Talking about the ps2 dev consoles, DTL-HXXXXX is just a debug ps2. A DTL-TXXXXX is a TOOL, its the very large, playstation 2-looking pc that runs linux and has game development capabilities.
I now stand confused (I was already, but kind of forgot about it). I know the TOOL includes the PS2+PC. I know you can boot it either as PS2 or as PC (can't remember the name for each mode). I also know the PC side has Red Hat installed. What's confusing is: I remember reading many times in this forum that the TOOL is not actually for developing games (not that you can't, but it's not its purpose). From what I remember reading, it's mainly used for debugging (i.e. being able to do kind of real-time debugging; can't remember the exact term, "tracing" maybe?), while the Debugging station is more like a multi-region and CR-R/DVD+-R capable PS2.
That's where you got confused, the TOOL and WS mode are similar, the WS mode should only be used to reflash the Tool bios if the flashing failed in TOOL mode. In both modes, you control the PS2-side from the PC-side of the Tool. There is also an EE/GS self-test mode. Sony conferences are the sources of the confusion:
1. The TOOL is actually a PS2 board hooked to a PC with Linux. 2. The PC side is only for hosting a web-server (configuration interface) and for the communication between the TOOL and the development PC. Actually, it is even wrong to hook a keyboard and monitor to the PC card side and tempar with it. So, all the PC side ports are hidden by default. In the later sony development systems, a custom chip is used to replace the PC side and act as an communication interface between the Development PC an the "TOOL" 3. The PC side is actually an embedded Linux box for the above 2 functions only and it is an extremely low end PC. When people say "TOOL is not for development", they are talking about "Programs are not coded and complied in the box" it is done on a separate PC with better performance. 4.When the development is ready, the complied .elf will be sent to the PS2 board via the TOOL-PC side and executed for testing. We call it a target box because "We compling a EE code on an x86 computer", the finished code is than sent to the "Target" for execution. 5. DTL-H is built for running master disc (DVD-R) but cannot be connected from the PC to run a .elf file without burning the disc. Pretty useless (in term of function) when people invented a modchip for retail PS2. Hi Uncle, please correc me if I am wrong Thanks!
From what I remember reading (and I could be very wrong) it is possible to connect a TEST ps2 via firewire (i.Link) or ethernet to a pc and load code directly. I also remember seeing something about the i.Link port on the official SN-Systems website, but its been a while.:shrug:
