PS3 miner?

[asdfghjk]

http://ps3hacks.com/ps3-gui-pkg-signer-for-windows-by-famous-released/

So, who wants to make this into software that can run on even the most unmodded PS3s?

[hollajandro]

You would have to have a modded PS3 to run any self signed packages.

[mikey5287]

You are probably missing the 'gcc-spu' package. Make sure all the packages listed in the README are installed.

Code:

root@debian:~/verement-cellminer-59057bc# make
ruby1.9.1 -C ext -E ascii-8bit extconf.rb
checking for spe_context_run() in -lspe2... yes
creating Makefile
make -C ext
make[1]: Entering directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext'
Makefile:230: depend.auto: No such file or directory
make[1]: Leaving directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext'
make[1]: Entering directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext'
gcc -I. -I/usr/include/ruby-1.9.1/powerpc-linux -I/usr/include/ruby-1.9.1/ruby/b                 ackward -I/usr/include/ruby-1.9.1 -I. -D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64  -fPIC -fno-strict-                 aliasing -g -g -O2 -fPIC -Wall  -o cellminer.o -c cellminer.c
gcc -I. -I/usr/include/ruby-1.9.1/powerpc-linux -I/usr/include/ruby-1.9.1/ruby/b                 ackward -I/usr/include/ruby-1.9.1 -I. -D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64  -fPIC -fno-strict-                 aliasing -g -g -O2 -fPIC -Wall  -o spu_miner.o -c spu_miner.c
make -C spu
make[2]: Entering directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext/spu'
Makefile:55: depend.auto: No such file or directory
make[2]: Leaving directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext/spu'
make[2]: Entering directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext/spu'
spu-gcc -DUNROLL_SHA256 -Dinline="inline __attribute__((always_inline))" -O3 -fn                 o-strict-aliasing -funroll-loops -mno-safe-hints -Wall -Werror    -c -o main.o m                 ain.c
spu-gcc -DUNROLL_SHA256 -Dinline="inline __attribute__((always_inline))" -O3 -fn                 o-strict-aliasing -funroll-loops -mno-safe-hints -Wall -Werror    -c -o worker.o                  worker.c
spu-gcc -DUNROLL_SHA256 -Dinline="inline __attribute__((always_inline))" -O3 -fn                 o-strict-aliasing -funroll-loops -mno-safe-hints -Wall -Werror    -c -o sha256.o                  sha256.c
spu-gcc -DUNROLL_SHA256 -Dinline="inline __attribute__((always_inline))" -O3 -fn                 o-strict-aliasing -funroll-loops -mno-safe-hints -Wall -Werror    -c -o util.o u                 til.c
spu-gcc -DUNROLL_SHA256 -Dinline="inline __attribute__((always_inline))" -O3 -fn                 o-strict-aliasing -funroll-loops -mno-safe-hints -Wall -Werror    -c -o spu_slih                 .o spu_slih.c
spu-as   -o spu_flih.o spu_flih.s
spu-gcc -o worker.elf  main.o worker.o sha256.o util.o spu_slih.o spu_flih.o
make[2]: Leaving directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext/spu'
embedspu spu_worker spu/worker.elf spu_worker.o
gcc -I. -I/usr/include/ruby-1.9.1/powerpc-linux -I/usr/include/ruby-1.9.1/ruby/b                 ackward -I/usr/include/ruby-1.9.1 -I. -D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64  -fPIC -fno-strict-                 aliasing -g -g -O2 -fPIC -Wall  -o ppu_miner.o -c ppu_miner.c
make -C ppu
make[2]: Entering directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext/ppu'
Makefile:51: depend.auto: No such file or directory
make[2]: Leaving directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext/ppu'
make[2]: Entering directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext/ppu'
gcc -DUNROLL_SHA256 -Dinline="inline __attribute__((always_inline))" -O3 -fno-st                 rict-aliasing -funroll-loops -mcpu=cell  -Wall -Werror    -c -o worker.o worker.                 c
gcc -DUNROLL_SHA256 -Dinline="inline __attribute__((always_inline))" -O3 -fno-st                 rict-aliasing -funroll-loops -mcpu=cell  -Wall -Werror    -c -o sha256.o sha256.                 c
gcc -DUNROLL_SHA256 -Dinline="inline __attribute__((always_inline))" -O3 -fno-strict-aliasing -funroll-loops -mcpu=cell  -Wall -Werror    -c -o util.o util.c
ar rc worker.a worker.o sha256.o util.o
make[2]: Leaving directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext/ppu'
gcc -shared -o cellminer.so cellminer.o spu_miner.o spu_worker.o ppu_miner.o ppu/worker.a -L. -L/usr/lib -L.  -rdynamic -Wl,-export-dynamic   -lruby-1.9.1 -lspe2  -lpthread -lrt -ldl -lcrypt -lm   -lc
make[1]: Leaving directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext'

now what went wrong?

