Starting DSLinux
From WiiLi
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
Running DSLinux is just like running any other homebrew on your DS. If you haven't run homebrew before, read Running Homebrew.
[edit] Getting a fresh build
Kineox occasionally builds a new version and posts it on http://kineox.free.fr/DS/.
Fully automatically created nightly builds are available here, but please make sure to read the README file for those builds before downloading anything.
Make sure you download the build you need:
- If you are using a SuperCard or a M3 you want this version.
- If you have a SuperCard Rumble you can only use this version.
- If you are using a GBA Movie Player CF you want this version.
- If you are using Wireless Multiboot you want this version.
- If you are using a DSMEM you want this version.
- If you have an GBA Flash Cart you can use this version.
The archives for builds that support permanent storage on CF or SD cards contain a file called "dslinux.nds" or "dslinux.ds.nds" and a directory called "linux". Both of these must be extracted to the root directory of the CF or SD card. The dslinux.nds file can be renamed if you wish. Don't rename the linux folder.
To make things more clear (hopefully), this is an (incomplete!) example of what the directory tree on your CF or SD card should look like after you've extracted the archive to it:
CF/SD card
|--dslinux.nds
|
|--linux/
|
|--etc/
| |--... <a few files>
|
|--home/
|
|--lib/
| |--... <a few files>
|
|...
.
.
.
Note that if your archiving program (probably silently) refuses to extract empty directories, you will get problems trying to run DSLinux, because important directories (such as the home directory) may be missing. You should compare what got extracted to your CF or SD card with what is being listed as content of the archive!
[edit] Extracting the build on Windows
The archives can be extracted under Windows with most common archiver tools. Just try the one you are usually using and it will likely work. Winzip and PowerArchiver will definitely work. Extract the archive directly to the drive that represents your CF or SD card (for example, "F:").
[edit] Extracting the build on Linux
Under Linux, mount your CF card. For example, let's say the mount point was /media/cf, and you downloaded the build for GBAMP. Then run this command to extract the archive:
tar -C /media/cf -zxvf dslinux-gbamp.tgz
[edit] Notes regarding SD/CF-based storage devices
DSLinux can save files to SD/CF card on the following devices:
- GBAMP
- SuperCard SD
- SuperCard miniSD
- SuperCard Lite
- SuperCard CF
- M3 SD
- M3 miniSD
- M3 microSD
- M3 CF
- DSMEM
If you wrote files to the card, don't forget to flush the write buffers before removing the card! You can use the "umount" command, the "poweroff" command or the "sync" command. To umount the CF/SD card on Supercard and M3, use
umount /media
To umount the SD on DSMEM, use
umount /sd
[edit] Notes regarding devices supporting SRAM
On GBA Flash Cart and M3 you can save to the SRAM on the cart. This is small (normally 64kb) and has to be formatted, so back up any game saves first! To use the SRAM, place a .sav file in the same folder as the DSLinux file. Run the following commands from within DSLinux:
eraseall /dev/mtd1 mount -t jffs2 /dev/rom1 /sram
You will also need to remember to umount /sram and save the sram to the SD card manually after each poweroff. You should use the command 'poweroff' to turn off DSLinux, NOT the power button. As soon as the DS goes off, switch it back on again.
There might be a bug on MD3/SD. On my M3/SD i can create the /sram file - but it's not saved into NDSSAVE/dslinux.ds.DAT. The file exists, a stored file into /sram survives a reboot - but not a launch of another .nds file.
[edit] Booting DSLinux
Once you have extracted and copied DSLinux to your CF card you can boot Linux by running the dslinux.nds file just as you would run any other homebrew program.
[edit] Notes for GBAMP users
On GBAMP, older versions of DSOrganize can not start DSLinux, even if it can start other homebrew programs. Versions with MightyMax bootloader set in configuration should boot DSLinux OK.
[edit] Where to go from here
See Using DSLinux for how to go on from here.
