HOWTO: How to Install Linux on a Playstation 2 without Sony's Offical Linux Kit

What do you need?

To install linux you need the following things:

Playstation 2 (e.g. SCPH-50004 or SCPH-39004, slim PSTwo SCPH-70000 is not recommended).
PS2 Linux Kernel with VFAT support (devfs)
PS2 Linux Kernel without devfs
Initial ramdisk
Bootloader Kernelloader
Linux distribution to install. Please download blackrhino_baseimage-1.0.tar.gz from Sourceforge Download
USB memory stick
Hard disc (recommended), all data will be deleted (you can also use a USB memory stick, but then you need to change the scsi device path at your own)
Network adapter SCPH-10350 or SCPH-10281 for PS2 (recommended, required to connect the hard disc)
USB keyboard
TV screen and a video cable (you can use the normal PS2 video cable)
PS2 memory card (recommended, but not required)
A method to boot the files is required to start kloader.elf. Please choose one:

Modchip (I don't have a modchip, but this method should work, you need to generate a system.cnf file to start kloader.elf)
Action Replay: The ARmax media player can start kloader.elf
Memory card exploit memory card exploit (not working with slim PSTwo)
Memory card exploit Free McBoot (working with old slim PSTwo)

Download vmlinux and initrd files.

Note: It is easier to start the Linux Live DVD and extract the baseimage from the DVD. The base image is at /oldroot/cdrom/SRC/BASE-1.0.TGZ. The kernel is on the DVD at BOOT/VMLINUX.GZ.
To get the command line, you need to start xterm from the menu. Then you need to enter the command "su" to get root access.

Steps:

Note: The screen shots are from an old kernelloader version, you should use the newest version.

Create directory "ps2linux" on a USB memory stick and copy all files here (vmlinux, vmlinux.devfs, initrd.gz and blackrhino_baseimage-1.0.tar.gz).
Start "kloader.elf" using your preferred booting method. At startup you will see the following screen. You can use the PS2 controller to navigate through the menu. The button CROSS selects a menu entry. It is also possible to use a USB keyboard and press UP and DOWN keys. You can select a menu entry by pressing RETURN.
Select kernel vmlinux.devfs. This kernel supports VFAT used on most USB memory sticks.
Select initial ramdisk (initrd). We need a small system to install Linux.
Disable "dmarelay.irx" (recommended). This is only required if you use other kernels with DMA support.
Boot Linux
Create Linux partitions on hard disc (CAUTION: all data will be deleted).
- fdisk /dev/ide/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/disc
  Commands (key + return):
  "p" - Show partitions
  "d" - Delete partitions
  "n" - Create partitions
  "t" - CHange partition type
  "w" - Write data back
  "q" - Quit
  
  If you use a kernel without devfs (e.g. from the Live DVD), the command is different:
  fdisk /dev/hda - internal IDE hard disc
  fdisk /dev/sda - first external USB mass storage
  fdisk /dev/sdb - second external USB mass storage
  
  Steps:
  1. Show all partitions with "p".
  2. Delete all partitions with "d".
  3. Create a swap partition with "n", "p", "1", "1", "+128M".
  4. Change partition type with "t", "1", "82".
  5. Create root partition with "n", "p", "2", return, return.
  6. Write partition data on hard disc with "w"
Format swap partition (CAUTION: Delete all data on hard disc):
- mkswap /dev/ide/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/part1
  If you use a kernel without devfs (e.g. from the Live DVD), the command is different:
  mkswap /dev/hda1 - internal IDE hard disc
  mkswap /dev/sda1 - first external USB mass storage
  mkswap /dev/sdb1 - second external USB mass storage
Format root partition (CAUTION: Delete all data on hard disc):
- mke2fs /dev/ide/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/part2
  If you use a kernel without devfs (e.g. from the Live DVD), the command is different:
  mke2fs /dev/hda2 - internal IDE hard disc
  mke2fs /dev/sda2 - first external USB mass storage
  mke2fs /dev/sdb2 - second external USB mass storage
Mount hard disc
- mkdir /mnt
- mount /dev/ide/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/part2 /mnt
  If you use a kernel without devfs (e.g. from the Live DVD), the command is different:
  mount /dev/hda2 /mnt - internal IDE hard disc
  mount /dev/sda2 /mnt - first external USB mass storage
  mount /dev/sdb2 /mnt - second external USB mass storage
Mount USB memory stick (read only):
- mkdir /usb
- mount -r /dev/scsi/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/part1 /usb
  If you use a kernel without devfs (e.g. from the Live DVD), the command is different:
  mount -r /dev/sda1 /usb - first external USB mass storage
  mount -r /dev/sdb1 /usb - second external USB mass storage
Extract Linux distribution
cd mnt
tar -xzf /usb/ps2linux/black~1.gz
There will be many messages printed showing that date is in the future.
Customize Linux installation:
- vi /mnt/etc/fstab
  Commands:
  ESC - Get back to command mode.
  "i" - Insert text.
  "x" - Remove character.
  ":wq" - Save and quit.
  ":q!" - Quit and don't save.
  - Exchange "hda1" and "hda2". "hda1" must be swap. "hda2" must be "ext2".
    If you installed to USB memory device, exchange hda by sda.
Unmount and reboot:
- cd /
- unmount /mnt
- unmount /usb
- shutdown -h now
Start "kloader.elf" using your preferred booting method.
Select kernel vmlinux.
Disable initrd
Change kernel parameter using USB keyboard to "crtmode=pal root=/dev/hda2 ro" or "crtmode=ntsc root=/dev/hda2 ro" (Keep your "pal" or "ntsc" setting).
If you installed on USB mass storage, you need to use initrd.usb2.gz and kernel parameter "newroot=/dev/sda1" for first partition or "newroot="/dev/sda2" for second partition and remove parameter "root".
Save configuration.
Boot Linux.
You can now login as "root" user and use Linux.