[verement]

Code:

root@debian:~/verement-cellminer-59057bc# make
ruby1.9.1 -C ext -E ascii-8bit extconf.rb
checking for spe_context_run() in -lspe2... yes
creating Makefile
make -C ext
make[1]: Entering directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext'
Makefile:230: depend.auto: No such file or directory
make[1]: Leaving directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext'
make[1]: Entering directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext'
gcc -I. -I/usr/include/ruby-1.9.1/powerpc-linux -I/usr/include/ruby-1.9.1/ruby/b                 ackward -I/usr/include/ruby-1.9.1 -I. -D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64  -fPIC -fno-strict-                 aliasing -g -g -O2 -fPIC -Wall  -o cellminer.o -c cellminer.c
gcc -I. -I/usr/include/ruby-1.9.1/powerpc-linux -I/usr/include/ruby-1.9.1/ruby/b                 ackward -I/usr/include/ruby-1.9.1 -I. -D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64  -fPIC -fno-strict-                 aliasing -g -g -O2 -fPIC -Wall  -o spu_miner.o -c spu_miner.c
make -C spu
make[2]: Entering directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext/spu'
Makefile:55: depend.auto: No such file or directory
make[2]: Leaving directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext/spu'
make[2]: Entering directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext/spu'
spu-gcc -DUNROLL_SHA256 -Dinline="inline __attribute__((always_inline))" -O3 -fn                 o-strict-aliasing -funroll-loops -mno-safe-hints -Wall -Werror    -c -o main.o m                 ain.c
spu-gcc -DUNROLL_SHA256 -Dinline="inline __attribute__((always_inline))" -O3 -fn                 o-strict-aliasing -funroll-loops -mno-safe-hints -Wall -Werror    -c -o worker.o                  worker.c
spu-gcc -DUNROLL_SHA256 -Dinline="inline __attribute__((always_inline))" -O3 -fn                 o-strict-aliasing -funroll-loops -mno-safe-hints -Wall -Werror    -c -o sha256.o                  sha256.c
spu-gcc -DUNROLL_SHA256 -Dinline="inline __attribute__((always_inline))" -O3 -fn                 o-strict-aliasing -funroll-loops -mno-safe-hints -Wall -Werror    -c -o util.o u                 til.c
spu-gcc -DUNROLL_SHA256 -Dinline="inline __attribute__((always_inline))" -O3 -fn                 o-strict-aliasing -funroll-loops -mno-safe-hints -Wall -Werror    -c -o spu_slih                 .o spu_slih.c
spu-as   -o spu_flih.o spu_flih.s
spu-gcc -o worker.elf  main.o worker.o sha256.o util.o spu_slih.o spu_flih.o
make[2]: Leaving directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext/spu'
embedspu spu_worker spu/worker.elf spu_worker.o
gcc -I. -I/usr/include/ruby-1.9.1/powerpc-linux -I/usr/include/ruby-1.9.1/ruby/b                 ackward -I/usr/include/ruby-1.9.1 -I. -D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64  -fPIC -fno-strict-                 aliasing -g -g -O2 -fPIC -Wall  -o ppu_miner.o -c ppu_miner.c
make -C ppu
make[2]: Entering directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext/ppu'
Makefile:51: depend.auto: No such file or directory
make[2]: Leaving directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext/ppu'
make[2]: Entering directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext/ppu'
gcc -DUNROLL_SHA256 -Dinline="inline __attribute__((always_inline))" -O3 -fno-st                 rict-aliasing -funroll-loops -mcpu=cell  -Wall -Werror    -c -o worker.o worker.                 c
gcc -DUNROLL_SHA256 -Dinline="inline __attribute__((always_inline))" -O3 -fno-st                 rict-aliasing -funroll-loops -mcpu=cell  -Wall -Werror    -c -o sha256.o sha256.                 c
gcc -DUNROLL_SHA256 -Dinline="inline __attribute__((always_inline))" -O3 -fno-strict-aliasing -funroll-loops -mcpu=cell  -Wall -Werror    -c -o util.o util.c
ar rc worker.a worker.o sha256.o util.o
make[2]: Leaving directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext/ppu'
gcc -shared -o cellminer.so cellminer.o spu_miner.o spu_worker.o ppu_miner.o ppu/worker.a -L. -L/usr/lib -L.  -rdynamic -Wl,-export-dynamic   -lruby-1.9.1 -lspe2  -lpthread -lrt -ldl -lcrypt -lm   -lc
make[1]: Leaving directory `/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/ext'

now what went wrong?

I don't see anything wrong in there. Did you try running it?

[mikey5287]

Code:

root@debian:~/verement-cellminer-59057bc# ./cellminer --help
<internal:lib/rubygems/custom_require>:29:in `require': no such file to load -- net/http/persistent (LoadError)
        from <internal:lib/rubygems/custom_require>:29:in `require'
        from /root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/bitcoin.rb:21:in `<top (required)>'
        from /root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/cellminer.rb:23:in `require_relative'
        from /root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/cellminer.rb:23:in `<top (required)>'
        from ./cellminer:21:in `require_relative'
        from ./cellminer:21:in `<main>'

Thanks for the help.

Looks like I need net/http/persistent.

But when I try to install gem I get this.

Code:

apt-get install gem
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
You might want to run 'apt-get -f install' to correct these:
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 gem : Depends: pd
       Depends: libavifile-0.7c2 (>= 1:0.7.48~20090503.ds) but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: libftgl2 (>= 2.1.3~rc5) but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: libglu1-mesa but it is not going to be installed or
                libglu1
       Depends: libmagick++3 (>= 7:6.6.0.4) but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: libmagickcore3 (>= 7:6.6.0.4) but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: libmpeg3-1 (>= 1.5.4) but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: libquicktime1 (>= 2:1.1.1+debian) but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: libv4l-0 (>= 0.5.0) but it is not going to be installed
 libspe2-dev : Depends: libspe2-2 (= 2.2.80-95-1) but it is not installable
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).

Because I need to this to install net-http-persistent.

Code:

gem install net-http-persistent

Am I doing something wrong here?
I don't know why I'm having so much trouble installing these packages.

[lgeek]

But when I try to install gem I get this.

Code:

apt-get install gem
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
You might want to run 'apt-get -f install' to correct these:
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 gem : Depends: pd
       Depends: libavifile-0.7c2 (>= 1:0.7.48~20090503.ds) but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: libftgl2 (>= 2.1.3~rc5) but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: libglu1-mesa but it is not going to be installed or
                libglu1
       Depends: libmagick++3 (>= 7:6.6.0.4) but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: libmagickcore3 (>= 7:6.6.0.4) but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: libmpeg3-1 (>= 1.5.4) but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: libquicktime1 (>= 2:1.1.1+debian) but it is not going to be installed
       Depends: libv4l-0 (>= 0.5.0) but it is not going to be installed
 libspe2-dev : Depends: libspe2-2 (= 2.2.80-95-1) but it is not installable
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).

Because I need to this to install net-http-persistent.

Code:

gem install net-http-persistent

Am I doing something wrong here?
I don't know why I'm having so much trouble installing these packages.

Gem is included in the ruby package and you can use it with gem 1.9.1; there's no need to install another package.
Apt is complaining because you haven't installed libspe2-2 which is a dependency of libspe2-dev. You will need both these packages to run cellminer. The reason you're having trouble is that you're probably running either the stable or the testing branches of Debian, whereas these two packages are only available for the oldstable and unstable branches. However, the packages built for the unstable branch work (at least for me) on testing.

Long story short:

Code:

wget http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/libs/libspe2/libspe2-2_2.2.80-95-3.1_powerpc.deb
dpkg -i ./libspe2-2_2.2.80-95-3.1_powerpc.deb
gem1.9.1 install net-http-persistent

And everything should work.

[mikey5287]

Thank you so much! Now it compiles, but it seems I can't get it running.
I really suck at this.

Code:

root@debian:~/verement-cellminer-59057bc# ./cellminer -u myusername -p mypass http://myserver:port
[2011-05-22 13:26:56] Cell Miner starting
[2011-05-22 13:26:56] Creating 6 SPU miner(s)
spu_create(): Function not implemented
/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/cellminer.rb:136: [BUG] Segmentation fault

I know I've for a bunch of help already, but it says [BUG] so maybe it's not me.

[verement]

Thank you so much! Now it compiles, but it seems I can't get it running.
I really suck at this.

Code:

root@debian:~/verement-cellminer-59057bc# ./cellminer -u myusername -p mypass http://myserver:port
[2011-05-22 13:26:56] Cell Miner starting
[2011-05-22 13:26:56] Creating 6 SPU miner(s)
spu_create(): Function not implemented
/root/verement-cellminer-59057bc/cellminer.rb:136: [BUG] Segmentation fault

I know I've for a bunch of help already, but it says [BUG] so maybe it's not me.

I'd say you're doing pretty well given the dearth of documentation I've provided.

At this point you need to make sure /spu is mounted. See lgeek's post here.

