GameCube-Powered Webserver

Daniel Kolph writes "The GameCube Linux Project has just released, what they call the GameCube Linux Alpha This is an 1 MB busybox-based Linux system that contains screen output, network code, a telnet server and a webserver. They also provide a kernel patch. (Screenshots/Download)"

Soooo...

[mac os ken]

I can run Linux on my GameCube and OS X on my XBox 2 now? Man today is a great /. day for hacking videogame consoles. PowerPC rocks.

Neat

[TurnerK12]

I wonder if this be anything like the WarpPipe project. So far they're software works with Mario Kart: Double Dash and a few other games. I guess that's only for fooling games with LAN support into playing online though. Any online news about the Gamecube is great though. This is some great news.
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http://spaceruckus.web1000.com [web1000.com]
These guys are putting together a free 3D action/adventure game.

Let me be the first to say. . .

[Excen]

[Insert witty Beowulf cluster joke here]

Seriously though, why would someone do this? It's not going to be very powerful, there's no way in hades it would survive a /.ing, besides the geek factor, why would this even be remotely considered? The X-Box would be a better platform for mods than a Gamecube, when just considering hardware.

Sad...

[LamerX]

You know it's a sad state of affairs when someone has to put a disclaimer at the bottom of thier website about the DMCA. Its really a bummer that you can't just do anything to the things you own anymore. Just how useless does this make things? Oh wow another game system. Or COOL, my game system can do this and this and this! The only reason I bought a Dreamcast was for haXorability, and all the cool software people were writing for it. And it's the cool things like this that make me want to buy a game cube.

Re:Once it's slashdotted

[Anonymous Coward]

Uh, no they are not.

obvious

[Andorion]

Because it's there.

~Berj

why telnet?

[NoSuchGuy]

Why is there always telnet? Because of the clear text transmitted password?

Why can't they implement ssh from start up of their project?

None of the above when $100 buys you a PIV mobo

[Ayanami Rei]

with network built in, and a cheap OEM celeron. Mix in bootable USB key, RAM, power supply, shake. Serve cold.

In fact, none of the PS2, Gamecube, or XBox have NEARLY enough RAM to even fathom running a database, let alone much else (since you can't even cache very much from fixed media, for example).

Duh.

It might make a good kerberos or DNS server or something that needs to be "hardened" and always up, with a small in-memory image. But that's probably only going to fly in a college dorm at a Tech University.

Re:Let me be the first to say. . .

[boredMDer]

Seriously though, why would someone do this?

Because they can.

Re:Liberal ideas are subtle,nuanced and sophistica

[Anonymous Coward]

Ah irony.

Not the troll mod on the liberal bashing gpp, but that a sarcastic post complaining about liberal claims of the intellectual high ground went over your head.

My country right or wrong (unless those fucking Democrats are in power). Smaller, less intrusive government (unless we need secret police powers to protect freedom). Fascism and torture are bad (unless our allies are the perpetrators). Freedom of religion does not mean freedom from religion. Science must be restrained by Christian morality, but business must not be restrained by anything.

See, I do understand conservative political thought.

Re:Sad...

[88NoSoup4U88]

You know it's a sad state of affairs when someone has to put a disclaimer at the bottom of thier website about the DMCA. Its really a bummer that you can't just do anything to the things you own anymore. Just how useless does this make things? Oh wow another game system. Or COOL, my game system can do this and this and this! The only reason I bought a Dreamcast was for haXorability, and all the cool software people were writing for it. And it's the cool things like this that make me want to buy a game cube.

I think you answered your own question : They don't want people getting close to running thirdparty software on a console : The gamesales is where the profit lies.
Personally, for the GC, i don't think they mind when someone is making a server out of it.

Re:Let me be the first to say. . .

[christopherfinke]

4. And most importantly, it will cost M$ a good chunk of change every time we buy one!

Which do you think costs Microsoft more: you giving them $200 for an XBox, or you NOT giving them $200 for an XBox which then remains unsold? That's what I thought.

Re:The real question is Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

There are many reasons why someone may want to run linux on a console. During the Dreamcast days, I was able to boot linux and use it as a terminal. Many times my girlfriend would need to use the computer, so I would actualy use my DC to get onto the school servers and work on my projects. You don't have to run an enterprise web server to do something useful. Almost 10 years ago we were running web servers on computers that had a fraction of the power of a Gamecue. Somehow we managed to survive. If you already own a Gamecube, well now you essentially can have a free computer as well.

Re:Let me be the first to say. . .

[spiny]

yeah, but you're missing the point:

say it costs 300 dollars for them to manufacture and they sell them at 200 dollars and you buy one - they make a loss of 100 dollars.

now say it costs 300 dollars for them to manufacture and they sell them at 200 dollars and you DON'T buy one, then they have lost all 300 dollars