Exciting developments by Graf;

And recently i figured out that the VFLASH region, where Linux boot loader (otheros.bld) is stored, is still there on 3.41 firmware. I’m trying now to boot Linux bootloader from this region. OtherOs.self writes otheros.bld image to this VFLASH region and creates cekk_ext_os_area where several parameters are stored. On 3.15 firmware, when Linux was booted, the Linux System Manager (in HV process 9) loads Linux bootloader from the VFLASH region, decompresses it and boots it. The problem with 3.4.1 firmware is, that SONY removed Linux System Manager from HV process 9. It’s no problem for me to store Linux bootloader on this VFLASH partition. But there are 2 problems, first the VFLASH region where Linux is stored is 0×40000 bytes large, so there is not much place for Linux bootloader on VFLASH, so it should be compressed to make it smaller. Second problem is, i have to patch HV process, insert my code which loads it from VFLASH and decompresses Linux bootloader. And after that we could boot Linux from HDD and it would have GameOS rights, e.g. has access to Dispatcher Manager e.g.
or run isolated SPUs.
And more, HV has a nice feature to boot Linux bootloader with System Debugger :-) Too bad i don’t have a debugger for HV :-)
And i figured out that the size of VFLASH region where 3.15 stored otheros.bld can be doubled and i will be able to store decompressed Linux bootloader otheros.bld on this VFLASH region :-) It will simplify HV patching immensely, i do not need now to decompress Linux bootloader in HV. I will test it today and report back. There are 0×2000 extra unused sectors between the VFLASH region for otheros.bld and the next VFLASH region, so i can use those sectors and increase the size of VFLASH region for otheros.bld.

We could make a CFW by patching HV with dual boot option, either GameOS or Linux could be booted from HDD.
I updated now my partition table of VFLASH and incresed the size of VFLASH region where Linux bootloader is stored. After that i stored petitboot Linux bootloader on VFLASH successfully. Next step – patching HV at runtime and booting petitboot from HDD which will allow me to install a Linux distribution on a HDD region on my 3.41 PS3.
My approach will enable OtherOS to have the same access rigths as GameOS, it means access to Dispatcher Manager, Update Manager, VFLASH, HDD encryption/decryption, isolated SPUs and RSX of course.
GameOS is only good for games, for PS3 development and hacking is Linux or FreeBSD with GameOS rights are a lot better. And i want a clean approach for booting Linux, not like AsbestOS, it’ not very clean.

I have my loader for OtherOS bootloader ready now, will patch HV today and try it out in the evening, after that will report back. Stay tuned.
XorHack v2.0: The Updated PS3 Exploit Toolkit « xorloser’s blog