Code:

# mkdir -p /spu
# mount -t spufs none /spu

This is the mechanism through which Linux offers access to the SPEs.

[PabloW]

is it really worth to have the PS3 running all day just 20 Mhash? Or are you getting more than that?

[lgeek]

is it really worth to have the PS3 running all day just 20 Mhash? Or are you getting more than that?

22 Mhash/s. It can be profitable if you have cheap or fixed-cost electricity and you don't plan to expand too much. You can get them very cheap and the 130W ones are reasonably silent. Not worth it if you can get highend AMD GPUs on PCs.

[seldamat]

Hello,

I just discovered bitcoin a few hours ago and after delving into the literature posted here and on various websites.  You can say I'm a newborn newb with the umbilical still attached when it comes to bitcoins and hashes and all of the above (seemingly) complex jargon.  Funny, before I read this topic I came up with the idea to bitcoin mine using a series of ps3s running in parallel.  The energy costs wouldn't be of consequence to me because I am a neuroscience graduate student and can just mooch off of my university's wind farm energy supply.

But you see the thing is... I graduated college with a degree in biological neurosciences and the most programming I have ever done involved MATLAB functions and scripts (in other words its very difficult for me to follow this post).  In retrospect I wish I took more electrical engineering courses.  I've heard of a college professor running complex computational biological simulations on 6 PS3s - I thought why not do the same for mining?  Currently I have my little brother's PS3 (traded him for my ipad) and a seemingly nonfunctional PS3 my omanian roommate left behind after he left the states a few weeks ago.  I can't tell if it works because the power plug doesn't fit into standard US outlets... have yet to find the right adapter.

I digress a little and I'm not really sure what questions to ask because I really don't know where to begin - but I guess my first request would be for some pointers.  I'm currently looking into installing an OS unto the PS3 but I'm not really sure which one would be best for parallel computing or even how to set the PS3s up for parallel computing.

Does anyone have a few beginner's pointers.  I'll even take some flaming for some guidance.  Links for further reading would be greatly appreciated as well.

[datguywhowanders]

Your first step should be to check the firmware version on the PS3. This can be found buried in the system settings somewhere. Look it up via Google if you can't find it.

If you're at anything at or above 3.56 (I believe, and for sure if you're at 3.60 or 3.61), then with current methods, you can't do this. Sony removed the ability to install a custom operating system with recent firmware upgrades, and the only way get that back is with hacked custom firmware. There is currently not a hack for systems running firmware 3.56 or higher, not when I last checked anyway.

Keep an eye out for this to change, and don't upgrade your firmware in the meantime if you want to use the PS3 in the future for this purpose.

Now, if you happen to have a firmware of 3.55 or lower, you are in business. Your first step is to install a custom firmware to re-enable the option to install a custom operating system. Choose your flavor of linux, and depending upon which firmware and boot setup you went with, follow the appropriate directions to install Linux onto your PS3.

Once you have Linux running, you will have to download and attempt to compile the source provided by the original poster into a working binary for your system. I say attempt because as the posts in this thread show, it is likely you will have a lot of libraries and dependencies missing that you will have to hunt down prior to being able to compile the source.

Assuming you get it up and running, you connect it with right parameters to either your own bitcoin daemon or to a pool like Slush or Deepbit.

Best of luck!

[d3m0n1q_733rz]

I don't know the math personally, but if the calculations are more than just rotating bits, you could set the SPU to only rotate bits for the cells.  This would allow the cells to do what they're capable of and the SPU to pick up the slack.

[syb3ria]

Soon ARM processors will match the PS3 performance or even surpass it. I suppose it the power consumption will be extremely low compared to the 120w@full load of the PS3.

[MonkeyMarcel]

Bump

[Korporal]

Glad this topic got necroposted. I'm looking into using my 3.4 PS3 for mining LTC's. I'll check this out. 

[dnaanders]

Anything regarding PS3's mining altcoins?  I have a slim sitting around in my dorm room that has no use, might as well try it out?

[btcxyzzz]

I guess what we need is to ask Sony to make native PS3 app for mining XPM or sumthin'

[mapi5032]

I guess what we need is to ask Sony to make native PS3 app for mining XPM or sumthin'

I've made a XPM miner for my PS3 running linux.
https://github.com/MartijnPieterse/cellprimecoin

Not blazingly fast, but it should be able to handle 10k tests/s using a modified mpm_mod_exp function. Sieving is not that fast so at the moment it can't do more than ~2000 tests/s.

But i'm still working on it. Creating a .pkg which can be installed on a non-linux ps3 should not be too hard if you know your way around psl1ght. But then one would still need <= 3.55 firmware.

[Camilio]

The more interesting question is, what hash wouldget the ps4