ps3load - Network Loader

Load and execute PS3 applications over network for rapid development and testing

Overview

The ps3load tool allows you to load and run PS3 SELF executables over a TCP network connection. This enables rapid development cycles without creating PKG files or using USB drives.

Requires ps3load network listener running on your PS3 (included with PSL1GHT homebrew).

Why Use ps3load?

Fast Iteration

Load executables in seconds instead of creating PKGs and transferring files.

Development Workflow

Test changes immediately without packaging overhead.

Network Debugging

Stream stdout/stderr from your PS3 application to your development machine.

Automatic Compression

Transparent zlib compression reduces transfer time.

Prerequisites

On Your PS3

1. Install Network Listener

   Run a homebrew application that includes the ps3load listener (most PSL1GHT homebrew includes this).

2. Note PS3 IP Address

   Find your PS3’s IP address in network settings or use a fixed IP.

3. Ensure Network Connectivity

   Your development machine and PS3 must be on the same network.

On Your Development Machine

The ps3load tool is built as part of PSL1GHT toolchain installation.

Setup

Configure Environment Variable

# Set PS3LOAD to your PS3's IP address
export PS3LOAD=tcp:192.168.1.100

# Or use hostname if you have DNS
export PS3LOAD=tcp:ps3.local

# Add to ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc for persistence
echo 'export PS3LOAD=tcp:192.168.1.100' >> ~/.bashrc

Replace 192.168.1.100 with your PS3’s actual IP address.

Command-Line Usage

ps3load <filename> [application arguments]

Basic Examples

Load Application

# Load and run SELF file
ps3load myapp.self

# With arguments
ps3load myapp.self --debug --verbose

Network Protocol

ps3load uses a simple TCP protocol on port 4299.

Protocol Format

1. Handshake

   Send magic bytes HAXX (0x48415858)

2. Version

   Send ps3load version (major.minor) and argument length

3. File Size

   Send compressed and uncompressed file sizes

4. File Data

   Stream file data (optionally compressed) in 4KB blocks

5. Arguments

   Send null-terminated argument strings

Implementation Details

From tools/ps3load/source/main.c:156-175:

// Protocol header
b[0] = 'H';
b[1] = 'A'; 
b[2] = 'X'; 
b[3] = 'X';
tcp_write(s, b, 4);

// Version and args length
b[0] = PS3LOAD_VERSION_MAYOR;  // 0
b[1] = PS3LOAD_VERSION_MINOR;  // 5
b[2] = (args_len >> 8) & 0xff;
b[3] = args_len & 0xff;
tcp_write(s, b, 4);

// File sizes (compressed and uncompressed)
b[0] = (len >> 24) & 0xff;
b[1] = (len >> 16) & 0xff;
b[2] = (len >> 8) & 0xff;
b[3] = len & 0xff;
tcp_write(s, b, 4);

Compression

ps3load automatically compresses files using zlib (level 6) to reduce transfer time.

// From tools/ps3load/source/main.c:332-362
if (compress) {
    bufzlen = (uLongf) ((float) fsize * 1.02);
    bufz = malloc(bufzlen);
    
    printf("compressing %u bytes...", (u32) fsize);
    res = compress2(bufz, &bufzlen, buf, fsize, 6);
    
    if (bufzlen < (u32) fsize) {
        printf(" %.2f%%\n", 100.0f * (float) bufzlen / (float) fsize);
        len = bufzlen;      // Compressed size
        len_un = fsize;     // Original size
        free(buf);
        buf = bufz;
    } else {
        printf(" compressed size gained size, discarding\n");
        free(bufz);
    }
}

PKG files (starting with PK\x03\x04) are not compressed as they’re already compressed.

