Wii-Linux Wiki - User contributions [en]

Building Kernel Guide

2025-05-18T18:16:10Z

Selimgozel1: A semi-simple guide to help compile wii-linux kernel's

This Guide will teach you how to compile the Wii-Linux kernel for Wii-Linux.

== Requirements ==

* A PC

== Setup and Compile==
# Install Crosstool-NG via package manager or compile it by cloning <code>git clone https://github.com/crosstool-ng/crosstool-ng</code>.
# Make a directory to have all the files/folders to be in
# In that directory clone the Wii-Linux-Toolchain <code>https://github.com/Wii-Linux/wii-linux-toolchain.git</code>.
# cd into the wii-linux-toolchain folder and run <code>mv ct-ng.config .config</code> and run <code>ct-ng build</code>.
#* The process will take a while depending on how shit your computer is.
# Once it's installed it should make a directory in your home folder called x-tools run <code>echo 'PATH="$PATH:~/x-tools/powerpc-unknown-linux-gnu/bin"' >> ~/.bashrc && source ~/.bashrc</code>.
# After you ran the previous command go back to the main directory folder and run <code>git clone https://github.com/Wii-Linux/build-stack</code> and cd into it.
# Once your in the build-stack folder run setup.sh and follow its instructions and make sure you have all the things u have installed, and if it asks to clone and build stuff always answer with Y.
# After setup.sh finishes successfully go back to the main directory and now finally run <code>https://github.com/Wii-Linux/wii-linux-ngx.git --branch <Branch You want></code>.
#* The branch you clone is the kernel you are going to compile, the following kernel's are the ones currently supported.
#** wii-v4.5
#** wii-v4.6
#** wii-v4.9
#** wii-v4.14
#** wii-v4.19
# After you cloned the kernel you want to build go back into build-stack and run <code>./build-kernel.sh [name of your kernel directory will most likely be wii-linux-ngx if you kept it default] <kernelversion>-wii+</code>.
#* Example: <code>./build-kernel.sh wii-linux-ngx 4.19.325-wii+</code>.
# After the Kernel compiles you have to build the loader in order to run your kernel so in the build-stack run <code>./build-loader.sh ../v<Kernel Version>.ldr</code>.
#* Example: <code>./build-loader.sh ../v4_19_325.ldr</code>.
# After the loader is done go to your main directory and run <code>cp <kernedir>/arch/powerpc/boot/zImage . && mv zImage v<Kernel Version>.krn</code> and <code>cp <kerneldir>/modules.tar.gz .</code>.
#* Example: <code>cp <kernedir>/arch/powerpc/boot/zImage . && mv zImage v4_19325.krn</code> and <code>cp wii-linux-ngx/modules.tar.gz .</code>
# Finally after all of that in your main directory you should have 1 ldr file, 1 krn file, and modules.tar.gz file, put the ldr and krn file in the wiilinux folder in your sd card (preassumed that u had the sd card files/folders zip already in there extracted) and extract the modules.tar.gz onto your rootfs under <code>lib/modules</code>.

User talk:Selimgozel1

2025-02-13T19:59:53Z

Selimgozel1: Block of cheese

Lump of cheese

Installation Guide

2024-12-11T19:34:07Z

Selimgozel1: Typo

This guide will walk you through the process of setting up a [[Wii-Linux]] system using the official [[ArchPOWER]] images.

== Requirements ==

* A Wii modified to run homebrew apps via BootMii ([https://wii.hacks.guide/ Wii Hacks Guide] will walk you through this process)
* An SD card of at least 2GB (unlike official Wii Software, Wii-Linux doesn't require an SDHC or smaller SD Card)
* USB storage device for the root partition ('''''optional''''')
* Access to a Linux system that can hold your root partition
** GNU tar is '''required''' to properly extract the rootfs.
** We assume this is a physical machine. Virtual machines will require special configuration to pass through the root device, which is beyond the scope of this guide
** Use of Windows Subsystem for Linux or the ChromeOS "Linux development environment" (aka Crostini) is also beyond the scope of this guide.

We also assume you are comfortable with technical tasks like partitioning media and installing packages.

== Installation process ==

# Ensure that you meet the [[#Requirements|requirements]].
# Identify which install process you would like to use, [[#PC Installer|the script-based PC Installer]], or [[#Manual Installation|Manual Installation]]
# Follow the steps shown for that process.
# Continue to [[#Booting|boot the system]] and [[#After boot|after-boot setup]] to set up anything you'd like (such as networking)
# Success!

