A few linux Tweaks for AsbestOS

**mjgdroid** · 02-17-2011,04:50 AM

First we are going to start by making a swap file, this will create a useble virtual memory to speed up the ps3. We are also going to use the ps3, 256 ram afterwards to help increase our speed, because the AsbestOS does not utilize this part of the PS3 yet. If you are runing Kaosh, or The kmeaw's Ubuntu images.

So lets begin: first we need to start up terminal, or type cntrl+alt+ f5/f4/f3 wich ever you prefer.

Then type the following: This may take some time...

Code:

sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/mnt/1500Mb.swap bs=1M count=1500

This will create a swap file of 1500 Mega bytes or 1.5 gb.

Next type:

Code:

sudo mkswap /mnt/1500Mb.swap

This added the swap file to the running system, now lets make this happen on startup.

Type the following:

Code:

sudo nano -w /etc/fstab

Now add this line to the bottom:

Code:

/mnt/1500Mb.swap  none  swap  sw  0 0

We also need to change the swappiness by typing :

Code:

vm.swappiness=100

You can change 100 to any number 100 is 100%, Next we have make this happen on startup so type:

Code:

sudo nano -w /etc/sysctl.conf

Then add this line:

Code:

vm.swappiness=100

Ok now lets add the PS3vram to swap and make it run at startup

Type:

Code:

sudo gedit /etc/modules

add "ps3vram" at the end of the file

save the file and get back to the terminal type:

Code:

sudo gedit /etc/rc.local

scroll untill you see these lines of code:

exit 0

Before exit 0 add the following:

Code:

mkswap -f /dev/ps3vram
swapon -p 1 /dev/ps3vram

save and exit.

Now if we haven't done so already and our screen still isnt working correctly lets fix this.

The first order of business is installing fbset...

Code:

sudo apt-get install fbset

Fbset will not work properly while you are still in an X environment. You may want to print all of these instructions out, or write them down on a notebook.

Next we kill our X server, the safest way of doing this is by pressing ctrl+alt+f1
That will drop you to a terminal. Then we log in, and enter this.

Code:

sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop

Next we are going to change our video mode to FULL screen where we get our overscan issues. We will do this using the ps3-video-mode command.

I use 720p so for me the command for fullscreen is:

Code:

ps3-video-mode -v 131

If you are using 1080i it will be:

Code:

ps3-video-mode -v 132

or for 1080p..

Code:

ps3-video-mode -v 133

Now you will notice that half your command prompt and the text is off to the side of the screen... don't panic we will take care of that. We are going to begin scaling the resolution down with fbset until it properly fit's our screen. The hardest part about doing this is that you may not always be able to see what you are typing until your screen settings become more sane. First a little bit about fbset terminology..

-a *makes the settings system wide and applies to all screens*

-xres *sets the horizontal resolution*

-yres *sets the vertical resolution*

-vxres *sets the virtual horizontal resolution*

-vyres *sets the virtual vertical resolution*

So.. for me when I used ps3-video-mode -v 132 to set my screen to full resolution it set it to a resolution of 1920x1080, but with the overscan issue. You might have to adjust pixels.

Code:

fbset -a -xres 1920 -yres 1080 -vxres 1920 -vyres 1080

Now to make the settings stick everytime you boot, edit your kboot.conf file.

Code:

sudo nano -w /etc/kboot.conf

Find this line on the end of your boot string..

Code:

video=ps3fb:mode:3'

Then change it too the full screen resolution you want to boot with..

Code:

video=ps3fb:mode:132'

Now save your kboot.conf *if you are using nano just hit ctrl+x then press Y*

Next we make sure that our fbset command runs right after the fullscreen command we just entered into our kboot.

Code:

sudo nano -w /etc/init.d/fbset.sh

Insert your correct fbset resolutions and mode command into this file and make it look like this... my resolutions are used here as an example.

Code:

#!/bin/sh -e
fbset -a -xres 1920 -yres 1080 -vxres 1920 -vyres 1080
exit 0

Then save the file. *if you are using nano just hit ctrl+x then press Y*

Next we make that file executable like so..

