PS3 Debian Install HOWTO
2008.04.08

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ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

This note describes how to install Debian on your PS3.

You can always find the latest version of this document, and some other useful
technical documents here:

  http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/people/geoff/cell/

Please send comments to <geoffrey.levand@am.sony.com>.

PS3 DEBIAN INSTALL HOWTO

1) Preparation

  - Download a debian-testing-powerpc-netinst.iso and burn it to a CD:
    (http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/).
  - Download the latest PS3 Linux Distributor's Starter Kit (PS3 LDSK) and burn
    it to a CD:
    (http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/people/geoff/cell/CELL-Linux-CL_xxxxxxxx-ADDON.iso)
  - Copy /boot/vmlinux from the PS3 LDSK CD to a USB stick or other USB mass
    storage device.
  - If not already done, from the Game OS, install the otheros.bld bootloader
    from the PS3 LDSK CD.
  - If not already done, from the Game OS, format the PS3 hard disk for the
    Other OS (i.e. assign a piece to OtherOS).

    Notes:
      o As an alternative to using the PS3 LDSK kernel, you can build a Linux
        kernel with PS3 support from sources, and copy that vmlinux to the USB
        stick.
      o A full debian-testing-powerpc-DVD ISO should work also (untested).

2) Start the Debian Installer

  - Insert both the Debian CD and the USB stick.
  - Boot into Linux. At the kboot prompt, type:

        sdd1:/vmlinux initrd=/install/powerpc/initrd.gz

    Notes:
      o kboot should have mounted the Debian CD automatically.
      o The `sdd1' may be different, depending on the USB probe order and the
        partitions on your USB stick.  Type 'cat /proc/partitions', and/or
        review the dmesg to find the correct device name.

3) Install Debian

  - Install Debian on the hard drive as you would do on any other machine.  The
    installer will complain several times about not having a kernel image
    package and a boot loader.  Just select 'yes' or 'continue' to ignore and
    continue the instalation.  A kernel with PS3 support will be installed
    manualy after the Debian install has finished.

4) Boot Debian

  - Insert the USB stick with the PS3 LDSK vmlinux kernel.
  - After reboot, boot into Debian on the hard drive by typing at the kboot
    prompt:

        sdd1:/vmlinux root=/dev/ps3da1

    Notes:
      o This assumes you installed Debian on the first partition of the
        PS3 hard drive.
      o The `sdd1' may be different, depending on the USB probe order and the
        partitions on your USB stick.  Type 'cat /proc/partitions', and/or
        review the dmesg to find the correct device name.

5) Install Linux Kernel

  - Insert the PS3 LDSK CD
  - Install the kernel from the RPM package on the PS3 LDSK CD:

        apt-get install rpm
        mount /media/cdrom0
        cd /
        rpm2cpio /media/cdrom0/target/kernel-* | cpio -iv
        depmod -av

    Notes:
      o Probably alien would work too, but alien depends on many more packages
        than plain rpm.
      o As an alternative to using the PS3 LDSK kernel RPM package, you can
        build and install a Linux kernel with PS3 support from sources.

6) Create kboot.conf

  - Create /etc/kboot.conf, so it looks like:

        default=linux
        linux='/boot/vmlinux-2.6.24 root=/dev/ps3da1'

    Notes:
      o The actual name of the kernel image may differ, depending on the
        version of the PS3 LDSK you used.
      o This assumes you installed Debian on the first partition of the
        internal hard drive

7) Install ps3-utils

  - Download the latest ps3-utils release:
    (http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/people/geoff/cell/ps3-utils/).
  - Build and install as outlined in the ps3-utils source file INSTALL.