- Download Linux on the Microsoft Xbox for free. The Xbox Linux Project aims to privide a version of GNU/Linux for the Xbox, so that it can be used as an ordinary computer. Linux should make use of all Xbox hardware and allow to install and run software from standard i386 Linux distributions.
- The USB will appear inside your Xbox dashboard. Open the USB device from your dashboard - you will notice three options – Emergency Linux, Remove Linux, Install Linux. Select Memory - select USB device. Click on the Install Linux entry and select Copy - choose Xbox hard disk (repeat this step for all three entries).
First, consider that an Xbox is no mere gaming console; it's a powerful PC. The question is, how do you get to it? The answer, of course, is with Linux. In six simple steps, you can load and run Linux to unlock all the Xbox hardware. Here's how:
How to Link Xbox One with Discord. There are two ways you can link your Discord and Xbox One accounts. You can either do it through your Xbox or using the Discord app on your smartphone or desktop. The detailed steps for both methods are listed below. Using the Xbox One. Since May of 2018, you can link your Discord and Xbox One.
- Step 1: Build a cable. Xbox controllers, called Xpads, are really just USB devices. Inside the shielded cable that connects the gaming controller to the console are the familiar four wires used in standard USB cables, plus one mysterious yellow wire rumored to be for a future addition of a lightpen. This is good news: USB memory devices, keyboards and mice will attach here with just a modified cable. If you do not want to make your own modified cable, you can also buy one from Lik-Sang.
- Step 2: Find a USB memory device. Memory cards that plug into Xbox controllers are simply USB memory devices, but with a proprietary connector. The trick is to find one that the Xbox will work with and that you can get an image on. Two such devices are Kingston's DataTraveler 32- and 256-MB, and Lexar's JumpDrive Secure 128- and 256-MB.
Next, plug your modified USB cable into the console, insert the USB memory device at the other end and power up your Xbox. The USB device will be discovered and reformatted. (It may take a minute.) At that point, it will appear under Memory Devices in the Xbox Dashboard.
- Step 3: Get a bootable image. The image you will want to download and copy to your newly formatted memory device is a 'Savegame' that can be loaded by a couple of games. It will help you to boot a rudimentary Linux OS. The one I used is the Xbox licensed game MechAssault from SourceForge.net. Download the image that matches the size of your memory device.
- Step 4: Copy the image to the Xbox. Use the Xbox Dashboard to view the contents of the USB memory stick. It should now contain three entries: Emergency Linux, Remove Linux and Install Linux. Use the usual Xbox methods to copy all three savegames on the USB memory stick to the hard drive. You will now see, and more important, be able to invoke these Savegames in the next step.
- Step 5: Run the image to start Linux. To do so, you will need the MechAssault game DVD to get Linux started. (I rented a copy from my local video store.) Insert the game and select Campaigns and Emergency Linux. You will see the Xbox restart, then a black screen with white letters scrolling through the Xbox Linux boot-up.
If you've gotten this far, a small version of Linux is running, and you can now telnet into the Xbox at its default address: 192.168.0.3. Log in as 'root' with the password xbox. Then type: xbox_tool-a. Write down this hard-disk key, which is encrypted in the EEPROM memory of the Xbox and can be used again.
Insert the MechAssault game again. Select Campaigns and then Install Linux. Once this is done, the Xbox disk is set up and the item Linux will appear in the Dashboard. Now, simply select Linux from the Dashboard to boot the minimal version of Linux.
- Step 6: Install a complete Linux distribution. The best and probably only choice for reliable operation on the Xbox is Ed's Debian. Insert the Installation disk into the Xbox drive and boot from it. A virtual keyboard will appear. When it does, type su to log in as a superuser. The system will prompt for a password; type in xbox. Now type XBOXLinuxInstall (case sensitive). Then follow the on-screen instructions to finish installation.
That's all there is to it. For more tips, check out www.xbox-linux.org.
Andy McDonough is a freelance writer based in New Jersey.
