PS3 using LINUX?

**:mn:** · 11-29-2005

I heard from all kinds of places That the PS3 will be using Linux...I know what linux is and everything but i dont really understand Why Its using linux....What do you guys think?
(sorry if this has been posted before i have looked but could not find any topics like this.)

PS3 Using BlueTooth

Discussing the topic of controllers at GDC Europe. Sony's leading man on developer support, George Bain, announced that the Playstation 3 console not only supports the new wireless bluetooth controllers but will also be utilizing the functionality of keyboards and mice.
No description was given about the nature of freedom developers will be able to apply with the inclusion of such PC peripherals. Though it doesn't require a rocket scientist to predict what'll be the outcome of this move. Game genres, such as 'Real Time Strategy' (RTS) and 'First Person Shooters' have long been using keyboard and mouse on the PC side. Sony making this possible out of the box on their upcoming console suggests that they realize the significance of these two genres.

Backing such accessories for developers of PS3 games also approves of Sony's stance on the open nature of things and what lately their executives like to call the company's DNA. Following are some of their attempts at aiding the open source assets.

• Working on Collada which is described as an open source toolset for developers,

• Creating a special version of Linux (an open source OS) for PS3,

• Recent comments from Phil Harrison about Sony keeping their online architecture open ended for Publishers.

Despite keyboard and mouse support will now be available for some PS3 titles. It doesn't necessarily imply the new 'boomerang' controller is useless or should be tossed out of the window.

Clearing up such fears, Bain explained that Sony would always insist that developers support the included controller in every single PS3 game. So future titles may benefit from keyboard and mouse but at the same time they will also be operable with the default PS3 controller.

This news should bring a fresh air of relief to FPS lovers all over the world. The days of whacky controls on Playstation titles are over and with such technological breakthroughs as laser mice, expect Killzone and Unreal Tournament 2007 to play exactly like their PC brethren, next year on your shiny new Playstation 3 console.

From: http://www.ps3land.com/news/article155.php

**PhantoK** · 11-29-2005

Well I´m not exactly sure if it´s official yet, but yes there is alot of talk about a Linux OS on the PS3.
Umm... Are you asking what it would gain of using Linux, or why are they using Linux instead of some other OS?

**SolidSnakeUS** · 11-29-2005

This would be very interesting, at least it isn't using Windows, which is what the competition owns

**Hunnter** · 11-29-2005

Well basically the reason behind using Linux on the PS3 is to compete against Microsoft in all areas for one
They also want the open source community to expand, what better way to do this than pop a Linux install on the HDD for PS3, sucessor to a best selling console

And that all means that when we get PS3 an install an HDD, we will be able to have an OS on our PS3s, so we could do many things OS-like on PS3 instead of having a PC...the main area where MS are practically God-like in...
MS cant install their OS on xbox360 the way people think because it would take money away from their PC side of things, unlike Sony cause they arent in the PC business in the same sense as Microsoft are.

So Sony can install Linux risk-free basically (plus its free!

)
If MS installs Windows, they will screw their own market...

And dont worry about applications, theres quite a bit being done in converting programs to Cell architecture, you'll see development tools first though, but thats always a good thing

**Lefein** · 11-29-2005

Simple, it's a free open source OS and it is a lot more secure if set up properly. It's the ideal OS for Sony's goals.

**PSKala** · 11-29-2005

Linux is a VERY secure OS, i mean no one would want Windows XP on a console

**SolidSnakeUS** · 11-29-2005

Very true, linux is very safe, that's why most servers use Linux and not MS things, mainly for safety, and also since linux is not as popular as windows, it does not have as many known hacks or bugs as windows does.

**:mn:** · 11-29-2005

Originally Posted by PhantoK

Well I´m not exactly sure if it´s official yet, but yes there is alot of talk about a Linux OS on the PS3.
Umm... Are you asking what it would gain of using Linux, or why are they using Linux instead of some other OS?

