[OoZic]

This is a translated/revised tutorial to make a 40Gb vflash partition on the internal HD to install Debian on it with Graff his kernel.
Original source/guide is Godsilla (http://www.ps3-tools.de/thread.php?threadid=38957)
Copy of the German guide posted by NCDog can be found here:
http://www.ps3hax.net/showthread.php?t=22134

tools needed:

OtherOS-tools (Graf-GameOS-Tools-355.zip):
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=FSCBFO6A

Petitboot image (dtbImage.ps3.bin):
http://www.sendspace.com/file/k04pch

MFW Builder V0.2 (ps3mfw-portable_inc_tools.zip):
http://www.mediafire.com/?cni8nlp17wzazhy

Debian ps3 ISO including vflash driver (debian_ps3_netinst.iso):
http://www.cryptr.net/ps3/debian_ps3_netinst.iso

grafs kernel (graf-8e49063_2.6.38.rar):
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=40I89MD9

bootOSloader (install-bootos-pb-2.6.38-nfs-usb-as-mod-v4.pkg)
http://www.multiupload.com/FESHL02D45

lvl2-v9 (lvl2-v9.zip)
http://www.multiupload.com/IKMIHZ0OXG

Also needed: an USB stick fat(32) formatted and a working Linux distro with Graf his kernel on external usb device and a keyboard and a wired controller.

First things that have to be done: copy all graf his OtherOS-tools, and petitboot image to the USB stick. Burn the debian ISO to an empty CD Disk.

Second: build yourself a CFW with PS3MFW.



Important are the fields 1,2,3,5. Other fields can also be used if someone wishes. Note: using the spoof field to 3.60 gave me errors and interruption of the build so I disabled that one. Also note: field 4 (privacy patch) can take a long time but might be handy to block Sony spying.
Only use a CFW build with PS3MFW !! Normal CFW like Kmeaw don't have all the patches needed (patch lvl1 hypervisor).

Once you have created your CFW you can install it to your PS3.

Third: Now make a backup of your internal HD BECAUSE YOUR HD WILL BE FORMATTED IN THE PROCESS !! Do this with FTP and be sure to make a backup of your trophies directory (/home) if they are important for you. Don't backup games you have on disk yourself if you want to save yourself time and HD space.
Depending on the size of your HD and installed games/DLC's/PSN-crap this can take a long time. Took me 8 hours to backup 100Gb.

Fourth: Now the real fun is starting: We have to create the 40Gb partition on the internal HD. We need Graf his tools for this. Install the following tools at the GameOS: delete_vflash5.pkg, create_vflash5.pkg, delete_vflash7.pkg, resize_vflash.pkg, create_vflash7.pkg. Once you have the tools installed run them in this order:

1. delete_vflash5
2. delete_vflash7
3. create_vflash5
4. resize_vflash
5. create_vflash7
(Note: I had to change step 2 and 3 from the original guide to get the right partition at the debian installer.)

After every action your screen stays black for a while. Delete/create makes your PS3 reboot and you get a warning screen the system can't start. Push the PS button at the wired controller to go to the GameOS again. Nothing really serious this warning.
After step 5 your PS3 reboots and once it wants to enter the GameOS a message appears the internal HD needs to be formatted. Just do this (takes a few minutes max). Check your hard disk space once you are at the GameOS again. It is missing 43,2Gb now (500Gb drive = 465Gb original. GameOS file system takes away +/- 10% (indexing?)so drive = 422Gb. Take the new created partition from this away and you will be left with 377Gb for GameOS).

Now the following files are needed on the USB stick: dtbImage.ps3.bin, install_petitboot_on_vflash5.pkg, install_otheros_bootloader_loader.pkg and
Panic1.pkg. Install the PKG's on your PS3 at the gameOS.
Run install_petitboot_on_vflash5 to install petitboot. If petitboot is installed run install_otheros_bootloader_loader.

