Xbox Linux: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:18, 23 October 2019

Revision as of 10:20, 23 October 2019

Line 1:

{{manual|date=July 2018}}

'''Xbox Linux''' was a project that ported the Linux operating system to the 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 TSOP chip on which the Xbox's BIOS is held may be reflashed. This way, one may flash on the "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 was found in the game ''007: Agent Under Fire'' that allowed the booting of a Linux loader ("xbeboot") straight from a save game.

{{Original research|date=September 2007}}

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

The Xbox is essentially a PC with a custom 733 MHz Intel Pentium III processor, a 10 GB hard drive (8 GB of which is accessible to the user), 64MB of RAM (although on all earlier boxes this is upgradable to 128MB), and 4 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.

'''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|publisher=[[Anand Tech]]|date=21 November 2001|accessdate=21 February 2013}}</ref> processor, a 10 GB [[hard disk|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:

Line 8 ⟶ 13:

'' The Xbox is a legacy-free PC by Microsoft that consists of an Intel Celeron 733 MHz CPU, an nVidia GeForce 3MX, 64 MB of RAM, a 8/10 GB hard disk, a DVD drive and 10/100 Ethernet. As on every PC, you can run Linux on it. ''

'' An Xbox with Linux can be a full desktop computer with mouse and keyboard, a web/email box connected to TV, a server or router or a node in a cluster. You can either dual-boot or use Linux only; in the latter case, you can replace both IDE devices. And yes, you can connect the Xbox to a VGA monitor. ''

</blockquote>

== Uses ==

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

An Xbox with [[Linux]] installed can act as a full desktop computer with [[Mouse (computing)|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 [[Advanced Technology Attachment|IDE]] devices. One can also connect the Xbox to a VGA monitor. A converter is needed to use keyboards/mice in the controller ports; however this is not difficult, as the Xbox uses standard USB with a proprietary port.