Wii-Linux Wiki - User contributions [en]

Main Page

2026-02-22T22:11:20Z

Techflash: Minor main page updates

== Welcome to the Wii-Linux Wiki! ==

You've reached the wiki page of [[Wii-Linux]]. Here you may find some information related to Wii-Linux, it's development, and a bit about the [[GameCube]], [[Wii]], and [[Wii U]] hardware itself.

''' You may also want to check out a similar wiki site, '''[https://wiibrew.org WiiBrew].

== Navigation ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Hardware !! Software !! Misc
|-
| valign="top" |
* Consoles
** [[Wii U]]
** [[Wii]]
** [[GameCube]]
* Accessories
** Memory Card ([[EXI]] bus)
*** [[SD Gecko]]
*** [[USB Gecko]]
*** [[Memory Card]]
*** [[Microphone]]
*** [[Broadband Adapter]]
*** [[Modem]]
** [[GameCube Controller]]
| valign="top" |
* [[Wii-Linux]]
* [[Wii-Linux Distros|Distros]]
** [[ArchPOWER]]
** [[Void-PPC]]
** [[Debian-Ports PPC]]
* [[Recommended Apps]]
| valign="top" |
* [[Troubleshooting/FAQ]]
* [[Useful Development Info]]
|}

Wii-Linux

2025-12-02T23:34:05Z

Techflash: wii-v6.17 -> wii-mainline

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest stable version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present. There are also experimental ports to 5.4.293 LTS, 5.10.237 LTS, 5.15.184 LTS, and 6.1.0, which work to varying degrees.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He has successfully ported the downstream code up to 5.4, 5.10, 5.15, and 6.1, to varying degrees of success.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
[https://github.com/Wii-Linux/wii-linux-ngx/issues/6 Detailed regression tracking is available here]

If a release isn't listed here, it's implied to also be an old interim release and should not be used.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Last updated: December 2, 2025
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip121
!5.4.293
!5.10.237
!5.15.184
!6.6.0¹
!6.18.0
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v5.10
|wii-v5.15
|wii-v6.6
|wii-mainline
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |DEPRECATED (Old stable)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO (Old interim release)
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |'''YES (For OpenWRT)'''
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO (Old interim release)
| style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black" |'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO (Broken)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO (Broken)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO (Broken)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL (Testing)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|Recommended for use
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES (if using OpenWRT)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black" |'''YES (Latest stable)'''
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO (USB issues)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO (USB issues)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO (USB issues)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |Not Really (0 USB support)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:orange;color:black" |UNKNOWN
| style="background-color:orange;color:black" |UNKNOWN
| style="background-color:orange;color:black" |UNKNOWN
| style="background-color:orange;color:black" |UNKNOWN
| style="background-color:orange;color:black" |UNKNOWN
| style="background-color:orange;color:black" |UNKNOWN
| style="background-color:orange;color:black" |UNKNOWN
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:orange;color:black" |UNKNOWN
| style="background-color:orange;color:black" |UNKNOWN
| style="background-color:orange;color:black" |UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IPC]] Support
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
|-
|[[Wii]] Power Button Support
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL (in -gxfb branch)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[EXI]] Bus Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[GameCube Controller|GCN Controller]] / SI Bus Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii Hardware/Hollywood/Revisions

2025-11-30T01:06:46Z

Techflash: More info

The [[Hollywood]] chipset has various revisions. All should be compatible with [[Wii-Linux]], though they do differ a lot in power usage and in compatibility with other software.

Below is a table of all known revisions of the Hollywood chipset:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Revisions table
!Board Revision
!Hollywood Name Marking
!HW_VERSION version
!Tester(s)
|-
|RVL-CPU-01
|"Hollywood"
|0x11
|Techflash
|-
|RVL-CPU-10
|"Hollywood"
|0x11
|Superbee
|-
|RVL-CPU-20
|likely "Hollywood-AA"?
|0x11
|Randlin
|-
|RVL-CPU-30
|likely "Hollywood-AA"?
|0x11
|Randlin
|-
|RVL-CPU-40
|"Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)
|0x21
|Techflash, fihp, Selim
|-
|RVL-CPU-50
|likely "Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)?
|likely 0x21?
|None
|-
|RVL-CPU-60
|"Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)
|0x21
|Techflash
|-
|RVK-CPU-01
|likely "Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)?
|likely 0x21?
|None
|-
|RVK-CPU-02
|likely "Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)?
|likely 0x21?
|None
|-
|RVO-CPU-01
|"Hollywood-2"
|likely 0x21?
|Selim
|-
|RVO-CPU-10
|likely "Hollywood-2" (Bollywood?)
|likely 0x21?
|None
|}
[[Category:Wii Hardware]]

Wii-Linux

2025-11-26T15:21:42Z

Techflash: update matrix

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest stable version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present. There are also experimental ports to 5.4.293 LTS, 5.10.237 LTS, 5.15.184 LTS, and 6.1.0, which work to varying degrees.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He has successfully ported the downstream code up to 5.4, 5.10, 5.15, and 6.1, to varying degrees of success.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
[https://github.com/Wii-Linux/wii-linux-ngx/issues/6 Detailed regression tracking is available here]

If a release isn't listed here, it's implied to also be an old interim release and should not be used.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Last updated: November 26, 2025
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip121
!5.4.293
!5.10.237
!5.15.184
!6.6.0¹
!6.17.0
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v5.10
|wii-v5.15
|wii-v6.6
|wii-v6.17
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |DEPRECATED (Old stable)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO (Old interim release)
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |'''YES (For OpenWRT)'''
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO (Old interim release)
| style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black" |'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO (Broken)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO (Broken)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO (Broken)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL (Testing)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|Recommended for use
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES (if using OpenWRT)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black" |'''YES (Latest stable)'''
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO (USB issues)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO (USB issues)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO (USB issues)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |Not Really (0 USB support)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:orange;color:black" |UNKNOWN
| style="background-color:orange;color:black" |UNKNOWN
| style="background-color:orange;color:black" |UNKNOWN
| style="background-color:orange;color:black" |UNKNOWN
| style="background-color:orange;color:black" |UNKNOWN
| style="background-color:orange;color:black" |UNKNOWN
| style="background-color:orange;color:black" |UNKNOWN
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:orange;color:black" |UNKNOWN
| style="background-color:orange;color:black" |UNKNOWN
| style="background-color:orange;color:black" |UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IPC]] Support
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:salmon;color:black" |BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
|-
|[[Wii]] Power Button Support
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL (in -gxfb branch)
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[EXI]] Bus Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:darkred;color:white" |REMOVED
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:yellow;color:black" |PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|-
|[[GameCube Controller|GCN Controller]] / SI Bus Support
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
| style="background-color:green;color:white" |YES
| style="background-color:red;color:white" |NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii Hardware/Hollywood/Revisions

2025-11-25T21:42:57Z

Techflash: -10 is launch model Hollywood

The [[Hollywood]] chipset has various revisions. All should be compatible with [[Wii-Linux]], though they do differ a lot in power usage and in compatibility with other software.

