Linux on the Xbox

by Live_Wire

Requirements:

As some might have noticed, there has been several strides made in the attempt to put Linux on any device in which it would be logically beneficial to the computer/hacker community, or just for the challenge of it.

The Xbox is no exception.  It is now possible to put a full Linux distribution on the Xbox console, due to the work of some very diligent Linux/Xbox hackers.  I will cover the steps to go about installing Linux on your Xbox console and the significance of such an installation.

There are multiple reasons one might want to go about installing Linux on an Xbox.  For one, it would serve as a very inexpensive desktop computer.  Being that you can now find Xboxes selling at prices of $170-$200, this is understandably worthwhile.  The Xbox is also feature-rich.  It is a gaming console, DVD player, and now with the inclusion of Linux, can be your desktop computer, DivX player, and web/FTP server.  Perhaps you would use it just to run nominal functions, saving your main computer the stress.  This is just the beginning, though.  The possibilities are, obviously, limitless.

This brings us to the actual installation.  You will need a modified Xbox to consider such a setup.

However, this is not as scary as it may sound to those who might not have soldering experience.  Gone are the days in which you would have to solder 29 wires to the Xbox motherboard.  You can now buy wireless modchips which require no soldering at all.  There is a chip out now called the Matrix (by Xodus) that is wire free and can be installed in a matter of minutes.  There are also other chips in development that will be wireless also, so then it would be just a matter of personal preference as to which you would choose.

I have chosen to go with the Matrix chip because it has no wires to solder, comes with a programmer, and, as far as I have seen, is the easiest to install.  I must mention also, if you don't want to fork out $60, you can make your own.

CheapLPC, designed by Andy Green, can be constructed for a few bucks.  Visit: warmcat.com/milksop

So this is where we start.  You have your modchip of choice.  You also downloaded the ISO image of the Xbox Linux distribution located at the Sourceforge site mentioned at the beginning of the article.

You will need to flash your mod chip with a BIOS that will support running unsigned code on the Xbox.  These BIOSes can be readily found on the Internet with a little due diligence.

I mentioned that the Matrix modchip comes with a programmer.  You can plug that programmer into the parallel port on your computer and flash the Matrix with BIOS software that way.

You can get the flashing software from warmcat.com/milksop (Xodus will release their own GNU software shortly).

I have chosen to go with the Evolution X 2.5 BIOS because it supports all the features one would want, such as running unsigned code, among others.

Next, you will have to download the EvolutionX dashboard, which will replace the original Xbox dashboard, and will act as your new interface with the Xbox and burn it to a CD-RW (Xboxes do not like CD-Rs).  This can also be found on the net with a little patience.

You will then need to open your Xbox and physically install the modchip.  After that, you will want to install the EvolutionX dashboard that you downloaded and burned to CD.  You will now have a pretty new interface that has many features, such as backing up games (that you bought) and whatnot.  Once this is installed, you will then be able to install your downloaded Linux distro.

You might be thinking, how do I work with Linux when all I have is an Xbox controller?

Well, as you might know, the controller ports on the Xbox console are really just USB ports, with a little modification.  You can get a hold of an Xbox controller extension, cut it in half leaving the end that plugs into the Xbox intact, and look at the wires.  You will see a red, green, blue, white, and yellow wire, the same as a standard USB cable minus the yellow one.

You can then cut an USB cable, leaving the USB Type-A end intact which connects to your USB keyboard/mouse.  Solder the matching wires together and leave the yellow Xbox wire by itself.  Do this two times and you now have a keyboard and mouse that you can plug into the Xbox and use with Linux, assuming Linux supports the ones you chose (make sure it does).

There you have it.

A Linux/Xbox that can now be used as you wish it to be, and the best part about it is that it is legal.  The developers that have been working hard on this Linux project are not building this software on top of the Microsoft kernel - they are using the Linux kernel.

They are also not using non-licensed software like the XDK, which is Microsoft's development kit for the Xbox.  The reverse-engineering that has been done has been done under Section 1201(f) Reverse Engineering Exception for interoperability of the DMCA.

I am indebted to the Linux developers of xbox-linux.sourceforge.net, the Xodus team, XboxHacker BBS (and its forum), Andy Green, and several other sites/individuals/hackers that have made this article possible.

I will cover the more technical aspects of Xbox hacking in a future article, but I hope I have given enough information so that you might get a start with hacking Linux onto the Xbox, and learn in the process.
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