YDL 6.2 from usb thumb drive 16gb

[bobytron]

Hi everyone,
i wanted to know if it is possible to install YDL 6.2 to a usb thumb drive 16gb (without erasing and creating a partition of the HDD of my PS3).
I put the .iso files on my usb thumb drive 16gb but i am stuck in the kboot:
Tab doesn't work and when i write:
install_ps3_480i
i have
/init: eval: 1: install_ps3_480i: not found.


PS: sorry for my double post http://www.yellowdog-board.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=6527&p=32903#p32903
But i don't want to interfere in the post, if this is a problem, don't hesitate to erase me.

Thanks.

[bobytron]

Sorry to bother again but...

Is it possible to install YDl from the dvd to the usb thumb drive ?
( i mean without creating a new partition in the PS3 HDD)

Thanks.

[billb]

Looks like you're asking two different questions ... ? I'm not sure how to install FROM a USB drive, but to install from the DVD to a USB drive, theoretically you would just run the install as usual and select the USB drive during the partition setup. I haven't tried it yet, myself.

[bobytron]

Thanks billb.

Yes, i am asking 2 different questions sorry,
but as i couldn't find any response on how installing from an USB drive,
i ask for another solution.
I'll try and share my experience.
Thanks again.

[bobytron]

Well...,
i am stuck on step4: Partition Drive.
After pressing ok on Keyboard Selection, nothing shows up.

Just have:
Welcome on YDlate X hardware state object
Welcome to YDL
<Tab>/<Alt-Tab> change element <Space> Selection <F12 (i suppose everything isn't showed on my tv)

and no new window.

theoretically you would just run the install as usual and select the USB drive during the partition setup

Maybe this happens because i haven't partition my HDD but it doesn't offer the chance to select the USB drive .

Practically, it does not work

[bobytron]

After a lot of research, i found that
http://osdir.com/ml/linux.yellowdog.general/2004-06/msg00240.html

Unfortunately, i don't understand how to follow the instructions ( *newbie inside* )
How do i edit my "yaboot.conf" and what is a "fstab file" ?

Am i too motivated ?

Thanks.

[ppietro]

Unfortunately, i don't understand how to follow the instructions

Unless you have a Mac, those instructions probably aren't of any use to you. PS3's don't use OpenFirmware to boot. They have a custom Sony bootloader.

That isn't to say you can't try this - who knows - it might work. My guess is that you're going to run into the same issue with the USB drive not showing up you mentioned earlier.

Is there any reason you just can't backup your PS3 hard drive, repartition it for Linux, restore your PS3 hard drive and install Linux? It sounds like you're making this needlessly complex.

The PS3 XMB GameOS has a built-in backup and restore utility. You just need an external USB drive, formatted FAT32, that's large enough to backup your installed PS3 drive. (i.e. at least 60 gigs of space for a 60 gig, etc.)

Cheers,
Paul

P.S. Yaboot.conf is how we tell PS3s & Macs how to boot. It's a file contained in the /etc directory with bootloader instructions. fstab is another file in the /etc directory that describes how to access the partitions Linux knows about. It's a list of all of the available hard drive partitions and their directory "mount points" - i.e. where each partition maps to in the Linux directory tree. Your best bet is to Google both of these terms and do a litttle research on your own - there's too much to simply explain here.

[bobytron]

It sounds like you're making this needlessly complex.

Guilty as charged !

Is there any reason you just can't backup your PS3 hard drive

No

I wanted to put YDL on a USB drive only because i had one and i saw it was possible...
Isn't it good enough ?

Just for the record, i also found that post:
http://lists.terrasoftsolutions.com/pipermail/yellowdog-general/2008-August/022119.html

Anyway, thanks ppietro for the answer and for opening my eyes on my needlessly complex attitude

Cheers.

[ppietro]

I wanted to put YDL on a USB drive only because i had one and i saw it was possible...
Isn't it good enough ?

Well - yeah - that's actually a great reason to do something. It's how we find out new things in Linux.

The reason I asked is that some folks do have extenuating circumstances. For example, you might have installed a large PS3 drive, downloaded a bunch of games to it, and realized you didn't have the capacity to backup/partition/restore it for a Linux install. Or, perhaps, you had installed Ubuntu on your PS3 and were looking to double boot. billb does this with YDL & Fedora - YDL on the internal, Fedora on the USB. And - of course - many folks with broken blu-ray drives are very curious about installing from USB drives.

For these types of issues, I might have better workarounds. We've dealt with many of them in the past.

Just for the record, i also found that post:
http://lists.terrasoftsolutions.com/pipermail/yellowdog-general/2008-August/022119.html

That procedure seems reasonable to me.

Anyway, thanks ppietro for the answer and for opening my eyes on my needlessly complex attitude

Sorry - wasn't trying to be snarky. I usually apply Occam's Razor to any software issue.

Cheers,
Paul

[bobytron]

I didn't know "Occam's Razor"... but i guess you figured that out

Sorry - wasn't trying to be snarky.

No harm done, me neither btw.
But i am kind of stubborn, i definitely want to try an installation on a USB drive.
(i don't want to buy a new ext HDD just for backing up).

Just for the record, i also found that post:
http://lists.terrasoftsolutions.com/pip ... 22119.html

To try this solution,
do i have to type the text in an alternate console ?
Or is it more difficult that it seems ?
If so, what is this sign in step 8 between fin. and cpio ?

find . | cpio -o -H newc > ../initrd_mod

Just for the record (again), i also found another post that might interest some users ( iPod installation)
http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8903

Sorry to be so stubborn.
Thanks.

[ppietro]

Just for the record, i also found that post:
http://lists.terrasoftsolutions.com/pip ... 22119.html

To try this solution,
do i have to type the text in an alternate console ?

Yes - Linux has about 6 text consoles. You use the Alt key + Function key to access them. If you're in the GUI, you use Ctrl+Alt+Fn key to switch to text.

Or is it more difficult that it seems ?
If so, what is this sign in step 8 between fin. and cpio ?

find . | cpio -o -H newc > ../initrd_mod

That's what we in Unix call a pipe symbol. It's on your keyboard somewhere - it's the vertical line. You know - |

Just for the record (again), i also found another post that might interest some users ( iPod installation)
http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8903

A number of strikes against this. The article deals with using a Firewire ipod - won't be too helpful on a PS3, since it doesn't have Firewire . Also - again - it's for Macs - which means it might work on PS3 - but I can't guarantee it. And finally - it's for YDL 4.1 - which in software years was eons ago.

Practically speaking, YDL versions prior to 6 were based on Red Hat/Fedora. Now, YDL is based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (via CentOS) which is almost a completely different animal. We've had to re-learn a lot of stuff the "Enterprise" way.

Cheers,
Paul

[bobytron]

Thanks for your precious support and patience Paul.

I'll try the console trick and share my experience.

Cheers.

[bobytron]

Not so much to say...
stuck in step 5....

sh: hence: command not found

I guess i am gonna have to find something else

[ppietro]

Not so much to say...
stuck in step 5....

sh: hence: command not found

I guess i am gonna have to find something else

Ummm - yeah - hence isn't a command.

He's just saying "thus" /dev/sda1 - which would be the first partition on /dev/sda

Cheers,
Paul

[bobytron]

Can't hide myself anymore, my native language is french... désolé.

Anyway, the answer is not really much better.
sh: /dev/sdd1 : Permission denied

(sdd1 as my PS3 is 60GB).

Still not good