PS4 Linux Tutorial

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External Installation - Method 2 (manual partitioning) ​

WARNING

Remember we'll format the external drive! Back up any existing data you care about.

This method involves manual partitioning. It's slower to do, but works flawlessly, therefore it's recommended if you have issues.

Get a Linux PC or VM (even a Live ISO works), or any program that can format drives in Linux's formats.

Then, plug in your drive, and use "GParted", "KDE Partition Manager", or "Aoemi Partition Assistant" on Windows to format your external drive like so:

  • 50MB of FAT32 at the start of the drive with an empty label
  • And a partition of the remaining space formatted as EXT4 labeled "psxitarch"
    • BTRFS works too, but EXT4 is faster and recommended

Now move your bzImage (and bootargs if you need it) and initramfs to the FAT32 partition.

Then, you will need to untar your distro of choice at the root of the bigger EXT4 partition, using this command:

bash
sudo tar -xvJpf ps4linux.tar.xz -C /run/media/YOURNAME/psxitarch --numeric-owner

NOTE

Replace YOURNAME and ps4linux.tar.xz accordingly. Also, you need to check that the drive is actually called psxitarch, it'll be different if you didn't set it.

Launching Linux Rescue Shell ​

After that, either launch your payload with a payload website to load them, or use "Payload Guest" app if the website doesn't work for you.

TIP

Remember that the amount of VRAM you allocate is taken from your system memory! For a 2GB of VRAM payload, you'd have 8-2 = 6GB of remaining system RAM! You aren't creating memory out of thin air!

WARNING

You MUST use a 1GB VRAM payload for installation and first boot. Afterwards, 2GB is recommended.

Payload website hosts ​

Firmware 7.00-12.52

Follow these steps:

  • Go to psfree-enhanced.free.nf
  • Select Linux tab at the top center
  • Select your PS4 model and southbridge
  • Load your desired payload
    • Again, 1GB is necessary for installation!
Alternative website (FW 5.05+)

Even though this website is probably not maintained anymore it'll stay here, as the newer website doesn't work on low firmwares.

If the website doesn't work, use the Payload Guest local method below.

Local payloads ​

If you so desire, or you can't launch it from the web browser for some reason, it's possible to load these payloads locally.

In order to do that, you need to download them here.

After downloading them:

  • Install "Payload Guest" on your PS4 to load the payloads locally
  • Extract from the ELF folders, and rename the file to have a .bin extension instead of .elf, because Payload Loader can't load ELFs
    • Using the .elf seems to lead to a higher success rate when launching
    • Enable "see file extensions" on Windows Explorer or what you're using
    • If it doesn't have any particularly append, it's for both Aeolia and Belize
  • Put the files in the /data/payloads/ directory
  • Remember to check here sometimes to see if there's any updates

Booting up ​

Now that the storage is covered, here comes the moment of truth. You'll be sent to the Rescue Shell.

TIP

If you get an error, go to the Installation issues section.

You should already boot into the desktop. If it doesn't, run

bash
resume-boot

WARNING

Don't run resume-boot more than twice, or it'll crash the system! Do CTRL+ALT+DELETE to reboot instead!

If it doesn't work check this!

If for some reason it doesn't work for you, run the following commands (thanks @gryoza on Discord and @bene4k on Reddit for this):

bash
mount /dev/sdb2 /newroot
exec chroot

You may need to do this at every reboot.

Finale ​

Go now, conquer the finale. Also, read the post-credit stuff.