|
| 1 | +# PlayStation 2 Linux kernel |
| 2 | + |
| 3 | +This Linux kernel branch implements the [o32 ABI](https://www.linux-mips.org/wiki/MIPS_ABI_History) for the Sony [PlayStation 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_2). |
| 4 | + |
| 5 | +``` |
| 6 | +# uname -mrs |
| 7 | +Linux 5.4.169+ mips |
| 8 | +# cat /proc/cpuinfo |
| 9 | +system type : Sony PlayStation 2 |
| 10 | +machine : SCPH-37000 L |
| 11 | +processor : 0 |
| 12 | +cpu model : R5900 V3.1 |
| 13 | +BogoMIPS : 291.58 |
| 14 | +wait instruction : no |
| 15 | +microsecond timers : yes |
| 16 | +tlb_entries : 48 |
| 17 | +extra interrupt vector : yes |
| 18 | +hardware watchpoint : no |
| 19 | +isa : mips1 mips3 |
| 20 | +ASEs implemented : toshiba-mmi |
| 21 | +shadow register sets : 1 |
| 22 | +kscratch registers : 0 |
| 23 | +package : 0 |
| 24 | +core : 0 |
| 25 | +VCED exceptions : not available |
| 26 | +VCEI exceptions : not available |
| 27 | +``` |
| 28 | + |
| 29 | +## Building |
| 30 | + |
| 31 | +A `mipsr5900el-unknown-linux-gnu` target GCC cross-compiler is recommended, with for example the command `make ARCH=mips CROSS_COMPILE=mipsr5900el-unknown-linux-gnu- vmlinux`. A provisional configuration is available in [arch/mips/configs/ps2_defconfig](arch/mips/configs/ps2_defconfig). |
| 32 | + |
| 33 | +The [wiki](https://github.com/frno7/linux/wiki) includes a guide on [building and installing PlayStation 2 Linux](https://github.com/frno7/linux/wiki/Building-and-installing-PlayStation-2-Linux). |
| 34 | + |
| 35 | +## Input/output processor (IOP) modules |
| 36 | + |
| 37 | +The [input/output processor (IOP)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_2_technical_specifications#I/O_processor) is a [MIPS R3000A](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R3000), or in later PlayStation 2 models a [PowerPC 405GP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerPC_400#PowerPC_405) emulating a MIPS R3000A. This processor provides a number of kernel services, for example handling of USB OHCI interrupts. These are implemented as IOP modules that the kernel loads as firmware. |
| 38 | + |
| 39 | +This kernel requires the IOP modules provided with the [iopmod](https://github.com/frno7/iopmod) repository, to be installed as kernel firmware. |
| 40 | + |
| 41 | +See also [#11](https://github.com/frno7/linux/issues/11). |
| 42 | + |
| 43 | +## Installing |
| 44 | + |
| 45 | +This kernel can be started directly from a USB flash drive, using for example uLaunchELF for the PlayStation 2. A special kernel loader is unnecessary. |
| 46 | + |
| 47 | +See also [#4](https://github.com/frno7/linux/issues/4) and [#7](https://github.com/frno7/linux/issues/7). |
| 48 | + |
| 49 | +## Limitations |
| 50 | + |
| 51 | +This PlayStation 2 Linux kernel is work in progress, and only a minimum of devices for a useful system have been ported to the latest kernel version. A much older version [2.6.35.14 kernel](https://github.com/frno7/linux/tree/ps2-v2.6.35.14) from 2010 supports more devices etc. |
| 52 | + |
| 53 | +See also [#3](https://github.com/frno7/linux/issues/3), [#5](https://github.com/frno7/linux/issues/5), [#14](https://github.com/frno7/linux/issues/14), [#15](https://github.com/frno7/linux/issues/15), [#16](https://github.com/frno7/linux/issues/16), [#18](https://github.com/frno7/linux/issues/18), [#19](https://github.com/frno7/linux/issues/19), [#21](https://github.com/frno7/linux/issues/21), [#22](https://github.com/frno7/linux/issues/22), [#23](https://github.com/frno7/linux/issues/23), [#24](https://github.com/frno7/linux/issues/24) and [#25](https://github.com/frno7/linux/issues/25). |
| 54 | + |
| 55 | +## Graphics |
| 56 | + |
| 57 | +The [Graphics Synthesizer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_2_technical_specifications#Graphics_processing_unit) device driver supports 1920x1080p (noninterlace), with either an HDMI adapter or component video, as well as common video resolutions such as 720x576p, 720x480p, 640x512i, 640x480i, etc. Console text is accelerated with hardware texturing. |
