PS3 Bootloader Install HOWTO 2011.04.14 Copyright (c) 2009 Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Copyright 2009 Sony Corporation Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License". DISCLAIMER THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS," AND COPYRIGHT HOLDERS MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, OR TITLE; THAT THE CONTENTS OF THE DOCUMENT ARE SUITABLE FOR ANY PURPOSE; NOR THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH CONTENTS WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS, TRADEMARKS OR OTHER RIGHTS. COPYRIGHT HOLDERS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY USE OF THE DOCUMENT OR THE PERFORMANCE OR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONTENTS THEREOF. TRADEMARK NOTICE "PLAYSTATION" and "PS3" are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "Cell Broadband Engine" is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Linux® is the registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the U.S. and other countries. Other company, product and service names may be registered trademarks, trademarks or service marks of others. ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT This note describes how to install an OtherOS bootloader on your PS3. You can always find the latest version of this document, and some other useful technical documents here: http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/people/geoff/cell/ Please send comments to PS3 BOOTLOADER INSTALL HOWTO 1) Firmware Update To work properly, PS3 OtherOS bootloaders, and also recent Linux kernels, require the PS3 to have PS3 System Software (Firmware) Version 2.20 or higher installed. Please use the "System Update" feature on the PS3's main menu to install a recent System Software version. More info on PS3 System Update can be found in the PS3's User Manual and at www.playstation.com. 2) Bootloader Installation Instructions Instructions from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. on how to install an OtherOS bootloader to the PS3 can be found here: http://www.playstation.com/ps3-openplatform/manual.html Use the 'Select Language' drop down to choose a convenient language. For the very first time an OtherOS bootloader is installed to the PS3, or if the bootloader is some how corrupted, the method described in those instructions must be used to install or recover. 3) Bootloader Image File The choice of bootloader is up to the user. One of those to choose from is Petitboot, with releases here: http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/people/geoff/cell/ps3-petitboot/ The file "otheros.bld" in that directory will point to the latest stable release. Use that file with the installation instructions. 4) Bootloader Update From Linux If some form of Linux and the ps3-utils package are installed and bootable, then the bootloader can be updated from Linux with this command: ps3-flash-util -w is the name of the bootloader image file. This is often named otheros.bld, but ps3-flash-util will accept any valid Linux file path and name. 5) Recovery To recover your PS3-Linux system when it hangs up or no longer boots please see the PS3 Boot Recovery HOWTO: http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/people/geoff/cell/ps3-howto/ps3-boot-recovery-howto.txt