Making HDL partitions viewable in SMS?

[pio_masaki]

Ok, I'm tired of using my USB drive to copy my stuff to my HDD in my ps2, tired of it running at 400-800 KB/s. Using either SMS, winhiip, HDL, uLE, or anything else I haven't come across yet, can I change a HDL partition, created by winhiip, to something uLE OR SMS can read and write to?

My plan was to create a dvd iso of say 4 GB, filling this iso with my media files to be copied to the HDD, then using winhiip copy the iso to a partition, same as any game. However, uLE and SMS won't read INTO the partition, only show it's there, which brings up my next question (the key actually)

How does HDLoader/winhiip store the information in the partition? As I can't see it, I'm not sure, what I was thinking was, it creates the appropiate size partition, in this partition it writes the files, then HDL uses this partition with its files as the "disc" to be played. The other way I see it happening is the same, however it copies the iso file itself into the partition, and uses it as the "disc".

If its the first way, I need to get uLE to change the partition to + so SMS can go into it, or I need SMS to be able to read the files inside of it, not an iso but the actual files.

If its the second method, nevermind, it won't work unless SMS gains the ability to mount an iso file from a HDL partition, again requiring access into the partition, or the ability to load the partition itself as a disc to be played.

I realize just putting the HDD into a usb enclosure would solve the speed issue, but I want it inside of the ps2, not hanging off someplace and looking ugly, theres access to the HDD from inside, I would like it to remain there. As such, it seems it has to be a HDL formatted drive, or I guess ext2 since linux uses that, but I dunno if SMS/uLE can even read that (hmm new test). I tried that pfs explorer or whatever it was that allowed full access to a pfs HDD connected to the computer, but for one, it's not in english, two, it ate a partition, three, its no faster then uLE or SMS at copying files. If my HDD can run at 40 MB/s, I would like to use that speed.

Summary: Can I change a HDL partition to + so uLE can read into it?

[deba5er]

@pio_masaki

I haven't used pfsexplorer or pfsshell, since I can use the ULE with host: and rad host client 1.8a to copy over the network a little faster than using the usb. However, you might try pfsshell since pfsexplorer seems to have lots of reports of corruption (including your recent experience).
Here is a good link discussing the above and use of ULE host: network transfer:
http://www.psx-scene.com/forums/show...192#post442192
With this exact post:
http://www.psx-scene.com/forums/show...92&postcount=9

I think it might be best to create the partition(s) with ULE's MISC/hddmanager tool (I trust this method of creating partitions) and testing the pfsshell copy with a spare drive you don't mind messing up. I think you said you intended to use a different drive than the one you use with hdloader. I am away from home tonight so have no test capability, but I thought you might like to test pfsshell. Get it from sksapps.com.

[pio_masaki]

I did get it from sksapps around a month ago, but with no documentation on how to use it aside from no warranty a few times, I never got around to really using it much. It's another alternative I haven't explored yet, but I likely will tonight or tomorrow when time allows. Pfsexplorer only did some odd things a couple times, one thing was files put there by it would not be deleteable from uLE or SMS, or uLE would but it would take 2-3 tries first. Other things were videos not playing in SMS that were put there by pfsexplorer, and it ate my hdl settings partition/folder whatever it is. Not a biggie as it was put there to keep winhiip/HDL quiet about there not being one. I had also considered setting up the host thing, but the ps2 is nowhere near my router, and the speed still leaves much to be desired, I did copy a game or two to HDL using the network adapter, I wasn't very impressed. uLE is how I create partitions on HDL HDD for my snes roms, and how I set up my media drive for SMS use. I have no reason to not trust anything uLE does.

How about this: Why can SMS use fat32 on usb devices, and the ps2 can use ext2 for linux on the internal HDD, but not fat32? If SMS could read a fat32 internal HDD my problems would be gone and I'd be happy as could be. I may just have to give up and go the external HDD enclosure>usb route, use the drive directly on IDE on the desktop then pop it in the enclosure for SMS use. Or, SMS reading ext2. Then I could just boot xubuntu from my flash drive (i did it on my lappy while messing with initrd's for my cell phone last year) mount my windows drive, copy my movies and music over, and be done with it.

[deba5er]

@pio_masaki

Why can SMS use fat32 on usb devices, and the ps2 can use ext2 for linux on the internal HDD, but not fat32?

I can create fat32 partitions in ps2-linux, but I think the more important question which I need to find the answer for is how to read pfs partitions from ps2-linux. That would allow you to store your media on pfs partitions for use by both SMS and PS2-Linux.

@all on another subject
People have asked about live cds but because PS2-Linux is locked to only read ORIGINAL GAMES (cd or dvd), you won't find it useful without a modchip. I researched that somewhat tonight in hopes of a workaround, but there are not alot of people (FAT PS2 only) willing to run a two drive setup with an IDE cable hanging out of the PS2 to a DVD drive so I don't know of a way to do this. Kernelloader recognizes data DVDs setup to look like DVD-Video but PS2-Linux does not. Anyone reading if you have a solution, I'm interested.

