Linux on Xbox 360

[jokeripa]

Ok, can someone please tell me why this wouldnt work, as I have thought this through.

As Majik posted earlier, the 360gamesave program, which allows you to read and write to HDD and Memory card.

Now, why cant you pop linux up on the hardrive through this program?

Download an arcade game, and see how it is registered on the 360, then mod linux abit so it will seem to look like an arcade game... or just use an arcade games shell?

Then you could select it from your list of Arcade games on the 360 and BOOM theres Linux

Edited February 14, 2006 by disturb3d

[Pc_Madness]

Aren't all arcade games digitally signed? I don't think the 360 will run anything that isn't signed.

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

Aren't all arcade games digitally signed? I don't think the 360 will run anything that isn't signed.

We have a winner!

All Xbox360 apps must be digitally signed to run, that's why running Linux on X-Box 1 needs either a modified BIOS, or a replacement (Cromwell) BIOS.

[thetman]

We have a winner!

All Xbox360 apps must be digitally signed to run, that's why running Linux on X-Box 1 needs either a modified BIOS, or a replacement (Cromwell) BIOS.

correct, but continuing with you xbox 1 statement, with a recent dvd firmware hack you no longer need any other modifications to run unsigned code/media

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

correct, but continuing with you xbox 1 statement, with a recent dvd firmware hack you no longer need any other modifications to run unsigned code/media

This hacked firmware will fake the disc detection (will trick drive to detect disc as DVDXBOX media), the xbe must still be signed though (for DVDXBOX media), so this hack will not allow to run homebrew/linux stuff, atleast not directly

Can only run "unsigned" media, not code with the hacked firmware.

[thetman]

Can only run "unsigned" media, not code with the hacked firmware.

thanks for the catch, would be nice though

[jokeripa]

I have no idea what 'unsigned' and 'digitally signed' means, but can it not be bypassed...or 'digitally signed'?

[Pc_Madness]

I have no idea what 'unsigned' and 'digitally signed' means, but can it not be bypassed...or 'digitally signed'?

Basically its an ID which says "This came from Microsoft" and its included in the file and its only valid for that file (based off the file size and stuff). So whenever the 360 has to run an executable, it looks for the signature. Digitally signing something I think costs $15,000 for a license or something like that.. assuming its the one from Verisign? I'm not sure if you can fake them or not... but I doubt it.

[jokeripa]

Bit if Verisign, and others can supply them... then why can this not be made by a user?

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

Bit if Verisign, and others can supply them... then why can this not be made by a user?

Don't want to sound condescending, but i suggest you read up on cryptography, encryption and signing.

[Brandon Live Veteran]

Bit if Verisign, and others can supply them... then why can this not be made by a user?

You can't just sign it with any certificate (well you could, but it would be useless to do so). You would need access to the official Microsoft Xbox certificate. Not even the third-party developers have access to that.

[Kudos Veteran]

Even if you could make the 360 think linux was a digitally signed arcade game, you'd still have to get past the fact that it would be run from protected memory, with no kernel access to boot itself. From what i've read, Microsofts protection has come a long way from the original xbox and most people believe we will never see the 360 get exploited as much as the orginal.

/k

[Sn00pY]

You can't just sign it with any certificate (well you could, but it would be useless to do so). You would need access to the official Microsoft Xbox certificate. Not even the third-party developers have access to that.

Get it and we can r00l teh w0rld. muhahah OMG B0x0rz.

On a serious note.

Brandon is totally correct, as expected :) I believe when the game is pressed/made it's at an MS approved plant or some such (?) to allow for the digitally signed media code to be added.

Correct me if I am wrong Brandon.....

[jokeripa]

Alright thank for the help :)

[LaNcom]

The talented guys from XboxLinux are at it, check Free60. They defeated the original Xbox protection scheme, and it seems this time they also have support from some extremely talented scene folks (homebrew/ demo/ warez). I don't think I like the fact that some professional warez-guys seem to support Free60, but if it makes homebrew and a Linux port possible, I can deal with it...

They are still analying and rev-engineering the 360 right now, but they already reached a few milestones, like rev-engineering the 360 filesystem and describing the protection scheme...

http://www.free60.org

[Pc_Madness]

Brandon is totally correct, as expected :) I believe when the game is pressed/made it's at an MS approved plant or some such (?) to allow for the digitally signed media code to be added.

Umm...all games have to goto MS for approval, so I guess if it gets approved, they'll sign it and send you back the game and then you can start copying that onto game discs. :)

[Jeremy1]

They are still analying and rev-engineering the 360 right now, but they already reached a few milestones, like rev-engineering the 360 filesystem and describing the protection scheme...

Those milestones are basically useless as far as getting unsigned code to run. They haven't even scratched the surface, and it's quite possible that they may never fully crack it.

[LaNcom]

They are by no means useless. If they don't know _how_ the protection works, it's completely impossible to ever defeat it, don't you agree? ;) The question is _when_ is it cracked, and by _whom_. There's a very active and powerful cracking business in Asia also working on it, maybe (probably?) they'll be first - but it will happen sooner or later.

Every protection can be cracked. It's a matter of time and ressources. Even the 'unbreakable' WPA was cracked eventually. And well, MS has not exactly a great track record when it comes to protection schemes...

[magik]

There's absolutely no doubt they'll eventually crack the 360 to the standard that the Xbox 1 can be modded now.