pc to start with.

The main point with Xwhiite, is to provide a simple graphical user interface, to make things more user firendly.

But this is undermind by the fact that the tutorial instucts you to use a pre'existant linuxOS to move files from your linuxOS desktop, to the ext4 partishion of your SD card.

Technically, Whiite can be installed without the use of middleman computer. If persay, one were to use the HomebrewDownloader to download the install file to a flash card, and the tar balls to thier usb device. (Which is pretty much what i did.) Unfortunately i've no real experiance with linux side through some gui stuff. So Whiite leaves me in an unfriendly black place void of understanding or capability. Not user friendly at all.
And it's inverted cousin Xwhiite, is just as much of a problem, in that the install method is not automated like with Whiite, inspite of it being designed for ease of use on the os level.

So i'm stuck either way. >~