Here Slim users get a problem: Petitboot has problems with the Slim USB ports and freezes when you want to install or run Linux. This can be bypassed by removing the connected usb devices directly after selecting Install at the installer or the run Linux choice and re-connect them once they are needed. Run Panic1 to start petitboot. Every time you want to run Linux you have to run install_otheros_bootloader_loader and panic1.
Easier is to install a petitboot image with the correct drivers so no problems with USB at all and petitboot can be run from lvl2-v9.
Copy install-bootos-pb-2.6.38-nfs-usb-as-mod-v4.pkg and lvl2-v9.pkg to your USB stick and install both at GameOS. Now run install-bootos-pb-2.6.38-nfs-usb-as-mod-v4 and wait until it is finished with the "press X" message. Now run lvl2-v9 to start petitboot without any USB problems.

***before starting petitboot to install debian insert the burned Debian PS3 ISO disk (debian_ps3_netinst.iso) first to let it be recognized by petitboot***

This Debian image has vflash drivers included so it can recognize the created VFlash partitions.

Run the Debian installer and follow the install options until you get at the partition part. If you have followed this guide correctly you will see the last partition on your drive is the 40Gb partition (actually a little bigger, 42,9Gb or 43,2Gb as I remember). It has to be named ps3vflashg or ps3vflashf. Don't use other partitions like ps3vflashc which is also visible as the 40Gb partition!! This destroys/overwrites other partitions needed by GameOS and makes GameOS re-install the CFW leading to the removal of your created 40Gb partition because it formats the whole disk and creates the needed partitions again in this process because they are damaged. (This doesn't happen when you install a future 3.60+ CFW, unless Sony changes something important, if you are afraid your Linux gets destroyed with updating). So again: always use the last partition ps3vflashg or ps3vflashf !!
Be sure after creating the partitions all changes are written to ps3vflashg (ps3vflashf) only !!

Continue the install. This will take some time because it is a net-install (gconf2 takes a long time). Debian installer will halt at quick installer option. Skip the next few bootloader steps and choose the option to install without bootloader. Finish the install. Debian is now at your internal HD but can't be started yet. Graf his kernel with vflash drivers is needed and the kboot.conf is still missing because of the bootloader skipping.

We need to run the Linux distro with Graf his kernel from the external device now and take ownership of the new internal install to create the kboot.conf and to install the kernel:

First we need to unmount the ps3vflash (ps3vflashg1 for me)
umount /dev/ps3vflashg1

next we make a new map
mkdir /mnt/chroot

and we mount the ps3vflash again to the new map
mount /dev/ps3vflashg1 /mnt/chroot

some little assigning is needed
mount -o bind /proc /mnt/chroot/proc
mount -o bind /dev /mnt/chroot/dev

and take ownership
chroot /mnt/chroot

next we have to copy the 2 deb files from graf his kernel file to /mnt/chroot with the file manager. (If there are problems with this install and run Nautilus.)

Now from within chroot terminal execute the next command
dpkg -i *.deb
The kernel will be installed.

all we need now is the new kboot.conf. We need the uuid from the internal partition for this
ls -l /dev/disk/by-uuid
Here you can find the uuid's

Now take the kboot.conf from your external Linux distro and change the uuid with an editor to the one you got from the command before. Save this to the root of the new internal partition and you are ready Petitboot can recognize and run debian from internal now.

The original guide started to put the backup back in the very beginning after creating the partitions. But if something goes wrong you lost some hours if you need to start over again. So my advice is to put the backup back if you know for sure everything is working.

Trophies can be repaired within the recovery menu. First install openFTP or simular again and
go to /dev_hdd0/home/your user id/ and overwrite the trophy folder with the one you backed up to your PC
Turn off the ps3. Turn it back on, but instead of booting it normally, go to the Recovery Menu.
Select Rebuild Database, then the ps3 will reboot afterwards.
Check out your Trophy Collection and all of your trophies will be back

[trulyliu]

install-bootos-pb-2.6.38-nfs-usb-as-mod-v4.pkg
http://www.multiupload.com/FESHL02D45

[NCDog]

thanks for the translation of my post xD

[OoZic]

Originally Posted by NCDog thanks for the translation of my post xD

Sorry, should have given credits to you also
But I use the original guide to translate, is a little easier for me and I automatically only used that as the source.

