Ubuntu Karmic Koala on AppleTV with Broadcom Crystal HD decoder
UPDATE! – Karmic Koala uses a newer kernel which wont make the bcm driver work, use Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy in step 4, and your driver will work 
Confirmed 1080p playback on Apple TV with hardy! 
1. build patchstick with http://code.google.com/p/atvusb-creator/
2. boot atv with patchstick
3. Partition sda as per instructions:
http://code.google.com/p/atv-bootloader/wiki/PartitioningLinux
4. Download netboot http://no.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/karmic/main/installer-i386/current/images/netboot/netboot.tar.gz
4. Run netboot as per instructions under Netboot Install:
http://code.google.com/p/atv-bootloader/wiki/BootingLiveCD
5. Install karmic with sda4 = / and sda5 = swap
5.1 Remember to select sda4 as root filesystem with ext3 NOT ext4
6. Modify boot_linux.sh with something like the following:
mount /dev/sda4 /tmp/
kexec --load /tmp/vmlinuz --initrd=/tmp/initrd.img --command-line="root=/dev/sda4 initrd=initrd.img vga=normal vesa video=vesafb"
umount /tmp/
kexec -e
7. WORKING UBUNTU WOOHOO
8. Download linux bcm70012 from:
http://www.norco.net.cn/DownNews_Show.asp?ID=215
Making system ready:
aptitude install build-essential unrar
unrar e bcm70012_linux_01142009.rar
cd bcm70012_linux_01142009
mv bcm70012_linux_01142009 bcm70012_linux_01142009.tar
tar xf bcm70012_linux_01142009.tar
dpkg -i bcm70012kmod-source_0.9.30_all.deb
apt-get -f install
dpkg -i bcm70012kmod-source_0.9.30_all.deb
cd /usr/src/
m-a -t a-i bcm70012kmod
cd -
dpkg -i --force-all gst-broadcom-70012_0.9.30_lpia.deb
22. WORKING bcm70012 !! WOHOO
Tags: 1080p, appletv, atv, bcm70012, broadcom, crystal, crystalhd, hd, karmic, koala, ubuntu, xbmc
November 30th, 2009 at 06:49
Seems the broadcom driver doesnt really work with karmic after all, but it will work with ubuntu hardy! (and the instructions are the same)
November 30th, 2009 at 11:56
[...] Install Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy on your box, if you are going to use an AppleTV you can follow the guide here: http://dingleberry.me/2009/11/ubuntu-karmic-koala-on-appletv-with-broadcom-crystal-hd-decoder/ [...]
December 4th, 2009 at 00:27
Thanks for this guide! Where does boot_linux.sh live and what is the purpose with the modifications?
December 4th, 2009 at 09:12
Hi, it lives on the recoverypartition if i remember correctly and the purpose is for loading the ubuntu kernel and initramfs since karmic uses grub2 which isnt supported. As previously stated though, you shouldnt use karmic if you’re planning on using crystalhd as the leaked crystalhd driver only works under ubuntu hardy (8.04)
December 4th, 2009 at 09:56
Ah, so it is not required for Hardy – thanks for clarifying! Furthermore, do you know if these two guides are recommended/required for the Hardy install:
http://code.google.com/p/atv-bootloader/wiki/UpdateAudioDriver
http://code.google.com/p/atv-bootloader/wiki/UpdateNvidiaDriver
December 4th, 2009 at 10:04
I havnt used those two guides. What i did was install ubuntu hardy with gnome desktop (regular ubuntu). After install is complete and it boots into gnome you can choose to install nvidia drivers from the restricted drivers thingy which pops up in the top right corner somewhere. That works perfectly. To get the sound working you have to unmute the channel. Check this guide, it has all you need: http://code.google.com/p/atv-bootloader/wiki/PostMythbuntuHardy
December 10th, 2009 at 18:33
Looks like a good, easy to follow guide to installing linux on the box. I’m a bit curious about something though. Would it be possible to make an image for a linux/xbmc ‘live’ usb stick or hdd? Boot the ATV with it in, linux+xbmc, remove and you’re back? I understand how to backup what’s on it and how one would restore, but i’m not sure it’s worth the trouble yet with the work in progress.
I don’t really know what’s going on when you boot with the patchstick, but it sure seems like you’re already running linux at that point. Why not start up xbmc?
December 11th, 2009 at 10:11
Anything is possible
December 12th, 2009 at 00:43
So, this is going to completely remove the normal ATV software? Gone is the normal iTunes syncing and rental/download options?
December 12th, 2009 at 00:52
yup, unfortunately. But you can restore it (which will remove linux+xbmc) with the restore partition thingy. Its also possible to make it coexist and for instance only boot into linux with a special usbstick..
December 13th, 2009 at 05:50
If someone complied this build for OS X could it then be used with launcher? Why is Ubuntu needed?
December 13th, 2009 at 20:30
I am stuck after the install. I have edited the boot_linux.sh and kexec prints out that it is loading linux with vesafb but then it just freezes but I hear the hdd utilization.
December 13th, 2009 at 21:45
bender222: use hardy instead of karmic, it uses grub v1 which will get booted automatically ( plus the broadcom driver for linux doesnt work (apparently) on versions later than hardy.)
December 14th, 2009 at 00:36
I understood tht i was. I used the linux and nitrd files from the netboot folder that the googlecode linked in the tutrial
January 5th, 2010 at 10:15
osx lib/kext is out!
http://dingleberry.me/2010/01/crystalhd-appletv-osx-kext-lib-is-ready-for-download/
January 26th, 2010 at 13:23
Thanks for the information. XBMC is the best media player..Ever!