Xbox Linux: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Linux distribution for Xbox consoles}}

{{multiple issues|

{{how-to|date=July 2018}}

{{Original research|date=September 2007}}

{{notability|date=December 2023}}}}

[[Image:XBox and TV setup with linux running.JPG|thumb|Xbox Linux booting]]

'''Xbox Linux''' was a project that ported the [[Linux]] [[operating system]] to the [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] [[video game console]]. Because the Xbox uses a [[digital signature]] system to prevent the public from running [[unsigned code]], one must either use a [[modchip]], or a [[softmod]]. Originally, modchips were the only option; however, it was later demonstrated that the [[Thin small- outline package|TSOP]] chip on which the Xbox's [[BIOS]] is held may be reflashed. This way, one may flash on the "[[Cromwell (computing)|Cromwell]]" BIOS, which was developed legally by the Xbox Linux project. Catalyzed by a large cash prize for the first team to provide the possibility of booting Linux on an Xbox without the need of a hardware hack, numerous software-only hacks were also found. For example, a [[buffer overflow]] was found in the game ''[[007: Agent Under Fire]]'' that allowed the [[boot loader|booting]] of a Linux loader ("xbeboot") straight from a save game.

The Xbox is essentially a [[personal computer|PC]] with a custom 733&nbsp;MHz [[Intel Corporation|Intel]] [[Pentium III#Coppermine|Pentium III]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Shimpi|first=Anand Lal|title=Hardware Behind the Consoles - Part I: Microsoft's Xbox|url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/853/2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513070021/http://www.anandtech.com/show/853/2|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 13, 2010|publisher=[[Anand Tech]]|date=21 November 2001|accessdateaccess-date=21 February 2013}}</ref> processor, a 10 GB [[hard disk drive|hard drive]] (8 GB of which is accessible to the user), 64MB of [[Random -access memory|RAM]] (although on all earlier boxes this is upgradable to 128MB), and 4 [[Universal Serial Bus|USB]] ports. (The controller ports are actually USB 1.1 ports with a modified connector.) These specifications are enough to run several readily available Linux distributions.

From the Xbox-Linux home page:

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[[Image:Linux Booting on Xbox screenshot.JPG|thumb|Xebian Booting]]

An Xbox with [[Linux]] installed can act as a full desktop computer with [[MouseComputer (computing)mouse|mouse]] and [[Computer keyboard|keyboard]], a web/email box connected to a television, a server, router or a node in a cluster. One can either [[dual-boot]] or use Linux only; in the latter case, one can replace both [[AdvancedParallel Technology AttachmentATA|IDE]] devices. One can also connect the Xbox to a [[VGA connector|VGA]] monitor. A converter is needed to use keyboards/mice in the [[Xbox controller|controller]] ports; however this is not difficult, as the Xbox uses standard [[USB]] with a proprietary port.

Currently only a few distributions of Xbox Linux will run on the version 1.6 Xbox (the third newest version, including 1.6b). Xboxes with modchips and the [[Cromwell (computing)|Cromwell]] [[BIOS|bios]] installed can run more distributions than those with only a softmod. This is mainly due to issues with the video chip used in version 1.6 Xboxes that was developed exclusively by Microsoft and which has no source code available at this time. This can cause significant [[overscan]] on all four sides of the screen when a different [[kernel (computeroperating sciencesystem)|kernel]] than the original is loaded.

== Softmod ==

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One of the more popular ways of installing Xbox Linux is through a [[softmod]], which does not require a modchip to use. The Xbox Linux softmod utilizes a save exploit found in the original run of ''[[MechAssault]]'', ''[[Splinter Cell]]'', ''[[007: Agent Under Fire]]'', and ''[[Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4]]''. The method involves loading a hacked save file transferred to the Xbox's Hard Drive. When the save file is loaded, the ''MechInstaller'' is initiated. The Xbox Live option on the dashboard is replaced with the new Linux option after rebooting the system. Another softmod that can be used is the [[hotswap]] exploit which will unlock the Xbox hard drive long enough to allow one to modify it.

There is also a way to completely replace the Xbox's stock BIOS with a [[Cromwell (computing)|"Cromwell" BIOS]], which is completely legal and is solely for Linux on the Xbox. However, once the TSOP (BIOS chip) is flashed with "Cromwell", the Xbox can no longer play Xbox games or run native Xbox executables (.xbe files, akin to .exe for Windows).

== List of Distributionsdistributions ==

There are several distributions of Xbox Linux,<ref>{{citeCite web |title=Download - Xbox-Linux |url=http://www.xbox-linux.org/wiki/Download#Full_Linux_Systems |accessdateurl-status=June 3, 2009dead |deadurl=yes |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306080932/http://www.xbox-linux.org/wiki/Download |archivedatearchive-date=March 6, 2009 |access-date=June 3, 2009}}</ref> most of which are based on PC Linux distributions.

{| class="wikitable"

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|A distribution based<ref>[http://www.x-dsl.org/wiki/Main_Page] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517073749/http://www.x-dsl.org/wiki/Main_Page |date=May 17, 2009 }}</ref> on [[Damn Small Linux]].

|}

== First-Party Linux Bootloader ==

ZDNet<ref>{{Cite web |title=Xbox hackers attempt to blackmail Microsoft |website=[[ZDNet]] |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/xbox-hackers-attempt-to-blackmail-microsoft-3002136730/ |access-date=June 27, 2003 }}</ref> reported an Australian hacker group announced that if Microsoft did not release a first-party, signed bootloader for Linux, they would release technology that would allow Linux (and pirated software, etc.) to run on the Xbox without a mod chip. Microsoft never released such a bootloader.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hackers release Xbox tool despite Microsoft threats | website=[[ZDNet]]| url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/hackers-release-xbox-tool-despite-microsoft-threats|access-date=July 4, 2003}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Free60]]

* [[XboxLinux (console)|Xboxfor PlayStation 2]]

* [[LinuxOtherOS]]

== References ==

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== External links ==

* [httphttps://sourceforge.net/projects/xbox-linux/ Project site] on [[SourceForge.net]]

* {{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20050708080536/http://www.xbox-linux.org:80/}}{{dead link|date=May 2011}}

* {{in lang|de}} [http://www.xbox-linux.org/down/Xbox-BWL-flat-compressed.pdf Xbox Hacking official document] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112010542/http://www.xbox-linux.org/down/Xbox-BWL-flat-compressed.pdf |date=2016-01-12 }}

* [http://sourceforge.net/projects/xbox-linux/ Project site] on [[SourceForge.net]]

* {{de icon}} [http://www.xbox-linux.org/down/Xbox-BWL-flat-compressed.pdf Xbox Hacking official document]

* [http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-softmod-your-xbox...for-FREE/ SoftMod Xbox for Free (Hotswap Technique!)]

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[[Category:Xbox (console) software]]

[[Category:Game console operating systems]]

[[Category:Discontinued Linux distributions]]

[[Category:Linux distributions]]