SONY PS3

Drive preparation
There are just a few things you must do with your PS3 before it is prepared to install Yellow Dog Linux.

1. Attach your PS3 to a monitor via the included Composite or an HDMI (digital) or Component (5 RCA jacks) cable. For more information about these configurations and their function with Linux, if you elect to maintain a monitor attached to your compute nodes, review these HOWTOs.
   
   
2. Attach the game controller to your PS3. The game controller will be used to conduct all GameOS functions.
   
   
3. Power on your PS3. If this is the first time you have used your PS3, you will be prompted to Select a language, Select a time zone, Set the time & date, and Set the username (more easily done with a USB keyboard).
   
   
4. It is important to update the GameOS to the most current version, available for free from Sony, select:

   Settings > System Update > Update via Internet

   ... and then follow the on-screen prompts to complete.
   
   
5. If you have used your PS3 (and desire to play games on your compute nodes), BACK UP ALL GAME, MUSIC, & PHOTO DATA before formatting the drive as all data will be lost.
   
   
6. To format the drive internal to the PS3, select:

   Settings ==> System Settings ==> Format Utility ==> Format Hard Disk ==> Yes ==> Yes

7. Then select a partition setting for the hard disk: Custom
   
   
8. You are presented with option to "Allot 10GB to the Other OS" or "Allot 10GB to the PS3 System." Allocating the majority for the local installation of YDL (Other OS) is recommended, independent of the size of your drive.
   
   
9. Select Quick Format and "Yes". Your PS3 will now format its internal drive.
   
   
10. Press "X" on the controller to EXIT which will cause your PS3 to reboot.

Transfer control of your PS3 to Linux
Before you install a Yellow Dog Linux (YDL) node image onto a PS3 compute node using Y-HPC, you must temporarily transfer control of your PS3 to Y-HPC. This is done using the bootloader "kboot". Kboot allows the GameOS to transfer authority to Y-HPC and post-installation, the local installation of the YDL node image. Kboot is included on the Y-HPC DVD in the directory /ps3/otheros directory and called "otheros.bld".

Do not turn off the power nor remove the recording medium during the installation. Interrupting the installation process may cause damage.

1. Insert the Y-HPC DVD.
   
   
2. From the GameOS menu, select:

   Settings ==> System Settings ==> Install Other OS

3. Your PS3 will now scan the DVD for the bootloader installer and bootloader.
   
   
4. Confirm discovery of "/ps3/otheros/otheros.bld".
   
   
5. Press "X" on the controller to start the installation. The PS3 screen blanks while pulling files from the DVD.
   
   
6. You must now select "Other OS" in order to install YDL:

   Settings ==> System Settings ==> Default System ==> Other OS

7. When prompted to boot Other OS, select "Yes".

Now continue with Manage images ...

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x86_64
Refer to your owner's manual to enter BIOS at power-on and then set BIOS to search the local network prior to the local CD/DVD device and internal drive, if present.

Now continue with Manage images ...

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APPLE XSERVES

Cause Apple G5 Xserve to netboot once:
There are 2 methods of temporarily netbooting Apple G5 Xserves: press and hold the "n" key at power-on; or use thefront-panel (see Xserve user guide).

Configure Apple G5 Xserve to netboot by default:

From Linux

nvsetenv boot-device enet:0 [ENTER]

From firmware

setenv boot-device enet:0 [ENTER]

Configure G5 Xserve to boot headless

1. Set the variable in firmware from Linux, as root:

   nvsetenv boot-device hd:,\\:yaboot [ENTER]

   ... for Y-HPC this should be enet:0 ...

   nvsetenv boot-screen scca [ENTER]
   nvsetenv console-screen scca [ENTER]
   nvsetenv input-device scca [ENTER]
   nvsetenv output-device scca [ENTER]

2. Remove Video Card. DO NOT PRAM ZAP when removing the video card as the settings will NOT survive a PRAM zap

Now continue with Manage images ...