Via his blog, marcan has made an official announcement, about his creation AsbestOS, here is what he say’s:
As most of you will probably already know, I’ve been working on a project recently which aims to run Linux on the PS3 using the PSJailbreak exploit, effectively replacing GameOS on the fly. I think it’s gotten to the point where it’s useful enough for other people to be interested, so here’s something resembling an official announcement.
AsbestOS (a mineral, and meaning “inextinguishable” in Greek) is a bootloader to run PS3 Linux without OtherOS. It runs using the USB GameOS exploit (on PS3 version 3.41) from any compatible device, and any reprogrammable devices currently running the PS3 exploit can be used as long as they have enough free internal or external storage (40kB or so) to hold the loader. It is general enough that it should be useful to boot Linux given any other GameOS exploit in the future.
Currently, it only supports netbooting a kernel and no initrd (mostly due to bootmem limitations). This is enough to run a Linux system booting from an NFS share or from USB storage media. Almost everything that works under OtherOS is working. As additional perks of running as GameOS, you also get access to a seventh SPE (needs a kernel patch to enable) and there is clearly full access to the RSX including 3D support, although we still need to learn a few details about how that works to be able to use it.
AsbestOS is a fully independent open source payload and does not contain any code from the original PSJailbreak payload or derivatives. It is licensed under the GPLv2. Compiling it does not require any SDK tools, and it includes a script to build a fully vanilla GNU toolchain for the PS3.
If you’re interested, check out the git repository. The README file contains information on how to run AsbestOS and how to set up kernels. Currently, ports exist for software USB AVRs (Arduino etc.), iPods, and the reference implementation for devices with a TI OMAP3, but anything currently running PSGroove or similar can be adapted with only a few lines of new code.
For the impatient or lazy folks, here’s a kernel that you can use. You’ll probably want to change the kernel commandline options to set up your NFS root partition. This will eventually be handled by AsbestOS, but for now, open it up in a hex editor, search for HEXEDIT_THIS, and change the commandline to suit your needs (without changing the total length, of course). Do note that this kernel does not have built-in USB support, so it can only be used for NFS booting (the USB stuff is built as a module).
You can use this filesystem as a starting point. It’s a Gentoo stage3 updated to date and with PS3-specific tools installed. Keep in mind that there’s no Portage tree included, so be sure to either emerge –sync or NFS mount your server’s Portage tree (which is what I do). At the very minimum, you’ll want to edit the following files to configure your NFS and networking settings (or to specify USB device partitions, if you want to go that route – but you need to compile your own kernel then): /etc/fstab, /etc/hosts, /etc/resolv.conf, and quite likely a few others. This filesystem includes kernel modules for the above kernel.
marcan’s blog and source
marcan on Twitter
10-19-2010
07:47 PM
YAAAAAYYY!!! :D Thank you!
10-19-2010
07:47 PM
fitst :P jk but first in posting the news at the psx-scene and before you guys =D jk
10-19-2010
07:53 PM
10-19-2010
07:57 PM
I didn't know it was posted on PSX-Scene, until after i had posted this and seen Samson's post on the other AsbestOS thread on this forum, i found out about it via marcans Twitter, i had Wordpress open since he first tweeted about it, i was busy with other stuff though:
I always properly mention my sources and PSX-Scene i mention quite a lot.
10-19-2010
08:03 PM
calm down peeps . besides , i won .. (joke) lol your getting slow greg .. and i've got a bad back.. i watched the whole video .. sound really cool but i hope he can get it running from the hdd or as a backup via open manager ,bit of a faff running the OS from a laptop and kinda defeats the idea also that payload could be too big for our little dev boards, cross them pinkys
10-19-2010
08:23 PM
guys remember dont take any posters with 10 post and below seriously lol
10-19-2010
08:37 PM
=D I'M Just kidding dude lol calm down :musicus:
10-19-2010
08:59 PM
Great job!
Hope to see more updates about this soon (and I can update my PS3 from the current 3.15 to 3.41 without fearing my computer).
10-19-2010
09:31 PM
This is great news! I think ill feel safe updating from 3.15 now, especially considering the RSX support and 7th spe.
Awesome job marcan.
10-19-2010
10:02 PM
nvm
this is awesome news! Cant wait to have full 3D graphic support in Linux on my PS3.