Code:

sudo chmod 755 /etc/init.d/fbset.sh

Now we create a link to that file in rc2.d so it runs right before gdm starts..

Code:

sudo ln -s /etc/init.d/fbset.sh /etc/rc2.d/S26fbset

Next we type these magic words..

Code:

sudo reboot

Upon rebooting x should start and when gdm loads, no more black borders.

*note* please do not try and use my values, they will most likely be different for everyone.

*note* I have tried to keep this as new user friendly as possible, however sometimes I assume a certain amount of linux experience. If any of this confuses you or you are unsure please ask your questions in this thread and I will reply as soon as I can.

We are also going to add this to rc.local to make sure the fbset has been added to the running system and changes the resolution. To do this type in the terminal:

Code:

sudo nano -w /etc/rc.local

now add these lines below were you input the ps3vram from before like this:

Code:

mkswap -f /dev/ps3vram
swapon -p 1 /dev/ps3vram

sudo fbset -a -xres 1920 -yres 1080 -vxres 1920 -vyres 1080
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop
sudo fbset -a -xres 1920 -yres 1080
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start
sudo ps3videomode -v 132
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop
sudo ps3videomode -v 132
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start
sudo sysctl vm.swappiness=100

save and exit and now reboot, and enjoy asbestos with ps3vram and full screen. I have 2 computers running ubuntu and after these tweaks I honestly dont see much difference in speed from my ps3 to my pc.
my pc is not junk either dual core 4ghz 4 gb ddrram 500+ gb hdd

**mjgdroid** · 02-17-2011,04:56 AM

Aslo to see your swap in action type:

Code:

swapon -s

will show your new 1500Mb.swap file and the ps3vram partition like so

/mnt/1500Mb.swap file 15339960 used 0 -1
/dev/ps3vram partition 251900 30684

**VriskaBlack** · 02-17-2011,07:20 AM

This seems pretty awesome. So is a swapfile similar to a pagefile on Windows?

**mjgdroid** · 02-17-2011,05:07 PM

Dunno what a pagefile is I guessed I am gonna see if a pagefile is free. Virtual memory then this is just just like a page file

**giyotin** · 02-17-2011,06:55 PM

[lang=de]sudo problem for me
im not joining sudo[/lang]

**xPreatorianx** · 02-17-2011,11:06 PM

A pagefile is basically virtual memory that sits on the harddrive. The OS swaps the memory back and forth between the pagefile and the actual memory.

Originally Posted by giyotin

[lang=de]sudo problem for me
im not joining sudo[/lang]

No idea what that means. Could you please elaborate?

If you are talking about not wanting to use sudo it's required for some commands so you have to use it to elevate your account to root privileges.

Thanks for the tweaks btw I plan on installing linux here very soon.

**Pahnda** · 02-20-2011,04:00 AM

can't do the first step because it says not enoug space left on device.
i use Kaosh 3.0 on internal hdd

**Pahnda** · 02-20-2011,04:54 AM

can't do the first step because it says not enoug space left on device.
i use Kaosh 3.0 on internal hdd

**mjgdroid** · 02-20-2011,11:48 PM

Originally Posted by Pahnda

can't do the first step because it says not enoug space left on device.
i use Kaosh 3.0 on internal hdd

If your using kaosh change the first value to like 150, 500 Max. Kaos is only 3 gb I didnt think about that. were as kmeas is 10 gigs i made a big swap file, so ya just change the number to lower 150 = 150 megs 500 = 500 Megabytes

**tuner2000i** · 02-21-2011,10:16 PM

hello. i am trying to follow your tuturial right now. i have asbestos 1.5 and kmeaw's ubuntu. the vm.swappiness command does not work for me...it says it does not exit and i also don't have the /etc/kboot.conf file

i can create the file..but what to write in it?

please help... i am not the best with linux...and i did not have a ps3 when otheros did still exist

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