Below is a table of all known revisions of the Hollywood chipset:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Revisions table
!Board Revision
!Hollywood Name Marking
!HW_VERSION version
!Tester(s)
|-
|RVL-CPU-01
|"Hollywood"
|0x11
|Techflash
|-
|RVL-CPU-10
|"Hollywood"
|0x11
|Superbee
|-
|RVL-CPU-20
|likely "Hollywood-AA"?
|0x11
|Randlin
|-
|RVL-CPU-30
|likely "Hollywood-AA"?
|0x11
|Randlin
|-
|RVL-CPU-40
|"Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)
|0x21
|Techflash, fihp, Selim
|-
|RVL-CPU-50
|likely "Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)?
|likely 0x21?
|None
|-
|RVL-CPU-60
|"Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)
|0x21
|Techflash
|-
|RVK-CPU-01
|likely "Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)?
|likely 0x21?
|None
|-
|RVK-CPU-02
|likely "Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)?
|likely 0x21?
|None
|-
|RVO-CPU-01
|likely "Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)?
|likely 0x21?
|None
|-
|RVO-CPU-10
|likely "Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)?
|likely 0x21?
|None
|}
[[Category:Wii Hardware]]

Wii Hardware/Hollywood/Revisions

2025-11-25T04:17:41Z

Techflash: Add Randlin's results

The [[Hollywood]] chipset has various revisions. All should be compatible with [[Wii-Linux]], though they do differ a lot in power usage and in compatibility with other software.

Below is a table of all known revisions of the Hollywood chipset:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Revisions table
!Board Revision
!Hollywood Name Marking
!HW_VERSION version
!Tester(s)
|-
|RVL-CPU-01
|"Hollywood"
|0x11
|Techflash
|-
|RVL-CPU-10
|??
|0x11
|Superbee
|-
|RVL-CPU-20
|likely "Hollywood-AA"?
|0x11
|Randlin
|-
|RVL-CPU-30
|likely "Hollywood-AA"?
|0x11
|Randlin
|-
|RVL-CPU-40
|"Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)
|0x21
|Techflash, fihp, Selim
|-
|RVL-CPU-50
|likely "Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)?
|likely 0x21?
|None
|-
|RVL-CPU-60
|"Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)
|0x21
|Techflash
|-
|RVK-CPU-01
|likely "Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)?
|likely 0x21?
|None
|-
|RVK-CPU-02
|likely "Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)?
|likely 0x21?
|None
|-
|RVO-CPU-01
|likely "Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)?
|likely 0x21?
|None
|-
|RVO-CPU-10
|likely "Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)?
|likely 0x21?
|None
|}
[[Category:Wii Hardware]]

Wii Hardware/Hollywood/Revisions

2025-11-24T05:21:26Z

Techflash: Add missing boards, expand description, fix typos

The [[Hollywood]] chipset has various revisions. All should be compatible with [[Wii-Linux]], though they do differ a lot in power usage and in compatibility with other software.

Below is a table of all known revisions of the Hollywood chipset:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Revisions table
!Board Revision
!Hollywood Name Marking
!HW_VERSION version
!Tester(s)
|-
|RVL-CPU-01
|"Hollywood"
|0x11
|Techflash
|-
|RVL-CPU-10
|??
|0x11
|Superbee
|-
|RVL-CPU-20
|??
|??
|Randlin
|-
|RVL-CPU-30
|??
|??
|Randlin
|-
|RVL-CPU-40
|"Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)
|0x21
|Techflash, fihp, Selim
|-
|RVL-CPU-50
|likely "Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)?
|likely 0x21?
|None
|-
|RVL-CPU-60
|"Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)
|0x21
|Techflash
|-
|RVK-CPU-01
|likely "Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)?
|likely 0x21?
|None
|-
|RVK-CPU-02
|likely "Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)?
|likely 0x21?
|None
|-
|RVO-CPU-01
|likely "Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)?
|likely 0x21?
|None
|-
|RVO-CPU-10
|likely "Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)?
|likely 0x21?
|None
|}
[[Category:Wii Hardware]]

Wii Hardware/Hollywood/Revisions

2025-11-24T02:44:26Z

Techflash: RVL-CPU-10 is a 0x11

The [[Hollywood]] chipset has various revisions.

Below is a table of all know revisions of the Hollywood chipset:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Revisions table
!Board Revision
!Hollywood Name Marking
!HW_VERSION version
!Tester(s)
|-
|RVL-CPU-01
|"Hollywood"
|0x11
|Techflash
|-
|RVL-CPU-10
|??
|0x11
|Superbee
|-
|RVL-CPU-40
|"Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)
|0x21
|Techflash, fihp, Selim
|-
|RVL-CPU-60
|"Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)
|0x21
|Techflash
|}
[[Category:Wii Hardware]]

Wii Hardware/Hollywood/Revisions

2025-11-24T01:04:31Z

Techflash: Add table page for Hollywood revisions

The [[Hollywood]] chipset has various revisions.

Below is a table of all know revisions of the Hollywood chipset:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Revisions table
!Board Revision
!Hollywood Name Marking
!HW_VERSION version
!Tester(s)
|-
|RVL-CPU-01
|"Hollywood"
|0x11
|Techflash
|-
|RVL-CPU-10
|??
|??
|Superbee
|-
|RVL-CPU-40
|"Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)
|0x21
|Techflash, fihp, Selim
|-
|RVL-CPU-60
|"Hollywood-1" (aka Bollywood)
|0x21
|Techflash
|}
[[Category:Wii Hardware]]

Wii-Linux

2025-10-01T18:43:08Z

Techflash: Update matrix

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest stable version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present. There are also experimental ports to 5.4.293 LTS, 5.10.237 LTS, 5.15.184 LTS, and 6.1.0, which work to varying degrees.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He has successfully ported the downstream code up to 5.4, 5.10, 5.15, and 6.1, to varying degrees of success.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
[https://github.com/Wii-Linux/wii-linux-ngx/issues/6 Detailed regression tracking is available here]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Last updated: October 1, 2025
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip121
!4.20.0
!5.4.293
!5.10.237
!5.15.184
!6.6.0¹
!6.6.0
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v5.10
|wii-v5.15
|wii-v6.6
|wii-v6.6-new
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|DEPRECATED (Old stable)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO (Old interim release)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO (Old interim release)
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|'''YES (For OpenWRT)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO (Old interim release)
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO (Broken)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO (Broken)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO (Broken)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO (Broken)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL (Testing)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO (USB issues)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO (USB issues)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO (USB issues)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|Not Really (0 USB support)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[Wii]] Power Button Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[EXI]] Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube Controller|GCN Controller]] / SI Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Broadband Adapter

2025-09-28T00:34:40Z

Techflash: Expand BBA page a bit

The GameCube Broadband Adapter (sometimes abbreviated as BBA) is a device that plugs into the serial port (the [[EXI]] bus) on the bottom of a [[GameCube]], and exposes an RJ-45 (commonly referred to as Ethernet) plug. It's intended use is for online or local multiplayer games, however it can be used much like any other Ethernet interface, given appropriate software.

