Xbox Linux

[GutterClown]

Well, i figure the next game(s) i may want to play, will be on Xbox360, so i no longer need my Xbox, and am needing a dedicated LAN server, so i've decided to chuck Xebian, or maybe GentooX on, (or even XDSL - Xbox damn small linux :P)
just wondering, has anyone else here done such a thing, and any tips that can only be learned from first hand experiance?

having no previous experiance with Linux has been... fun...
basicly all i need to do, is FTP (or otherwise transfer, ie. USB stick etc.) raincoat (TSOP flasher) to the hdd, and run it (with a cromwell flash image)
now, i have all the programs, all the hardware mods done, and such.
(got two PCI USB bolt-on ports to fit perfectly in the faceplate)

anyone got any ideas \ tips \ n00b-bashings?

[rusky85]

I know this won't help you, but I have a 200gb HDD and always wanted to try see what linux would be like with the xbox. I generally run the EVOX M8 bios or Xexcuter 3 bios range, but never tried the cromwell bios.

Does it restrict your xbox to be just a linux box, or can you still use it to play games?

[GutterClown]

there are a few ways of doing it (WITHOUT a mod chip)
one way is to completly wipe anything Xbox from it (the way im going) another way allows you to just boot linux when you want, but still play xbox.

www.xbox-linux.org/wiki/Main_Page

[ewe2]

Let us know how you do and write it up, I'd be interested in this for when xbox's become doorstops (and therefore cheap routers) :)

[GutterClown]

will do, need to get my old man to bring his camera back...
(away up north doing....fuck knows what)

[GutterClown]

well, that was fun...


i just spent a few hours working on the transfering of files between a WinXP machine, and a Xebian (XBOX Debian) xbox, to flash the TSOP. (raincoat + cromwell flash image)
now, i can admit to knowing nothing about networking between linux and win32, but for fucks sake.... when you read a tutorial on the Xbox-Linux website that says "ftp to your xbox" and later you read the readme file, and it says to use a SSH client, it makes things hard...

im stuffed if i know how to ftp to a Xebian running xbox, but i sure couldnt get it to let me in.


so anywho, i get the files uploaded, use a remote console to use raincoat and *poof*... i find out i didnt solder two little connections properly...

dont ya hate it when hardware fucks up at 3:30 in the morning.


but apart from that, its all pretty easy, i grabed two USB ports (bolt onto a PCI slot, with cables straight to MB) shaved abit off each side, they fit perfectly. two USB, two Xbox ports looks sweet \,,/ (>.<) \,,/

i've bought a 4 port USB hub (with two male ports, to suck abit more power) incase i want to run extra junk, no problem.

...how many of you wouldnt paint an xbox if you had it apart...
i know i couldnt resist. i'll post up some photos of the thing once i cant get it booting linux properly


the only real problem i've had, was getting up, checking the xbox, pluging my USB keyboard + mouse in, finding i need to do something viz the PC, jumping back, and forgetting the keyboard + mouse :P
i swear, i've done it over 10 times... :(


once again, anyone who wants info, www.xbox-linux.com or just fucking google + "xbox linux"

[DCenT3]

Ive got gentooX on mine, was really easy to install the lot. As for networking the linux side, i am not sure how. Seemed too confusing to me. Clown: How did you set the linux up? did you stick it in the " E:/" partition? I found xbox linux runs too sluggish so i dont use it n e more but if you find out how to work the networking, post it here. Those tutorials are too confusing.

[GutterClown]

yeah, i've got a GentooX distro here, i might throw that on, how did you go about setting it up?


as for networking:
Xebian's default IP is 192.168.0.10, so you set your PC to 192.168.0.*, open your SSH client (google, or i used BitVise Tunnelier (http://www.bitvise.com/tunnelier.html))
connect to 192.168.0.10,
user = (whatever your distro's root is)in Xebian's case: root
pass = xebian (lowercase) will be different for other distros, ie. 'xbox' or 'root'
and.... yeah, thats about it. the rest should be pretty simple, follow the tutorial after that.

Note: SSH uses port 22

[wolfpac181]

Which version of the box did you have to toss linux on? newest one?
Just a little curious cause I'm prolly going to get one since the 360 will make the old guys depreciate values. I'm ok on the linux stuff, just want to line my ducks up before going for it.

[GutterClown]

i've got a 1.1 (or was it 1.0?...fucks me) if you goto System Info on your xbox dashboard, wriite down the Kernal ID\Number\whatever it is, i used a hardware identification method, buy checking some solder points for the TOSP, but most might not want to do that.

the kernal number can be referanced to find what version you have, i cant think of any sites, but try this one (www.google.com)

[stinky]

I wouldn't bother with running linux on it. Instead turn it into a home theatre box. Install XBMC as the default dashboard and set up shares on your PC where you keep all your divx's etc.

Xbox linux is a bit of a novelty but isn't really that useful as the screen res is restricted to that of a TV and the lack of RAM makes it pretty slow especially if you're running XWindows (XFree86).

However I did find some useful things for it. You could run Postfix+Amavis+Spamassassin on it and have a good virus/spam filtering email server for a home or small business.

You could use it as a proxy server for a home or small business too.

You could also run a blog/website on it if you swing that way too.

But in any of those areas if you spent the same $$$s on a second hand PC and run it on that you'd have much better results.

[GutterClown]

true, but look at it this way:

im bored. i want to fiddle with linux. i have an xbox. i dont have another computer. i wouldnt mind a little CS dedicated server. xbox-linux will run a Counter strike server.

[Directed]

Dude. You rock. Let me know how the CS server turns out, as I have an XBOX I know of that I wouldn't mind using for that. But I'm too lazy to do the research as of yet. I'll be repping you for a while to pay you for your efforts!

[DCenT3]

Basically the best xboxes to mod are version 1.0 - 1.3. If its made in belgium or hungary, it is a v1.0 or v1.1

[GutterClown]

its 1.0 and 1.1

and yeah Directed, im almost done, i've just fucked up on a few soldering points so i can flash the TSOP (sort of BIOS)
(FFS!!! im not shitting you, their small-ass little points!...)

apart from that, i -think- everything is working fine. i'm taking so long because:
No.1 im to lazy to buy MechAssault
No.2 i'm renting it out
No.3 its not available for rent in my town, but in the next town (about 30 minutes away) so i get it out, find the fuck ups, fix what i can, and rent it again.

...taking awhile...