PS4 Linux Tutorial

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Internal HDD installation ​

Here you'll setup the internal HDD for installation of a Linux distro.

CAUTION

Make sure you are NOT following this on a console with a Baikal southbridge.

If you proceed, either it won't boot, or you'll inevitably corrupt your whole drive and loose all your data!

WARNING

This shit is slow. Be careful and prepare your balls for imminent explosion.

Internal HDD setup ​

Check your PS4 storage, as you'll need to choose the size of the installation. Leave some free space in your console - remember that the PS4 doesn't report the space taken internally by Linux.

FTP to your PS4. Go to the /data/ folder, and create the folder /linux/boot/ and place your bzImage (and bootargs.txt if you have it) and initramfs in there.

Then, go to /user/system/, create a folder called boot, and paste your distro in there. Remember that it needs to be called psxitarch.tar.gz or xz

When installed, you can remove your Linux installation by removing the above files, and the "linux.img" found in /user/home/ folder.

Launching Linux Rescue Shell ​

After that, either launch your payload with Payload Guest, or use a payload website to load them.

Payload website hosts ​

Change your target firmware (in the picture it's firmware 11.50). If it doesn't have any particularly append, it's for both Aeolia and Belize.

Do NOT use Pro payloads on non-Pro consoles.

WARNING

Use a 1GB VRAM payload for installation and first boot.

Afterwards, 2GB is recommended.

Local payloads ​

It's also possible to load these payloads locally.

In order to do that, go download them from the ps4boot repositories:

  • Install "Payload Loader" on your PS4 to load the payloads locally
  • Extract from the ELF folders, and rename the file to have a .bin extension instead of .elf, because Payload Loader can't load ELFs
    • Enable "see file extensions" on Windows Explorer or what you're using
    • If it doesn't have any particularly append, it's for both Aeolia and Belize
  • Remember to check sometimes to see if there's any updates

Installation commands ​

Now that the storage is covered, you'll be sent to the Rescue Shell.

TIP

If you get an error, go to the Installation issues section.

Internal HDD

  • Type linux-install-hdd.sh
  • Type how much storage you want to use for the installation (check how much free space you have, don't fill up your drive as the PS4 won't report it)

You should already boot into the desktop. If it doesn't, run

bash
resume-boot

WARNING

Don't run resume-boot more than twice, or it'll crash the system - use CTRL+ALT+CANC to reboot instead.