== Compatibility ==
The BBA has a driver in [[Wii-Linux]], and has been confirmed to be fully working.

Wii Hardware/USB

2025-09-12T19:23:23Z

Techflash: oops

The [[Wii]] features 3 USB Host Controllers:
* 1x "EHCI" USB 2.0 controller, managing the 2 user-accessible ports on the back of the console.
* 2x "OHCI" USB 1.1 controllers, 1 managing the internal [[Wii Hardware/Bluetooth|Broadcom 2045A]] Bluetooth chipset, and the other handling when legacy devices are plugged into the 2 back ports.

[[Wii-Linux]] has had support for USB since the beginning. gc-linux added support for it in MIKEp1, the first release. Unfortunately, in more recent versions, support has gotten a bit odd. Due to changes that are as of yet unidentified, USB hubs can sometimes cause strange behavior, and sometimes the driver throws <code>-EINVAL</code> (error -22) when a device is inserted. It is as of yet unknown why these occur, but they seem to have been caused at some point between gc-linux and Techflash's 4.5 port.

[[Category:Wii Hardware]]

GameCube

2025-09-12T17:04:05Z

Techflash: Clean up GCN page

The GameCube is a video game console that was produced by [[Nintendo]]. It is the secondary target device of the [[Wii-Linux]] project. Wii-Linux can boot on it but has several large issues, including a hang during udev probing.

== Hardware ==
* IBM PowerPC 750CXe-based CPU "Gekko", 486MHz
* "[[Flipper]]" Chipset, 162MHz
* 24MB of 1T-SRAM
* 16MB of DSP-attached "ARAM" (Auxilary / Auido RAM)
* [[GameCube Hardware/DVD-ROM|DVD-ROM drive]]

More detailed information about the GameCube can be obtained from its [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GameCube_technical_specifications Wikipedia article].

[[Category:Nintendo Consoles]]

Wii Hardware/Hollywood

2025-09-12T16:53:33Z

Techflash: Backport improvements from Flipper page

"Hollywood" is the name of the chipset inside of the [[Wii]]. The Hollywood chipset contains multiple pieces of hardware all lumped into one. [[Nintendo]] claims that the Hollywood package is the [[Hardware/GX|Wii's GPU]], however, this is not the case. Hollywood ''contains'' the GPU, but it is not, itself, the GPU.

The Hollywood chip runs a 243MHz (162MHz in Back-Compat mode). It's contents run at various fractions of that speed.

== Hollywood contents ==
The Hollywood chip contains the following:
* [[Wii Hardware/USB|USB (EHCI, and 2x OHCI) Host Controllers]]
* SD Host Controller
* SHA-1 and AES engines to handle encryption
* NAND Interface
* 802.11 Wi-Fi Interface (Bluetooth is simply connected over the internal OHCI controller)
* GPIO Interface
* The [[Starlet]] ARM security co-processor @ chipset clock
* A new [[Wii Drive Interface]] replacing the legacy [[GameCube Drive Interface]]
* The [[Hardware/GX|GX]] GPU from ArtX, based on the same GX core in the [[Flipper]] chipset, running @ chipset clock
* An audio [[DSP]] by Macronix @ 1/2 chipset clock
* All of the legacy Flipper interfaces, like [[AI]], [[SI]], [[EXI]], and so on.

[[Category:Wii Hardware]]

GameCube Hardware/Flipper

2025-09-12T16:42:26Z

Techflash: link to DSP

"Flipper" is the name of the chipset inside of the [[GameCube]]. The Flipper chipset contains multiple pieces of hardware all lumped into one. [[Nintendo]] claims that the Flipper package is the [[Hardware/GX|GameCube's GPU]], however, this is not the case. Flipper ''contains'' the GPU, but it is not, itself, the GPU.

The Flipper chipset runs at 162MHz. It's contents run at various fractions of that speed.

== Flipper contents ==
The Flipper chip contains the following:
* The [[GameCube Drive Interface]]
* The GX GPU from ArtX @ chipset clock
* Various interfaces like [[AI]], [[SI]], [[EXI]].
* An audio [[DSP]] by Macronix @ 1/2 chipset clock

[[Category:GameCube Hardware]]

GameCube Hardware/Flipper

2025-09-12T16:42:07Z

Techflash: Flipper chipset page

"Flipper" is the name of the chipset inside of the [[GameCube]]. The Flipper chipset contains multiple pieces of hardware all lumped into one. [[Nintendo]] claims that the Flipper package is the [[Hardware/GX|GameCube's GPU]], however, this is not the case. Flipper ''contains'' the GPU, but it is not, itself, the GPU.

The Flipper chipset runs at 162MHz. It's contents run at various fractions of that speed.

== Flipper contents ==
The Flipper chip contains the following:
* The [[GameCube Drive Interface]]
* The GX GPU from ArtX @ chipset clock
* Various interfaces like [[AI]], [[SI]], [[EXI]].
* An audio DSP by Macronix @ 1/2 chipset clock

[[Category:GameCube Hardware]]

Flipper

2025-09-12T16:12:23Z

Techflash: add real redir

#REDIRECT [[GameCube Hardware/Flipper]]

Flipper

2025-09-12T16:01:00Z

Techflash: Drop Flipper -> GX redirect

Stub

Hardware/GX

2025-09-12T16:00:09Z

Techflash: Expand GX page

The [[Wii]] and [[GameCube]]'s GPU is known as the GX. It was created by ArtX (who was acquired by ATI prior to the GameCube's release). It was not created by ATI, and bears 0 resemblence to any ATI Radeon GPU. It's often thought that the [[Flipper]] or [[Hollywood]] chips are the GPU, but actually, they are chipsets that contain the GX GPU.

The GX of the Wii is clocked higher (243MHz) than that of the GameCube (162MGz), with nearly no other changes.

[[Wii-Linux]] sadly does not have any drivers to interface with the GX GPU on either the GameCube or the Wii.

A bit of information as to how this GPU works is available on [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Hardware/GX it's WiiBrew page], as well as in [https://www.gc-forever.com/yagcd/ YAGCD], specifically sections [https://www.gc-forever.com/yagcd/chap5.html#sec5.11 5.11] and [https://www.gc-forever.com/yagcd/chap8.html#sec8 8].

[[Category:GameCube Hardware]]
[[Category:Wii Hardware]]
[[Category:Shared Hardware]]

SI

2025-09-12T15:54:05Z

Techflash: Add page for SI

SI ('''S'''erial '''I'''nterface) is a 1-wire serial link controller. On the [[GameCube]] and [[Wii]], SI is exposed as the [[GameCube Controller]] ports. The The Wii Family Edition and Wii Mini are identical in this regard, but don't have the actual controller ports (the traces for them exist though). The Wii U technically also has it, albeit only accessible via internal testpoint.

[[Category:GameCube Hardware]]
[[Category:Wii Hardware]]
[[Category:Shared Hardware]]

Hardware/EXI

2025-09-12T15:51:52Z

Techflash: mention acronym

EXI ('''EX'''ternal '''I'''nterface) is an SPI-like bus. On the [[GameCube]], it is exposed via the Serial Ports and Memory Card slots, and is used internally for the IPL ROM, as well as the RTC. On the [[Wii]], it is exposed via the Memory Card slots, and used internally for a stripped down GameCube IPL, as well as the RTC. The Wii Family Edition and Wii Mini are identical in this regard, but don't have the actual memory card slots (the traces for them exist though). The Wii U technically also has it, internally only.

[[Category:GameCube Hardware]]
[[Category:Wii Hardware]]
[[Category:Shared Hardware]]

Hardware/EXI

2025-09-12T15:49:53Z

Techflash: Link to the Wii page

EXI is an SPI-like bus. On the [[GameCube]], it is exposed via the Serial Ports and Memory Card slots, and is used internally for the IPL ROM, as well as the RTC. On the [[Wii]], it is exposed via the Memory Card slots, and used internally for a stripped down GameCube IPL, as well as the RTC. The Wii Family Edition and Wii Mini are identical in this regard, but don't have the actual memory card slots (the traces for them exist though). The Wii U technically also has it, internally only.

[[Category:GameCube Hardware]]
[[Category:Wii Hardware]]
[[Category:Shared Hardware]]

Wii Hardware/Hollywood

2025-09-12T15:48:28Z

Techflash: Cleanup Hollywood page

"Hollywood" is the name of the chipset inside of the [[Wii]]. The Hollywood chipset contains multiple pieces of hardware all lumped into one. [[Nintendo]] claims that the Hollywood package is the [[Hardware/GX|Wii's GPU]], however, this is not the case. Hollywood ''contains'' the GPU, but it is not, itself, the GPU.

== Hollywood contents ==
The Hollywood chip contains the following:
* [[Wii Hardware/USB|USB (EHCI, and 2x OHCI) Host Controllers]]
* SD Host Controller
* SHA-1 and AES engines to handle encryption
* NAND Interface
* 802.11 Wi-Fi Interface (Bluetooth is simply connected over the internal OHCI controller)
* GPIO Interface
* The [[Starlet]] ARM security co-processor
* A new [[Wii Drive Interface]] replacing the legacy [[GameCube Drive Interface]]
* The GX GPU from ArtX, based on the same GX core in the [[Flipper]] chipset
* All of the legacy Flipper interfaces, like [[AI]], [[SI]], [[EXI]], and so on.

[[Category:Wii Hardware]]

Troubleshooting/FAQ

2025-08-10T01:21:05Z

Techflash: use inline codeblocks

This page contains some fixes for common issues with [[Wii-Linux]].

== [[Gumboot]] isn't loading! What's going on? ==
Depends on what's wrong with it.
* '''Black screen? Immediate reboot?''' Check if you have [[BootMii]] installed correctly.
* '''Blinking disk slot?''' Check if your SD Card is inserted properly, this means that BootMii can't find <code>bootmii/ppcboot.elf</code>, <code>bootmii/armboot.bin</code>, or its config.
* '''HBC / Priiloader won't load BootMii'''? Check if BootMii is installed correctly as an IOS - these can't load BootMii as boot2.

== I get an error from Gumboot trying to load the kernel! What's wrong? ==
Check that you copied all of the files properly. It's possible that the kernel was corrupted while copying it.
Try putting the SD Card in a computer, deleting wiilinux/vX_X.krn, and copying it out of the SD Files archive.

== How do I modify the kernel arguments? ==
Open the kernel binary (<code>wiilinux/vX_X.krn</code>) in a hex editor, search for the ASCII text <code>root=</code>, then user overwrite mode to modify the arguments (tip: overwrite the large chunk of padding, that's what it's there for!)

== The kernel seems to load (green bar on Gumboot), but then the screen stays on garbled colors, fully black, or black screen with the loader text! What's wrong? ==
This could be tons of things.
* '''If you're getting the garbled colors''', it means the kernel failed to initialize very early on, before initializing the [[AVE-RVL]].
* '''If you're getting a fully black screen without even the loader text at the top''', that means that it failed after initializing the AVE-RVL, gcnfb, but before displaying the loader text.
* '''If you're getting a black screen with the loader text at the top left''', it means the kernel has initialized a decent bit, but something isn't working. Try setting the kernel arguments (see the previous answer, right above this), replace the loglevel=x parameter with loglevel=7 to get full kernel logs on the screen, or check a USB gecko.
For all of these, having a [[USB Gecko]] would be very beneficial.

== I see the login screen, but I can't type on my USB keyboard, what gives? ==
Check your USB keyboard connection, is it plugged in, and plugged in all the way? (more common than you might think)
Try pressing num lock/caps lock/scroll lock, do the lights come on? If not, check if your keyboard is just dead (plug it into another device). If you've verified all of this, and it still doesn't work, ask for assistance.

== Why is my WiFi so slow? I can't even get 1MB/s! ==
That's just how it is. It's [https://web.archive.org/web/20180817063137/http://www.gc-linux.org/wiki/Wii:WLAN hardware limitations], that's how it is in all standard Wii software as well, the Wii's WiFi chipset is just that slow. I highly recommend using USB Ethernet, or a supported USB WiFI adapter wherever possible if you care about speed.

== Why isn't [some package name here] in the ArchPOWER repos? ==
I don't maintain the [[ArchPOWER]] repos, but I do maintain a small group of extra packages for ArchPOWER in a seperate repo.
Ask me, I'll check for you, and build it if possible.

== Why is logging in so slow? ==
Arch (and by extension, ArchPOWER) uses a fairly inefficient (though more secure) hashing algorithm for the password by default, that is quite slow on the Wii's mediocre CPU. If you'd like a better balance between security and speed, you can use SHA256 instead.
Simply edit <code>/etc/login.defs</code>, then replace <code>YESCRYPT</code> with <code>SHA256</code>, then regenerate the password of each user.
'''New rootfs's have this by default.'''

== Why I get out-of-memory errors despite turning on a swapfile/swap partition? ==
This is a bug in the default Wii-Linux configuration that was shipped for quite some time, but eventually fixed. 
You can either: 
A) Update your system (the latest wii-linux-meta fixes it) 
B) Delete, or fix, <code>/etc/udev/rules.d/99-zram.rules</code> to not have 100M allocated

== Can I play [insert game here] on Wii Linux? ==
Short Answer: '''No'''. Stop trying. You don't want to get it to work. 
Long answer: Well.... technically, yes.
It's very likely compiled for x86, so it'll need to be emulated. That's already unusably slow on the Wii, but let's carry on.
There's no graphics acceleration of any kind, so it'll be rendering on the emulated x86 CPU, and then drawing to the screen w/ native PPC code, but still on the CPU
So, yes, it may execute the game's code, technically, but you sure as hell won't be "playing" it.

== Why is my Wii Remote unpaired after going back to the Wii Menu? ==
The Linux kernel interacts in some weird way with the Bluetooth module causing Wii Remotes to get unpaired when rebooted into the Wii System Menu (and only the menu, other software like the Homebrew Channel works fine). The exact cause of this problem isn't known yet. You'll have to simply pair the Wii Remote(s) again with the console.

== Why do package downloads sometimes fail / "Operation too slow"? ==
The Wii's WiFi connection is ''incredibly'' slow. This leads to downloads sometimes just failing due to timeout. Newer Wii-Linux builds have <code>DisableDownloadTimeout</code> set in </etc/pacman.conf</code>, so this issue should be mitigated. Existing Wii-Linux installs can set this either with ConfigMii, or by manually editing the config file.

Troubleshooting/FAQ

2025-08-10T01:20:21Z

Techflash: Mention pacman download errors

This page contains some fixes for common issues with [[Wii-Linux]].

== [[Gumboot]] isn't loading! What's going on? ==
Depends on what's wrong with it.
* '''Black screen? Immediate reboot?''' Check if you have [[BootMii]] installed correctly.
* '''Blinking disk slot?''' Check if your SD Card is inserted properly, this means that BootMii can't find <code>bootmii/ppcboot.elf</code>, <code>bootmii/armboot.bin</code>, or its config.
* '''HBC / Priiloader won't load BootMii'''? Check if BootMii is installed correctly as an IOS - these can't load BootMii as boot2.

== I get an error from Gumboot trying to load the kernel! What's wrong? ==
Check that you copied all of the files properly. It's possible that the kernel was corrupted while copying it.
Try putting the SD Card in a computer, deleting wiilinux/vX_X.krn, and copying it out of the SD Files archive.

== How do I modify the kernel arguments? ==
Open the kernel binary (<code>wiilinux/vX_X.krn</code>) in a hex editor, search for the ASCII text <code>root=</code>, then user overwrite mode to modify the arguments (tip: overwrite the large chunk of padding, that's what it's there for!)

== The kernel seems to load (green bar on Gumboot), but then the screen stays on garbled colors, fully black, or black screen with the loader text! What's wrong? ==
This could be tons of things.
* '''If you're getting the garbled colors''', it means the kernel failed to initialize very early on, before initializing the [[AVE-RVL]].
* '''If you're getting a fully black screen without even the loader text at the top''', that means that it failed after initializing the AVE-RVL, gcnfb, but before displaying the loader text.
* '''If you're getting a black screen with the loader text at the top left''', it means the kernel has initialized a decent bit, but something isn't working. Try setting the kernel arguments (see the previous answer, right above this), replace the loglevel=x parameter with loglevel=7 to get full kernel logs on the screen, or check a USB gecko.
For all of these, having a [[USB Gecko]] would be very beneficial.

== I see the login screen, but I can't type on my USB keyboard, what gives? ==
Check your USB keyboard connection, is it plugged in, and plugged in all the way? (more common than you might think)
Try pressing num lock/caps lock/scroll lock, do the lights come on? If not, check if your keyboard is just dead (plug it into another device). If you've verified all of this, and it still doesn't work, ask for assistance.

== Why is my WiFi so slow? I can't even get 1MB/s! ==
That's just how it is. It's [https://web.archive.org/web/20180817063137/http://www.gc-linux.org/wiki/Wii:WLAN hardware limitations], that's how it is in all standard Wii software as well, the Wii's WiFi chipset is just that slow. I highly recommend using USB Ethernet, or a supported USB WiFI adapter wherever possible if you care about speed.

== Why isn't [some package name here] in the ArchPOWER repos? ==
I don't maintain the [[ArchPOWER]] repos, but I do maintain a small group of extra packages for ArchPOWER in a seperate repo.
Ask me, I'll check for you, and build it if possible.

== Why is logging in so slow? ==
Arch (and by extension, ArchPOWER) uses a fairly inefficient (though more secure) hashing algorithm for the password by default, that is quite slow on the Wii's mediocre CPU. If you'd like a better balance between security and speed, you can use SHA256 instead.
Simply edit <code>/etc/login.defs</code>, then replace <code>YESCRYPT</code> with <code>SHA256</code>, then regenerate the password of each user.
'''New rootfs's have this by default.'''

== Why I get out-of-memory errors despite turning on a swapfile/swap partition? ==
This is a bug in the default Wii-Linux configuration that was shipped for quite some time, but eventually fixed. 
You can either: 
A) Update your system (the latest wii-linux-meta fixes it) 
B) Delete, or fix, <code>/etc/udev/rules.d/99-zram.rules</code> to not have 100M allocated

== Can I play [insert game here] on Wii Linux? ==
Short Answer: '''No'''. Stop trying. You don't want to get it to work. 
Long answer: Well.... technically, yes.
It's very likely compiled for x86, so it'll need to be emulated. That's already unusably slow on the Wii, but let's carry on.
There's no graphics acceleration of any kind, so it'll be rendering on the emulated x86 CPU, and then drawing to the screen w/ native PPC code, but still on the CPU
So, yes, it may execute the game's code, technically, but you sure as hell won't be "playing" it.

== Why is my Wii Remote unpaired after going back to the Wii Menu? ==
The Linux kernel interacts in some weird way with the Bluetooth module causing Wii Remotes to get unpaired when rebooted into the Wii System Menu (and only the menu, other software like the Homebrew Channel works fine). The exact cause of this problem isn't known yet. You'll have to simply pair the Wii Remote(s) again with the console.

== Why do package downloads sometimes fail / "Operation too slow"? ==
The Wii's WiFi connection is ''incredibly'' slow. This leads to downloads sometimes just failing due to timeout. Newer Wii-Linux builds have DisableDownloadTimeout set in /etc/pacman.conf, so this issue should be mitigated. Existing Wii-Linux installs can set this either with ConfigMii, or by manually editing the config file.

Wii-Linux

2025-07-16T21:44:23Z

Techflash: Move GCN support to partial for 4.19

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest stable version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present. There are also experimental ports to 5.4.293 LTS, 5.10.237 LTS, 5.15.184 LTS, and 6.1.0, which work to varying degrees.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He has successfully ported the downstream code up to 5.4, 5.10, 5.15, and 6.1, to varying degrees of success.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
[https://github.com/Wii-Linux/wii-linux-ngx/issues/6 Detailed regression tracking is available here]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Last updated: July 16, 2025
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip121
!4.20.0
!5.4.293
!5.10.237
!5.15.184
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v5.10
|wii-v5.15
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|TESTING (mostly stable)
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|TESTING (mostly stable)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO (USB issues)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[Wii]] Power Button Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[EXI]] Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube Controller|GCN Controller]] / SI Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Building Kernel Guide

2025-07-01T22:14:27Z

Techflash: Clean up a bit of formatting and update to new method

This Guide will teach you how to cross-compile the [[Wii-Linux]] kernel and supporting elements.

== Requirements ==

* An x86 or AArch64 device running GNU/Linux

== 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</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 bad your computer is.
# Once it's installed, it should make a directory in your home folder called <code>x-tools</code>.
#* You can optionally move this directory elsewhere first, if you don't find <code>x-tools</code> appealing.
# You must now add it to your PATH. This varies per shell, and based on where you put it, but as an example:
#* for bash: <code>echo 'PATH="$PATH:~/<path to ct-ng output>/powerpc-unknown-linux-gnu/bin"' >> ~/.bashrc && source ~/.bashrc</code>.
# After you have added it to your path, go back to the main directory and run <code>git clone https://github.com/Wii-Linux/build-stack && cd build-stack</code>.
# Once you're in the build-stack folder, run <code>./setup.sh</code> and follow it's instructions, to make sure that you have all the necessary requirements installed. If it asks to clone and build various requirements, answer Yes unless you have a very specific reason not to.
# After setup.sh finishes successfully, go back to the main directory, and now finally run <code>https://github.com/Wii-Linux/wii-linux-ngx -b <Branch You want></code>.
#* The branch you clone is the source code to the kernel branch you are going to compile (this could be specialized kernels (like for [[OpenWRT]], or just various versions of the main one). The following kernel branches are the ones currently supported:
#** <code>wii-v4.5</code>
#** <code>wii-v4.14-openwrt</code>
#** <code>wii-v4.19</code>
# After you cloned the kernel that you want to build go back into <code>build-stack</code> and run <code>./build-kernel.sh [name of your kernel directory]</code>.
#* Example: <code>./build-kernel.sh wii-linux-ngx</code>.
#* The <code>--standalone</code> argument can be used to build a kernel that doesn't require a loader, <code>arch/powerpc/boot/dts/wii.dts</code> needs to be edited accordingly with the boot device that will be used.
# After the loader is done, you need to go install it. This consists of 2 parts:
#* '''Installing the kernel+loader'''. A script has been provided to make this easier, <code>build-stack/copy-ssh.sh</code>. This provides an easy way to copy the kernel+loader to a remote machine in any directory. This could even be a Wii-Linux install.
#** Example 1 (copy to local machine's SD Card on /mnt): <code>./copy-ssh.sh root@localhost /mnt v4_19325 kernel</code>
#** Example 2 (copy to Wii with SD Card on /boot): <code>./copy-ssh.sh root@wii.local /boot v4_19325 kernel</code>
#* '''Installing the kernel modules'''. The kernel modules are output as <code>modules.tar.gz</code> in your kernel directory. You will need to safely extract these to your Wii-Linux distro's rootfs. ''WARNING'': Extracting directly to the rootfs '''''WILL HOSE YOUR PERMISSIONS - DO NOT DO THAT'''''. It will set the UID/HID of the root directory, and /usr, and /usr/lib, to the UID/GID of the user who built the kernel. Instead, you can extract it to a temporary directory, then <code>mv</code> or <code>cp -r</code> the modules (<code>temp_dir/usr/lib/modules/[kernel version]-wii+</code>) into your rootfs.

Wii-Linux

2025-06-26T22:45:22Z

Techflash: Edit the latest version related info

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest stable version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present. There are also experimental ports to 5.4.293 LTS, 5.10.237 LTS, 5.15.184 LTS, and 6.1.0, which work to varying degrees.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He has successfully ported the downstream code up to 5.4, 5.10, 5.15, and 6.1, to varying degrees of success.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
[https://github.com/Wii-Linux/wii-linux-ngx/issues/6 Detailed regression tracking is available here]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Last updated: June 26, 2025
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.4.293
!5.10.237
!5.15.184
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v5.10
|wii-v5.15
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|TESTING (mostly stable)
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|TESTING (mostly stable)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO (USB issues)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[Wii]] Power Button Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[EXI]] Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube Controller|GCN Controller]] / SI Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii-Linux

2025-06-26T22:43:55Z

Techflash: Edit the future section

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He has successfully ported the downstream code up to 5.4, 5.10, 5.15, and 6.1, to varying degrees of success.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
[https://github.com/Wii-Linux/wii-linux-ngx/issues/6 Detailed regression tracking is available here]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Last updated: June 26, 2025
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.4.293
!5.10.237
!5.15.184
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v5.10
|wii-v5.15
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|TESTING (mostly stable)
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|TESTING (mostly stable)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO (USB issues)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[Wii]] Power Button Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[EXI]] Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube Controller|GCN Controller]] / SI Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii-Linux

2025-06-26T10:24:39Z

Techflash: Add power button

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He also has a very WIP port of all of the old downstream code to 5.4, but due to massive DMA changes in upstream at the time, it does not work properly.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
[https://github.com/Wii-Linux/wii-linux-ngx/issues/6 Detailed regression tracking is available here]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Last updated: June 26, 2025
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.4.293
!5.10.237
!5.15.184
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v5.10
|wii-v5.15
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|TESTING (mostly stable)
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|TESTING (mostly stable)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO (USB issues)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[Wii]] Power Button Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[EXI]] Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube Controller|GCN Controller]] / SI Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii-Linux

2025-06-14T10:20:31Z

Techflash: Update matrix with 5.10 and 5.15

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He also has a very WIP port of all of the old downstream code to 5.4, but due to massive DMA changes in upstream at the time, it does not work properly.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
[https://github.com/Wii-Linux/wii-linux-ngx/issues/6 Detailed regression tracking is available here]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Last updated: June 14, 2025
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.4.293
!5.10.237
!5.15.184
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v5.10
|wii-v5.15
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|TESTING (mostly stable)
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|TESTING (mostly stable)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO (USB issues)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[EXI]] Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube Controller|GCN Controller]] / SI Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii-Linux

2025-05-31T22:52:57Z

Techflash: 5.4 is now LTS patched

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He also has a very WIP port of all of the old downstream code to 5.4, but due to massive DMA changes in upstream at the time, it does not work properly.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
[https://github.com/Wii-Linux/wii-linux-ngx/issues/6 Detailed regression tracking is available here]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Last updated: May 31, 2025
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.4.293
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|TESTING (not garuanteed stable)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[EXI]] Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube Controller|GCN Controller]] / SI Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii-Linux

2025-05-31T22:52:16Z

Techflash: move 5.4 to testing release

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He also has a very WIP port of all of the old downstream code to 5.4, but due to massive DMA changes in upstream at the time, it does not work properly.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
[https://github.com/Wii-Linux/wii-linux-ngx/issues/6 Detailed regression tracking is available here]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Last updated: May 31, 2025
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.4.0
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|TESTING (not garuanteed stable)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[EXI]] Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube Controller|GCN Controller]] / SI Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii-Linux

2025-05-31T22:50:46Z

Techflash: Remove interim releases

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He also has a very WIP port of all of the old downstream code to 5.4, but due to massive DMA changes in upstream at the time, it does not work properly.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
[https://github.com/Wii-Linux/wii-linux-ngx/issues/6 Detailed regression tracking is available here]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Last updated: May 31, 2025
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.4.0
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[EXI]] Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube Controller|GCN Controller]] / SI Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii-Linux

2025-05-31T20:03:18Z

Techflash: oops, off-by-one on the wifi

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He also has a very WIP port of all of the old downstream code to 5.4, but due to massive DMA changes in upstream at the time, it does not work properly.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
[https://github.com/Wii-Linux/wii-linux-ngx/issues/6 Detailed regression tracking is available here]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Last updated: May 31, 2025
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.0.0
!5.1.0
!5.4.0
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.0
|wii-v5.1
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[EXI]] Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube Controller|GCN Controller]] / SI Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii-Linux

2025-05-31T20:02:06Z

Techflash: Update to represent current state

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He also has a very WIP port of all of the old downstream code to 5.4, but due to massive DMA changes in upstream at the time, it does not work properly.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
[https://github.com/Wii-Linux/wii-linux-ngx/issues/6 Detailed regression tracking is available here]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Last updated: May 31, 2025
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.0.0
!5.1.0
!5.4.0
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.0
|wii-v5.1
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[EXI]] Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube Controller|GCN Controller]] / SI Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Troubleshooting/FAQ

2025-05-30T21:09:16Z

Techflash: Note that it's only the sysmenu

Wii-Linux

2025-05-29T09:25:08Z

Techflash: USB Gecko is now fully supported in 5.4 since it was remade with the latest patches

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He also has a very WIP port of all of the old downstream code to 5.4, but due to massive DMA changes in upstream at the time, it does not work properly.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
[https://github.com/Wii-Linux/wii-linux-ngx/issues/6 Detailed regression tracking is available here]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Last updated: May 29, 2025
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.0.0
!5.1.0
!5.4.0
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.0
|wii-v5.1
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[EXI]] Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube Controller|GCN Controller]] / SI Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii-Linux

2025-05-29T09:23:57Z

Techflash: Update since I got EXI working on 5.1 again

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He also has a very WIP port of all of the old downstream code to 5.4, but due to massive DMA changes in upstream at the time, it does not work properly.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
[https://github.com/Wii-Linux/wii-linux-ngx/issues/6 Detailed regression tracking is available here]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Last updated: May 29, 2025
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.0.0
!5.1.0
!5.4.0
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.0
|wii-v5.1
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[EXI]] Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube Controller|GCN Controller]] / SI Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii-Linux

2025-05-29T08:18:18Z

Techflash: Fix EXI device compatibility (no bus means no devices) for 5.1

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He also has a very WIP port of all of the old downstream code to 5.4, but due to massive DMA changes in upstream at the time, it does not work properly.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
[https://github.com/Wii-Linux/wii-linux-ngx/issues/6 Detailed regression tracking is available here]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Last updated: May 28, 2025
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.0.0
!5.1.0
!5.4.0
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.0
|wii-v5.1
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[EXI]] Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube Controller|GCN Controller]] / SI Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii-Linux

2025-05-29T07:33:16Z

Techflash: Correction that EXI is broken in 5.1

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He also has a very WIP port of all of the old downstream code to 5.4, but due to massive DMA changes in upstream at the time, it does not work properly.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
[https://github.com/Wii-Linux/wii-linux-ngx/issues/6 Detailed regression tracking is available here]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Last updated: May 28, 2025
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.0.0
!5.1.0
!5.4.0
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.0
|wii-v5.1
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[EXI]] Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube Controller|GCN Controller]] / SI Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii-Linux

2025-05-29T05:55:25Z

Techflash: Move last updated header to the table, and add a link to the regression tracker gh issue

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He also has a very WIP port of all of the old downstream code to 5.4, but due to massive DMA changes in upstream at the time, it does not work properly.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
[https://github.com/Wii-Linux/wii-linux-ngx/issues/6 Detailed regression tracking is available here]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Last updated: May 28, 2025
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.0.0
!5.1.0
!5.4.0
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.0
|wii-v5.1
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube Controller|GCN Controller]] / SI Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii-Linux

2025-05-29T05:51:35Z

Techflash: fix USB support

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He also has a very WIP port of all of the old downstream code to 5.4, but due to massive DMA changes in upstream at the time, it does not work properly.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
Last updated: May 28, 2025

{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.0.0
!5.1.0
!5.4.0
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.0
|wii-v5.1
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube Controller|GCN Controller]] / SI Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii-Linux

2025-05-29T05:45:31Z

Techflash: add gcn controller support section

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He also has a very WIP port of all of the old downstream code to 5.4, but due to massive DMA changes in upstream at the time, it does not work properly.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
Last updated: May 28, 2025

{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.0.0
!5.1.0
!5.4.0
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.0
|wii-v5.1
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube Controller|GCN Controller]] / SI Bus Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii-Linux

2025-05-29T05:30:45Z

Techflash: Add last updated date

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He also has a very WIP port of all of the old downstream code to 5.4, but due to massive DMA changes in upstream at the time, it does not work properly.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
Last updated: May 28, 2025

{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.0.0
!5.1.0
!5.4.0
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.0
|wii-v5.1
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii-Linux

2025-05-29T05:28:46Z

Techflash: Add SD Card

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He also has a very WIP port of all of the old downstream code to 5.4, but due to massive DMA changes in upstream at the time, it does not work properly.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.0.0
!5.1.0
!5.4.0
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.0
|wii-v5.1
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Hollywood|Wii SD Card]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii-Linux

2025-05-29T05:07:01Z

Techflash: fix forgotten link

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He also has a very WIP port of all of the old downstream code to 5.4, but due to massive DMA changes in upstream at the time, it does not work properly.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.0.0
!5.1.0
!5.4.0
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.0
|wii-v5.1
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii-Linux

2025-05-29T05:04:39Z

Techflash: remove links that just point back to this same article

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He also has a very WIP port of all of the old downstream code to 5.4, but due to massive DMA changes in upstream at the time, it does not work properly.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.0.0
!5.1.0
!5.4.0
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|Wii-Linux Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.0
|wii-v5.1
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|Wii-Linux Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|GCN/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii-Linux

2025-05-29T04:59:51Z

Techflash: differentiate between removed, broken, and no support

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He also has a very WIP port of all of the old downstream code to 5.4, but due to massive DMA changes in upstream at the time, it does not work properly.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.0.0
!5.1.0
!5.4.0
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|[[Wii-Linux]] Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.0
|wii-v5.1
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|[[Wii-Linux]] Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:salmon;color:black"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|GCN/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:darkred;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]

Wii-Linux

2025-05-29T04:54:14Z

Techflash: Add colors

''' Note: ''' This page has been written by Techflash. As the creator of the current iteration of Wii-Linux, I am of course biased towards my own work. However, I do attempt to remain as neutral as possible here.

----

Wii-Linux can refer to multiple things. It often refers to the project started by Techflash, which bears the name of Wii-Linux. It can also refer to other, often older, efforts of putting Linux on the Wii.

This page details the history of Wii-Linux as a whole, as it leads up to, and relates to, Techflash's current Wii-Linux project.

== Background ==
Please see [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux the related WiiBrew article] for background info on Wii-Linux.

== History ==

=== gc-linux (2005 ~ 2010) ===
The gc-linux developers were the ones who originally got Linux running on the GameCube (and later, the Wii). They were the developers of the MIKE (MINI Kernel) series of kernels for the Wii, as well. All of the gc-linux kernels were of the 2.6 line, and the final release was 2.6.32. They developed the [https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Wii-Linux/Distros#Whiite Whiite] distro, based on Debian "lenny" / 5.0.

This is where the vast majority of the current kernel changes originated from.

=== DeltaResero and neagix (2014 ~ 2018) ===
==== 3.15 kernel / "stable-v3.x" ====
During this period of time, both DeltaResero and neagix both were working, occasionally trading commits around, to try to port the old 2.6.32 patches over to a new, 3.x version. Eventually they ended up settling on 3.15.10. This kernel worked quite well with very minimal problems.

==== 4.3 kernel / "experimental-v4.x" ====
By this point, focus had largely shifted over to neagix's wii-linux-ngx repository, however, both neagix and DeltaResero were still quite active together, working on things such as USB fixes. This kernel sadly did not have the same level of polish as "stable-v3.x", however. Some features, like the framebuffer patches, were not implemented here. This was unfortunately the last Wii-Linux related activity from the two.

=== Wii-Linux Continuation Project (2022 - Present) ===
The history of the Wii-Linux Continuation Project is a little confusing, as it originally started as 2 different projects, from 2 different people. Here's an attempted explanation.

==== TheOtherOne's 4.4 CIP kernel ====
TheOtherOne created a kernel port, based on the Linux 4.4 LTS, with the CIP80 patches applied. This was based off neagix's "experimental-v4.x" kernel. This kernel sadly had a few problems. Namely, due to being on "experimental-v4.x", it was lacking a few quality of life features. This is where Techflash got involved. He attempted to fix up the kernel and add some quality of life features back into it. He shipped this kernel with the Wii-Linux Continuation Project's Void-PPC based rootfs for a while, up until 5/30/2024, the transition to the 4.5 kernel. Unfortunately, TheOtherOne seems to have discontinued development on this kernel, and Techflash has largely abandoned it in favor of 4.5.

==== Techflash's kernel ====
Techflash originally attempted to rebase TheOtherOne's 4.4 kernel onto 4.5, however, this proved challenging, due to the CIP patches that were applied. Ultimately, he ended up going for the original set of 4.4 patches that TheOtherOne applied to her CIP tree, directly applied those onto a clean copy of Linux 4.4, and rebased that to 4.5. Of note is that this code still shares it's origin with neagix's "experimental-v4.x", and as such, shares it's problems. Of particular importance is the lack of neagix and FarterSoft's RGB patches, exposing an RGB565 framebuffer, as opposed to the Wii's native YUV framebuffer, to usespace. This is a feature that's natively supported using the DRM graphics subsystem in modern Linux versions, however, this was still the best way to do this translation back during the time when the patches were written. Techflash later added these changes from the "stable-v3.x" branch in, allowing Xorg and other graphical apps to run correctly. He has also re-added the legacy USB Gecko driver, and overhauled the EXI stack, allowing users to use the USB Gecko as a TTY once again. The latest version of Techflash's kernel is '''4.19.325 LTS''', however, older versions (4.14.336 LTS, 4.14.275 LTS (for OpenWRT), 4.9.337 LTS, 4.6.0, and 4.5.0) are still present.

==== The future ====
Techflash plans to continue his work to make the Wii-Linux kernel more modern. As of currently, he has a functional build of Linux 6.6 that can boot and display graphics using the legacy fbdev driver. However, this build lacks most other drivers for the Wii, such as USB, and audio. The Broadcom 4318 WiFi chipset is supported, but broken on the build due to unknown issues. He plans to attempt to convert the legacy fbdev driver to a DRM driver, and attempt to get support for it merged into mainline. He also has a very WIP port of all of the old downstream code to 5.4, but due to massive DMA changes in upstream at the time, it does not work properly.

== Compatibility & Support Matrix ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Kernel Version
!2.6.32
!3.15.10
!4.3.6
!4.4.302-cip80
!4.5.0
!4.6.0
!4.9.337
!4.14.275
!4.14.336
!4.19.325-cip120
!4.20.0
!5.0.0
!5.1.0
!5.4.0
!6.6.0¹
!Upstream
|-
|[[Wii-Linux]] Kernel Branch
|stable-v2.6.32
|stable-v3.x
|experimental-v4.x
|wii-v4.4
|wii-v4.5
|wii-v4.6
|wii-v4.9
|wii-v4.14-openwrt
|wii-v4.14
|wii-v4.19
|wii-v4.20
|wii-v5.0
|wii-v5.1
|wii-v5.4
|wii-v6.6
|N/A
|-
|Original Creator
|gc-linux
|DeltaResero
|neagix
|TheOtherOne
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Techflash
|Linus Torvalds
|-
|[[Wii-Linux]] Support Status²
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest Stable)'''
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|Recommended for use
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES (if using OpenWRT)
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:lightgreen;color:black"|'''YES (Latest stable)'''
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/DVD-ROM|Wii DVD-ROM]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Starlet|Wii IOS Boot]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/Wi-Fi|Wii Wi-Fi]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:orange;color:black"|UNKNOWN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|BROKEN
|-
|[[Wii Hardware/USB|Wii USB]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[GameCube|GCN]]/[[Wii]] Framebuffer Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|GCN/[[Wii]] Audio Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Hardware/GX|GCN/Wii GX (GPU)]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[SD Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|REMOVED
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[USB Gecko]] Support
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|style="background-color:yellow;color:black"|PARTIAL
|-
|[[Microphone|GCN Microphone]] Support
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:green;color:white"|YES
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|-
|[[Memory Card|GCN Memory Card]] Support
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|style="background-color:red;color:white"|NO
|}
¹ - Upstream-based 6.6 branch, not based on gc-linux

² - Status of whether or not you will recieve support for getting it running or doing anything with it. You should use the version marked as '''Latest Stable''' unless there is a specific reason not to
[[Category:Software]]