nOOb: Browsing your Memory Card using Ethernet

[Spud AU]

Sorry I'm predominantly Xbox minded and have no idea when it comes to the modding and hacking side of PS2 so please bare with me...

Is it possible to access my Memory Card via ethernet while the card is plugged into the the PS2? Be it FTP or whatnot can I run a disc or something with the PS2 that lets me browse (read and write) files on the card from my PC?

The reason I ask is I have GT4 replays and photo's I'd like to get off the card and onto my pc for the purpose of sharing them around the www. I don't have a USB stick and I don't have any Action Replay type device either.

Cheers in advance and sorry if this post is in the wrong section

[retro]

u can run a ftp server on your ps2. use execftps.
read the readme carfully! its buggy but it works

[Spud AU]

Thanks for the prompt reply retro.

Now I've done a little more research of ExecFTP and I now have some more questions for you sorry .

I'm running my games off a non-modded Slimline PS2 with a USB hdd using SwapMagic 3.3 and then using a burnt copy of the USB Advance disc to play GT4 from the hdd. This works fine.

My question is; how do I run ExecFTP from my USB hdd? I tried a tutorial on installing ExecFTP here which I think is only for use with a network adaptor or IDE hdd but yes this method wouldn't work with my USB hdd. Obviously I have a lot to learn?
I successfully created the iso file using the above tutorial but getting it to my hdd using the USBExtreme pc client was a failer. I used the same procedure for GT4 and it worked great I figured it wouldn't hurt to try hehe.

I'm currently searching for a method to get ExecFTP working for those with USB hdd's. This is what I need yes?

I've just purchased the new SwapMagic 3.6 with built in USB hdd loader. It's not arrived as yet but hopefully this precedure to get ExecFTP running should still be the same. It will also save me loading two discs to get to the USB hdd games and hopefully soon, apps.

[dlanor]

I've just purchased the new SwapMagic 3.6 with built in USB hdd loader. It's not arrived as yet but hopefully this precedure to get ExecFTP running should still be the same. It will also save me loading two discs to get to the USB hdd games and hopefully soon, apps.

As far as I know Swapmagic 3.6 allows you to boot one ELF program file from the USB drive, and apparently the unit you speak of uses some kind of 'hdd loader' for that ELF (judging by what you said). But that is not really the best choice...

I would instead replace that ELF with a copy of LaunchELF v3.41, and use this to launch that 'hdd loader', as well as ExecFTPs or any other PS2 apps you may need. At present LaunchELF is the most versatile launcher around.

Btw: I've never heard of a 'USB hdd loader' before, so I'm not at all sure what program that is. I suppose it could be a variant of USBextreme, though I'd expect that name to be used then...

Best regards: dlanor

[Spud AU]

Thanks for the info dlanor!

Ironically my SwapMagic 3.6 discs came in today lol. Unfortunatley I cannot for the life of me work out how load something from my USB hdd with so I'm still currently using the USB Advance disc.

Now a couple of questions about LaunchELF. Is this something you run off a disc? IE can you dump say your favourite apps on the disc with LaunchELF and run it like that? And if so do you think it would work with the SwapMagic discs?

[dlanor]

Thanks for the info dlanor!

Ironically my SwapMagic 3.6 discs came in today lol. Unfortunatley I cannot for the life of me work out how load something from my USB hdd with so I'm still currently using the USB Advance disc.

Well, I never used Swapmagic myself, but what I've read is that it will automatically load an ELF from the USB drive, if it finds one stored as "\SWAPMAGIC\SWAPMAGIC.ELF". (That is in 'Windows' syntax. For PS2 that path would be written as "mass:/SWAPMAGIC/SWAPMAGIC.ELF.")

What you need to do on your PC is to select a downloaded ELF file, rename it to SWAPMAGIC.ELF, and put it in a folder named SWAPMAGIC, placing that folder in the root directory of your USB drive. With that USB drive connected to the PS2, the Swapmagic disc should launch the selected ELF automatically.

Try it out and let me know if it works. (I've never tried it myself...)

Now a couple of questions about LaunchELF. Is this something you run off a disc? IE can you dump say your favourite apps on the disc with LaunchELF and run it like that? And if so do you think it would work with the SwapMagic discs?

LaunchELF can be run from almost any PS2 media, including CD, DVD, HDD, USB, and some others. The only problem is getting something to actually try running it, as the standard PS2 bios does NOT support homebrew stuff. For most people the solution is a mod-chip or the 'exploit', but for you the obvious solution now is Swapmagic.

Once started, LaunchELF is itself capable of handling most PS2 media, including those mentioned earlier. You can easily manage files and folders with the built-in file browser, and launch ELFs either through that browser or from a quicklaunch menu with up to 11 of your favourite choices. (The latest update increases that to 22, and I expect further updates shortly.)

For the PS2, this is simply the best launcher available.

Best regards: dlanor

[Spud AU]

Well thanks again dlanor you've been more than helpful yet again!

Basically... It worked!! It loaded the ExecFTP program fine but it could not detect the CONFIG.DAT file under the same directory (mass:/SWAPMAGIC/) so it went back to default network settings which don't work for me (I need a 192.168.2.1 gateway). Eventually I figured it out though; I placed the LaunchELF app in mass:/SWAPMAGIC/ instead and ran that first with SwapMagic. I put ExecFTP in it's own dir on the USB hdd and ran it from LaunchELF. Doing it that way it detected CONFIG.DAT fine from 'mass:/EXECFTP/' and I then made ftp contact from my pc with FlashFXP.

I could browse only the memory card and not the USB hdd but I only need memory card access atm for my GT4 saves and photo's. Anyway browsing the memory card has me stumped atm as I don't know what save is what lol. It's all jargon to me so far.

Again thankyou very much for all your help dlanor you've opened up a new world for me . If I can help you out with anything Xbox related please ring my bell hehe.

[dlanor]

I could browse only the memory card and not the USB hdd but I only need memory card access atm for my GT4 saves and photo's.

The limitation here is that ExecFTPs lacks USB support, but you can use the file browser of LaunchELF to copy stuff between USB and MC. In fact you can skip the FTP operations, and copy files from GT4 saves on MC with LaunchELF, placing them in some folder on the USB drive. Then connect it to the PC to copy them elsewhere.

Anyway browsing the memory card has me stumped atm as I don't know what save is what lol. It's all jargon to me so far.

That's another advantage of browsing with LaunchELF instead of FTP. With LaunchELF's file browser you can press L1 to have the folder names 'translated' into the save names shown by original PS2 browser.

Best regards: dlanor

[dick_onion53]

I agree with dlanor, do everything you can with launchelf... the ftp svr is buggy and can sometimes corrumpt files...

[DNAS]

I disagree ExecFTP has given me no problems at all besides from a few dropped transfers here and there but I believe that was my FTP program that did that but since u have the slimline PS2 ur best bet would be LaunchELF which is very easy to use.