Im asking what it would gain and why not another os i mean apple would be fine aswell but i guess if sony start using linux then linux will become more populer..

edit:
i agree with you guys it is very secure!

**Hunnter** · 11-29-2005

And plus its also one of the most stable OSs out there, ive had it running for 8 weeks solid with no slow down at all

There was actually a website a friend sent to me with peoples uptimes, things like 167 days an stuff, i was like "WOW!! :O what the!" hehehe (i'll try find this again)
The only reason i stopped mines was cause i was going on holiday lol
Thats the main reason they are used for servers, the fact that they can be run almost non stop and nothing bad will happen to them, since i never turn my computer off, best to have Linux on them.
With Windows i could barely go a week or 2, and i had NO crap on my computer, i actually re-wrote and patched quite a bit of the OS to make it really secure and stable, but it still barely lasts 2 weeks..

Well Apple were in talks about porting MacOS to Cell were they not?
But apparently something happened an they just went to Intel, i think the reason was that they didnt think they could keep up with the demand for processors...
So thats the main reason why MacOS isnt ported, plus its not open source either

edit:
Found something pretty similar, but its with websites:
http://uptime.netcraft.com/up/today/top.avg.html
Look at all the OSs, barely any say Windows on them whereas most are BSD actually or something similar, and the web server as well, most are Apache cause its just a great program an very secure at that

**udontneed2know** · 11-29-2005

Cell was tested and built up with the help of Linux and may as well be the official OS of the entire Cell architecture.

Ken Kutaragi a long time ago stated the HDD's of the PS3 will come pre-loaded with the Cell ready Linux OS, so you can pretty much call it official as much as the Wireless controller is official.

Well Apple were in talks about porting MacOS to Cell were they not?
But apparently something happened an they just went to Intel, i think the reason was that they didnt think they could keep up with the demand for processors...
So thats the main reason why MacOS isnt ported, plus its not open source either

Intel paid them handsomely. Apple more then anyone is terrified of Cell because Cell uses Altivex and has many internal likenesses to the Macs POWER architecture. MacOS could be ported to the Cell architecture within a week with no optimization, but would take awhile for it to actually utilize the strengths of the Cell architecture.

**Nstriker20** · 11-29-2005

I understand when you guys say that Linux is a safer OS from it's rival windows xp. But i have never seen a Linux OS in action. I also understand that there are different variants of the Linux OS. But can someone Post up one Variant of the Linux interface. It will be well appreciated.

**Lefein** · 11-29-2005

Originally Posted by Nstriker20

I understand when you guys say that Linux is a safer OS from it's rival windows xp. But i have never seen a Linux OS in action. I also understand that there are different variants of the Linux OS. But can someone Post up one Variant of the Linux interface. It will be well appreciated.

http://www.robin.thompson99.btintern...uk/desktop.jpg

http://www.kefk.net/Linux/Desktop/Gn....0-Desktop.jpg

http://step.polymtl.ca/~coyote/pictu...top-101697.jpg

http://overclockix.octeams.com/snapshot10.jpg

http://home.mnet-online.de/joey/linux_desktop.jpg

http://dave.oc7.org/screenshots/imag...%207-22-99.jpg

There you have it, Linux.

**C64isStillTheBest** · 11-29-2005

Originally Posted by Nstriker20

I understand when you guys say that Linux is a safer OS from it's rival windows xp. But i have never seen a Linux OS in action. I also understand that there are different variants of the Linux OS. But can someone Post up one Variant of the Linux interface. It will be well appreciated.

If you have used Google then you have seen Linux in action. Google has server farms linked together to form massive supercomputers.

For starter links check http://distrowatch.com/ for all the Linux "variants", called distributions. Also try http://www.linux.org/ which also contains a great introduction to Linux.

If you are into computing then learning about Linux is a must as it is the future.

**udontneed2know** · 11-29-2005

If you've used a Cell phone or Palm Pilot or visited a website, more then likely you are staring at whats created and running on Linux. Linux is the main OS for supercomputers as well, and IBM uses it exclusively.