== PC Installer ==

'''If you get any errors during this process, please ask for help via #support in (https://discord.gg/K6ea48VUXU the Wii-Linux Discord Server)'''

# Download the installer
#* <code>git clone https://github.com/Wii-Linux/pc-installer</code>
# Run the installer
#* <code>cd pc-installer; sudo ./installer.sh</code>
# Select what disk you would like to use by it's number listed in the brackets
# Pick whether or not you would like to store the root filesystem on a different device (for example, USB storage).
#* If yes, you must have followed the partitioning steps from [[#Manual Installation|the manual installation section]].
#* If yes, you will be prompted to select your root device shortly.
# If you didn't chose yes above, you'll be asked if you want to do an Automatic or Manual install.
#* Automatic will partition and format your SD Card for you
#* Manual will assume that you've partitioned your SD Card already, and will format the partitions you specify if you haven't already.
# After the card has been partitioned, the necessary files will be downloaded and installed for you.
# You will need to answer a few configuration questions.
# Success! Continue to boot your freshly prepared install!

== Manual Installation ==

# From the [https://wii-linux.org/downloads Wii Linux downloads page], download "Latest build's ArchPOWER rootfs (.tar.gz)" and "Latest build's ArchPOWER SD Card files".
# Partition the media. You will need a FAT32 partition on your SD card, and will need an ext4 partition on either the SD card or USB storage.
#* The SD card files take up around 34 megabytes of space. To ensure plenty of space for updating, we recommend at least 256MB for the FAT partition.
#** If you plan to use other Wii homebrew from your SD Card, you probably want to have more space, likely at least 1GB
#* If you are using USB storage for the root, you don't need to partition the SD card.
# Format the root partition as ext4.
#* You will need to ensure that the <code>verity</code> and <code>metadata_csum_seed</code> ext4 features are disabled, because the Wii Linux kernel is too old to support them.
#* <code>sudo mkfs.ext4 -O '^verity' -O '^metadata_csum_seed' -L 'arch' /dev/[root block device here]</code>
# Extract the SD card files to the SD card's FAT32 partition.
## <code>sudo mount /dev/[SD card block device here] /mnt</code>
## <code>cd /mnt</code>
## <code>tar -xzvf [/path/to/boot_files.tgz]</code>
## <code>cd; sudo umount /mnt</code>
# Extract the rootfs.
## <code>sudo mount /dev/[root block device here] /mnt</code>
## <code>cd /mnt</code>
## <code>tar -xvP --acls --xattrs --same-owner --same-permissions --numeric-owner --sparse -f [/path/to/rootfs.tar.gz]</code>
##* You '''must''' use these flags to extract the rootfs properly
## <code>sync; cd; sudo umount /mnt</code>
# Remove the SD card (and root device if you have a dedicated one) from the Linux machine.

== Booting ==

# Insert the SD card and USB device into the Wii.
# Enter BootMii.
#* If you were able to install BootMii as boot2, your Wii will automatically enter BootMii.
#* If you followed the Wii Hacks Guide and installed Priiloader, hold Reset as you power the Wii on, then select the "BootMii IOS" option.
#* You can also open the menu from the Homebrew Channel (HOME button on a Wii Remote, START button on a GameCube controller)
# Wait for gumboot to load the kernel.
#* You can navigate the gumboot menu using the power and reset buttons on the Wii, or the D-pad on a GameCube controller, but that isn't needed for the first boot.
# At the Wii Linux boot menu, select ArchPOWER (or wait a few seconds).
# Watch the systemd boot messages and wait for the login prompt.

== After boot ==

The login prompt will have the default root password, and will instruct you to run <code>helpmii</code> and <code>configmii</code> to help set up your system. Helpmii will let you read the [https://github.com/Wii-Linux/helpmii/blob/main/getstarted.txt Getting Started Guide] on your Wii, which will show you how to do important tasks like using <code>nmtui</code> to set up your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection and how to add swap space.

You may want to check the [[Recommended Apps]] list to get started.

User:Selimgozel1

2024-11-06T00:03:11Z

Selimgozel1: Yes

Warning: This user is suspected to be an idiot and be prepared for them to get shamed