Gouki has recently started a mailing list for the Ubuntu Linux cell version, “including, but not limited, to the PS3 port of Ubuntu“.

The list should be of interest to anyone interested in PSUbuntu testing or development, and will keep you updated on relevant events.

Sign up or read the archives

With the recent release of Ubuntu 7.10 the PS3-version has gone through a few architectural changes. Be aware of this if you’re planning to upgrade your Feisty installation directly:

1. Kernel flavor has changed from powerpc64-smp to cell. So if you’re upgrading directly from 7.04 to 7.10, you should run this before or after the upgrade:
$ sudo apt-get remove linux-image-powerpc64-smp linux-powerpc64-smp linux-restricted-modules-powerpc64-smp
$ sudo apt-get install linux-cell
2. Block device names have also changed from the normal /dev/sd1 to /dev/ps3d1 - so if you changed /etc/fstab to refer to hardcoded device names, you will need to adjust these for the new kernel.

Or if you prefer a clean install; wait for the PSUbuntu.com Gutsy installation instructions to be published on this site in a few days, or consult our forums!

Matt Zimmerman, chairman of the Ubuntu Technical board, posted a message regarding the future state of Ubuntu on the PowerPC architecture (the one the PS3 is running).

Beginning with Ubuntu 7.04, the PowerPC edition of Ubuntu will be reclassified as unofficial. The PowerPC software itself and supporting infrastructure will continue to be available, and supported by a community team.

So basically development on Ubuntu for the Cell architecture is up to the community now, due to a lack of funding and resources. But as Zimmerman writes:

It is possible that PowerPC will once again become a fully supported architecture in the future, if the resources needed to guarantee its quality are found. The architecture is certainly gaining large numbers of users in embedded and console devices, and there are many reasons to continue to work with the platform.

I’m sure the Ubuntu community will provide some excellent releases. And if Ubuntu keeps gaining ground among PS3-users, this might make it worth some official support again in the future.

See the Ubuntu Wiki page for arguments and the Launchpad page for a list of current team members.

IBM has posted an introduction to development on the Cell Processor, the chip running the Playstation 3. This first part of the series focuses on installing Yellow Dog Linux 5, the “official” distribution. But it also provides some interesting links for those who wish to do Linux development on the Power PC platform.