You read the headline correctly, Linux can now actually be installed on the Nintendo Switch making it an even more interesting device.
The NVIDIA Tegra SoC used inside the Switch has a rather interesting bug, one that doesn't seem like it can be patched away allowing for any Linux enthusiast to load up Linux directly on their Switch. All current Switch units are vulnerable to the exploit, so Nintendo would need a new version of the Switch to stop this.
See for yourself below:
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Interested to learn more about it? There's a post on fail0verflow with more in-depth details. You can also find code and stuff on GitHub.
Fascinating stuff really, as an owner of a Switch it's not exactly something I will be doing (my son would never forgive me), but it's very cool to see nonetheless.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The comments on this article are closed.
Quoting: tonRI really wish a truly portable open-source devices/smartphones are exist or at least I can install Linux distros on any Android devices. Closest thing I have right now is Samsung Galaxy Note II running on LineageOS and without Goggle apps.There is Ubuntu Touch for Arm devices which gives you access to the Ubuntu Packages and has convergence functionality. Unfortunately due to the closed drivers on Android Phones/Tablets only a few devices are supported. But with project Halium it should be possible to install it on way more devices in the future.
(As far as I understand Halium keeps the android base layer for accessing the hardware and installs Ubuntu Touch (or other Linux Distributions) on top of it, circumventing the driver issue)
Last edited by Wendigo on 30 April 2018 at 9:19 am UTC
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Quoting: Mar2ckLook, i agree that DRM pretty much has nothing to do with this article but DRM is an issue worth discussing. It isn't pointless when the DRM obstructs you from playing the game properly which you rightfully bought. I don't know what you're getting at with this "serious gamer" idea you've made. If anything, being more serious about games means you would care more about the issues that plague the industry.
DRM is supposed to prevent you from playing games you haven't purchased and don't own. That is its intended functionality.
However, what game companies haven't realised yet is that DRM really only keeps honest people honest. There is no DRM (AFAIK) that hasn't been cracked yet, but the game companies keep making stronger and stronger DRM... and they get cracked in record time.
DRM on consoles and similar devices is supposed to stop people from using pirated software.... and unlicensed software.
Keeping in kind that Nintendo makes money from every Switch game sold, which is why they don't want you running unauthorised software (including games) on the Switch.
Personally, I'm not okay with them blocking us from installing our own software or even operating systems on the Switch, Xbox, PS4, iPhone, or whatever. If I paid for the device, then I should be allowed to run whatever I legally own on it. Stopping Piracy makes sense... but if I want to run Linux, or homebrew software, on my iPad or on my Switch, that should be my right.
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slaapliedje Apr 30, 2018
Quoting: ShmerlQuoting: slaapliedjeIs this DRM though?
According to mobile operators it is. They also used to lock devices that prevented users from switching to competing networks. You can argue it's not DRM, but they actually threatened those who tried to break that with anti-circumvention. That's why DRM has nothing to do with rights. It's quite proper to call it Digital Restrictions Management, it's exactly what it's used for - to restrict the user.
In case of Switch and most incumbent consoles - they have tons of such restrictions.
Yeah, I'm well aware of this. I guess if you look at it in the way that you can't just (currently) stick your own software on an SD Card and run it on the switch, that it is DRM. But the same could (loosely) be argued about being able to take a piece of windows software and put it into a Linux system, and not be able to run it.
DRM to me has always been a stupid software restriction, like requiring a CD-Key, or having a server out there so you have to be online to play a game even when it's single-player. Retarded stuff like this should stop.
It's funny that DRM really only affects legitimate users, because Pirates just remove it.
The best thing about this 'hack' is that it's a backdoor left in there by nVidia and is part of the chipset. There is no way they can patch it without sending out updated hardware. Which leaves me feeling like I can actually allow the Nintendo portion to be updated without them being able to take away the homebrew potential.
Let's face it, after a few years a console's life is over commercially, but the homebrew guys will always write stuff. Look at the Atari 2600, people are still releasing games for it!
