Wii running Linux (better quality)

Short video of Linux booting on my Wii.

It's running Debian/Whiite 0.1a, kernel 2.6.27b-isobel-wii and xorg 7.1 (with nuvalo's cube driver), controlled by a wiimote (cwiid driver) and USB keyboard.
The kernel is bootstrapped from the homebrew channel and starts the system from SD card. X starts (running fluxbox), and Firefox runs.


Download and installation instructions here: http://www.tehskeen.com/forums/showthread.php?p=45549#post45549

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• linux
• wii
• wiimote
• debian

[gorillazhead]

First a Dreamcast, then a PS1, and now a Wii.

Linux is amazing.

[glitchhog1]

link is broken

[Qkumber1]

@noobanimations2008 Minecraft won't run on the wii, as it has an ARM (Or powerPC maybe) processor and Java is x86 only.

[TheRamboLego]

can u also turn back to wii?

[megakid39]

@noobanimations2008 Screw RAM, the Wii has a ~800MHz processor that isn't even x86. The Wii would probably just explode.

[64bitgenius1]

i have full debian on mine, lxde desktop thingy. amazing.

[noobanimations2008]

Linux on Wii?

MINECRAFT ON WII. (Lets hope the Wii doesnt crash due to RAM limitations)

[qapla100000]

@gorillazhead Linux be sexy,

[Bluedino549]

@EviousProductions Yepp, it is possible. It is even a good idea. And there is a webserver software for wii as homebrew. You could use that for not having the trouble going through the installation of a Wiinux.

But I think the homebrew doesn't know about ssh. Well, back to topic, yes, the Wii can be a good SSH-/Webserver.

[Bluedino549]

@tfgbd Lemme get my Wii, and I'll play around with this. It is not impossible but with about 64 or 96MB of RAM, things are gonna be slow... if we are lucky. Otherwise, it won't work at all. :D

[Bluedino549]

@tfgbd Well, in the end, it is the architecture that matters: PowerPC. The chip itself is rather of secondary interest to the software. The problem is that you have to find the sources of MacOnLinux or Sheepsaver as the precompiled binaries won't run for reasons like memoryaddressing, tweaks in the firmware (Obviously the Wii doesn't use the Mac's/PC's virtualizationmethods) and so on. Both M.O.L and Sheepshaver are openSource, so there's one mystery solved. Then, we need a compiler like gcc...

[tfgbd]

@Bluedino549

I doubt there is enough interest in porting Darwin so maybe something like MacOnLinux or Sheepshaver's PPC Mac virtualization would be the best bet. Has anyone ever tried this with one of the Wii distros? Is either product even compatible with the PPC used in the Wii?