Good news for those who use Linux on their PlayStation 3s!  Yellow Dog Linux v6.1 has been released, marking the final release from Terra Soft, and the first by Fixstars. Version 6.1 an updated Firefox and OpenOffice.org, and features ps3vram functionality, enabling the use of PS3 video RAM for temporary storage or swap.

More details after the link.

PlayStation 3 owners who still don't have Yellow Dog Linux on their gaming machines might want to check out today's YDL update. The folks over at Terra Soft Solutions have just released their software on several public mirrors for downloads. Interested? Check out the full article for more info.

Yellow Dog Linux v6.0 has been released, and according to the Terra Soft website, this version will come pre-installed with future PlayStation 3 units. Could this be another link to an unannounced SKU to be released in the future? More in the full article.

Thanks to R7i1c3K for the tip!

Have you ever heard of the PlayStation 3 OS? If not, then today is your lucky day, as we have tons of information for you on it. HELIOS Software GmbH has entered into a basic agreement with Terra Soft Solutions, and has now released a free download of its modified Yellow Dog Linux (YDL) software. This one's optimized to use Sony's PlayStation 3 as a test-drive server.

So, let's get on to the matter at hand. This stripped down version of YDL provides a lightweight, overhead server environment for the PS3, while giving you a test-drive platform for the file, print, PDF and image server software of the next-gen.

The HELIOS package will come via a CD disk image, which reportedly takes a total of six minutes to install. Apart from that, it's guaranteed to give you a high performance Linux server OS complete with DHCP network settings, support for Java 1.5 and Apple Talk enhanced kernel.

To give you a rundown of what advantages you may very well expect from the HELIOS PS3 Linux installation:

• Free download from HELIOS web site
• Easy installation, ready to run in a few minutes
• Excellent Linux on PS3 documentation from HELIOS
• Dedicated server operating system with optimized performance (40% more memory available)
• Java 1.5 runtime is pre-installed
• Easy maintenance shell from CD
• HELIOS services are pre-installed as a test-drive

Anyhow, to learn more about it, we suggest you check out the Terra Soft Solution website via our Read link below, along with the video presentation.

Yes, we know, GDC 2007 is so last week already. Sorry if GameTrailers only got to getting their GDC interview with Terra Soft Solutions CEO Kai Staats up and streaming today. This interview is dedicated to the love Yellow Dog Linux has for the PS3 (or is it the other way around?).

Call it the video 411 on YDL-4-PS3. He shows off YDL running off the console, including its applications - and comparing the PS3 to some high-end IBM systems (thank goodness then IBM's part of the Cell team, right?). Yep, this inty is all about geeking out on processor specs (as we sure a few geeks here will, soon enough). Well, this is what you get when Sony wants their PS3 to push it at any cost:

Not everyone has the know-how to learn the ins and outs of the Cell processor and the powers it's got, so for those people hoping to make some new apps for the PS3, WITHOUT having to go through the drudgery of reading up on the Cell, then you're in luck.

Two companies are teaming up to make a development kit that specializes in making Cell-based applications. According to the agreement between RapidMind and Terra Soft, RapidMind will be providing an evaluation version of their RapidMind Development Platform v2.0 for distribution on Terra Soft's YDL.net Enhanced accounts.

The RapidMind Development Platform will enable users to make programs and applications for all Cell-based hardware, which not only includes Yellow Dog Linux on the PS3, but other products from big companies like IBM and Sony. In other words, what they're bringing out won't just be for making PS3 apps. Serious programmers working on things like the Blade Center graphics server or the Roadrunner supercomputer would presumably be able to use the devkit to make their own programs.

Time will tell if this little partnership will work out. We're hoping it will though, mostly because we're waiting for a budding developer to release a PS3 version of Ponies and Kittens. Hardcore baby, hardcore.

Terra Soft Solutions will host HPC Consortium's first-ever PS3 Cell processor "hack-a-thon" on January 20-26 at the company's headquarters in Loveland, Colorado.

The hack-a-what?

It's basically a week-long event where researchers from all over the planet convene to "port science and engineering applications to the Cell processor and create the initial knowledge base of Cell-optimized code." The hack-a-thon will be composed of fast-paced coding, Cell-centric software development instruction, and personal support from industry experts.

Event participants will enjoy opening day presentations, daily tutorials, assistance and even online support from support from IBM, Mercury, and RapidMind. On top of that, PS3s, Mercury and IBM Cell products will also be available on-site. The hack-a-thon also promises to offer a creative (and comfy) atmosphere, as it will be supported by home-cooked catering, a continuous flow of warm beverages, skiing, indoor/outdoor rock climbing and a hot tub after a long day and evening of coding.

Sounds just like techno-geek heaven, doesn't it?

Anyone who wants to learn about programming for the Cell processor is invited, free of charge. However, availability of slots is limited  due to the number of available Cell systems and facility accommodations. For more info, just click on the "Read" link below!

The short version. If you're too lazy to read the whole article, here's what it's about.

1. Consoles are locked so that only compatible games can run on them (and so game publishers will pay royalties to the console maker).
2. Sony's PS3 is not as locked down: it allows Linux. (But it doesn't get accelerated graphics.)
   
3. There's a growing series of Linux tutorials at IBM.com.

Spread the word and encourage new applications. Because Linux is love (IGN says it's partly why the PS3 beats the Wii).

