Set up your PS3 to run Linux

You will not be erasing anything from your PS3s native operating system (XMB), but you need to let go of some 10GB of disk space.

What you need

• A USB keyboard (and preferrably mouse) attached to the PS3. Wireless keyboards usually works fine.
• A CD (or DVD) to burn the Ubuntu OS to.
• A USB flash drive, memory card or portable hard disk supporting the FAT32 file system. (This is optional if you are using an ISO that has "ps3" in the filename like the one in these instructions.)

The first thing you need to do is to format the PS3s hard disk to make room for a second operating system (called Other OS). Before formatting you might want to backup your saved data.

• Go to [Settings] > [System Settings] > [Format Utility]. Choosing [Yes] here will not format everything, it will take you to the next screen.
• Choose [Custom] and [Allot 10GB to the Other OS].
• Choose [Quick Format] and confirm.
• When the format is completed, press X to restart the system. If the restart does not work you may need to throw the physical power switch on the back of the PS3.

If you are going to use an ISO such as the one in step two (Ubuntu Playstation 3 Desktop PC iso file∞), you can skip this next step, the otheros.bld file specified here is already loaded onto the ISO in the proper place and all you need to do is burn that and use it for both of these steps! If you are playing around with an standard ISO, you will need to do this.

• Download this otheros.bld file∞ and put it on a USB stick or burned media using the path /PS3/OTHEROS/otheros.bld

(make a folder at the root of the media called PS3, then create a folder inside it called OTHEROS. Place the downloaded otheros.bld file inside the OTHEROS folder)

• Insert the disk into the PS3.
• Go to [Settings] > [System Settings] > [Install Other OS].
• When you see the screen with Title and Location of the otheros.bld file, press [Start] (X) to install the kboot loader.
• When the installation completes follow the instructions on the screen telling you to go to [Settings] > [System Settings] > [Default System] and set it to [Other OS]. (NOTE: to get back to the PS3 instead of Other OS you need to use boot-game-os at the kboot prompt.)

Go on to step two, installing Ubuntu on the PS3.