PS2 Linux without a Hard Disk Drive - Summary

The Playstation2 Linux kernel allows for the possibility of expanding a file system image into a ramdisk created at bootup time. This bypasses the need for the hard disk and network adapter.

However, seeing as it must use the proprietary RTE on the kit's DVD1, this is not a way of bypassing buying the kit altogether, it would simply allow you to demo some of your work on a friend's PS2 without them having to buy the kit.

So far we have investigated and successully been able to replace the large glibc with the much smaller uClibc, and replace the shell and other useful commands with the busybox, both of which are used in embedded systems work, and are designed for small file sizes, thereby using less of the PlayStation's 32Mb of RAM with the ramdisk, leaving more for sample applications to run in.

To view the files, including instructions on how to make your own boot image or to just download a pre-made boot image for your memory card visit our Download Area or click Files above.

** THIS PROJECT WILL NO LONGER BE UPDATED **

This project has been a great area as a proof-of-concept idea, and the instructions for building are no less valid, but this project has been superceded by an excellent project also on this site named PS2 Diskless Client. We strongly suggest that you use the information on that site, as it contains a script for automatically building a NoHDD image, very good instructions on how to use it, and a pre-compiled xRhino kernel perfect for use with it. All in all, quite the complete package.

Related Projects PS2 Diskless Client

Project Admins patryk tonygodar eratosthenes Developers: 4 [View Members]