Changes

3,324 bytes added , 17:33, 6 November 2024

Update Wii Linux Continuation Project details

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| peripherals = {{Wiimote1}} {{GCNController}} {{USBKeyboard}} {{FrontSD}} {{USBMSD}} {{USBGecko}}

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'''Wii-Linux''' is a port of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux Linux] kernel and related [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Core_Utilities GNU userspace utilities] to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii Nintendo Wii video game console]. Many [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_distribution distributions of GNU/Linux] are available for the Wii. All current distributions use a version of the "gc-linux" kernel, a port of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_kernel Linux kernel] by the [http://www.gc-linux.org/wiki/Main_Page GC-Linux project].

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Wii-Linux may be loaded through the [[Homebrew Channel]] but is recommended to be loaded through [[bootmii]] to enable Wi-Fi and USB2.0 support.

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'''Please note:''' The current kernel builds/code patches at gc-linux.org quite dated and it seems they are no longer being actively maintained by the original authors. However, since January 2013 someone else has continued development here [https://github.com/DeltaResero/ [1]]]. Unfortunately, even this project seems to no longer be active. As such, [[Wii-Linux#Wii Linux Continuation Project|another continuation project]] has appeared that is still active as of May 31st, 2024.

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'''Wii-Linux''' or '''GC-Linux''' is a port of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux Linux] kernel and related [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Core_Utilities GNU userspace utilities] to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii Nintendo Wii video game console]. Many [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_distribution distributions of GNU/Linux] are available for the Wii. All current distributions use a version of the "gc-linux" kernel, a port of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_kernel Linux kernel] by the [http://www.gc-linux.org/wiki/Main_Page GC-Linux project].

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Wii-Linux may be loaded through the [[Homebrew Channel]] but is recommended to be loaded through [[bootmii]]/[[Mini]] to enable Wi-Fi and USB2.0 support.

The kernel itself can communicate with nearly all Wii peripherals; Wii Remotes, Wi-Fi, USB, Bluetooth, GameCube controllers, USBGeckos and the DVD drive are supported. GameCube Memory Cards are currently unsupported.

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The GC-Linux kernel can run under [[IOS]] (Nintendo's official operating system), while other versions run under the alternate operating system by [[Team Twiizers]] known as "[[~~mini~~]]" (which stands for '''M'''INI '''I'''s '''N'''ot '''I'''OS)

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The GC-Linux kernel can run under [[IOS]], Nintendo's official operating system that runs on the Wii's [[Starlet]] coprocessor, while other versions run under the alternate operating system by [[Team Twiizers]] known as mini or "[[Mini]]" (which stands for '''M'''INI '''I'''s '''N'''ot '''I'''OS)

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MINI has ~~an advantage~~ over IOS: full and complete access to Wii internal hardware, such as Wi-Fi, USB2.0, the DVD Drive ~~and~~ [http://www.gc-linux.org/wiki/Wii:Hardware_Support ~~more~~].

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MINI has some advantages over IOS: full and complete access to Wii internal hardware, such as Wi-Fi, USB2.0, the DVD Drive. See [http://www.gc-linux.org/wiki/Wii:Hardware_Support here].

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The IOS-based kernels can be loaded through the [[Homebrew Channel]] ~~but~~ MINI-based kernels must be loaded through MINI (~~that~~ means "[[~~bootmii~~]]" must be installed). BootMii can be installed in two ways~~: 1)~~ in [[boot2]] (~~ie.~~ Wii powers up into BootMii) or 2) in IOS (BootMii is loaded through the Homebrew Channel). Confusing, but this is current the state of Wii homebrew.

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The IOS-based kernels can be loaded through the [[Homebrew Channel]], or the [[Twilight Hack]]. But MINI-based kernels must be loaded through MINI (which means "[[BootMii]]" must be installed). BootMii can be installed in two ways. First in [[boot2]] (where the Wii powers up into BootMii) or second in IOS (where BootMii is loaded through the Homebrew Channel). Confusing, but this is current the state of Wii homebrew.

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The latest version of GC-Linux is [http://www.gc-linux.org/wiki/MINI:KernelPreviewFive#.27Mini.27_Kernel_Preview_Five_.28aka_MIKE_p5.29 MIKEp5] (which stands for '''MI'''NI '''Ke'''~~rnal~~ '''P'''review '''5'''). The MIKEp5 kernel has an IOS and MINI version available.

