WiiLi.org

lexen · Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 3

There is a version of ubuntu that uses PPC architecture and is able to run on PS3 because of it. The wii uses PPC architecture, so it is only logical to ask if we could use ubuntu? It is fast, stable, and updated regularly.

It is easy to modify ubuntu, so you could make it smaller, faster, and able to use the wiimote out of the box. An easy way to accomplish this would be to make a custom live cd, store the .iso file in the same folder as a .elf file that boots the iso. You couldn't save changes to the OS, so it isn't ideal, but it would work and it wouldn't break.

Let me know what you think and if it's even possible.

Thanks,
Lexen

babylon2233 · Joined: 17 May 2008 Posts: 11

I'm quite sure Linux distribution like Ubuntu is too big to be use on Wii that only have 88MB of RAM. To run Ubuntu, you must at least 256MB. I don't think any gnome or KDE distribution can run smoothly on Wii. I think distribution that suitable is something that using smaller desktop environment like xcfe but I'm not sure if Wii can run Xubuntu or maybe Ubuntulite. I believe something like Damn Small Linux will perform well on Wii.

MukiEX · Joined: 16 May 2008 Posts: 4

Yeah, I agree, it probably wouldn't work. I've tried Xubuntu on a G3 Powermac with 64 megs of RAM (barely less than the Wii) and it ran slow to a degree that had far exceeded "unusable". I'll put it this way : I thought it was frozen/crashed when I first saw it. It did stuff, but it did stuff "sometime today" not "immediately".

DSL 'n Puppy Dog both have the immediate issue in that they're both custom tailored for X86. A distro that'll run on an old iMac G3 is exactly what we're looking for if Wii Linux ever fully gets off the ground.

babylon2233 · Joined: 17 May 2008 Posts: 11

Maybe we need to tailor our own distro rather than just keep finding.

lexen · Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 3

Here is what I'm thinking: Ubuntu is customizable. You can get rid of anything you don't want and FYI, the current requirements for ubuntu are 90MB of ram, but I agree, it would run slow even if it had that. Compiz and stuff would be thrown out the window, but I still think we could get something to work.

You would want the default resolution to be 640x480 and you would want almost nothing running in the background. The only thing I want to know is how do we get it off the ground. I am told it is impossible, but I think we need a way to make an .elf file that can boot something from CD, or maybe from an .iso. If someone can do that, I will take it from there and get it to where the ubuntu specs would be to the floor, then we work our way up.

Does anyone know how to make .elf files? One thing to try would be to get qemu ported to the wii so you could run whatever architecture you want. It would be slower then otherwise, which I know sounds like a bad joke, but we would have something running that we could work with.

Right now there is a program that lets you run games from a different region on the wii (Gecko Region Free) and I am wondering if it would be possible to get something that lets you run any disk, ie: a liveCD. If we could do that, then we would be in business. Unfortunately, the source is not available, but if they did it, someone else can do it too.

Let me know what you think,
Lexen

babylon2233 · Joined: 17 May 2008 Posts: 11

90MB is only allow you to run a very minimal version of Ubuntu which mean that it does not include any GUI. Stripping down is very difficult for thing that designed to be big.

QEMU is an application. So, it would still need an operating system to run. What we need now is people who really expert on Wii and have really deep understanding of the platform. We are to boot something for our pc because there is BIOS but not for Wii. I'm not sure about this though. But have you try Proof-of-Concept Linux on Wii. I think it can be expand to become a full-fledged Linux distribution.

babylon2233 · Joined: 17 May 2008 Posts: 11

I believe fluxbuntu will be a great choice and there is PowerPC version