Xbox Linux

Linux boot process on Xbox

Xbox Linux is a Linux distribution for the Xbox game console . The term is also used as a generic term for various other Linux distributions that can run on the Xbox. The corresponding distributions were adapted to the special hardware requirements of the Xbox game console . Appropriately adapted Linux distributions can be installed on any Xbox after minor modifications.

history

Started as a project by the German developer group H Zero Seven at the end of 2001 , despite a security architecture similar to TCPA, the Xbox Linux was able to run on the Xbox with the help of an Xbox modchip in mid-2002 . This turned the game console into a full-fledged computer. Due to a security hole , a so-called softmod has even been possible since August 2003, i.e. using the operating system without such a chip. The softmod concerns a modification of the hard disk as well as the flash memory , which can be overwritten.

There was a media vortex when Michael Robertson , the founder of mp3.com and Lindows.com , promised US $ 200,000 to those who would be the first to get Linux to run on the Xbox in 2002 , whereupon the original founders because of the commercial background and various other things GPL violations by Robertson's company left the project. The co-founder Michael Steil continued the project until it was finally successful.

The keyboard and mouse are connected using USB adapters.

Using the program Wine can Microsoft Office and other Windows programs are used. With the emulation program VMware it is possible to run Windows versions on the Xbox. Since the Xbox hardware is identical to that of a PC, the Xbox hardware can be upgraded to a certain extent. The existing hard disk is often exchanged for a larger one.

Distributions

Gentoox is a version of Gentoo specially adapted for the Xbox. In contrast to the normal installation of Gentoo, which requires a little more in-depth knowledge of Linux, Gentoox can even be installed " out of the box ". This saves a lot of time, since the packages no longer have to be compiled and configured, but actually only have to be transferred.

In contrast to Gentoox, Gentoo for Xbox has not been specially adapted, but only contains an extended profile, which is tailored to the hardware requirements of the Xbox. The packages are compiled by the Xbox and the applications are configured like a Gentoo on the PC.

Xebian is a specialversion of Debian for the Xbox. It can be installed on a free partition or on the partition of the saved games. Xebian can also be used as a live CD / DVD.

The modification of Ubuntu for the Xbox is called XUbuntu. This name is now also used for Ubuntu with XFCE.

There are also customized versions of Fedora Core , Slackware and many more.

Xbox and Security

On the 22C3 of the CCC , a lecture was about the security of the Xbox and the Xbox 360 held. Among other things, 17 security flaws were discovered that made it possible to install Linux on the Xbox.

Web links

Gentoox homepage
Linux on Xbox. many howtos , including a detailed description of the installation, list of distributions. Archived from the original on July 10, 2010 ; accessed on January 14, 2013 .

Individual evidence

[1] ttps://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/19C3-Linux-Tuning-Kit-macht-Xbox-zum-PC-Update-72379.html

[2] ttp://www.golem.de/0207/20592.html

[3] ttp://www.golem.de/0512/42229.html

[4] ttp://linuxreviews.org/features/shallax/index.html.en

[5] ttps://media.ccc.de/browse/congress/2005/22C3-559-en-xbox_hacking.html