Installing YDL/VLC/MPlayer/SNES9x on PS3 [Guide Here]

General Notes:

1. The information in this guide is not my own genius creation. Information about getting linux running on the PS3 is avaliable on the internet and in this forum, but in bits and pieces spread all over the place. I thank and salute everyone whose methods I mentioned. I only take credit for putting things together in one place to make life easier for everyone.
2. There are 1001 ways of doing things in linux. I picked the simplest ways and methods to accomplish the installations. Should anyone have any suggestions, feel free to post them.
3. The assumption of this guide is that you've never used linux before.

Guide for Linux Install on the PS3:

Installing YDL on the PS3:

1) Downloading:
Download Yellow Dog Linux (5.0 PS3 version) DVD iso from one of the following mirrors. It should be under the iso folder. http://www.terrasoftsolutions.com/resources/downloads.shtml

2) Burning:
Burn the iso to a DVD-R or DVD+R using your favorite program. I used DVD Decrypter, but Alcohol 120%, Imgburn and Nero should work. No special settings are required.

3) Pre-Installation Notes:
a) I know the guide already mentions this, but it’s important so I’ll say it again, DON’T forget to backup your SAVED GAMES before formatting the PS3’s HDD. You can do that by using one of the cards supported by the PS3 (SD, MS, CF) or using an external USB HDD. USB HDDs have to be formatted as FAT32 for the PS3 to recognize them. Scroll to your Saved Data Utility in the PS3s XMB and choose Copy from the options.
b) You’ll need a USB mouse and a USB keyboard. Use simple generic ones. Fancy ones might not be detected well and cause the installation to halt.
c) YDL by default runs @ 720p resolution, even during installation. So, it’s better to install it on a PS3 that is hooked to a HDTV or a Monitor. There is a low resolution mode of install, but it requires Linux command line configuration. I don’t recommend it for novice users, and the attached guide doesn’t cover it. Perhaps you can find instructions about the text install mode through google.
d) You can use this Official illustrated Guide to help you through the specific steps of the installation: http://www.ps3news.com/forums/downlo...o=file&id=3555

4) Post-Installation Notes:
a) YDL doesn’t support the PS3’s wifi adaptor yet, so to go online, you need to use a wired Ethernet LAN
b) The official guide mentions that you need to use the command “boot-game-os” to return to the PS3’s XMB. But, another way in YDL is to go to:
Start --> Applications --> Applications --> System Tools --> Boot PS3 Game OS. (Enlightenment Session Only)



c) To go back to YDL. In the PS3’s XMB Go to
System settings --> Default OS --> choose other os and reboot the PS3.

5) Regarding Sessions:
At the log in screen, there is a Session option that allows you to pick the type of Session you want to use. The default is Enlightenment. However, I'd recommend GNOME when playing media cause it's more stable.
(Sorry couldn't screenshot the log in screen, but it's straight forward so need to anywayz)

6) Installing Repositories to get YUM running properly to install programs:
a) You are going to need the repositories in the therepos.zip. Extract the zip in your Windows. There should be 9 files. Now you need to get those files to your PS3’s YDL. You can get creative here, but the 3 easy ways are:
1) Putting them on a SD/MS/CF card. YDL detects those with ease
2) Putting them on an external USB HDD. YDL detects FAT32 and EXT3/2 Only
3) Downloading them using the YDL’s firefox
b) After picking your transfer method. Log in as root. That means in YDL’s login menu your Username should be “root” and your password is the root password you typed during installation.
c) At the bottom right corner there should be a folder icon, click it. Double Click File System from your Left. Browse to /etc/yum.repos.d and copy the 9 files there. Overwrite if necessary.



7) Hooking Up your LAN cable:
If your LAN is hooked UP during YDL boot up, it'll initialize automatically, If your LAN isn't hooked up during YDL boot up, you are going to have to activate it manually after connecting the cable.
Go to:
Start ---> Applications ---> Applications ---> System Config ---> Network
Click on Activate and Then Ok.

5) Installing VLC: (For the codes, no quotations)

a)Log in as root. That means in YDL’s login menu your Username should be “root” and your password is the root password you typed during installation.
e) At the bottom, beside the firefox icon to the left there is a black box icon called Gnome Terminal. Click it. In the Terminal type “yum update"

Note: I guess the "yum update" step is optional. Only run it if any of the programs fail to install, and if you run it, ignore the errors.

f) After the update is complete. Type “yum install videolan-client” hit Enter, during the process it will ask if "this is ok?", just type "y" and hit Enter.
g) After completion congrats! You have installed VLC

6) Post VLC installation Notes:
a) Using an Enlightenment Session, when you go into full screen, VLC will crash. To avoid this. At YDL’s login screen. Click on Session and choose GNOME. It’s more stable.
b) Once in GNOME (not as root), to launch VLC go to:
Applications ---> Sound & Video ---> Video lan client

7) Installing Mplayer: (For the codes, no quotations)
a) Log in as root. That means in YDL’s login menu your Username should be “root” and your password is the root password you typed during installation.
b) Launch Gnome Terminal. (Just like you did with VLC).
c) This time type: "yum install mplayer" hit Enter. (type "y" when prompted and hit Enter)
d) After the previous step finishes, Type "yum install mplayer-gui" hit Enter.
e) After process is complete, mplayer should be installed on your PS3.

8) Configuring, Launching and Using Mplayer:
Mplayer doesn't seem to pick the right drivers for the PS3 by default, so we are going to have to configure it.

NOTE: These configuration might not apply to everyone, I'm using a component cable, not HDMI.
a) Log in as root. Browse to /etc/mplayer and double click mplayer.conf. Make the changes shown in the pictures:
In video settings, vo=sdl
In audio settings, ao=sdl (Scroll down)



b) Once in GNOME (not as root), to launch Mplayer go to:
Applications ---> Sound & Video ---> Mplayer
c) Using Mplayer now should be easy, right click and check out the options.
d) If you pick a video and mplayer still fails to initialize, Open up a Terminal (we're still in Gnome)
Applications ---> Accessories ---> Terminal
Type: "gmplayer -vo sdl" and hit enter. I only had to do this once. After that, Mplayer caught on.

e) To go to full screen, DON'T PRESS f, Press C. just trust me. To exit, press ESC
f) For further controls, check the Mplayer site.

9) Installing SNES9x: (Super Nintendo Emulation)
a) Download the SNES9x Source Code. Extract it in windows and transfer it to your PS3. (Methods for transfer are mentioned above in the repositories section)
b) Log in as root. Launch Terminal. Type: "yum install snes9express".
c) Back in GNOME "not as root", Launch a Terminal, and browse to the snes9x folder where you placed your source code.
For example, I placed the extracted folder called "Snes" on my Desktop. And, I want to get to the snes9x subfolder.
My code would be: "cd /home/jcorso/Desktop/Snes/snes9x", where jcorso is replaced by your username.
Once There, Type “./configure && make”. if everything goes well, an executable with the name "snes9x" will be created.



d) To make life easier, I place the snes9x executable on the desktop after that.
e) Now Launch snes9express, go to:
Applications ---> Games
f) Ignore the skin error. Go to Console--->Preferences, point it to the location of the snes9x executable and the ROMs and Hit Ok.



g) Select ROMs from the ROM selector and hit Power to play.
h) To use the SIXAXIS controller, hook it up through USB (no bluetooth), go to the controller option, click on Configure Button Maps, Hit the PS button once, and configure the buttons as instructed.

 

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