Kernelloader Files

Example files for testing Linux 2.6 on PS2
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vmlinux2.6_v5.gz is a Linux kernel.

This is a proove of concept.

Change history:
Version 5
 - Fixed alignment of data in kernel (MIPS_CPU_SCACHE).
 - Use timer in CPU. Support for high resolution timers.
 - Use internal CPU timer as system time.
 - Many workarounds for R5900 CPU bugs (short loops, missing sync.l and sync.p).
 - Disable use of 64 bit register in kernel (for memcpy and memset).
 - Fixed handling of IRQ 7 (timer interrupt).
 - Added support for writing to RTC.
 - Added support for internal hard disc.
 - Added support for PS2 game pad.
 - Added code for CDVD (not working, not enabled).
Version 4
 - Support for time offsets smaller than 10ms.
 - Fixed handling of floating point registers in exception handler.
 - Fixed intruction cache invalidation.
 - Added support for reading of RTC.
 - Fixed alignment of GS packets (graphic is now working).
 - Fixed debug output on SBIOS console (ps2client).
 - Added network drivers for fat PS2 and slim PSTwo.
 - Added infrastructure for SIF locking and CDVD calls.
Version 3
 - Add USB support for slim PSTwo
Version 2
 - Add USB support for fat PS2

Kernelloader 2.4 is required. I have tested this
with the PS2 models:
- SCPH-50004/VGA
This is working with the default configuration
of kernelloader.
This may run unstable. It has support for
- graphic
- network (slim and fat PS2)
- USB.
- USB storage devices and USB keyboards are working.
- PS2 game pad
- internal hard disc in fat PS2
- RTC
- NFS root
- EXT3

Advanced Linux developers should be able
to use it.
You need files from a Linux distribution for mipsel.
Only ABI 32 will work. ABI n32 or 64 can fail because
of unsupported 64 bit multiplication instructions and
there is no support in the 32 bit kernel.

You can run it with the initrd from:
http://http.us.debian.org/debian/dists/lenny/main/installer-mipsel/current/images/malta/netboot/initrd.gz

You can use it with Debian 5.0:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/kernelloader/files/Debian%205.0/debian-lenny-mipsel-v1.tgz

You need to extract it to the root of a
USB memory stick (EXT3), hard disc (EXT3) or NFS share.

Example for NFS root:
Kernel parameter:
root=/dev/nfs nfsroot=192.168.0.1:/ps2root,tcp ip=dhcp
File /etc/exports on NFS server:
/ps2root 192.168.0.0/255.255.255.0(rw,sync,no_root_squash)

Linux applications may run unstable.
- initrd is more stable than NFS root.
- NFS root is more stable than root FS on internal hard disc.
- Root FS on internal hard disc is more stable than root FS on USB storage device.

- initrd has random application freeze bugs
  - Stopped with CTRL + c
- NFS root has out of memory problems
  - Stopped with
    ALT + SysRQ + r
    ALT + SysRQ + e
    ALT + SysRQ + i
    ALT + SysRQ + s
    ALT + SysRQ + u
    ALT + SysRQ + b
  - SysRQ is the print screen key.
  - swap device seems not to help.
- Root FS on internal hard disc and USB storage has random errors like:
  - Bus error
  - Segmentation fault
  - Illegal instruction
  - Random syntax errors in shell or perl scripts
  - ELF loader problems, symbol not found
  - Pressing TAB can terminate the current shell
  - When the erroneous program is restarted, it
    will work, has the same error or a differnt error.

- initrd is faster than hard disc.
- hard disc is faster than NFS root.
- NFS root is faster than USB storage device.

The conclusion is: NFS root is recommended.

The files are build on a Ubuntu 10.10 from CVS
with tag LINUX_2_6_V5.