Homebrew [Release] Linux for the 3DS

[xerpi]

Note: the Linux for 3DS project has been moved to: https://github.com/linux-3ds

Compilation instructions: https://github.com/linux-3ds/linux/wiki

Spoiler

This is just a bare-minimum Linux environment with Busybox (which "simulates" some programs like ls, cat, top, etc) and Weston (the Wayland compositor) plus a few Weston clients demos.

DOWNLOAD:

https://github.com/xerpi/linux_3ds/releases

Installation:

1. Install boot9strap or fastboot3DS
2. Copy the linux folder to the root of the SD card (sd:/linux/)
3. Copy firm_linux_loader.firm to the SD
   • Luma3DS: sd:/luma/payloads/
4. Run the .firm file to boot Linux
   • Luma3DS: you can add a prefix to the file such as down_firm_linux_loader.firm to boot Linux if you power on while pressing down.
5. Profit!

Linux login:

• User: root
• Pass: root

Other stuff:

• You can start Weston by running:
  
  # /start-weston.sh​
• You can mount the SD card (read-only) to /media/sd by running:
  
  # /sdmount.sh​
• You can change the input mode (keyboard, mouse) by pressing SELECT

Sources:

• Linux: https://github.com/xerpi/linux_3ds
• FIRM Linux loader: https://github.com/xerpi/firm_linux_loader
• arm9linuxfw: https://github.com/xerpi/arm9linuxfw

Build instructions: https://gist.github.com/xerpi/3c720d345820691a2985502fcd80268f

Old downloads:

Spoiler

• Download for FW less or equal than 9.2 (uses Brahma):
  • Linux + loader: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByXgF-rsC8PTWVNlZmtCX1F1M0E/view?usp=sharing
• arm9loaderhax Linux loader (grab the zImage and the .dts from the download above):
  • https://gbatemp.net/attachments/linuxarm9-zip.42622
    • Thanks to @RednaxelaNnamtra and @gudenaurock
  • Download for any (?) FW (It uses Memchunkhax2 so its very unstable atm)nly the loader: https://github.com/xerpi/Memchunkha.../vAlpha1/Memchunkhax2-Linux-Loader_alpha1.zip

Other downloads:

Spoiler

• Precompiled ARM toolchain (for x86-64 Linux): https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByXgF-rsC8PTNDR5VllnMDJSdEE
  • (toolchain compiled with: https://github.com/crosstool-ng/crosstool-ng)
• Buildroot
• Buildroot .config

 

[ihaveahax]

nice job!

I actually made a video using the last release you made in the "Linux for 3DS" thread, but I didn't do that much in it. is this build any different to it?

I should try out the client demos...

 

[xerpi]

nice job!

I actually made a video using the last release you made in the "Linux for 3DS" thread, but I didn't do that much in it. is this build any different to it?

I should try out the client demos...

Yeah it's a bit different! I've changed the compression format and now it's muuuch faster, it will only take 3 seconds to boot
I've also improved the keyboard and the mouse virtual input methods.
And as you already know I've added Weston clients.

Nice video btw, thanks

 

[ihaveahax]

Yeah it's a bit different! I've changed the compression format and now it's muuuch faster, it will only take 3 seconds to boot
I've also improved the keyboard and the mouse virtual input methods.
And as you already know I've added Weston clients.

I will get on trying it out right now

any way we could put our own files into the filesystem? I want to try doing that even if it means building my own version

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

I just noticed you edited some things into the post on how to build.

 

[TR_mahmutpek]

Thanks for the tutorial but what we can do with linux on 3ds?

 

[xerpi]

I will get on trying it out right now

any way we could put our own files into the filesystem? I want to try doing that even if it means building my own version

You'll need to follow the Building instructions until you have built buildroot.
When you have the buildroot/output/images/rootfs.cpio.gz file generated, you can add your files to buildroot/output/target/ and then run make again, buildroot will regenerate the rootfs.cpio.gz with your files inside.

 

[mironicurse]

xerpi, i know you was on gp2x forums pretty often. Tell me, is it possible to port Ginge to 3dslinux?

 

[AtlasFontaine]

As you may know from this thread: https://gbatemp.net/threads/linux-for-3ds.388658 I've managed to get Linux booting on the Nintendo 3DS.

Since I'm using Brahma2, it will only work on FW less or equal than 9.2.

Currently the environment is very simple, you have Busybox (which "simulates" some programs like ls, cat, top, etc) and Weston (the Wayland compositor) plus a few Weston clients demos (don't expect me to try to run the X server).