10-19-2010
10:04 PM
10-19-2010
10:24 PM
so to get the use of this we need a dev board that has more then 40kb memory
10-19-2010
10:32 PM
this is great, guess i might need to get a new board tho with more mem. these 32kb's are not cutting it :\. great job! keep it up! /buys creators a round of beer
10-19-2010
11:10 PM
so what board will this most likely get compiled for cant see any that have a memory of over 40kb can only find ones with 32kb
10-20-2010
12:03 AM
i know i saw one advertised on the "news" site, but i cant seem to find it now. it was like 13 bux and i believe it said 64kb. however, i think it was coming from china so i dont know if it was taken down or anything. wasnt interested but now with this coming out...gonna have to get something new :D im sure there are development boards out there a bit bigger. just havent looked around enough.
edit:
found it http://www.ps3usbjailbreak.com/
and heres a review
10-20-2010
02:12 AM
I really hope the teens 2.0++ comes into stock again soon; I ordered one when I first learned of this project.
10-20-2010
02:16 AM
AWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESOMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! LINUX KERNEL YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!! xP well done dood
10-20-2010
02:17 AM
i have a teensy ++ 2.0 will be testing this as soon as i can (in the weekend probably) seeing as my attempts last weekend failed epically!
10-20-2010
02:51 AM
This is the payload a lot of us have been waiting for
As soon as it's ready to boot from hard drive without need to mess around I will be so on with this.
I can hang off just a little longer.........
Or can I?
10-20-2010
03:01 AM
PJRC gave me the option to change my order to a Teensy 2.0 (32kb) when they oversold the 2.0++. Like an idiot, I agreed. Linux was the main reason for me to jailbreak my PS3. I really hope a 32kb payload arrives for this one day.
10-20-2010
03:40 AM
wow Marcan, this is totally awesome. THANKS!!!!!
im going to wait till i see x running on it before I jump in though
10-20-2010
03:45 AM
3D support? That means Hardware Acceleration?
At long last we will be able to play MKVs?
And XBM effin C?
10-20-2010
03:46 AM
You can get a $8 SD card adapter for the Teensy
http://www.pjrc.com/store/sd_adaptor.html
I ordered one with the plan that maybe someone will find a way of storing a hack to completely eliminate the BD drive but it may require to copy an entire game onto local (to the USB dongle) memory. Also there maybe the possibility of the PS3 Freedom device acting as a Internal hard drive via a hack.
For $8, it may be possible to also act as a normal USB drive.
So, worth a gamble for future proofing.
"I really hope a 32kb payload arrives for this one day."
The SD card adapter is in stock and I expect someone will modify the payload to use the SD memory.
10-20-2010
08:56 AM
Cool I'll be able to find Linux back on 3.41
I've got a 16kb so I'll must buy a new one
10-20-2010
02:05 PM
Is there any chance that this will work on a slim ps3? I don't know the intimates of the hack, but from watching the video it seemed like it could run on the ps3 slim.
10-20-2010
02:14 PM
Should do Klaxxon, he's not using the "otherOS" feature that the Phat models had.
10-20-2010
02:34 PM
Is there any chance to run from olimex avr-usb-stk ?? This board is with sd card reader but only 16kb flash...
10-20-2010
03:09 PM
Its nice to see some real development on the PS3. At this rate we might actually see a real Linux GUI running before next year. But lets give this guy some time to do things right, if it takes another year then so be it. The important thing here is that it opens up the PS3 as a real Linux platform and not just the crippled version PS3 users were used to due to Sony's restrictions.
Thanks for all the effort marcan.
10-20-2010
05:21 PM
if it is possible to run OtherOS by replacing gameOS in Memory wouldn't it be possible (theoretically) to load gameOS 3.50 on top of GameOS 3.41 and keep the jailbreak ability by patching the os in realtime? *just a thought*
i can see some problems here like telling gameOS 3.5 where to start in the boot process etc. but maybe someone could proove my thought or kick my ass back to hell.
10-21-2010
12:03 AM
He is obviously very excited to be releasing this to the public! he is the first to get this done. My hat goes off to him and i hope this can lead to full linux INSTALL on 3.41 ps3 internal or external hard drvie., and maybe ability to boot to AsbestOS from PS3 recovery mode.
10-21-2010
01:51 AM
Obviously. He's going to be excited.
I'm excited lol.
To unrestrict linux and bring it to slims is a huge achievement
Maybe now we will see less backup managers and see devs working towards real projects that don't involve things that can be related to piracy.
Imagine a full open sdk for Linux on the ps3 and the ability to build and test on the same machine.
Many possibilities can be seen now.
I believe THIS is where the homebrew scene will really begin.
10-21-2010
04:48 PM
this is great news, but what is the point if you have to have the linux on ur computer, u might as well run it from there
10-21-2010
04:52 PM
I am happy for the progress on the homebrew scene and this asbestos bootloader its the best thing that could happen!
10-25-2010
06:32 AM
Which dev board is used in the video?
10-25-2010
10:57 AM
he mentions its name, i can't remember now, watch the video again, anyway a teensy ++ 2.0 should run it so i don't need another board.
10-25-2010
11:57 AM
I am looking for a board with ethernet connection.