I will add it as soon as i finish the guide today. Re-installing debian myself atm because I could not get the partition resized to install another distro. and only Debian is a little boring because it is more complicated compared to other's.

and it is a "cool" 24 degrees celsius here outside so I am not that much behind my computers (laptop/PC and PS3 that is).

thanks for the correction trulyliu !! I just saw I forgot the link. I will add it later also

Edit: 2 ext4 partitions was no success for me. Had to restart the install of debian twice and everytime it hung at 76% installing the base system. No fun spending a lot of hours without result. Went back to let debian configure the whole ps3vflashg partition again (42,3 Gb ext4, 500 Mb swap) and basesystem is installed now without any hanging. Very strange.

[Pockets69]

Great job man with images and everything, Love it, can't wait for the second part

[OoZic]

Originally Posted by Pockets69 Great job man with images and everything, Love it, can't wait for the second part

everybody can do this first part already. This part is for creating partitions and installing Debian. Next part is how to install Graf his kernel and the new kboot.conf. Not that difficult, tonight I will finish the guide

Image is from the original source

[trulyliu]

Originally Posted by OoZic Sorry, should have given credits to you also But I use the original guide to translate, is a little easier for me and I automatically only used that as the source. I will add it as soon as i finish the guide today. Re-installing debian myself atm because I could not get the partition resized to install another distro. and only Debian is a little boring because it is more complicated compared to other's. and it is a "cool" 24 degrees celsius here outside so I am not that much behind my computers (laptop/PC and PS3 that is). thanks for the correction trulyliu !! I just saw I forgot the link. I will add it later also Edit: 2 ext4 partitions was no success for me. Had to restart the install of debian twice and everytime it hung at 76% installing the base system. No fun spending a lot of hours without result. Went back to let debian configure the whole ps3vflashg partition again (42,3 Gb ext4, 500 Mb swap) and basesystem is installed now without any hanging. Very strange.

Also tried 2 ext4 partitions, successfully installed OS and Graf's kernel. but failed booting from internal vlfash, kernel complains ext4 writing errors and remount vflash partitions with RO mode. Tried 2 times, same result.

[trulyliu]

partitioned as following,
ps3vflashg1 ext4 42.3Gb
ps3vflashg2 swap 500Mb
Still get ext4 writing errors when booting with graf's kernel.

My PS3 is a slim one with 3.55 KMEAW CFW.
500Gb harddrive.

Are there any new kernels I can try?

[OoZic]

Originally Posted by trulyliu partitioned as following, ps3vflashg1 ext4 42.3Gb ps3vflashg2 swap 500Mb Still get ext4 writing errors when booting with graf's kernel. My PS3 is a slim one with 3.55 KMEAW CFW. 500Gb harddrive. Are there any new kernels I can try?

Also having troubles with the FS now. yesterday I installed it again and wasn't even able to copy Graf his kernel deb files to the new partition.
trying to remount with RW option no effect. Nautilus was able to write one file a time and after that Debian locked the drive again with Read Only. Reboot to Debian needed to copy the next. But installing kernel was not possible because of Ext4 write errors.

Installing at Ext3 now. Ext4 isn't easy to resize so I think Ext3 will work better for me anyway.
Did you check if you get a "you can't have a partition outside the disk" error or an extreme large (xxxxxTB) partition at the end of the 43Gb Disk? I have had that once yesterday.

I had it working the first time and regret a little a wanted more partitions to install Ubuntu later on and started over again. On the other hand, experimenting with the PS3's hardware and OS is more fun for me than playing a game

(still have to finish Nier, 97% trophies and only one needed for platinum )

[trulyliu]

Originally Posted by OoZic Installing at Ext3 now. Ext4 isn't easy to resize so I think Ext3 will work better for me anyway. I had it working and regret a little a wanted more partitions to install Ubuntu later on and started over again. On the other hand, experimenting with the PS3's hardware and OS is more fun for me than playing a game

Shake hands with you. I bought my PS3 slim 3 weeks ago, I have not played any games. I spent most of my spare time on playing linux on it.
Is ext3 working for you?

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk