*How do I listen to mp3s?
*How do I watch DVDs in Linux?
*How do I play mpeg/divx files?
*How do I play xmame?
*How do I play other emulators?
*How do I play PS2 games in Linux?
*How do I make a native PS2 executable?
*How do I run MS Windows programs?
*How do I get Wine to work?
*How do I run SETI@home?
*Where are some places that can teach me about Linux?
*When I first turn on my PS2, my monitor goes crazy for a while. What is up with that?
*How do I know if I have a compatible monitor?
*How do I install PS2 Linux without a monitor?
*How do I run PS2 Linux off a TV?
*Ack! Command prompt! They didn't have that in windows! ;> What are some commands I can use?
*Why can't I access this file with a long name?
*Is there a way to work with more than one prompt at a time? I need to switch back and
forth between two+ directories repeatedly.
*How do I avoid typing the same line over and over?
*As a newbie, I am allergic to command prompts. How do I get to something more graphical?
*How do I install rpm's from the cd?
*So how do I mound the cd?
*How do I unmount it?
*How do I get files from my computer to the PS2?
*Er, how do I do network file sharing on the PS2 with a Windows machine?
*How do I access the Internet?
*Where is the PS2 Linux IRC chat?






*How do I listen to mp3s?
Well, you can try downloading xmms or mpg123. Many other players use x86 asm,
which won't work on the PS2.

*How do I watch DVDs in Linux?
You can't. It is disabled in the RTE. The drive is largely inaccessable while
running Linux. You have to use the regular PS2 bios browser to watch DVDs.

If you are bored, you can try mounting a usb DVD player. However, normal Linux
doesn't have much in the way of DVD programs that actually work. PS2 Linux will
have even more problems because any player optamized with x86 code will not work.
Basically, you would have to be a Linux guru to get it to work.

*How do I play mpeg/divx files?
mplayer is working, kind of. I suggest waiting a week or so for someone to make
an easy-to-use ps2 binary.
You can try smpeg at http://playstation2-linux.com/projects/cfyc, which
also requires SDL at http://playstation2-linux.com/projects/libsdl 


*How do I play xmame?
We are working on it. Just wait a bit. :> You want something that can at least
pretend to run easily/fast, right?

*How do I play other emulators?
Well, alot of emulators have x86 asm for speed reasons. Any such program (emu
or otherwise) will not work. Any C/C++ only emu meant for Linux might run,
but it could be slow.

*How do I play PS2 games in Linux?
They aren't made to work with Linux, and Linux isn't made to work with them. 
Remember, the PS2 has only 38MB ram. :P It is impossible.

*How do I make a native PS2 executable?
More info on that will be available as people mess with the kit. You can make
an ELF binary and run it off a memory card with the RTE disk. However, it will
never work alone, you need the Linux RTE disk. IOW, you can't make programs to
give to all your friends.

*How do I run MS Windows programs?
In normal Linux, you would use Wine. 

*How do I get Wine to work?
You have to do a massive re-write. :P Unfortunately, Wine depends on being
run on an x86 processor. PS2 doesn't have an x86 cpu.

*How do I run SETI@home?
SETI@home is not an opensource program. You only get to run it if the SETI@home
people make a binary for PS2 Linux. Remember, you can't use Wine to make it work.

*Where are some places that can teach me about Linux?

http://www.linuxheadquarters.com/howto/index.shtml 
http://www.linuxnewbie.org 
http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux
http://playstation2-linux.com/

*When I first turn on my PS2, my monitor goes crazy for a while. What is up with that?

Assuming that you are using a compatible monitor, that craziness is temporary.
The PS2 booting logo always is outputted in a TV formatted signal. When the PS2 
starts running the actual RTE(Run-Time Environment) you will get your standard 
monitor signal.

*How do I know if I have a compatible monitor?

