HOWTO: How to Install Linux on a Playstation 2 without Sony's Offical Linux Kit

What do you need?

• Playstation 2 (e.g. SCPH-50004 or SCPH-39004, slim PSTwo SCPH-70000 is not recommended).
• PS2 Linux Kernel with VFAT support (devfs)
• PS2 Linux Kernel without devfs
• Initial ramdisk
• Bootloader Kernelloader
• Linux distribution to install. Please download blackrhino_baseimage-1.0.tar.gz from Sourceforge Download
• USB memory stick
• Hard disc (recommended), all data will be deleted (you can also use a USB memory stick, but then you need to change the scsi device path at your own)
• Network adapter SCPH-10350 or SCPH-10281 for PS2 (recommended, required to connect the hard disc)
• USB keyboard
• TV screen and a video cable (you can use the normal PS2 video cable)
• PS2 memory card (recommended, but not required)
• A method to boot the files is required to start kloader.elf. Please choose one:
• Modchip (I don't have a modchip, but this method should work, you need to generate a system.cnf file to start kloader.elf)
• Action Replay: The ARmax media player can start kloader.elf
• Memory card exploit memory card exploit (not working with slim PSTwo)
• Memory card exploit Free McBoot (working with old slim PSTwo)

Steps:

1. Create directory "ps2linux" on a USB memory stick and copy all files here (vmlinux, vmlinux.devfs, initrd.gz and blackrhino_baseimage-1.0.tar.gz).
   
2. Start "kloader.elf" using your preferred booting method. At startup you will see the following screen. You can use the PS2 controller to navigate through the menu. The button CROSS selects a menu entry. It is also possible to use a USB keyboard and press UP and DOWN keys. You can select a menu entry by pressing RETURN.
   
   
   
3. Select kernel vmlinux.devfs. This kernel supports VFAT used on most USB memory sticks.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Select initial ramdisk (initrd). We need a small system to install Linux.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Disable "dmarelay.irx" (recommended). This is only required if you use other kernels with DMA support.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Boot Linux
   
   
   
7. Create Linux partitions on hard disc (CAUTION: all data will be deleted).
   
   • fdisk /dev/ide/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/disc
     Commands (key + return):
     "p" - Show partitions
     "d" - Delete partitions
     "n" - Create partitions
     "t" - CHange partition type
     "w" - Write data back
     "q" - Quit
     Steps:
     
     1. Show all partitions with "p".
        
     2. Delete all partitions with "d".
        
     3. Create a swap partition with "n", "p", "1", "1", "+128M".
        
     4. Change partition type with "t", "1", "82".
        
     5. Create root partition with "n", "p", "2", return, return.
        
     6. Write partition data on hard disc with "w"
        
8. Format swap partition (CAUTION: Delete all data on hard disc):
   
   • mkswap /dev/ide/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/part1
     
9. Format root partition (CAUTION: Delete all data on hard disc):
   
   • mke2fs /dev/ide/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/part2
     
10. Mount hard disc
    
    • mkdir /mnt
      
    • mount /dev/ide/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/part2 /mnt
      
11. Mount USB memory stick (read only):
    
    • mkdir /usb
      
    • mount -r /dev/scsi/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/part1 /usb
      
12. Extract Linux distribution
    
13. cd mnt
    
14. tar -xzf /usb/ps2linux/black~1.gz
    
15. There will be many messages printed showing that date is in the future.
    
16. Customize Linux installation:
    
    • vi /mnt/etc/fstab
      Commands:
      ESC - Get back to command mode.
      "i" - Insert text.
      "x" - Remove character.
      ":wq" - Save and quit.
      ":q!" - Quit and don't save.
      
      • Exchange "hda1" and "hda2". "hda1" must be swap. "hda2" must be "ext2".
        
17. Unmount and reboot:
    
    • cd /
      
    • unmount /mnt
      
    • unmount /usb
      
    • shutdown -h now
      
18. Start "kloader.elf" using your preferred booting method.
    
    
    
19. Select kernel vmlinux.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
20. Disable initrd
    
    
    
    
    
21. Change kernel parameter using USB keyboard to "crtmode=pal root=/dev/hda2 ro" or "crtmode=ntsc root=/dev/hda2 ro" (Keep your "pal" or "ntsc" setting).
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
22. Save configuration.
    
    
    
23. Boot Linux.
    
    
    
24. You can now login as "root" user and use Linux.
    
25. When you have successfully installed PS2 Linux, let me know which PS2 model (SCPH-???) you used and post it in ps2dev forum. If you have problems, you can also ask questions in this thread.