[Cbe-oss-dev] Debian for PS3?

[Geert Uytterhoeven]

On Fri, 22 Feb 2008, Kazunori Asayama wrote:
> Geert Uytterhoeven wrote:
> > Although it's been possible to install Debian on PS3 since a long time (cfr.
> > http://www.keshi.org/moin/PS3/Debian/Live, or you could just use plain
> > debootstrap), there's no official support for PS3 in Debian yet.
> > 
> > So I downloaded debian-testing-powerpc-netinst.iso (dated 2008-02-20),
> > booted
> > it using a self-compiled kernel and /install/powerpc/initrd.gz from the ISO
> > image, and installed Debian on the PS3's hard disk without any glitches!
> > 
> > Hence what's missing?
> 
> (snip)
> 
> >   - PS3 Boot loader support
> > 
> >       o There's no PS3 bootloader (otheros.bld) in Debian, which means you
> >       have
> >  to use e.g. the one from the PS3 Linux Distributor's Starter Kit.  To
> >  include an otheros.bld, e.g. kboot should be packaged, including the
> >  infrastructure to build an otheros.bld.
> >       o Apart from this, there's no support in the installer for setting up
> >  /etc/kboot.conf.
> 
> The recent kboot can interpret yaboot.conf as well as kboot.conf,
> and Fedora uses yaboot.conf on PS3.
> IIRC, the petitboot, which is a graphical bootloader for PS3, can also
> understand yaboot.conf.

Indeed. However, changes to the installer are still needed, as Debian didn't
install an /etc/yaboot.conf because it didn't recognize the platform.

With kind regards,

Geert Uytterhoeven
Software Architect

Sony Network and Software Technology Center Europe
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