GUIDE The many unusual types of TEST ps2.

Didn't know that the s indicated a trade show model.

I bought a lot of four TEST PS2 today so I look forward to seeing which revisions I get. Definitely 50002 and 30102 so far at least though.

 

We all know that the debugstation is used for testing games before the releases, but was there a way to actually perform debugging on the earlier units like the DTL-H10000 and DTL-H30000? If so, have the tools been leaked?

For the newer debugstation consoles, there is the TDB startup card. But I already have a dump of it and it doesn't show whether it's possible to set up the stock EE kernel for debugging, as it came out quite late and was designed for the late SDKs.

 

I don't see why it would not be possible to make a boot CD-R that loads a non-MagicGated TDB from the memory card slot (or possibly that same boot disk) then waits for you to switch to another disk. It would be considerable work to patch a bunch of checks, though.

 

One could do that, but I am working on a clone of the TDB startup card... one which is legally free from Sony's copyrighted code. There are no checks to patch out actually, although the Sony TDB DECI2 stuff won't allow you to boot a disc directly because it doesn't seem to have such functionality.

Anyway, I've found the problem with the stock kernel, but I don't really have a simple solution for it.

Apparently, it's related to the fact that it's based on an early version of the TOOL's EE kernel, one which doesn't have a way to get reset. Since the EE DECI2 TTY is initialized by the OSD (browser) at bootup and nothing ever resets the EE DECI2 manager (and so it's never aware that the running EE program has changed), the EE kernel crashes when the IOP side of DECI2 finally comes up because it will invoke whatever that is at the old EE TTY handler's location. :gravedig:

This was probably why Sony added a reset to the modern-day DECI2 managers, so that they can reset the DECI2 managers back to their "power-on" state anytime.

As for the workaround, I'm re-copying and installing the EE kernel. :/
(Quite a drastic measure to fix up a design fault eh?)

***

EDIT: I'm wrong about early EE kernels not having a way to get reset. the NETMP RESET command was always there, but I was wrong from the start about how the reset works.

A target reset within the PS2 is initiated by the IOP, which will send a DISCONNECT message to the EE, via SIF2. The EE DECI2 manager will reset itself upon receiving that message. This message is not actually part of the DECI2 protocol.

TOOLS: Reset process gets initiated via the MRP device, which somehow gets received and processed by the PS2 side (assumed to be done through the PIF). No NETMP DECI2 packet is sent over the PIF.
TEST units: Since there is no PIF, an actual DECI2 NETMP RESET packet gets sent over the TIF (the virtual interface that runs over the network).

So this problem with the EE kernel crashing once the IOP side of DECI2 connects with the EE exists because a target reset is not performed when it is actually required. It does not happen with the original TDB startup card either, since it replaces the EE kernel and therefore leaves the console with an EE kernel that is in a clean state.

As for what I saw and caused me to arrive at my original assumption, it appears to be a new DCMP command that resets the EE's peripherals. I saw it in the TDB startup card's EE kernel, but I don't remember whether it exists within the (TOOL) EE kernel of SDK v3.00.

Therefore, my original workaround (which sends a DISCONNECT message to the EE before a CONNECT message), which I had previously dismissed as being a hack... was actually the right way to solve the problem. D:

Alternatively, adding an extra IOP reset will probably also solve the problem, since DECI2 will reset the EE during the first IOP reset. This should not require any extra modifications to the existing code at all, at a cost of (probably negligible) CPU time.

 

I haven't seen it posted before. So I thought I would add. Here is a picture of the last PS2 Debug. Model DTL-H90000A.

 

Yes there is way , and only works in DTL-H10000 if i recall correctly , and that means you are lucky. It is now official $ony stuff but it does the trick, however i have never had the chance to try it. You probably know of what I am talking but anyway, i still have two screenshots, will look for the softwares, there are somewhere in my HDD, btw i am not sure if i am allowed to public release here.

 

Thats codewarrior (I happen to have it around), but I assume that it wouldnt be OK to release it...

 

Codewarrior for PS2 was leaked a long time ago, in several versions IIRC... I'm sure you can easily find it around in the webs.
Additionally, I don't see why it wouldn't be ok to release it, considering it's for a non-current gen platform and also a discontinued and out of support software.

 

You'r damn right, thats for the name, searched my HDD and found it in a sec.There was also something as SNSystem or something i guess.Well if anyone needs the programs or they are allowed here, let me know.
Cheers.

 

dang, I was bidding on the eBay auction for the ps2 test lot with this on it previous week. Don't tell me your the winner of that auction?

 

Nope wasn't me. I wish I had known about it. I bought mine in a group purchase from a liquidator... which makes me curious if any of the lot I bought are THQ systems.

 

I own both PS2 slim, DTL-H75000A and DTL-H90000A (this last comes from eBay, but not from this auction)

 

Quick question, does anybody know if the TEST models have HDD functionality?

 

All TESTs have HDD functionality but only DTL-Hx010x and the DTL-H5000x can boot from the HDD as they have MAGIC GATE booting capability enabled. (MC and HDD booting)

 

Hi all!
I'm sorry could you help ме?


model Sony PlayStation 2 DEBUG STATION - DTL-H30001 can play licensed CD and DVD from the store all regions or I need only the master disks for this console?

 

Yes, DTL-H3000x and up are Region Free for licensed games, master disc are mostly just for play copies on them. (HTL-H10000s are not Region Free as it was made before region codes for USA & Euro)

P.S. Does anyone know if the BIOS file from a Debug Station can somehow be used on a Retail PS2... or is it more then just a BIOS making it Region Free.
It will be great if we can do the same thing will have on the Dreamcast & Saturn for the PS2 someday... if it can be done somehow.

 

It's the different Mechanics Controller and CD/DVD DSP on Debugging Station which make it region free and capable of reading CDR/DVDR.

All you will achieve by putting the DTL BIOS on a consumer console will be lose DVD player capability.

Also there's something funny about the debugging station:

The MECHACON only require master disc header for DVDR discs. MASTER DISC code in CDRs are apparently checked by the BIOS instead. Probably it was done that way to not disturb the PS1 boot up mechanism.

The fact that that it refuses DVDRs of any kind without master disc header also might have to do with how it blocks the execution of the DVD player software and read of DVD VIDEO discs.

 

Thanks for the fast reply, I was thinking it was more then just BIOS. So its the Mechanics Controller that does region info.. only if it was easy to setup a retail the same way.

Well that not too bad as the DVD Player on the PS2 is not very good at all.

I was reading how the Debugging Station can't play DVDs at all and blocks any DVD software from being used. I getting a DTL-H50001 in the mail soon and was thinking of trying to see if I can get a DVD Player on it... but from what I've seen online so far, I think it can't be done.

 

ESR doesn't work with it because of that. (Even though you don't need ESR with it anyway curiosity made me want to try)

 

My guess is that it blocks DVD's being read because of the master disc check. The DVD player isn't included as the licensing fee back then was 4% of the selling price, which for a debugging station is a lot of money (the license fee has a maximum cap now).