Build System Integration

The PSL1GHT Makefile includes a run target:

# From samples/graphics/rsxtest/Makefile:123
run:
    ps3load $(OUTPUT).self

# Usage:
# make run

Complete Makefile Example

include $(PSL1GHT)/ppu_rules

TARGET := myapp
SOURCES := source

LIBS := -lrsx -lgcm_sys -lrt -llv2

.PHONY: run clean

# Build targets
$(TARGET).self: $(TARGET).elf

# Quick test
run: $(TARGET).self
    ps3load $(TARGET).self

# Development cycle
test: clean all run

clean:
    rm -rf $(BUILD) $(TARGET).elf $(TARGET).self

Usage

# Build and run
make run

# Full rebuild and test
make test

# With arguments
ps3load myapp.self --level 5 --fullscreen

Troubleshooting

Error: resolving hostname

Can’t resolve the PS3 hostname/IP:

# Verify PS3LOAD is set
echo $PS3LOAD

# Try direct IP
export PS3LOAD=tcp:192.168.1.100

# Test network connectivity
ping 192.168.1.100

Error: connection refused

PS3 is not running a ps3load listener:

• Launch a homebrew app that includes network loading
• Check PS3 firewall settings
• Verify port 4299 is not blocked

# Test if port is open
nc -zv 192.168.1.100 4299

Transfer very slow

Network issues or large file:

# Check file size
ls -lh myapp.self

# Reduce file size by stripping
ppu-strip myapp.elf -o myapp.stripped.elf
fself myapp.stripped.elf myapp.self

# Check compression ratio
ps3load myapp.self  # Shows compression %

Application doesn't start

The SELF file may be invalid:

• Ensure you ran sprxlinker before fself
• Check that SELF was created correctly
• Try creating a PKG and installing instead

# Verify SELF format
file myapp.self
hexdump -C myapp.self | head -n 1
# Should start with: SCE\0\0\0\0\x02

Example Output

Successful ps3load session:

$ ps3load myapp.self
ps3load v0.5
coded by dhewg, #wiidev efnet

resolving ps3.local
connecting to 192.168.1.100:4299
sending upload request
sending file size (524288 bytes)
compressing 524288 bytes... 45.2%
sending data................
sending arguments (12 bytes)
done.

Advanced Usage

Loading with Multiple Arguments

# Pass multiple arguments to your app
ps3load game.self --player "John" --level 5 --debug

Arguments are passed to your application’s main():

int main(int argc, char **argv) {
    // argc = 4
    // argv[0] = "game.self"
    // argv[1] = "--player"
    // argv[2] = "John"
    // argv[3] = "--level"
    // argv[4] = "5"
    // argv[5] = "--debug"
}

Script Integration

build_and_run.sh

#!/bin/bash
set -e

echo "Building..."
make clean
make

echo "Loading to PS3..."
ps3load myapp.self --test-mode

echo "Success!"

Multiple PS3 Systems

# Switch between multiple PS3s
export PS3LOAD=tcp:192.168.1.100  # Dev PS3
ps3load test.self

export PS3LOAD=tcp:192.168.1.101  # Test PS3
ps3load test.self

Performance Tips

Strip Symbols

Use ppu-strip to reduce file size before creating SELF

Wired Connection

Use ethernet instead of WiFi for faster transfers

Asset Streaming

Load large assets from USB/HDD instead of embedding in SELF

Build Directory

Keep build artifacts to avoid rebuilding unchanged files

Source Code Reference

The ps3load implementation:

• Main: tools/ps3load/source/main.c:1-417
• Key Functions:
  • send_tcp(): main.c:94 - Network transfer implementation
  • tcp_write(): main.c:73 - Reliable TCP send
  • Protocol constants: main.c:48-51

Port and Version

#define PS3LOAD_VERSION_MAYOR 0
#define PS3LOAD_VERSION_MINOR 5
#define LD_TCP_PORT 4299

See Also

FSELF Tool

Create SELF files for loading

Build System

Integrate ps3load into build process

PKG Creation

Create packages for distribution

Development Setup

Configure your development environment