psubuntu.com | Ubuntu on a Playstation 3

Speed up PSUbuntu

FredTech — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:17:59 +0000

As most of you know, running Linux on a PS3 can a be rather slow experience due to the low amount of RAM available on the system. Fortunately there are ways of making things run smoother. Here are a couple of tips:

Removing Tracker

Tracker is a nice search tool, but it takes a heavy load on your CPU while indexing. If you don’t need quick desktop search, you should disable or remove it.

Disable it by going to [System > Preferences > Search and Indexing] and disable indexing and watching. Under the Performance tab you can set Indexing speed to slow, and minimize memory usage.

If you want to completely uninstall Tracker, use this command:

sudo apt-get remove tracker tracker-search-tool tracker-utils

Drop Unnecessary Processes and Services

You should also consider dropping some of the automatically started processes on the system. From [System] > [Preferences] > [Sessions] you can disable unwanted startup programs. Here’s a list of examples of session services you can safely disable:

Bluetooth Manager
Evolution Alarm Notifier
Network Manager
Power Manager
Print Queue Applet
Check for new hardware drivers
Tracker + Tracker Applet
Visual Assistance

For more information, see the PSUbuntu wiki.

Other tweaks

Consider removing the wallpaper image and use a solid black color instead.

Another option is to install the alternative desktop manager Xfce. You can either install the Xubuntu desktop on top of your existing Ubuntu installation (sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop), or download the Xubuntu installer disc for a clean install.

You may also experiment with more lightweight window managers such as openbox or fluxbox.

How do you speed up PSUbuntu? Leave your tips in the comments or forums.

Intrepid Ibex released!

FredTech — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:26:17 +0000

Today is the official release of Ubuntu 8.10 “Intrepid Ibex”, and for the first time we have a working PS3-version (alternate installation) out on the same day as the other platforms. We have updated the psubuntu.com installation instructions with a detailed walk-through. You should also check out the Intrepid Release Notes on the wiki.

Get your iso file from here: PlayStation 3 alternate install CD

Intrepid beta delayed

FredTech — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:29:50 +0000

The official beta release of Ubuntu Intrepid is coming up, but you will have to wait a little while longer for the PS3 version.

PSUbuntu (Cell) development is going well, but a kernel package naming issue prevented it from being released along with the other Ubuntu flavours. Hopefully it will be ready for the next daily build.

We’ll keep you posted on updates as the 8.10 release date approaches.

New test kernel needs testing

FredTech — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:33:33 +0000

Ubuntu-Cell developer Dan M. has applied a patch to the 2.6.25 kernel which now boots, allocates the right amount of memory and shuts the system down properly. They are hoping the Ubuntu Kernel Team will make an exception and let the updated kernel into the Intrepid repositories.

Now they need some testers to check if everything works ok.

Download the 2.6.25-2.3~danm4 deb (normal or debug mode) from here: http://ubuntu.munckfish.net/linux-ports/

More info on Ubuntu-Cell mailing list

PSUbuntu development forum thread

Get wireless on Ubuntu 7.10

FredTech — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 14:17:23 +0000

RakZer0 has posted a very detailed forum tutorial on how to solve the wireless adapter issue for any edition of PSUbuntu Hardy Heron. An excellent guide for anyone who just installed Ubuntu 7.10 on their PS3.

You will need to install the graphical bootloader petitboot, patch the kernel and convert rpm-packages, but the detailed instructions should be easy to follow.

Forum post: Wifi Tutorial Alpha 0.1

Kubuntu Intrepid on a PS3

FredTech — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:56:18 +0000

PSUbuntu Forums user miguel writes that he has made Kubuntu Intrepid (the upcoming release scheduled for october) run on his PS3. It’s said to be performing quite well (”faster than normal ubuntu”) with KDE4.1.

The process:

Use the alternate kubuntu-8.04.1 release for powerpc.

You need to manually install the latest test kernel for PSUbuntu developers.

Miguel is using petitboot.

Edit your sources.list with these repositories:

deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports/ intrepid main universe restricted multiverse

deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports/ intrepid-security universe main multiverse restricted

deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports/ intrepid-updates universe main multiverse restricted

deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports/ intrepid-proposed universe main multiverse restricted

deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports/ intrepid-backports universe main multiverse restricted

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/kubuntu-members-kde4/ubuntu intrepid main

Finally enter

sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop

in a terminal

See the forum post for more information.

New test Kernel for PSUbuntu developers

FredTech — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:25:49 +0000

Warning: This is a development build, so do not install this unless you know how to return to an older stable kernel.

Dan Munckton has released a new test kernel based on 2.6.25.7 from upstream, with some of Geoff’s Cell patches applied. You can find sources and a build for powerpc64-smp here: http://ubuntu.munckfish.net/linux-ports/

Feedback is wanted on hardware support and other issues.

More information on the build on the cell mailing list.

Fix overscan and black borders

FredTech — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:29:00 +0000

A solution has been found to the problem with black margins and monitor overscan that many PSUbuntu users experience. Using a tool called fbset you will be able to decrease the framebuffer from its current mode, tweaking your monitor to give a full view of the screen.

Note that you must be using an updated kernel (2.6.24) for fbset to work.

The PSUbuntu developers are hoping to find a way to include this at install time.

See SwiftBiscuits forum post for instructions.

Ubuntu Developers Need Your Help!

FredTech — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:03:41 +0000

The PSUbuntu developers are working hard on making Hardy Heron work on the PS3, but being a community maintained Ubuntu-port they need your help finding and fixing bugs.

If you’ve managed to upgrade to 8.04, you’ve recompiled your kernel for the PS3, and you know how Ubuntu packaging works then you can probably help out by posting any bugs and issues you encounter to the ubuntu-ps3-port launchpad page.

If you are a developer and want to take part in psubuntu development; the ubuntu cell mailing list is the place to be. To get updated on current issues, browse through the archives and check Dan Munckton’s Status Update emails.

For instant contact with developers, use the IRC channel #ubuntu-ps3.

You’ll find more information in this forum thread.

No PSUbuntu Hardy yet

FredTech — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:35:39 +0000

After yesterdays official release of Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron, many of you have tried upgrading to the newest version using the Update Manager. But based on our own efforts, and those of you who reported errors on the forum, it does not yet work. Neither does any of the recent 8.04 CD image releases, if you plan to do a clean install.

There are still quite a few serious bugs in the kernel, X and the installer that prevent Hardy from working on the PS3. The developers are working hard on eliminating the bugs, but it could still be months before we have a working solution. If you’re interested in helping out testing and debugging, consider joining the ubuntu-cell mailing list.

You can follow the bug reports here.

UPDATE: Michael S. found a way to upgrade, but it takes some serious time and effort. See comment #2 for an elaborate walkthrough.