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The latest version of GC-Linux is [http://www.gc-linux.org/wiki/MINI:KernelPreviewFive#.27Mini.27_Kernel_Preview_Five_.28aka_MIKE_p5.29 MIKEp5] (which stands for '''MI'''NI '''Ke'''rnel '''P'''review '''Five'''). The MIKEp5 kernel has an IOS and MINI version available.

== Hardware Required ==

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* Nintendo Wii Console ([[Homebrew Channel]]/alternate loader installed. [[bootmii]] installed in boot2 and/or ios ~~for Wi-Fi~~)

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* Nintendo Wii Console ([[Homebrew Channel]] or an alternate loader installed. [[bootmii]] installed in boot2 and/or ios)

* SD Card (Will be formatted. 512MB Required. 2GB Recommended)

* USB Keyboard

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== Installing ==

===Whiite-Linux Installer ===

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The GC-Linux team has released a [http://www.gc-linux.org/wiki/WL:whiite-linux-installer Simple GUI-based installer] can be used with Whiite, Bliight and XWhiite distributions. The installer can be loaded via the [[Homebrew Channel]] or [[Twilight Hack]].

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The GC-Linux team has released a [http://web.archive.org/web/20230527055421/http://www.gc-linux.org/wiki/WL:whiite-linux-installer Simple GUI-based installer] can be used with Whiite, Bliight and XWhiite distributions. The installer can be loaded via the [[Homebrew Channel]] or [[Twilight Hack]]. Note that these instructions are for a very old version of Debian Linux which predates the version 5.0 mentioned in here.

An ext3 filesystem is created on a removable disk (SD card or USB drive). The kernel image ELF can be loaded through [[Homebrew Channel]]. It is recommended to replace the kernel image ELF with the compatible MIKE (MIni KErnal) ELF binary. This will enable Wi-Fi and the DVD drive to be used. The latest MIKE version is currently [http://www.gc-linux.org/wiki/MINI:KernelPreviewFive MIKEp5].

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* A [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphical_user_interface GUI] is available, in the form of an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X.Org_Server X.org server]. Although it is ''not'' optimized for a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10-foot_user_interface "10-foot user interface"], like that found in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii_Menu Wii Menu]. A Wii Remote may be used as a pointing device with the X.org server, but manual configuration is needed. (See xwhiite)

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* It's possible for a Wii to powerup directly into Wii-Linux. BootMii must be installed in boot2 for this feature. To enable this, replace the file /bootmii/ppcboot.elf (on the front SD Card) with the GC-Linux kernel of your choice (Remember to back up the original ppcboot.elf somewhere!!)

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*It's possible for a Wii to powerup directly into Wii-Linux. BootMii must be installed in boot2 for this feature. To enable this, replace the file /bootmii/ppcboot.elf (on the front SD Card) with the GC-Linux kernel of your choice (Remember to back up the original ppcboot.elf somewhere!!)

== Hardware Compatibility ==

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Many distributions of GNU/Linux are available for the Nintendo Wii.

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=== Ubuntu 14.04.5 ===

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*Ubuntu PPC for the Wii

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*Designed to be as easy as flash and boot.

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*Made By Wiibuntu

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*TERMINAL ONLY! NO DESKTOP ENVIROMENT!

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*Downloads and .tar's found [https://github.com/Wiibuntu/Ubuntu14-Wii here.]

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*Last updated: 12 March 2024

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=== Ubuntu Server 13.10 ===

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*Ubuntu PPC for the Wii

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*Designed to be as easy as flash and boot.

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*Made By Wiibuntu

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*Downloads found [https://github.com/Wiibuntu/Ubuntu-13.10-Wii here.]

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*Last updated: 11 March 2024

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=== xUbuntu 9.04 ===

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*xUbuntu PPC for the Wii

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*Designed to be as easy as flash and boot.

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*Made By Wiibuntu

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*xorg already installed along with xfce4

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*All repository's are set to old-releases already

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*Downloads and .tar's found [https://github.com/Wiibuntu/Xubuntu-9.04-Wii/tree/main here.]

