The first generation of the PS2 is the model SCPH-10000, introduced in March, 2000. It was priced 39,800 Yen and sold in Hong Kong for over HK$3400. By that time, I got the 10000 model with the Drum Mania game set for HK$4380. A year later, the third version of the console released, as the model SCPH-30000, after the SCPH-15000 and SCPH-18000 models, which changes the HDD and network adapter connection from external(using PCMCIA interface) to internal. I later got the SCPH-30001R, the US version of the PS2 console.
In 2001, rumors spread that SCEI has been able to port the Linux kernel to run at the PS2 console, and there was a petition to ask Sony to release the Linux kit to public. Finally, at around May, 2001, SCEI did announce the availability of the "PS2 Linux Dev Kit Beta", there were only a few thousands sets and they made reservation online in Japan only, the kit was sold out in just a few minutes. By that time, it is really hard to get the kit, as well as the corresponding hardwares (The HDD, network adapter, Keyboard, Mouse, VGA cable).
In 2002, Sony officially announced the general availability of the Linux Kit, not only in Japan, but also worldwide. (Model: SCPH-97047)
In order to run Linux on your PS2, you need to get the Linux Kit, which includes:
So, basically, what you need is the HDD and the network adapter for PS2. There are two different versions, one for the 10000,15000,18000 series and the other
one for the others. If you could not get the Linux Kit, you may consider
alternatives as: get the Japanese version "BB unit pack" console,
SCPH-50000, which includes the HDD and network adapter, or you can get the
"Playstation BB Unit" for your console:
I got the "Playstation BB Unit" for my SCPH-30001R and borrow the Linux Kit from others. Now, you put the network adapter and the HDD together and put it inside the console at the back. By "default", you won't be able to use the "BB Navigator" with a non-Japanese PS2 model, in other words, you cannot use the kit for online games. However, there are ways to do that but it is beyond the scope of installing Linux onto the PS2.
Then, you put the DVD disc 1 (The RTE) and reset the console, by default, it will boot with the "Sync-on-green" VGA signal, if you get the kit with the VGA cable, there is no problem, you just hook up a monitor to the console, but for me, I don't have one so you need to press the "Select" + "R2" key while the console is booting, this sets the display mode to TV PAL signal.
Once it boots up, choose "Install", then press the "Circle" button on the controller.
Then, make sure you have connected a USB keyboard (optionally a USB mouse) and a blank PS2 memory module. I just connect a standard PC USB keyboard and mouse. The memory module will be formatted, so I got a brand new card for this, but later, you can use the card for game saves (with around 6MB free after installing the loader.)
It will then prompt you to change to disc 2.
Then, the Linux boots and you just follow the on-screen instruction to install Linux onto your PS2 console as if you are installing RedHat on a regular PC.
After installing the bootloader onto the memory module, you may go to the console "Browser" and see the little cutie penguin in it.
Now, if you want to boot your PS2 as Linux, put the Disc 1 in and at the menu, choose "Boot" and select "Memory Card", it will boot the locally installed Linux.
Below is a screenshot of the PS2 Linux running X Windows System while playing a MP3 using mpg123 and starting Mozilla 1.6b.
BTW, since I will use the 40GB HDD with the BB unit for game saving and playing. I have attached an old IDE HDD for the Linux and it works! Not as the warning at SCEI website that only the original HDD can be recognized.
Unfortunately, the kernel comes with the distribution is 2.2.1, which is kinda old, you may recompile the latest kernel from Sony.
Someone may argue how the PS2 can be utilized with only 32MB RAM, however, someone has already built a Linux cluster using PS2 and since the core Emotion Engine can compute floating point numbers real fast, it will be useful to setup a cluster of PS2 Linux as 3D animation rendering server.
Think about it, get a PS2 with the BB unit costs around HK$2000, but you got a powerful game console, as well as a little computer for web surfing, running GIMP, host an Apache web server, MySQL, Samba... Sounds cool, right?