Xubuntu 9.04 on Nintendo Wii setup
Xubuntu 9.04 on Nintendo Wii setup
Updated a recent release of Xubuntu tailored for the Nintendo Wii. Development continues toward an even more advanced version after kernel updates. Source files are available at the provided GitHub link. Additional details can be found on the repository, though this summary covers the essentials. Installation steps involve extracting the .img.gz file from the download, which includes a fat32 and ext3 partition image. The fat32 section holds the Linux loader for Homebrew Channel—simply flash it onto an SD card (8GB recommended). Please note this guide is not verified for USB use.
At the moment no, Mouse and keyboard is needed, and a hub works fine. But there is a driver for it out there already that can possibly be ported over.
Are you looking for a particular aim in gaming or just enjoying the excitement?
I aim to revive the original feel of my old Wii using Linux—it simplifies compiling and testing open-source projects on the hardware. It’s surprising how much easier it is now, though it’s still quite unstable. I recently released an updated version, but it’s significantly more problematic.
I'm really excited to see someone getting back into this. I've been using about three to four Wiis and thought about building a computing cluster from them with a modern kernel just to show off "I have a Wii computing cluster." How challenging would it be to start with something simple like Arch, Debian, or Gentoo using only the command line? If you're interested in following my path, what skills would you need to develop?
I haven't tried other distributions much yet. I've worked with Debian a bit and Ubuntu more successfully. The biggest challenge will be getting a working kernel to boot with the gumboot bootloader. I've built a few myself, but all versions above 4 caused the screen to flash green and lock up the console. I'd like to share the kernel code on GitHub so others can assist, since I'm not very experienced.
I chose Ubuntu 9.04 for its stability and compatibility with older projects. Would you be considering a newer release instead?