Linux on ipod mini!

[ipodmini_lover]

Yes indeed, after several searches online and reading up on the documentation, I can safely say that I installed linux on my ipod mini and I might as well be the first one to do so, (I would hope) details coming up.
Anyway, how I came to find out this information, this should help:
ipodlinux.sf.net
They had done it on first and 3rd gen ipods, so I said what the heck let me go for it and so I did. Initially I e-mailed about it, and if I could use the latest linux kernel, 2.6. I opted to go for it, and so it worked out ok. I am looking into taking some pics but seeming as I dont have a digicam Im bummed at the moment. I hope to post pics and the instructions soon to help if any of you are interested. NOTE: I used the 2.6 linux kernel--not the 2.4.
Any help you need if you want to do this to your mini just pm me, and Ill be glad to help. I must leave now, school is top priority, but promise to keep you all updated.:)

[paintnbike]

That's pretty cool.

What exactly can you do with Linux on an iPod Mini? Does it still function as an MP3 player?

[ipodmini_lover]

Indeed, you can, but you must back up the mini ipod's firmware. It is stored on flash ROM and the hdd. You need to make a backup of the code stored in the two partitions the hdd of the mini ipod has.
Once linux is installed the 2 partitions show up as /dev/sda1 and /dev/sda2.
"If you are currently using Linux tools to manage your music you would be familiar with the second partition as it is a FAT32 formatted partition and contains your music. (If this is the first time you have used your iPod with Linux you may need to do some tinkering to get IEEE1394 (firewire) working with you iPod)."
Soon after all you need is to make the backup of your iPod OS partition.
So yes, you still get to hear music, well at least on mine lol.:)

[paintnbike]

Excellent :D

[jdcoffman]

What can you do with Linus on an iPod? I really have no idea, actually never used Linus in my life...

[ipodmini_lover]

Many things, linux is a OS, for many platforms, but mostly pc's. Overall my mini is a all compatible machine, I can do a bunch of things.
I suggest you read the faq:
http://ipodlinux.sourceforge.net/faq.shtml

[breakaway1029]

Do you need to use Linux on your computer for this to work, or can you use windows? I have SuSe and XP, but I don't really know how do do anything besides listen to music and go online with SuSe.

[ipodmini_lover]

No, you can use windows xp (like me), I dont know about linux, nor if it works on mac. But I would suppose it could work on both platforms.
Check out the screens of it, its the same thing for mine expect I use the 2.6 linux kernel instead of the outdated 2.4 kernel.
http://ipodlinux.sourceforge.net/screens.shtml

[ipodmini_lover]

Again if any of you are interested in doing this to your ipod mini just pm me and Ill be glad to help out.:)

[breakaway1029]

Could somebody post a detailed tutorial for doing this? I have a 3g 15gb, but it should work the same as the mini, correct?

[ipodmini_lover]

I sent you a pm breakaway, it should work out pretty smooth if you follow the instructions. All I did was that, I ran into no problems and it went pretty smooth, you just need patience and time really. I suggest, you print the documetation part of the site, so you have it all there in front while your doing this. It can work on all ipods I think, and with me it was a pretty straight-forward process.

[ipodmini_lover]

I would like to get some other OS for installation on it, maybe BSD. I would hope I could put panther but it's not gonna happen, leave it to my dreams...hehe

[SmileyDude]

I would be really interested in hearing how you did this -- especially after my research that shows that Apple changed the boot process slightly for the mini and that images that worked on other ipods don't work on the mini.

Any chance that you might post instructions here in the thread?

[spot1701]

So apart from the "gosh I'm so smart" feeling you'll get in the pit of your stomach, what is the actual point of putting linux on?

One day, over the rainbow, you might gain something but at present, unless I'm missing something, it's just a lot of hard work for no benefit?

Please enlighten me.

Bryan

[SmileyDude]

spot1701 --

you're pretty much correct at the moment. The only people that should really be doing this are developers. With Linux on the iPod, you lose a lot of functionality. Eventually, the Linux guys should catch up and add more features than the stock ipod, but if you want to just listen to music, don't bother with it for now.

btw -- for those who may not be aware -- installing linux on the ipod doesn't require a reformat of the ipod. The risk of screwing things up to the point where you can't fix it is pretty low. The worst that usually happens is that the ipod can't boot up and goes straight into Firewire disk mode. From the PC, you can always restore the original data on the hard drive.