Theres not different varients to the Linux OS though, not the kernel, just the GUI ( ala Windows ) variations. Different GUI's all over the place for Linux, from GUI's that mimic Windows down to the Start menu button, to ones that look exactly like a MAC to those that are completely unique.

**Terarrim** · 11-29-2005

I have heard of the kernel now developed by IBM. Do you think that they will eventually release a PS3 GUI linux version? Or do you think it wont be needed as the PS3 will have its own native GUI (on chip like the PSP).

**dbakerstl** · 11-29-2005

If you want to see linux in action and not mess up your machine goto :
http://www.ubuntu.com order the FREE cd and you will get an install CD and a LIVE cd - you can just pop the live CD in your machine reboot and play with linux, it comes with many common wireless and wired network drivers, and full GUI with Open Office Suite, and web browsers, windows connectivity, media players etc. very cool and will boot on most computers I have tried.. Like I said its a LIVE OS cd soo you dont have to do anything to your machine

EDIT: Ohh yeah and you can download the LIVE or Install CD as well

SOme of my Linux server stats..
Email Server - Handles approx 52,000 messages a month:
15:38:51 up 81 days, 5:31, 2 users, load average: 0.27, 0.36, 0.40

Web Server-
14:35:00 up 81 days, 23:34, 1 user, load average: 0.03, 0.01, 0.00

we had a 4 day poweroutage 81 days ago

**:mn:** · 11-29-2005

Originally Posted by Terarrim

I have heard of the kernel now developed by IBM. Do you think that they will eventually release a PS3 GUI linux version? Or do you think it wont be needed as the PS3 will have its own native GUI (on chip like the PSP).

im not 100% sure about that,but does anyone know any places to get linux i wanna try it on my old computer as i heard it was free.

**Playstation Prince** · 11-29-2005

This is what I got from wikipedia:

IBM had quickly sent a series of improvements to the Linux developers mailing-list regarding the Cell processor, and has publicly presented a Cell based server running Linux kernel 2.6.12. [19] Since then IBM has begun to offer detailed information and tutorials for software development on Cell based systems including the PlayStation 3.

**drD** · 11-29-2005

are u guys sure sony is using a full fledged "pc like" linux operating system, or are they just using the source code to make the typical console operationg system. I think Sony is going this route for the ps3 operation system. Porting linux to work with cell is most likely for cell-based servers and workstations. Areas where linux dominate anyway.

**Nstriker20** · 11-30-2005

Lefein Thanks for the numerous post. Now i have an idea of what a Linux interface looks like. It has some similarity with windows but you can definitely see the difference between the two. I would have to say that i like the way the Linux operating system looks and i would be glad to change from this virus and spyware infected windows from microsoft in a blink of an eye.

Also i am happy that Sony is put Linux on the PS3 harddrive. I will definitely get used to linux when the PS3 comes out. it is also good that Sony is promoting The Linux OS, because more people need to know that there is a more safer OS out there other than Microsoft Windows. I know there is Mackintosh but a lot people really don't like Mackintosh including myself. So Linux is the next options. Plus its Free.

Also thank you guys that also posted answer to my question.

**Mika Mo 25** · 11-30-2005

I understand that they are making a special Linux OS for the Playstation 3, but what would you guys want the special version to have as features?

**The Chocobo Kid** · 11-30-2005

As far as I know there going to have it. just not with the on system. I think they are going to sale it by itself.

**Nstriker20** · 11-30-2005

1. Internet browser
2. Music Player
3. Ability to Play PC games (Next generation PC games)
4. Media Player
5. Instant messenger

And so on.

**Lp Chris XII** · 11-30-2005

Imagine, with Linux, you could download an instant messenger like Xfire, which tells you what games you're friends are playing, similar to what you can do with Xbox Live, except free

**drD** · 11-30-2005

isnt linux safer just because hackers and virus writers attack windows because it dominates the pc market? If the roles were reversed I would think that linux would be the more vulnerable os...