[pio_masaki]

I'm always down to try something new, hence the ps2-linux fiasco you've been helping me with. Let me know what you need me to do and my V7 fatty shall do your bidding. I was kind of curious if the ps2, if only linux, could see a master/slave drive setup through the network adapter. Power is a little concerning, however if its a HDD and a dvd drive, it shouldn't be an issue, two HDDs spinning up might be a problem with amp draw, though.

Anyways, I have a fliptop so I can just route my wiring up through there, or just leave the whole top off for testing, let me know what you need done, any commands needed, basically step by step me through whatever and my fatty ps2 is yours to dominate in the interest of why-the-hell-not.

[deba5er]

@pio_masaki

Cool. Time to sort this one out in my head - I usually work about 5 projects in parallel (today I competed a GPS database project with over 33000 entries, whew; while finishing dependency and final compiles to get Jool working in PS2-Linux for my girlfriend, while researching stuff for the psx-scene questions so this one will have to shuffle in the priorities awhile) - the PFS partition has more of my interest right now as it would help more people in normal installations. Ok time for sleep so no more for tonight.

[pio_masaki]

Ok a quick look at how I would hook up not 1 but 2 devices has made me realize I lack the stuff to do it right now, I would need my IDE cable, but with a male end on one side for the adapter. I would also need a Y cable, 2 male and 1 female end to power both devices from the adapter. The second thing isn't to big a deal, I can power them with a PSU from a desktop jumpered to run, the cable thing I may have to run to fry's electronics for, and while there just pick up a Y power cable, can't cost that much.

Looking at the case, both the HDD and dvd drive would need to be outside of the case for this testing, so the top lid will be off the ps2 while it's happening. Option 2 is, I dremel the front part of the HDD cage and get that extra 3 mm of space and hope it gives me the room to fit my adapters, which I'm 99% certain it will not. Only other course is to extend the connection from the ps2 to the adapter, again, not something I will be finding or have the ability to create on my own.

Side note, what exactly are you planning to have me do? Use linux to break down the pfs hdds? If so, I would think the people creating things like HDLoader and winhiip would be able to explain the workings of it, and then you or mega man or whoever else could figure out how to get the kernal to mount and then at least read the partitions. I would think that sony's linux distro would be able to read pfs, its their own damn file system, or is that thinking to highly of them? I also don't know where the kernal I'm using is based from, so it may not even be sony's kernal, but something else modded to work on a ps2, I came way to late in the game, so I lack alot of the basic information I would need to even attempt this on my own.

[deba5er]

@pio_masaki

The added cd/dvd drive hack doesn't look like it would be something lots of people would do unless it is easy. I think there are cable issues as this post indicates splitting wires from 80 conductor IDE cables, not something for the meek. I'll put this one on hold for the time being - https://playstation2-linux.com/forum...p?msg_id=48160

In the meanwhile, it seems like pfs filesystem mounting in ps2-linux is feasible, but maybe beyond my abilities if it involves kernel recompiles.

ps2fs driver -
https://playstation2-linux.com/proje...release_id=431

And mentioned in this tutorial -
http://playstation2-linux.com/forum/...p?msg_id=45578

[pio_masaki]

I read through those posts, still reading (re reading) some, however I don't see anything other then references to having to solder wires from the 80 conductor wires, not sure what/where/why these are getting soldered to. Also a reference to using adapters, and the possiblity of not having to solder at all. Sounds good to me as my solder experience is minimal, at best. Googling so far has turned up alot of stuff about like HDL, or the actual cdvd drive of the ps2, nothing yet about this particular mod.

If you know of the original post/thread they were talking about that explains the actual modding of the wire, I'll look into it, and combined with the first link's thread, be able to assemble and test mount a second drive. I'm curious as to what the mod is, and why it has to be done to allow use of two drives at the same time. I would have thought a simple converter on the network adapter>ribbon cable would suffice, but we'll see.

I *may* have something to work with, I have an adapter for laptop ide drives to be used with desktop ide cables, and it includes a seperate molex connector for powering the laptop drive, I may be able to use this adapter as the female>female adapter I need to even use a cable on the network adapter in the first place.

I wonder if they mean you have to solder the wires directly to the network adapter, removing the female end that would normally go to the HDD, and making it be run by cable instead. If this is the case, I can get around it without soldering, but it won't be permanent as I don't feel like hunting down another adapter ATM. Now to hunt down IDE cable pinouts to adapt my adapter to work on the adapter. Yes, thats alot of adaptation. (in order i mean laptop ide, network)...my wife will hate my ps2 soon.

[deba5er]

@pio_masaki

I couldn't find pics of the ide cable setup. I'm more focused on the ps2fs idea so you can mount a pfs partition like __common in ps2-linux allowing you to share files between SMS/ULE and ps2-linux. I compiled for the old kernel, but I don't have the setup to compile for the current 2.4.17 kernel. I asked Mega Man for help. It is a quick compile, so I hope he will help us out.