Installing Linux on PS3

Sci-Fi Wasabi

Okay, so I'm just now getting around to installing Yellow Dog Linux 6.1 onto my Metal Gear Solid 4 80gb PS3 bundle. I downloaded the Linux ISO and it's burning to a DVD now. On my PS3, it wants me to format my Hard Drive before I can set aside a second boot partition for Yellow Dog.

Is doing so going to wipe everything off my PS3 installation? I don't want to click full format before knowing, and I'm not 100 percent clear. I figure everyone going through with this is going to want a normal, untouched PS3 partition and a second, new Linux Distro. What's my PS3 going to look like when I go through with this?

MichaelLC

You'll want to do a backup of anything you want from the PS3 first. The backup tool does a pretty complete job, but check game saves, and I think trophies are lost(?). D/L games from the PSN Store can be re-downloaded.

Honestly though, you may not want to bother, depending on your motivation for doing Linux. If you just want to give it a try, go for it. But it really sucks. I got Firefox and OpenOffice working, but it was such a pain with no Flash or other support.

edit: I should add I used an Ubuntu distro designed for PS3, but I've heard similar comments about Yellow Dog.

Clipse

MichaelLC wrote: »

You'll want to do a backup of anything you want from the PS3 first. The backup tool does a pretty complete job, but check game saves, and I think trophies are lost(?). D/L games from the PSN Store can be re-downloaded.

Honestly though, you may not want to bother, depending on your motivation for doing Linux. If you just want to give it a try, go for it. But it really sucks. I got Firefox and OpenOffice working, but it was such a pain with no Flash or other support.

edit: I should add I used an Ubuntu distro designed for PS3, but I've heard similar comments about Yellow Dog.

I'll go ahead and second the "don't bother" comment. Poor support and poor performance means it isn't worth it except possibly as a semi-neat project. The only really noteworthy reason to install linux on a PS3 is if you want to learn Cell programming.

Sci-Fi Wasabi

Hmm. I thought it'd be neat to use it as a Windows 95 emulator with Qemu. I dunno.

Black Ice

I don't think you'll lose Trophies, as those (should) be tied to your PSN account, not your hard drive. Otherwise, you could download them just like game saves, right?

On another note - as a PS3 user who has read the PS3 slim may lack only 1 feature - the ability to install Linux - I must ask, what is the appeal of running Linux? The PS3 already has a browser and other Media Sharing features; why not just use a computer?

Captain Vash

Black Ice wrote: »

I don't think you'll lose Trophies, as those (should) be tied to your PSN account, not your hard drive. Otherwise, you could download them just like game saves, right?

On another note - as a PS3 user who has read the PS3 slim may lack only 1 feature - the ability to install Linux - I must ask, what is the appeal of running Linux? The PS3 already has a browser and other Media Sharing features; why not just use a computer?

because linux has the unlimited power of community.

Zoolander

Don't do it. It's a waste of time and effort. Sony restricts you to using a single processor for Linux and the performance you get is epicly awful. I'm pretty sure a netbook has more power.

RUNN1NGMAN

Black Ice wrote: »

I don't think you'll lose Trophies, as those (should) be tied to your PSN account, not your hard drive. Otherwise, you could download them just like game saves, right?

On another note - as a PS3 user who has read the PS3 slim may lack only 1 feature - the ability to install Linux - I must ask, what is the appeal of running Linux? The PS3 already has a browser and other Media Sharing features; why not just use a computer?

The main reason was so that programmers could experiment with the CELL processor, because there weren't a lot of options out there. As a normal user there's really no advantage unless you're a hobbyist or something.

DHS Odium

Complete waste of time and energy. It's horrible.