Of course, YMMV -- so, don't blame me if something goes wrong :D

[ipodmini_lover]

I could post some instructions and maybe a manual, sure but I need to get home to do this. I did this for the sole purpose of knowing that I can. Also, I've been using linux since linus torvalds created it so its a big deal for me I guess. I repeat, you do not lose anything IF you make a backup of everything, but that is entirely up to the individual--not me. Everything, including instructions are there, I see no major differences between the mini and other ipods really, and I can assure you it's a pretty simple process if you follow all the guidelines in the site.
All your information, including music will still be there even after you install linux, thus I see no point in worrying about losing your stuff. There are hacks in which you can get music of the ipod in case you do something wrong and want to back it up in the hdd of your computer.

[Schmoodle]

Put me in the "huh?" camp.

While this may be interesting for some, one of the reasons I bought the iPod is because of the interface. Outisde of servers, it's somewhat tiring to hear "I got Linux working on my <insert kitchen appliance here...>"

[ipodmini_lover]

I would suspect the same but nonetheless I appreciate your comments and concerns, but I can assure you if you make a backup you can have linux installed and have regular ipod with no defects whatsoever working perfectly fine later.

[Bobke]

at the moment it isn't possible to install a working version of iPodLinux on the iPod mini or 4g iPods(it can be installed on 3g iPod though).
Currently, it's in a realy béta phase, and I wouldn't recommend installing it now, as it WILL hurt your iPod!
see: fhttp://www.ipodlinux.org for more info.

[Spline32]

Originally posted by Bobke
at the moment it isn't possible to install a working version of iPodLinux on the iPod mini or 4g iPods(it can be installed on 3g iPod though).
Currently, it's in a realy béta phase, and I wouldn't recommend installing it now, as it WILL hurt your iPod!
see: fhttp://www.ipodlinux.org for more info.

You clearly are not a very good reader, or a very selective one. iPod linux does not modifiy the bootloader so at the very worst, the iPod will need to be restored and you get to reload your songs, nothing lost. As for not working on the 4g and mini, there is no official release of it, but it is possible to run linux on the 4g and mini. Many people are already doing this, and though the OP's claim of being first is wrong (the dev's of IPL were first) he is one of the early people to do it.

For pictures of IPL running on 4g's and Mini's you can look here (http://www.ipodlinux.org/4g) . It is merely suggested that people who do not understand how IPL works (people like you) do not install IPL until they have released an easy to use installer.

[MOCKBA]

Originally posted by ipodmini_lover
Yes indeed, after several searches online and reading up on the documentation, I can safely say that I installed linux on my ipod mini and I might as well be the first one to do so, (I would hope) details coming up.
Wow! Maybe you can lead anothet group of developers and make Limux for 4G faster. Please add also FLAC and OGG decoding.

[Jonis]

hey, ive tried installing linux on my ipod mini with little success(in other words i get the folder with the exclamation mark) ne ways, could u PM with a walkthrough, i just used the gui installation from the site which i knew didnt work but meh, ne ways. id be happy to have a walkthrough or ne information u can for me installing linux on my ipod mini

~Jonas

[Spline32]

there is no GUI installation for the iPod mini yet. Though you can find all the files you need on the CVS at sourceforge.

[Jonis]

ya i know i can find them there. but i have no idea how to install them, ne help?

[Jonis]

well i mean i have c programming knowledge, but not installing it on my ipod...

[MyPodRox]

The gui installer does not work yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It warns you so don't use it!

[theyangster]

so no games :(
tat's my only reason..... :)

[quitter]

Very cool... i want the tetris :]

[GatorMike]

Can someone please post an explanation on how to get Linux on a mini????

[toby12188]

the best way to get linux on ur ipod is thru ipodlinux.org
since 4g, photo and mini ipods have different chipsets they had to adjust linux to work with those ipods. they've got some of the bugs worked out, but haven't made it "safe" to use i guess.. there's no guarantee that it'll work for you and you could screw your stuff up trying to install it, since it's not yet automated.