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*Last updated: 7 February 2024

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=== Wii-Linux-NGX ===

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*Based on Debian Jessie 8.0

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*Made by [https://github.com/neagix neagix], who keeps the repository for the distribution on github

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Includes several different branches of implementations of the GNU/Linux kernel:

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*[https://github.com/neagix/linux/tree/stable-v3.x stable-v3.x], latest working v3.x kernel with most up to date upstream patches

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*[https://github.com/neagix/linux/tree/experimental-v3.x experimental-v3.x], some features might be broken (SDHC)

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*[https://github.com/neagix/linux/tree/experimental-v4.x experimental-v4.x], some features might be broken (SDHC)

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Current working features:

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*WiFi

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*Reading DVD-ROMs

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*Xorg (using the framebuffer)

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Last Update: 6 September 2017.

=== Whiite ===

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*Easy Wifi configuration tool in /root/ to run type ./whiite-ez-wifi-config

*[http://sourceforge.net/projects/gc-linux/files/wii-linux/whiite-linux-1.10/debian-lenny-5.0%2Bwhiite-1.10.tar.bz2/download Version 1.10 (Debian Lenny 5.0) Download]

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*Currently uses kernel [http://www.gc-linux.org/wiki/MINI:KernelPreviewFive 2.6.32]

*Written by the gc-linux team.

*Last updated: 21 Oct 2009

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*Made By TheStorm/JonimusPrime and zc00gii

*Is designed for more advanced users to create from scratch but minimal and X11 file-system tars are available

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**The X11 tar has X.Org installed along with the OpenBox3 WM and Cwiid for ~~Wiimote~~ input

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**The X11 tar has X.Org installed along with the OpenBox3 WM and Cwiid for Wii Remote input

**It also includes the Opera Browser, X-Chat IRC client and Pidgin IM client

**The Minimal image is just enough to get you booted and the end user can install any packages they wish using pacman

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*[http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Wii_Tutorial ArchWiki-WiiTutorial]

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*File-system tars can be found [http://jonimoose.net/archii/ here.]

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*File-system tars ~~could~~ be found [http://~~thestorm.taricorp~~.net/archii~~/tarballs~~/ here] ~~(now removed from server)~~

*Last updated: 11 July 2009

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=== XWhiite ===

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*[[Wii Linux#Whiite|Whiite]] but with the X.Org environment successfully implemented.

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*It currently uses [[Wii Linux#Kernel 2.6.27|kernel 2.6.32]].

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*It also includes some applications including Firefox.

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*It uses the whiite method of installation

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*It has now been updated to v0.2

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*Made by bertjan

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*[https://mega.nz/#!O0tjXCrK!etpJQMHvTOzQtORQw_J8J1twOLXfo5O1cPQfEASLVZY v0.2 Download]

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*Last updated: 02 December 2008

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=== Wii Linux Continuation Project ===

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*A kernel based on [[Wii-Linux#Wii-Linux-NGX|Wii-Linux-NGX]], with upgrades and patches

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*Modern (2024) [https://github.com/kth5/archpower ArchPOWER]-based rootfs

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*Xorg can optionally be installed, and works properly, however does not come with the base system

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*Kernel previously updated by TheOtherOne, work continued by [[User:Techflash|Techflash]]

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*Includes a custom Linux text console based boot menu written in C to pick a distro to boot.

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*[https://wii-linux.org Website, including download links]

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*[https://github.com/Wii-Linux All code relating to the project]

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*Last updated: 6 November 2024

== External links ==

* A [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hUSkOLWMZ8 video] showing '''Arch Linux on the Wii''' called, "Archii."

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* A [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiYbQfDhGKg video] showing a playable '''pacman console game with ~~Wiimote~~ support'''

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* A [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiYbQfDhGKg video] showing a playable '''pacman console game with Wii Remote support'''

* A [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpDcnaeftsc video] showing '''how Wii-Linux Debian boots''', with some features and applications

* A [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1UCQEMO8yc video] showing '''T2 SDE 6.0 Linux booting from an external HDD using the SD card as pivot root. X runs!'''

Techflash

7

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Changes

Wii-Linux (view source)

Revision as of 17:33, 6 November 2024