Hello all, I decided to put a NAS attached HDD inside my slim PS2 model and run OPL games from it. I chose the WD Mycloud NAS device as I found a cheap second hand one and it looked like the circuit board was small enough to fit. The WD Mycloud comes with a 3.5 inch HDD, this is way to big, so I swapped it with a 2.5 inch HDD. This is where I encountered my first problem, it is not as easy as just swapping HDD. This NAS device runs Linux and looks for specific partitions and software on the HDD. After much reading WD forums I found some helpful advice on how to change the HDD. Basically you have to boot into a Linux environment, create the correct size and location partitions, set up a raid, clone the original HDD partitions and copy them to the new HDD. After a couple of days I had a working 2.5 inch HDD. Whew, step one complete. Next major issue, the WD Mycloud has no power button to turn on or off, it is always on when plugged in and can only be turned off via a web interface. This is not ideal for something I want to be powered on and off with the PS2. Turning on is easy as I attached a relay to the WD Mycloud power rail that is controlled by the PS2, so PS2 powers on, closes the relay and Mycloud turns on. Turning off is a problem, I couldn't just cut power, as it is a mini computer and can corrupt the HDD, plus it will do a lengthy disc check on next power up. I had to find a method of it detecting when the PS2 was turned off, then execute a power off command, then once powered off, open the power rail relay. First up was looking for a way to detect when the PS2 was off. This was somewhat easy as when the PS2 was turned off, the Mycloud would lose its network connection and set a flag in software. So I had to learn to write a Linux script which looked to see if this flag was set, if it found it it meant there was no network connection so it executed the shutdown command. That part took me about a week to do. When I said easy, I knew what I had to do, just no idea how to do it. Next I had to detect when the Mycloud had shut down so I could open the power rail relay. At this point I was using two relays in parallel, the initial one from when the PS2 was turned on, and a second one that was held on by the Mycloud, this was so that when the PS2 was switched off, the second relay continued to supply power to the Mycloud. I thought this would be easy as all I had to do find a voltage on the board that disappeared when powered off, unfortunately, this device is badly made, and when commanded to power off, it actually goes into a fully powered hibernate mode and the only change is the HDD stops spinning, but all circuits are still powered. The only point I could find on the board that changed was the indicator LED turned off. Good, I'll use that as a reference. Not so good, it is a tri colour LED with 3 inputs supplies and it changes colour and flashes, or pulses or is steady, so the voltage is always changing, either on or off. I had to detect when it was off from being powered down. The solution I came up with was to use a nand gate on all 3 LED power sources that would trigger an output when they were all off, but had to allow for a delay if they were only flashing. So I used a nand gate connected to a transistor which charged a capacitor, connected to another transistor which is connected to the power rail relay. Once the LEDs are off, the capacitor has 10 seconds of charge before it releases the relay. If the LED is only flashing the capacitor will continue to charge and supply power for the relay to stay closed. Wow, easy. Next I started on modding the PS2, first I removed the PS2 disc drive unit and attempted to fit the NAS mainboard and HDD in. Luckily I have a SCPH 7900X model PS2, as this has a small main board that only takes up about 2/3s the space in the case. After much fiddling I found the best location for the parts, although this meant I had to cut an opening in the right side of the case for part of the NAS to stick out. The part below in red. No big deal, I just cut a hole in the case and fabricated an enclosure around it so it can't be seen. I also cut an extra vent. It all sits flush with the side of the case so can't be noticed. Here is the PS2 with the WD MyCloud mainboard installed, and the extra housing on the top right. The extra componentry below the PS2 heat sink is for power off control of the NAS,(capacitor delay switch). Two power rail capacitors are at the top above the sata connector. Case assembled with functioning disc tray cover. Rear view with cut outs for the WD Mycloud power, network, usb and reset button. All connected. The NAS has a static IP and connects directly to the PS2. One power line for the PS2 and one for the Mycloud as they run at different voltages. Also I Frankensteined up the power supplies so I only need one plug. Would I reccommend this mod to anyone else? No. It works for me and I love it, but the hoops that needed jumping through were a nightmare.There are probably way more suitable NAS devices or even a Pi type device that would be much more user friendly.
Wow, that's impressive! I would imagine this would be easier to do in a PHAT PS2, I might try it with mine one day.
No need to do this in a Phat PS2, all that is needed is a PS2 network adapter and a HDD. It's plug and play.
It is possible, but you would have to solder the network cable directly to the ethernet port connections on the circuit boards.
