In a groundbreaking experiment, protocol supporter and ethereum (eth) researcher Mario Havel Basehas achieved the synchronization of a eth node on an unlikely device: a PlayStation 4 game console.
According to a recent ethereum.org/@MarioHavel/EthereumOnPS” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener nofollow”>mailHavel’s journey began by delving into “PlayStation jailbreaking,” where he discovered vulnerabilities in the old PlayStation 4 firmware that allowed control to be taken.
Jailbreaking refers to bypassing the restrictions imposed by the official software (firmware) of a device, in this case, a PlayStation 4 console.
By jailbreaking the console, researcher Mario Havel gained unauthorized access to the system, allowing him to run custom software and applications and make modifications not normally permitted by the manufacturer.
Armed with a “old playstation 4 machineRunning firmware 9.00 or earlier, Havel embarked on a mission to transform the gaming console into a fully functional ethereum node.
From games to the blockchain
The initial challenge was to obtain “proper and hackable” software. crypto/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener nofollow”>playstation 4 console with the desired firmware version. Havel emphasized the importance of avoiding system updates, as newer firmware versions are incompatible with the exploit.
After acquiring the appropriate console, Havel manually installed firmware 9.00 using a USB drive, ensuring the machine remained unplugged to prevent unwanted updates.
To avoid automatic updates while connected to the Internet, Havel recommended using a custom ethereum/my-ether-wallet-falls-victim-to-dns-attack-users-wallets-emptied/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener nofollow”>domain name system (DNS) that blocks updates and redirects the user guide home page to an exploit host.
This setup allowed Havel to host a website locally or publicly, providing the tools and resources necessary for the PlayStation 4 jailbreak process.
The jailbreak process was based on a blow discovered by comparing firmware versions 9.00 and 9.03. By exploiting a file system bug, Havel could trigger the vulnerability by immediately inserting a specially formatted USB device.
The exploit required an exfathax.IMG file, which could be downloaded and stored on a USB drive using software such as Balena Etcher, a cross-platform tool. Havel noted that the USB drive would be formatted during each jailbreak session and that it was advisable to use a dedicated flash drive for this purpose.
According to Havel, once the exploit was successfully activated, the PlayStation 4 gained new capabilities, allowing it to install various packages, tools, and games directly on the console.
Linux-based ethereum node hosting
Havel mentioned the ability to install packages over a local network for a “smoother installation process.” He also highlighted the ability to run a GNU/Linux distribution – an operating system that can interact with computers and run other programs – on the PlayStation 4, making it a versatile personal computer.
With Linux running successfully on PlayStation 4, Havel set up ethereum ethereum-nodes-upgraded-before-hard-fork-its-a-nonissue/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener nofollow”>node in console. He recommended downloading portable versions or compiling ethereum clients suitable for the PlayStation 4 GNU/Linux environment.
Havel shared his experience with customers and highlighted the importance of optimizing resource consumption for smoother operations. He also mentioned monitoring applications to ensure optimal temperature and fan control.
Having established secure shell (SSH) access over the local network, Havel was able to connect to his PlayStation 4 node from his laptop, treating it like any other server.
This setup allowed for continuous ethereum synchronization and showed the potential of the PlayStation 4 as a dedicated node hosting device.
Ultimately, by repurposing a PlayStation 4 as an ethereum node, Havel has opened up new possibilities for node hosting, decentralization, and utilizing existing hardware to participation in the blockchain network.
As experimentation continues, researchers and enthusiasts are likely to explore similar avenues, pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved with gaming consoles and decentralized technologies.
Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com