Well, you can plug it in and see what happens. :> Or you can go check
against the online database http://playstation2-linux.com/sog.php

*How do I install PS2 Linux without a monitor?
http://playstation2-linux.com/files/cfyc/HOWTO_blindly_install_ps2linux.html

*How do I run PS2 Linux off a TV?
The easy way is to put the TV mode as your default. Edit the file 
/mnt/mc00/p2lboot.Opt and change: 
Display=vga 
to 
Display=ntsc 

or 
Display=pal

You also need to start x with 

startx -- -screen 0 NTSC
or
startx -- -screen 0 PAL

*Ack! Command prompt! They didn't have that in windows! ;> What are some commands I can use?

Some basic commands:
alias cat cd chmod find grep gunzip kill ls man mkdir more mv ps pwd rm su 
tail tar vi which 

Use the manual command to learn about the specific commands.
man ls would tell you about the ls command (it lists files/directories).

*Why can't I access this file with a long name?
Linux is case sensative. Be sure to get the case on ALL letters correct.
Tab is a wonderous thing. If you've typed enough of a file name to make it 
unique (so that only one file would match *) and hit tab, 
Linux will fill the rest in for you. :) It's the thing to use when installing 
stuff from RPMs. 

*Is there a way to work with more than one prompt at a time? I need to switch back and
forth between two+ directories repeatedly.

Alt+F1 to F6 are virtual consoles. For example, you can press Alt+F2 to swtich 
to virtual console 2, (aka tty2).


*How do I avoid typing the same line over and over?
Use the command line history! :> Press the up arrow to see you last command, 
press it again to see the previous previous command. Down arrow goes the other 
way. Press return to execute the command. 

To see the whole command history use the command 

history 

To execute a command from the history use 

! 

Replace  with the number of the command (eg. !34) .
Also, !! repeats the last command. 

*As a newbie, I am allergic to command prompts. How do I get to something more graphical?

You want to get into KDE, a graphical Linux interface.

Type sdr on the command prompt. Use the tab key to change columns (don't press
other buttons or you can mess up other settings). When you are on the right
column, use the arrow keys to select KDE.

Then hit q to quit, y and return to save changes. Then type startx will load KDE.

*How do I install rpm's from the cd?
Mount the 2nd linux cd and run: 
rpm -i /mnt/cdrom/scei/rpms/(whatever).rpm

However, you should install Linux with 'Everything' selected so that you get all
the needed RPMs. It is alot easier this way, and with 40GB there is pleanty of room.

*So how do I mound the cd?
You will mount in UDF mode to get long filenames.
type 
su 
to become root if you aren't and then: 
mount -t udf /dev/ps2cdvd /mnt/cdrom 

*How do I unmount it?
umount /mnt/cdrom 

*How do I get files from my computer to the PS2?
Use that network adapter! Share files over the network. :>

*Er, how do I do network file sharing on the PS2 with a Windows machine?
First, you need a shared folder/drive on your Windows machine.
My Computer->Control Panel->Network->File and Print Sharing.
Select that you want folders to be shared.
Now you have to make a specific folder(s) shared. Right click the
folder/drive icon that you want to make shared. Now click Properties.
Hit the Sharing tab, and select Share As.
Give the folder a name and password. (the password is important; leave it out
and people can get on your hd from the internet!)

You also need to know your computer's name. 
My Computer->Control Panel->Network->Identification tab

Now, on the PS2 side, on the command line type:
smbclient -L // 
That should list the shared folders.
smbclient -N ///
Then you can use: 
cd , ls, ls , get , put  

*How do I access the Internet?
If you have the network set up, you can use the text-based browser lynx.
On the command prompt type 
lynx (url)

Or, if you actually want graphics, type kfm on the command line while in kde.
Now you can type urls in the kde windows just like you can type filenames.



*Where is the PS2 Linux IRC chat?
Server: irc.openprojects.net 
Channel: #PS2Linux
Epic, an irc client that will run on the PS2, can be found at
http://playstation2-linux.com/projects/cfyc 



Enjoy the FAQ! Please redistribute it, make intelligent changes/additions etc.


BlueboyX

"Never, never suspect the dreams within the dreams of dreaming children."
~The Amazon Quartet