Questions/FAQ
From WiiLi
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[edit] WiiLi Information
[edit] What's WiiLi?
- WiiLi is our long-term goal: Linux for the Wii. However, before we will reach that point, a lot of information about the Wii needs to be gathered. Before we will be able to make WiiLi it must be possible to run homebrew software on the Wii. Until then we are working on WiiLi Link, a Live CD that turns standard PC's into a media and gaming center designed around the Wii Remote. We're developing on PCs right now, with hopes of porting WiiLi to the Wii later on.
This site is about Wii Linux only, game piracy related activities are not to be discussed here.
[edit] Is WiiLi and Linux hard to use?
- It's no harder to to use than other operating systems, and it's a lot more fun!
[edit] Is WiiLi ready? Where can I download WiiLi?
- WiiLi isn't ready yet, in fact we're only in the early stages of researching and sharing what we know. So no, you can't download anything at this time and no release dates have been set. Sorry.
There are however Wiimote Bluetooth drivers for most common platforms available.
[edit] How will the WiiLi interface look?
- It might look similar to Mandriva ONE. (Watch the Youtube video.)
[edit] What features are you planning for WiiLi?
- Surf the Internet (using the control as a mouse pointer)
- Wii Media Extender, Stream movies, music, etc, from a PC to a TV using WiiLi and the Nintendo Wii in the middle. Think Apple iTV for free.
- Write a document with a regular USB keyboard and print it with any USB printer.
- Email and chat with your friends.
- Use an external USB storage device to backup and play your movies, games, mp3's, etc...
- Play old classic games using the MAME arcade emulator.
- Develop your own programs and games.
- Control WiiLi from your PC using the WiFi connection.
- Use Wiilli and the Wii as a Network Attached Storage (NAS) by connecting it to an external USB HD.
- Anything you could possibly do with a regular computer.
[edit] How much does WiiLi cost?
- WiiLi is based on open source software and volunteers around the world. It's totally free software.
[edit] How can I help?
- Try to spread the word and let everyone know about our project.
- One of our developers is interested in Virtual Console games. If you want to help him by ripping VC games via SD card, please visit him in our IRC-chatroom.
- Help improve our wiki by adding the content you feel is necessary.
[edit] How do I help in the development of WiiLi?
- Review our ideas for possbile exploits and add your own.
- You might want to take a peek at the EEPROM firmware for the Wii Remote (Article, Binary).
- Play around with the various Wiimote drivers and make something cool.
- Visit our forum, talk with other developer and provide ideas and solutions.
- Download, burn and test, test, test.
[edit] What's with the name?
- I think it sounds right! Other options were wiilinux, wiinux or something like that but I think that's a bit boring and doesn't go with our idea of having fun while spreading the word about Linux. So call it WiiLi!
[edit] Can anyone edit the WiiLi's Wiki?
- Yes, you can start adding feature requests, posting ideas, writing code, and fixing my grammar!
[edit] Will WiiLi run as fast as my computer?
- It depends. The Wii's hardware is very capable and should not have any problem even with the hardest task but Wii's are not designed to be PC's so it might be a little bit slower. Streaming your favorite DivX movie from an external USB storage or even doing this over WiFi from your desktop PC should be feasible.
Again, try it! Download and burn a copy of Mandriva One from here. It doesn't change anything on your computer. It boots and starts Linux without doing anything to your hard drive, it's the same idea for WiiLi.
[edit] Is WilLi compatible with the Nintendo DS?
- Yes! We plan to use the WiFi compatibility of both so you can use your Nintendo DS as an input device for WiiLi. Linux is already running on the Nintendo DS. Make sure you visit the www.dslinux.org forums. Unlike us, there are a few people at dslinux.org who actually have a clue.
[edit] I have a great idea for WiiLi. How do I make it happen?
- First write it on the Wiki at feature-request or create a new page for the idea. Then visit the forums and talk with the other members about your idea.
[edit] Can I join your effort?
- YES! Please help me with the wiki. If you are a developer, writing guides and joining our forum will help a lot.
[edit] What Linux distro are you basing WiiLi on?
- I plan to use as much work as possible from the Gamecube Linux project. The Gamecube and the Wii are almost the same, hardware-wise. You can take a look at a comparison here: gamecube-wii-hardware. We will see what happens on the forums and the wiki.
[edit] Any chance that a minimalistic linux distribution such as DamnSmallLinux will be used as the foundation for WiiLi?
(The less resources the operating system hogs, the more for the software itself!)
[edit] Why don't you join forces with other Linux Wii distros?
- If the project should take another name and another website because our community decides so, I will be very happy to go with it. Also, if someone else is more capable of administering and keeping the site, I'll be happy to transfer the control of the whole website and domain to this person, and work instead on the WiiLi CD.
[edit] How do I ask other questions?
- Add them to the Questions page.
[edit] What USB devices do you intend to support?