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Quoting: slaapliedjeI guess if you look at it in the way that you can't just (currently) stick your own software on an SD Card and run it on the switch, that it is DRM. But the same could (loosely) be argued about being able to take a piece of windows software and put it into a Linux system, and not be able to run it
Well, not exactly. It's one thing that you can't run one architecture on another, or PE binary on Linux (or ELF on Windows) without some hacks / translation / emulation. That's just technical incompatibilities and it's not DRM indeed. It's quite another thing when they lock the bootloader which prevents you from installing another OS on the device. That's surely DRM in my view.
Last edited by Shmerl on 30 April 2018 at 4:47 pm UTC
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Quoting: Purple Library GuyQuoting: GuestIronically, you would appear to have gotten the conversation about DRM going rather than stopping it. I would suggest partly because you couldn't resist the crack about serious gamers. The lesson is, if you're supposedly trying to stop an argument, don't take a position in the argument as part of your intervention.Quoting: ShmerlIt's just a Tegra tablet with some Nintendo DRM mess attached. So once DRM is broken, Linux should be runnable :)Can we stop all this talk of DRM on just about every topic that's posted? (not pointing the finger, I mean in general)
Scrolling down through the posts only to see DRM being talked about instead of the actual headline, is getting...well, a bit boring and disappointing.
Serious gamer's are not all that bothered about DRM anyway, it's all about playing and enjoying the game, so it's pointless bringing it up all the time.
There is a forum for that kind of topic.
Although since nobody was actually talking about DRM until you said this, another lesson is "If you're already ahead, 'quit while you're ahead' means 'quit before you start'".
Yes, exactly. I did the very same (very tempting) mistake in the past too ;).
Last edited by jens on 30 April 2018 at 5:19 pm UTC
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Nice, I wanted a Switch and a small Tablet to surf on the balcony instead of my phone. I guess I will only get a switch only now ;-).
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Quoting: WendigoThere is Ubuntu Touch for Arm devices which gives you access to the Ubuntu Packages and has convergence functionality. Unfortunately due to the closed drivers on Android Phones/Tablets only a few devices are supported. But with project Halium it should be possible to install it on way more devices in the future.I do follow Ubports/Ubuntu Touch project ones a week. Looks promising but right now only 3 phones ready-to-use according to them which is;
(As far as I understand Halium keeps the android base layer for accessing the hardware and installs Ubuntu Touch (or other Linux Distributions) on top of it, circumventing the driver issue)
1. Fairphone 2 = Impossible to find here locally,
2.LG/Google Nexus 5 = You're lucky to get one with good condition,
3.OnePlus One = You're lucky if found one that still functioning.
As for Halium, I hope that I am wrong but the developing stages doesn't look great. Tizen and Sailfish looks more promising than Halium. Again, I hope that I'm wrong.
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We now have an ARM-based tablet that in theory can run every Doom game ever released.
Last edited by Botonoski on 2 May 2018 at 3:05 pm UTC
Last edited by Botonoski on 2 May 2018 at 3:05 pm UTC
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Quoting: tonRGood news for portable Linux computing and gaming on-the-go. Bad news for Nintendo as it may be use for "unofficial" purpose. Hopefully that person not getting sued for this exploit like PS3's OtherOS lawsuit last decade ago.
I really wish a truly portable open-source devices/smartphones are exist or at least I can install Linux distros on any Android devices. Closest thing I have right now is Samsung Galaxy Note II running on LineageOS and without Goggle apps.
You might want to have a look at PostmarketOS (it's not ready for a daily driver yet, but it's getting there).
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slaapliedje May 2, 2018
Quoting: ShmerlQuoting: slaapliedjeI guess if you look at it in the way that you can't just (currently) stick your own software on an SD Card and run it on the switch, that it is DRM. But the same could (loosely) be argued about being able to take a piece of windows software and put it into a Linux system, and not be able to run it
Well, not exactly. It's one thing that you can't run one architecture on another, or PE binary on Linux (or ELF on Windows) without some hacks / translation / emulation. That's just technical incompatibilities and it's not DRM indeed. It's quite another thing when they lock the bootloader which prevents you from installing another OS on the device. That's surely DRM in my view.
Yeah, that's why I said it could very loosely be argued. Not that I'm not arguing that. But to be fair, actual copy protection systems generally do make emulation / translation layers much more difficult to implement.
I'm not sure of the case now (since I don't use Wine all that much) but back in the day, you pretty much always had to install the game, then use the 'noCD' crack to be able to run it.
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