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Linux Kernel

There is a set of 7 patches available sent to the linuxppc mailing list on 08 March 2007, which have to be applied to Linux 2.6.20. If you're interested in kernel development and/or adding new features, please take a look at Linux Kernel Development.

To run linux, you need to use XeLL Bootloader available right now. To compile the kernel, you need to set up a Cross compiler toolchain (unless you already have another PowerPC Linux machine).

Prerequisites

The minimal requirements for successfully cross compiling the Linux Kernel for your Xbox are (unverified):

  • A machine running a Linux based OS (most likely your PC)
  • Sources for the Linux Kernel
  • The Xenon patch or patchset
  • Binutils (targeting the powerpc architecture)
  • GCC (targeting the powerpc architecture)

Configuring and Compiling the Kernel

  1. Get the source for the Kernel from kernel.org and unpack it.
cd /usr/src
wget http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/linux-2.6.21.tar.bz2
tar -xvjf linux-2.6.21.tar.bz2
  1. Download and apply the Xenon patch/patchset matching your kernel.
cd linux-2.6.21/
for patch in pci_ids.h.diff linux-2.6.21-xenon-cpu.diff linux-2.6.21-xenon.diff \
             linux-2.6.21-xenon-enet.diff linux-2.6.21-xenon-platform.diff \
             linux-2.6.21-xenon-sata.diff linux-2.6.21-xenon-smc.diff \
             linux-2.6.21-xenon-ugly-fb.diff linux-2.6.21-xenon-ugly-udbg.diff \
             interlace.diff ; do
        wget http://op-co.de/xbox360/2.6.21/$patch
        patch -p1 < $patch
done

  1. Configure the Kernel. You can manually fetch a configuration file from the internet (e.g. here) and type:

    make ARCH=powerpc CROSS_COMPILE=powerpc64-unknown-linux-gnu- oldconfig

    Of course, you can fine-tune your Kernel configuration to fit your needs using

    make ARCH=powerpc CROSS_COMPILE=powerpc64-unknown-linux-gnu- menuconfig

  2. Build the Kernel by typing:

    make ARCH=powerpc CROSS_COMPILE=powerpc64-unknown-linux-gnu- all

    If everything goes well, you will end up with a file arch/powerpc/boot/zImage.xenon containing the kernel which can be loaded by XeLL.

Configuring and Compiling the 2.6.38.8 Kernel (experimental)

Patches for recent kernels are available now, but considered highly experimental.

  1. Get the source for the Linux 2.6.38.8 Kernel from kernel.org and unpack it.
wget http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/linux-2.6.38.8.tar.bz2
tar -xvjf linux-2.6.38.8.tar.bz2

  1. Download and apply the experimental Xenon patch & kernel config.

    wget -O xenon_config http://sourceforge.net/projects/free60/files/Linux%20Kernel/xenon_config/download
wget -O patch-2.6.38.8-xbox0.11.1.diff http://sourceforge.net/projects/free60/files/Linux%20Kernel/v2.6.38/patch-2.6.38.8-xbox0.11.1.diff/download
cd linux-2.6.38.8/
patch -p1 < ../patch-2.6.38.8-xbox0.11.1.diff
cp ../xenon_config .config

  2. Configure the Kernel.

    make ARCH=powerpc CROSS_COMPILE=powerpc64-unknown-linux-gnu- menuconfig

  3. Build the Kernel by typing:

    make ARCH=powerpc CROSS_COMPILE=powerpc64-unknown-linux-gnu- all

If everything goes well, you will end up with a file arch/powerpc/boot/zImage.xenon containing the kernel which can be loaded by the XeLL.

Remember, these patches are Experimental!

Rootfilesystem via NFS

  1. Configure the kernel (CONFIG_CMDLINE in .config) for NFS (see NFS-Tutorial for details) to match your local setup.

    Example: 

    CONFIG_CMDLINE="root=nfs video=xenonfb console=tty0 nfsroot=192.168.1.1:/mnt/nfsroot/xbox rw ip=dhcp"
    2. Make sure that the IP Plug and Play (CONFIG_IP_PNP* in .config) options match your ip setup method.

Pre-compiled Kernels

http://home.comcast.net/~ssmurf/XeLL-Bootloader-sda2-v2.6.24.3.tar.gz (archive.org)

Category: Linux