Digital workflow specialist Helios has customised a version of Linux to allow its server suite to run on PS3 hardware.
The free installer will be available from 1st of June (jpy.com). It utilises Yellow Dog Linux v5.0 as its operating system, and includes a test drive version of Helios UB, the enterprise client server solution. It is believed that this is the first instance of the games platform being used for a business server solution.
Dr John Yardley, MD of Helios distributor JPY, said, "It might seem like a crazy idea, but pound for pound the PS3 offers amazing power. I expect plenty of Linux enthusiasts will find good uses for the installation, which includes powerful tools like EtherShare and WebShare. Getting Helios running on the platform is akin to cramming a Spitfire engine into a Mini."
The Linux installer is customised to make the best use of the limited memory available on the PS3. The disk image installs Yellow Dog Linux in under 10 minutes, with a configuration designed to optimise performance offering 40 per cent more memory than the standard configuration.
The PS3 uses a 64-bit Cell processor that runs at 3.2 GHz, is PowerPC compatible with 256 MB of main memory, and has performance comparable to a G5 single CPU. The PS3 comes with the NVidia RSX Graphics Processing Unit, has a 60 GB 2.5" swappable serial ATA disk and offers WLAN and Gigabit Ethernet for network connectivity. Terra Soft's Yellow Dog Linux v5.0 is binary compatible with its release for the former Apple PowerPC product line and concurrent support for the Mercury Cell products and IBM Cell and pSeries servers.
Advantages of the Helios PS3 Linux installation:
- * Free download from HELIOS website
* Easy installation, ready to run in a few minutes
* Excellent Linux on PS3 documentation from Helios
* Dedicated server operating system with optimized performance (40% more memory available)
* Java 1.5 runtime is pre-installed
* Easy maintenance shell from CD
* Helios services are pre-installed as a test drive