Xbox Linux was a project that ported the Linuxoperating system to the Xboxvideo game console. Because the Xbox uses a digital signature system to prevent the public from running unsigned code, one must either use a modchip, or a softmod. Originally, modchips were the only option; however, it was later demonstrated that the TSOP chip on which the Xbox's BIOS is held may be reflashed. This way, one may flash on the 'Cromwell' BIOS, which was developed legally by the Xbox Linux project. Catalyzed by a large cash prize for the first team to provide the possibility of booting Linux on an Xbox without the need of a hardware hack, numerous software-only hacks were also found. For example, a buffer overflow was found in the game 007: Agent Under Fire that allowed the booting of a Linux loader ('xbeboot') straight from a save game.
The Xbox is essentially a PC with a custom 733 MHz IntelPentium III[1] processor, a 10 GB hard drive (8 GB of which is accessible to the user), 64MB of RAM (although on all earlier boxes this is upgradable to 128MB), and 4 USB ports. (The controller ports are actually USB 1.1 ports with a modified connector.) These specifications are enough to run several readily available Linux distributions.
From the Xbox-Linux home page:
The Xbox is a legacy-free PC by Microsoft that consists of an Intel Celeron 733 MHz CPU, an nVidia GeForce 3MX, 64 MB of RAM, a 8/10 GB hard disk, a DVD drive and 10/100 Ethernet. As on every PC, you can run Linux on it.
An Xbox with Linux can be a full desktop computer with mouse and keyboard, a web/email box connected to TV, a server or router or a node in a cluster. You can either dual-boot or use Linux only; in the latter case, you can replace both IDE devices. And yes, you can connect the Xbox to a VGA monitor.
Uses[edit]
An Xbox with Linux installed can act as a full desktop computer with mouse and keyboard, a web/email box connected to a television, a server, router or a node in a cluster. One can either dual-boot or use Linux only; in the latter case, one can replace both IDE devices. One can also connect the Xbox to a VGA monitor. A converter is needed to use keyboards/mice in the controller ports; however this is not difficult, as the Xbox uses standard USB with a proprietary port.
Currently only a few distributions of Xbox Linux will run on the version 1.6 Xbox (the third newest version, including 1.6b). Xboxes with modchips and the Cromwellbios installed can run more distributions than those with only a softmod. This is mainly due to issues with the video chip used in version 1.6 Xboxes that was developed exclusively by Microsoft and which has no source code available at this time. This can cause significant overscan on all four sides of the screen when a different kernel than the original is loaded.
Softmod[edit]
One of the more popular ways of installing Xbox Linux is through a softmod, which does not require a modchip to use. The Xbox Linux softmod utilizes a save exploit found in the original run of MechAssault, Splinter Cell, 007: Agent Under Fire, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4. The method involves loading a hacked save file transferred to the Xbox's Hard Drive. When the save file is loaded, the MechInstaller is initiated. The Xbox Live option on the dashboard is replaced with the new Linux option after rebooting the system. Another softmod that can be used is the hotswap exploit which will unlock the Xbox hard drive long enough to allow one to modify it.
There is also a way to completely replace the Xbox's stock BIOS with a 'Cromwell' BIOS, which is completely legal and is solely for Linux on the Xbox. However, once the TSOP (BIOS chip) is flashed with 'Cromwell', the Xbox can no longer play Xbox games or run native Xbox executables (.xbe files, akin to .exe for Windows).
List of distributions[edit]
There are several distributions of Xbox Linux,[2] most of which are based on PC Linux distributions.
Distribution | Description |
---|---|
Xebian[3]/Ed's Debian | An Xbox Linux distribution that can install to the Xbox hard drive, or start a live session. A MythTV frontend can be run under Xebian and connect to a separate backend.[3] |
Gentoox[4] | A Gentoo-based distribution, which features the 'magic' updater, which allows users to download Xbox-specified packages and updates. |
X-DSL | A distribution based[5] on Damn Small Linux. |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Shimpi, Anand Lal (21 November 2001). 'Hardware Behind the Consoles - Part I: Microsoft's Xbox'. Anand Tech. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
- ^'Download - Xbox-Linux'. Archived from the original on March 6, 2009. Retrieved June 3, 2009.
- ^ abSmith, Stewart; Still, Michael. 'Running remote frontends'. Practical MythTV: Building a PVR and Media Center PC. Technology in Action Press.
We chose Xebian [...]
- ^Gentoox
- ^[1]Archived May 17, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
External links[edit]
- Project site on SourceForge.net
- (in German)Xbox Hacking official document