Xbox Linux facts for kids
Xbox Linux was a special project that allowed the Linux operating system to run on the original Xbox video game console. The Xbox had a special security system to stop people from running software that wasn't approved by Microsoft. To get Linux to work, people had to use either a "modchip" (a small piece of hardware) or a "softmod" (a software trick).
At first, modchips were the only way. But later, people found a way to change the Xbox's internal software, called the BIOS. They could put a special, legal BIOS called "Cromwell" onto the Xbox. Also, some clever software tricks were discovered. For example, a small flaw was found in games like 007: Agent Under Fire. This flaw allowed a special Linux program to start directly from a game save file.
The Xbox is actually a lot like a PC. It has an Intel Pentium III processor running at 733 MHz. It also has a 10 GB hard drive (though only 8 GB was usually available for games), 64MB of RAM, and four USB ports. (The controller ports are actually USB ports with a different shape.) These parts are powerful enough to run many different versions of Linux.
The Xbox Linux project described it like this:
The Xbox is a PC made by Microsoft. It has an Intel Celeron 733 MHz CPU, an nVidia GeForce 3MX graphics chip, 64 MB of RAM, an 8 or 10 GB hard disk, a DVD drive, and 10/100 Ethernet for internet. Just like any PC, you can run Linux on it.
An Xbox with Linux can become a full desktop computer with a mouse and keyboard. It can also be used as a web or email box connected to your TV, a server, or even a router. You can choose to have both Xbox games and Linux on it (called dual-boot), or just Linux. You can even connect the Xbox to a regular computer monitor.
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What Can You Do with Xbox Linux?
An Xbox with Linux can do many things, just like a regular computer. You can use it as a desktop computer with a mouse and keyboard. It can also be a web browser or email machine connected to your TV. Some people used it as a server (to store files) or a router (to share internet).
You can choose to have both Xbox games and Linux on your console. This is called "dual-booting." Or, you can set it up to run only Linux. You can also connect the Xbox to a VGA computer monitor. To use a regular keyboard or mouse, you need a special adapter for the Xbox controller ports. This is because the Xbox uses standard USB technology, but with a different connector.
It's important to know that some newer Xbox versions (like version 1.6) had a special video chip. This chip was made only by Microsoft, and its code wasn't shared. This made it harder for Linux to work perfectly on these specific Xboxes. Sometimes, the picture on the screen would be too big, going off the edges. Xboxes with a modchip and the Cromwell BIOS could run more versions of Linux than those with only a softmod.
How to Install Linux with a Softmod
One popular way to install Xbox Linux was using a "softmod." This method didn't need any extra hardware like a modchip. The Xbox Linux softmod used a trick found in the save files of certain games. These games included MechAssault, Splinter Cell, 007: Agent Under Fire, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4.
Here's how it worked: You would transfer a special, modified save file to the Xbox's hard drive. When you loaded this save file in the game, it would start a program called MechInstaller. After you restarted the Xbox, the "Xbox Live" option on the main menu would be replaced with a new "Linux" option. Another softmod trick was called "hotswap." This allowed you to temporarily unlock the Xbox hard drive to make changes to it.
There was also a way to completely replace the Xbox's original BIOS with the "Cromwell" BIOS. This "Cromwell" BIOS was made legally and was only for running Linux on the Xbox. However, once the Xbox's BIOS chip (called the TSOP) was changed to "Cromwell," the Xbox could no longer play Xbox games or run regular Xbox programs.
Different Versions of Xbox Linux
Several different versions of Xbox Linux were created. Most of them were based on Linux versions made for regular PCs.
| Distribution | What it Does |
|---|---|
| Xebian/Ed's Debian | This version of Xbox Linux could be installed onto the Xbox's hard drive. You could also try it out without installing it (a "live session"). It could even be used to connect to a MythTV system, which helps organize TV shows. |
| Gentoox | This version was based on Gentoo Linux. It had a special "magic" updater that let users download updates and programs made just for the Xbox. |
| X-DSL | This was a very small version of Linux, based on ... Small Linux. |
See also
In Spanish: Xbox Linux para niños
- Free60
- Linux for PlayStation 2
- OtherOS