| 58 | + |
| 59 | +This kernel implements an early `printk`. The conventional `putc` prints to a serial port, that requires soldering on the PlayStation 2. This `putc` instead prints to a video frame buffer using the Graphics Synthesizer, which at the moment is fixed at the video resolution 1920x1080p for an HDMI adapter or component video. The following three lines are the first ones visible on the screen when the kernel boots: |
| 60 | + |
| 61 | +``` |
| 62 | +zimage at: 00803BE0 00BDDE8C |
| 63 | +Uncompressing Linux at load address 80010000 |
| 64 | +Now, booting the kernel... |
| 65 | +``` |
| 66 | + |
| 67 | +An experimental [Direct Rendering Manager](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_Rendering_Manager) (DRM) driver for the Graphics Synthesizer is implemented, as this is requirement for [#1](https://github.com/frno7/linux/issues/1). |
| 68 | + |
| 69 | +See also [#9](https://github.com/frno7/linux/issues/9) and [#10](https://github.com/frno7/linux/issues/10). |
| 70 | + |
| 71 | +## USB devices |
| 72 | + |
| 73 | +USB devices such as keyboards, flash drives, wifi, etc. are supported. However, due to memory limitations in the PlayStation 2 I/O Processor (IOP), some USB device drivers may need to be adjusted to work properly. |
| 74 | + |
| 75 | +See also [#2](https://github.com/frno7/linux/issues/2) and |
| 76 | +[#17](https://github.com/frno7/linux/issues/17). |
| 77 | + |
| 78 | +## Dependencies when compiling PlayStation 2 Linux programs |
| 79 | + |
| 80 | +GCC 9.1 or later is recommended. Older GCC versions can be used if commit [d728eb9085d8](https://gcc.gnu.org/git/?p=gcc.git;a=commit;h=d728eb9085d8) (MIPS: Default to --with-llsc for the R5900 Linux target as well) is applied. |
| 81 | + |
| 82 | +Glibc 2.29 or later is recommended. Older Glibc versions can be used if commit [8e3c00db16fc](https://sourceware.org/git/?p=glibc.git;a=commit;h=8e3c00db16fc) (MIPS: Use `.set mips2' to emulate LL/SC for the R5900 too) is applied. |
| 83 | + |
| 84 | +GAS 2.32 or later is optional. It has the `-mfix-r5900` option to compile generic MIPS II and MIPS III code with the appropriate workaround for the R5900 short-loop hardware bug. |
| 85 | + |
| 86 | +See also [#8](https://github.com/frno7/linux/issues/8). |
| 87 | + |
| 88 | +## PlayStation 2 Linux distributions |
| 89 | + |
| 90 | +A modern [Gentoo Linux](https://gentoo.org/) can be compiled for the R5900 and the PlayStation 2. The Gentoo [sys-devel/crossdev](https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Crossdev) package page and the [cross build environment guide](https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Cross_build_environment) explain the details involving configuring for example a Gentoo profile and a corresponding overlay. Once those simple steps have been taken the command `# crossdev -s4 -t mipsr5900el-unknown-linux-gnu` can be used to obtain an R5900 cross toolchain as well as the basis of an R5900 Gentoo root filesystem in `/usr/mipsr5900el-unknown-linux-gnu`. As the guide explains, the R5900 base system can be built from scratch using the command `# mipsr5900el-unknown-linux-gnu-emerge -uva --keep-going @system`. The root filesystem can then be used with R5900 QEMU user mode emulation for further compilations and testing, or directly in Linux on PlayStation 2 hardware. |
| 91 | + |
| 92 | +## PlayStation 2 Linux emulation |
| 93 | + |
| 94 | +[R5900 QEMU](https://github.com/frno7/qemu) can be used to emulate programs compiled for PlayStation 2 Linux. |
| 95 | + |
| 96 | +## General README |
| 97 | + |
| 98 | +Read the general [README](README) for further information on the Linux kernel. |
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