"While the Cell BE processor has been out for a while in specialized hardware, the PS3 is the first Cell BE-based device that has been affordable and readily available. And, with Linux, anyone who wants to can program it." That's what Jonathan Bartlett of New Medio wrote at IBM.com in a rather nifty Linux tutorial / walkthrough about how to program high-performance applications on the Cell BE processor.

In simple English... But even if you're not interested in programming, you might be interested in the first half of the walkthrough because it has one of the best (short yet complete) explanations of the whole Linux-PS3 "gaming politics" that we've ever seen (hmmm... is anybody inspired to work on the QJ.NET PS3 WIKI?):

It is unusual for gaming consoles to allow foreign operating systems to be installed on them. Since consoles are usually sold at a loss, they are usually locked down to prevent games from running on them without the publisher paying royalties to the console developer. Sony decided to open up the PS3 console a little bit, and allow third-party operating systems to be installed, with the caveat that they do not get accelerated graphics.

Because of this, you can now install Linux on the PS3. You have to jump through a few hoops, but it definitely works. Terra Soft Solutions has developed Yellow Dog Linux 5 in cooperation with Sony specifically for the PS3. It even offers, uniquely among distributions so far, support for those using it on PS3. Yellow Dog Linux (also known as YDL) has been an exclusively PowerPC-based distribution since its inception, so it was not surprising that Sony contracted it to develop the next version of YDL specifically for the PS3.

Well other than "caveat" (a warning or exemption; from Latin cavere, "to take care"), that was generally easy to understand.

By the way, if you're interested, you might want to look at the Yellow Dog Linux free version that was recently released.

All those who've just got a PS3 for Christmas and are thinking of installing Fedora Core, stop! Terrasoft has released the free version of Yellow Dog Linux. While you might be wondering that Fedora Core is much more popular, I'd advise you to go with Yellow Dog Linux because it is based on Fedora Core itself. Secondly, and much more importantly, it is very much optimised for the PS3, since it's specially made for it.

So now that you know about it, how would you go about installing it on your PS3? If you're new, you can just skip over to the download and further instructions section. For all the newbies who've just learned of this, I'll give you some info which will lay down the basics for you.

To install a second operating system on your PS3, you will need the following:

• A PLAYSTATION 3 with a Hard Disk (20GB is fine).
• USB Keyboard, USB Mouse.
• A USB Storage Device.
• An ISO of the desired Linux distro.
• Sony PS3 Other OS Installer.
• OtherOS.bld file for the respective distro.
  
• Blank optical media + burner.
• Other things which will be specific to every distro.

Once you have these things ready, the next step is to format your PS3's internal hard disk and install Sony's OtherOS bootloader. Thankfully, TerraSoft also provided a nicely written install guide for everyone. I'd advise you to follow it. In case any of you run into problems, you can check out our PS3 Linux forums for help where other like-minded members will be happy to help you out.

Now for the download links to the required stuff:
Sony PS3 Other OS Installer
otheros.bld for Yellow Dog Linux ( here / here )
Yellow Dog Linux 5 ISO image ( here / here ) (3.3GB ISO!)
Install guide for Yellow Dog Linux ( here / here )

Now that you have the required stuff, the first thing you should do is go through the install guide a couple of times. In case you don't understand any step, make sure to ask in the forums for clarification. If you're not lucky enough to have a Hi-def TV yet, we do have a guide to install Yellow Dog Linux on SDTVs.

Bear in mind that our wiki is still in its infancy and as such, won't be complete. We'd love it if you might want to fill it up with how-tos, instructions, or anything else you have in mind. We will be officially launching it sometime in the near future, so if you'd wait until then, no worries. Also, thanks to mussadek from our forums for the heads-up!

View: [How-to: Yellow Dog Linux on SDTV (Thanks to sincebydarren from our forums!)]
View: [PS3 Linux forums]
Download: [Otheros.bld for Yellow Dog Linux]

Digg This? Click Here!

Eversince it has been confirmed that PS3 will be supporting Linux, the homebrew community rejoiced at the possibility of running 'brew on Sony's next-gen console. So when PS3 was launched and the Linux Addon CD (plus the OtherOS installer) was released, everybody knew that we are but just steps away from having Linux (and all that Linux represents, of course) on the PS3. And soon enough, we were able to provide PS3 users with full installation instructions for Fedora Core 5 (but take note that any PPC Linux distro can be installed) on the PS3. What everybody's been waiting for though is Yellow Dog Linux v5.0.

Yep, the latest version of Terra Soft's YDL has been confirmed for the PS3 and everybody's been on the lookout for its release. We already got details on what it's gonna offer and how it's gonna be installed. Now we're pretty sure not every PS3 user was lucky enough to have downloaded the distro (from YDL.net) last November 26 but we have here the next best thing - pictures!

Japanese site FIXSTARS has posted images of YDL v5.0 booted on a PS3. While it doesn't show much - just the welcome sign, terms of agreement, settings, and login windows - at least we can now all take a glimpse at what the hype is all about. Don't be shy, click on the thumbnails to get a better view...you just might find yourself itching for December 11 (when you can finally purchase the distro's DVD in stores) or the week of Christmas (when Install and Source ISOs can actually be downloaded via public mirrors) to go speeding by.

Click on "Full Article" to see YDL v5.0 in pictures!