Downloads:

• Linux + loader: http://www.mediafire.com/download/kjd88rh4o61q9v1/Linux_3DS_binaries.zip
• Precompiled ARM toolchain (for x86-64 Linux): https://www.dropbox.com/s/7ospbg9y5...nown-linux-gnueabihf-5.2.0-mpcore.tar.gz?dl=0
  • (toolchain compiled with: https://github.com/crosstool-ng/crosstool-ng)
• Buildroot
• Buildroot patch
• Buildroot .config

Readme:

Linux 3DS Loader by xerpi

Installation:
1) Copy the zImage and the nintendo3ds_ctr.dtb to the root of the SD card
2) Copy the 3ds folder to the root of the SD card
3) Run 3DS Linux Loader.3dsx with a Homebrew Launcher
    User: root
    Pass: root

Linux things:
* You can start Weston by running:
    # /start-weston.sh
* You can change the input mode (keybord, mouse) by pressing SELECT


Sources:
* Linux: https://github.com/xerpi/linux
* Buildroot: https://github.com/buildroot/buildroot
* Linux 3DS Loader: https://github.com/xerpi/3DS-Linux-Loader

Note: Currently it doesn't support the SD card, Wi-Fi, the touchscreen, etc because only the ARM9 CPU has access to them, and Linux runs on the ARM11 CPU.
I will have to add a custom ARM9 "kernel" that communicates with the ARM11 CPU.
Don't expect me to have it coded very soon.

How to compile it yourself

• Step 1: Compiling or Downloading the toolchain
  • Step 1.a: Downloading the toolchain if you have Linux x86-64
    • Download the Precompiled ARM toolchain
    • Uncompress it to /opt/x-tools/arm-unknown-linux-gnueabihf
  • Step 1.b: Compiling the ARM toolchain
    • Git clone https://github.com/crosstool-ng/crosstool-ng.git
    • Run: autoconf && ./configure --enable-local && make install
    • Run ./ct-ng ct-ng menuconfig
      • Go to Target options
        • Target Architecture -> Select arm
        • Floating point -> Select hardware (FPU)
          
        • Emit assembly for CPU -> Write mpcore
        • Exit -> Exit -> Save? Yes
    • Run ./ct-ng build

• Step 2: Build buildroot
  • Git clone https://github.com/buildroot/buildroot.git
  • Apply the Buildroot patch
  • Copy the Buildroot .config to the buildroot folder
  • Run make (-jN)

• Step 3: Build Linux
  • Git clone https://github.com/xerpi/linux.git
  • Copy buildroot/output/images/rootfs.cpio.gz to the linux folder
  • Run sh make_3ds.sh
    • (you can edit the script and change -j3 to the value you want to speedup the compilation)

• Step 4: Copy Linux to the SD
  • Copy linux/arch/arm/boot/zImage to the root of your SD card
  • Copy linux/arch/arm/boot/dts/nintendo3ds_ctr.dtb to the root of your SD card

• Step 5: Build and copy the 3DS Linux Loader to the SD
  • Git clone https://github.com/xerpi/3DS-Linux-Loader
  • Run make
  • Copy the generated 3DS-Linux-Loader.3dsx to your SD card (inside the 3ds folder or wherever you want)

Screenshots:

Will you fix the screen rotation? or is that supposed to look like that? GJ Tho.

 

[Sono]

Will you fix the screen rotation? or is that supposed to look like that? GJ Tho.

It looks like that, becaue that's how the 3DS's screen physically is. That's why I have to export the images rotated 90degrees to the right, so it'll be in the "correct" orientation for the user.

 

[william341]

Quick question: Wouldn't it be better to use the Circle Pad to move the mouse?

 

[JerwuQu]

Really cool! But why does it need ARM9 access? :o

 

[VeryCrushed]

Really cool! But why does it need ARM9 access? :o

ARM9 will grant access to SD, WiFi, Touchscreen, etc. I'm pretty sure its also required to even boot it which is why its 9.2 and below.

 

[laharl22]

Anyone can post a precompiled version ?

 

[ihaveahax]

Anyone can post a precompiled version ?

there is one in "Downloads": http://www.mediafire.com/download/kjd88rh4o61q9v1/Linux_3DS_binaries.zip

 

[laharl22]

This project is very good i dont know why linux was never come to the psp

 

[Rosselman]

You have Wayland running on a 3DS? That's impressive, even if it's only a novelty for now.

This project is very good i dont know why linux was never come to the psp

Typing console commands with the PSP controls seems like a torture. Besides, it was weak, and the MIPS architecture doesn't make the porting easier, unlike ARM.

 

[SLiV3R]

Very cool! But what can the average user do with this?

 

[ihaveahax]

Very cool! But what can the average user do with this?

nothing really, it's kind of just a toy to play with.

 

[SLiV3R]

nothing really, it's kind of just a toy to play with.

Ok. But in the future then?

 

[ihaveahax]

Ok. But in the future then?

I think it's kind of impractical to use Linux on the 3DS for anything serious when you could just, you know, make a native homebrew program. but who knows?