- Keyboards, mice, printers, webcams, CD/DVD Drives and more!
Note:Keyboard support is availble more info @ [[1]]
[edit] Are there any WiiLi screen shots?
- Not just yet, but until there are, you can check out the Gamecube Linux project for some screen shots of Linux running on the Gamecube
[edit] Do you think the Wii is better than the PS3 and the XBOX360?
- We do not engage in such fanboyism. It's fun and we like it. 'nuff said.
[edit] I know nothing about Linux. Where do I start?
- Download a copy of Mandriva One here, burn into a CD, and try it on your computer. It will run without making any changes to your computer. You can see some videos of Mandriva ONE in action here and download Mandriva from here.
[edit] How will the controls work?
- You will use the pointer as a mouse and the dpad to scroll up, down, etc.
[edit] How do you pronounce WiiLi?
- It's Wee-Lee
[edit] The Wii WiFi connection is too slow to stream media. How do you plan to stream movies?
- Who says 802.11g isn't fast enough for media streaming? It's far more than enough.
Actually, the Wii only connects via 802.11b, not g - see [2] for details. Doesn't that make it too slow to stream videos?
There are many different apps that will allow you to do just that, stream video to the Wii. I currently, successfully use TVersity. It won't work well on a loaded network, and it could be better on a different wireless protocol, but it already works. Avoid all wireless problems by getting the USB Lan peripheral. --Fortunzfavor 16:35, 31 July 2007 (EDT)
[edit] What discs are needed for this operation? A Mini disc (as in Gamecube?) or a regular CDR?
- Either a CDR or DVDR will be needed, depending how the Wii reads them. Mini-discs will almost certainly not be required. --Squeakypants 21:35, 11 November 2006 (PST)
[edit] How will WiiLi be released? As an ISO?
- Probably, yes. However, if there is an exploit found through the SD Card (or other means), then it will be through them. --Squeakypants 21:35, 11 November 2006 (PST)
- The Twilight hack allows use of a boot.elf executable at the root of the SD card... will WiiLi use that?...
[edit] The plan is that we'll just burn WiiLi on a CD or DVD and it will run on the Wii. But, how will the Wii do this without some sort of modchip?
- As of now, we do not know how exploitable the Wii is. The hope is that there will be a way to burn-and-go, but it is unknown as of now. However, we can assure you that the top priority will be to find a way to use WiiLi without a modchip. --Squeakypants 21:35, 11 November 2006 (PST)
[edit] You said that the Wii can also be converted into a media center extender using WiiLi. Will it be compatible with Windows Media Center?
- It will be compatible by means of Samba file sharing. However, you will use Freevo, MythTV, or another DVR frontend to convert it into a "media center". These solutions, in my opinion, are actually much simpler and intuitive than Windows Media Center anyway, and of course will support the mouse. --Squeakypants 21:35, 11 November 2006 (PST)
[edit] Can you put out a broken development version so at least we can play with it and help you make the first release?
- When there is a development version, we'll make it available to anybody who wants it.
[edit] If I already have a Bluetooth equipped device, e.g. Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, would I be able to connect them using the Wii's built in Bluetooth?
- Yes, we think this should work just fine once WiiLi runs on the Wii.
[edit] If an SD card exploit is found, would it be possible to use the DVD drive to run programs or watch movies?
- Yes, more than likely this will be the case as once Linux is running on the Wii, the CD/DVD drive should function as a regular drive. --evil_andy
- The Twilight Hack would defintly allow this.
[edit] Is the Wii Remote driver compatible with any Bluetooth enabled computer, or are certain Bluetooth chipsets preferred?
Please see our extensive chart for compatible Bluetooth devices.
[edit] Does using the Wii Remote with a PC interfere with the partnership created between the Wii and Remote?
No, but you can not use it with both at the same time. Unless you manage to wipe out the bonding information in the flash chip of the wiimote, the Wii will not even realise you have been using it with a PC.
[edit] Will WiiLi require an SD Card?
- At the moment the focus of WiiLi is producing a LiveCD, of course the ability to read/write to SD is most likely going to be a feature, but I firmly do not believe that WiiLi will REQUIRE an SD card. --Triforce 16:49, 26 January 2007 (EST)
- Due to the fact that the DVD drive is locked out to all but signed games (without a modchip), and the Twilight Hack allows execution through the SD card, I believe that it will require one. Correct me if I'm wrong.
[edit] The Law
Is your project illegal? Doesn't the DMCA forbid all this?
- The DMCA forbids circumventing copy protection, but that is not our goal. We intend to develop an alternative operating system for the Nintendo Wii gaming console. A side product could be the ability to run unsigned code, but this alone does not make it possible to play pirated copies of games. It's not really a loophole, but it's legal because we aren't releasing a way to play pirated games, just providing a second operating system for the Wii.
If you are either a lawyer or a Nintendo representative, you are of course welcome to talk to us about any changes.
