gc-linux -> wii-linux-ngx: first release

Discussion for GC-Linux on Gamecube & Wii
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neagix
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gc-linux -> wii-linux-ngx: first release

Post by neagix » Sat Aug 12, 2017 12:15 pm

Hi there!

I am opening a new thread for the second release of wii-linux-ngx:

Source code status
Current best branches:
stable-v3.x (3.15.10) (EOL)
experimental-v4.x (v4.3.6): no SD/SDHC support

The release kernel is compiled from stable-v3.x

To boot the kernel just enter BootMii and select the bootmii/zImage.ngx file from the SD

https://github.com/neagix/wii-linux-ngx/releases/

User: root
Password: root

You can either flash the sd image or manually populate a FAT16 partition with the content of bootmii.tar.gz and an ext3 partition with rootfs.tar.xz; the bootargs of the kernel must be changed accordingly. bootmii.tar.xz includes the kernel already.

For reference, everything is explained in the README.

How can I help?

Help is needed in these areas: https://github.com/neagix/wii-linux-ngx/issues

If you give it a try please report your findings, thanks!
Last edited by neagix on Mon Aug 14, 2017 9:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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neagix
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Re: gc-linux -> wii-linux-ngx: first release

Post by neagix » Sun Aug 13, 2017 10:07 pm

I am trying to add support for RGBA framebuffer mode, I have finished the driver work but getting a panic.

If someone can help, please comment here: https://github.com/neagix/wii-linux-ngx/issues/6

The defconfig has been updated too in case you want to make some troubleshooting.
tueidj
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Re: gc-linux -> wii-linux-ngx: first release

Post by tueidj » Sun Aug 13, 2017 10:55 pm

https://github.com/neagix/wii-linux-ngx ... 7aa32R1345

-= is not a postfix operator, this will not process the first two pixels per line.
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neagix
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Re: gc-linux -> wii-linux-ngx: first release

Post by neagix » Sun Aug 13, 2017 11:06 pm

tueidj wrote:https://github.com/neagix/wii-linux-ngx ... 7aa32R1345

-= is not a postfix operator, this will not process the first two pixels per line.
The following two lines seem to say otherwise

Edit: You're right, that needs to be fixed. However I cannot get to debug that code until the panic reason is found..
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neagix
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Re: gc-linux -> wii-linux-ngx: first release

Post by neagix » Wed Aug 16, 2017 7:01 am

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liquitt
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Re: gc-linux -> wii-linux-ngx: first release

Post by liquitt » Mon Aug 28, 2017 2:42 pm

this is great, thank you so much for your work! unfortunately i don't have a wii :D
please search before you ask - a lot has been discussed already!
(or use google with "site:gc-forever.com *term*")
http://is.gd/MDmZcr

we also have a wiki filled with knowledge
http://is.gd/dX58Rm
TheLegend27
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Re: gc-linux -> wii-linux-ngx: first release

Post by TheLegend27 » Fri Feb 16, 2018 1:57 am

Do you plan to continue working on this project? I see that the pre-compiled kernel doesn't support module loading, but my attempts to build a new zImage/kernel has failed. However, I'm not experienced at building kernels, so it's likely I messed something up. Let me know if it's even possible, because I think it's cool being able to run a Linux environment on something as strange as a Wii (also, I've been turning it into a Discord bot server :P). Thanks, and keep up the good work! :D
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FreeBeerUpgrade
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Re: gc-linux -> wii-linux-ngx: first release

Post by FreeBeerUpgrade » Fri Mar 09, 2018 8:37 am

Hey, is this thread still active? I'm planning to run a small home/light-gaming linux server on either wii or gamecube (if that's ever feasible).
Can you do so with the current state of the project? If not, is the project still ongoing?
Can anybody help me on the matter?
@TheLegen27 you seem to have something up and running, aren't you?
Fun fact : The coolest game to use the gbalink capabilites with the GC is a small extra game for Rayman 3 on the Cube. But it rocks.
TheLegend27
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Re: gc-linux -> wii-linux-ngx: first release

Post by TheLegend27 » Fri Mar 09, 2018 3:33 pm

Yes, I got something running :)
I managed to run a java server from the wii, but the only problem is, I can't seem to keep it online with ethernet. Wifi works for a while, but randomly decides not to renew its IP address (that's probably an easy fix, but I'd rather use ethernet for a server).
I'm not sure how well any gaming server would run on a wii (the wii's specs are pretty weak), but regardless I'll help because I don't have anything better to do :P
It's fairly simple to set up. You'll probably want to use gparted from a pre-existing linux system in order to format the sd card.
Make sure you've already hacked your wii (here's a guide if you still need it https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-install ... el-2498513 ).
Then, get your SD card. I'm pretty sure 32GB is the max, and something like 2GB will not be enough. create a FAT32 partition (maybe like 1 or 2 GB) and EXT3/EXT4 partition on an SD card (use the rest of the card, except leave around 2GB at the end). The remaining space can be a linux-swap partition. Make sure the partitions appear in that order.
Then, you can go to neagix's release page ( https://github.com/neagix/wii-linux-ngx/releases/ ) and download "bootmii.tar.gz" and "rootfs.tar.xz".
Extract bootmii.tag.gz into the FAT32 partition, and rootfs.tar.xz to the EXT3/EXT4 partition.
All you have to do after that is plug it in and boot it up. Open the Wiibrew channel, open the menu, and launch bootmii. Linux will begin in moments.

The configuration part is a bit more complicated, and you'll probably have to do your own research to figure out how to do certain things. However, make sure to use the wifi config tool in your home directory. It might fail, but ignore that: it configures the wifi adapter wrong. If it fails, just type "nano /etc/network/interfaces" and change "wlan0" to "wlan1". Not sure why the wii names the device wlan1, but oh well.
You should also set up the swap partition, as 80MB of RAM will often not be enough to run / install things. Just type "nano /etc/fstab" and replace the line where swap partition goes with
"/dev/mmcblk0p3 swap swap default 0 0"
Then restart and start doing whatever ya want :)
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Re: gc-linux -> wii-linux-ngx: first release

Post by emu_kidid » Thu Jan 31, 2019 9:15 am

I finally got around to trying this on a Wii - works pretty well. I'd love to see proper video hardware support one day though.

I set it up with gumboot + Priiloader on a later revision Wii, Wifi + USB keyboard + extra swap on SD + backup swap on USB. It even ran openjdk 7 :P

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Indiana32
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Re: gc-linux -> wii-linux-ngx: first release

Post by Indiana32 » Wed Mar 13, 2019 6:42 pm

neagix wrote:
Sat Aug 12, 2017 12:15 pm
Hi there!

I am opening a new thread for the second release of wii-linux-ngx:

Source code status
Current best branches:
stable-v3.x (3.15.10) (EOL)
experimental-v4.x (v4.3.6): no SD/SDHC support

The release kernel is compiled from stable-v3.x

To boot the kernel just enter BootMii and select the bootmii/zImage.ngx file from the SD

https://github.com/neagix/wii-linux-ngx/releases/

User: root
Password: root

You can either flash the sd image or manually populate a FAT16 partition with the content of bootmii.tar.gz and an ext3 partition with rootfs.tar.xz; the bootargs of the kernel must be changed accordingly. bootmii.tar.xz includes the kernel already.

For reference, everything is explained in the README.

How can I help?

Help is needed in these areas: https://github.com/neagix/wii-linux-ngx/issues

If you give it a try please report your findings, thanks!
Every time I compile a new kernel (I did it with a lot of different ways) and I try to boot it with bootmii it flashes a green screen and gets stuck there, Any ideas on how to fix this?
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