Gentoo PPC64 PS3 LiveCD is in BETA

I’m pleased to announce that a BETA LiveCD for PS3s and PowerMacs is making it’s way onto the Gentoo mirrors as I write this. The LiveCD can be found on the mirrors in the ppc64 experimental section. You can check out a screenshot from the LiveCD at:

http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/base/ppc64/ps3/beta.jpg

The LiveCD works on PS3s and G5 Apple PowerMacs. It contains a full Gnome desktop as well as:

  • Firefox-2x (Bon Echo)
  • Audacious
  • Xchat
  • Gaim
  • Evolution
  • Gimp-2

Among other things, we plan to add Thunderbird in the near future.

Please feel free to download and test the LiveCD; however, do not, under any circumstances, report bugs via Gentoo’s official bugzilla mechanism. I’d prefer join us on #gentoo-ppc64 to report feedback.

Note to PS3 Users

The LiveCD contains a kboot.conf file which should allow you to boot the LiveCD. Choose the label that most closely matches your TV’s resolution. This is an area where we plan to put some future enhancements.

Sound

Sound should be functional on the LiveCD. You need to unmute the master channel with the alsa-mixer application.

I would like to thank each of the following for their participation in the LiveCD creation: lu_zero, mtb, nickthecook, deadfall, wolf3l02, and mmschnei. Sorry if I missed anyone.

Merry Christmas,

Ranger

15 thoughts on “Gentoo PPC64 PS3 LiveCD is in BETA”

  1. A quick note on using the livecd with a PS3…

    Currently it supports 480i, 576i, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p.

    To use the livecd install otheros.self and otheros.bld from the game OS as if you were going to install linux.

    Set the PS3 to boot “other os” and reboot. When you get to the kboot prompt type gentoo(+ your desired resolution), for example:

    gentoo1080i

    To return your PS3 back to the game os type boot-game-os either from kboot or from within Gentoo

  2. kboot is automatially picking up YDL from the harddisk that I already installed. How to force it to use the cd ?

  3. I created a CD image, rebooted to Linux
    and typed gentoo720p at the kboot
    prompt. Nothing happens. The PS3 proceeded
    to load YDL. Do I need a DVD image instead ?
    Or did I miss a step ?

  4. If kboot continues to pickup the kboot.conf file on your hard-drive, you have 3 options.

    1. You can simply rename the kboot.conf file on the hard to something else.

    2. You can drop to a kboot shell, mount the cd, and copy the kboot.conf into the ramdisk. Like so:

    mount /dev/sr0 /tmp
    cp tmp/etc/kboot.conf /etc/kboot.conf
    umount /tmp
    kboot

    3. You can drop to a kboot shell and edit the /etc/kboot.conf file directy. Take a look at the kboot.conf file on the cdrom to get an idea of what belongs in there.

    This would be an interesting thread to kepp pulling as many of my testers didn’t run into this “kboot collision.” If you guys want to drop onto #gentoo-ppc64 we can probably probe things a bit and sort this out.

    Thanks for the feedback and trying the livecd.

  5. I tried chatzilla aswell as mirc. The freenode servers are dead. which server are you folks using ?

  6. I like it ! How do I mount the current
    HD so that I can still use it ?

    Also what will happen if I eject the
    CDROM ? The gentoo user does not have
    the right to do so. What is the default
    root password anyway ?

  7. You should be able to mount the internal hd like you would with any other linux. mount /dev/sdaX /tmp or where ever you like.

    I have not tried to eject the cdrom. It likely won’t let you or will be catastrophic since it needs the cd to run (livecd). The root password is scrambled. You can CTRL-ALT-F1 to drop to a command-line where you are ‘root.’ You can then set the passord there with the ‘passwd’ command. CTRL-ALT-F7 to return to the GUI.

  8. i tried to install freespire linux on my ps3. To make a long story short, I cannot get past the kboot prompt, Ive been on several different forums and none was able to help me. I’ve tried install installtext run load, please help me.

  9. I was wondering if there is a way to install Gentoo using the LiveCD. I have tried many guides and none successful. This would really be helpful. FYI: I’m Linux Alliterate, so it would have to be (a monkey could do it) simple.

Comments are closed.