3DS Linux build instructions

3DS_Linux_build_instructions.md

Step 1: Compiling or Downloading the toolchain

Step 1.a: If you choose to download a pre-compiled toolchain (only for Linux x86-64)

• Go to https://toolchains.bootlin.com
• Select arch: armv6-eabihf
• Select libc: glibc
• Download bleeding-edge
• Uncompress it (for example to /opt)
• Add the bin/directory of the toolchain to $PATH
  • In my case: export PATH=$PATH:/opt/armv6-eabihf--glibc--bleeding-edge-2020.08-1

Step 1.b: If you choose to compile the toolchain yourself:

• git clone https://github.com/crosstool-ng/crosstool-ng.git
• Run: autoconf && ./configure --enable-local && make install
• Run ./ct-ng ct-ng menuconfig
• Go to Target options
• Target Architecture -> Select arm
• Floating point -> Select Hardware (FPU)
• Emit assembly for CPU -> Write mpcore
• Exit -> Exit -> Save? -> Yes
• Run ./ct-ng build

Step 2: Build buildroot (to generate a rootfs)

• git clone https://github.com/buildroot/buildroot.git
• Download Buildroot .config to buildroot/.config
• (You can add your custom scripts to output/target/)
  • Acutally, this is deprecated. Better to use the "filesystem overlay" option of Buildroot to add custom files to the rootfs.
• Set toolchain path (in my case /opt/armv6-eabihf--glibc--bleeding-edge-2020.02-2/):
  • make menuconfig
  • Navigate to Toolchain --->
  • Properly set the Toolchain path, save and exit
• Run make (-j N)

Step 3: Build Linux

• git clone https://github.com/xerpi/linux_3ds.git
• Copy buildroot/output/images/rootfs.cpio.gz to linux_3ds/
• Run ./make_3ds.sh
• Copy arch/arm/boot/zImage to sd:/linux/
• Copy arch/arm/boot/dts/nintendo3ds_ctr.dtb to sd:/linux/

Step 4: Build arm9linuxfw (optional, but needed for SD card support)

• git clone https://github.com/xerpi/arm9linuxfw
• Run make
• Copy arm9linuxfw.bin to sd:/linux/

Step 5: Build FIRM Linux Loader

• git clone https://github.com/xerpi/firm_linux_loader
• Run make
• Copy firm_linux_loader.firm to sd:/luma/payloads/ (the payload folder Luma3DS will look for)

Step 6: Run Linux!

• Power on the 3DS pressing START (or the button you have assocciated with the FIRM Linux Loader Luma3DS payload)

Thanks @nickdesaulniers for the corrections to the build instructions, and also for providing the instructions to build the kernel with Clang!

What can you do with this installation?

Will installing Linux delete my files already saved like digital games, save data ect. or will I be able to switch between linux and "normal" 3ds

Linux is started by a FIRM, and it should be chain-loaded via Luma. It is possible to replace the normal FIRM for Luma with this if desired, but this is actively discouraged. Linux cannot touch your SD card or NAND, as the drivers are not yet in place for this.

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