Todo

Need help getting data for the different SKU models and the default harddrive they are equiped with.

There is still some conflicting data to be sorted out, e.g.:

maximum size internal drive

The maximum size of the internal harddrive that the PS3 supports is 1TB (TeraBytes) 

note: this seems untrue as there are several people posting pictures of their external to internal drive mod with a size of 2TB

Personal experience

Using Normal Mode and Recovery - when trying to install a 1.5TB 3.5" drive as internal (using an eSATA cradle)

Using Recovery it is possible to finish the format of the harddrive until 100%. The system however fails to reboot automaticly after that and halts. When enforced to reboot, it errors out with "Wrong Harddrive".
When trying all the other Recovery Menu options it errors out with "Harddrive Error 0x8002F281".
When trying to boot to XMB it also errors out with "Harddrive Error 0x8002F281".
When replacing the drive for the previous tested 1TB harddrive, it boots without errors to XMB and reports : 827GB free/931GB total

Conclusion: >1TB didn't not work.

Using Factory Service Mode - when trying to install a 1.5TB 3.5" drive as internal (using an eSATA cradle) FSM

Second try, using Service Mode
first replacing drive for original 120GB 2.5" and using Factory Service Mode to downgrade to lowest firmware the system can handle (2K slim -> FW 2.70)
- Result is fine. Log showed no errors : UPDATER_LOG.TXT
Replaced for 1.5TB 3.5" drive and do exactly the same 2.70 again
- Result is fine. Log showed no errors : UPDATER_LOG.TXT
Boot to XMB with Service Mode still activated
- No problems to get into XMB, but checking System Settings > System Information shows size detection issues:

System Software  Version 2.70
IP Address       xxx.xxx.x.xxx
MAX Address      xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
Free Space       30 G

Exit Factory Service Mode
- Blank screen freeze when trying to boot to XMB in normal mode
Power off and try again gives "system software was not installed correct" error
inserted USB with 2.70 on normal location and START+SELECT button to let it reinstall
- Preparing Update counts to 100% and then halts (does not reboot), just like in first trial.
Manual poweroff and reboot just results in blank screen with no harddrive activity

Conclusion: >1TB didn't not work in normal or recovery mode only with FSM enabled.

Going back to the 1TB and crosschecking

Replacing drive back to the working 1TB (has 3.55 on it) gives prompt to reinstall 2.70, doing so errors out with "Harddrive Error 0x8002F281".
Entering Factory Service Mode with 1TB and let it reinstall via lv2diag results fine without errors: UPDATER_LOG.TXT
Boot to XMB with Service Mode still activated
- No problems to get into XMB, but checking System Settings > System Information shows size detection issues (the '30 G' seems to be FSM related):

System Software  Version 2.70
IP Address       xxx.xxx.x.xxx
MAX Address      xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
Free Space       30 G

Exit Factory Service Mode
No problems to get into XMB, and checking System Settings > System Information shows no size detection issues:

System Software  Version 2.70
IP Address       xxx.xxx.x.xxx
MAX Address      xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
Free Space       827GB / 931GB

Conclusion: <=1TB works fine in all modi.

maximum size external drive

External HDD : You can format it to any size up to 8TB

note: this seems untrue, because when >2TB drives have hit the market, no screenshots of >2TB external storage are known

sources used: source: http://www.edepot.com/playstation3.html#PS3_Harddrive and euss temp blog
todo: flush out errors, merging in a readable format

Footnote: maximum supported drive space correlates to support of 512sector (either native, or emulated), see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Format

AES-256-CBC versus AES-256-XTS

There is conflicting mention of sources for the algo/mode used for GameOS encryption.

Fact:

Sony/IBM loves AES
256bit based
sectorsize 512 bytes (4096 bits)
blockcipher
recurring patterns are seen

Reference:

Experimental Tables

HDD partitions

PS3 Hard Disk Drive, partitions and storage regions
Storage Region							File System			Size_(Sectors)		Usage		Notes
OtherOS						GameOS	Official		Unnofficial	Official	Unnofficial	Official	Unnofficial
OtherOS						GameOS	Encryption	Type	Type	Official	Unnofficial	Official	Unnofficial
(3)	ps3d					No ?	No			All available		Physical Device		Internall hard drive
	(3.0)	ps3da				No ?	No			Any		Physical partition		Entire HDD
										8 sectors (0x1000 bytes)				Partition structure data
		(3.1)	ps3vflash			No ?	No			All available		Virtual Device		Only in PS3's with NOR flash
			(3.1(1.0))	ps3vflasha		No ?	No			256MB_(524288)(0x10000000 bytes)	Any	Physical partition		Entire VFLASH
										8 sectors (0x1000 bytes)				Partition structure data
				(3.1(1.1))	ps3vflashb	?	?	?		14MB (30712 sectors ? = 0xEFF000 bytes ? )		"mirror" of real NOR second region: "ps3nflashb" ?
										512 sectors (0x40000 bytes)				Partition structure data
				(3.1(1.2))	ps3vflashc	dev_flash	Yes	FAT16 ?		199 MB_(409088)(0xC7C0000 bytes)		Firmware files
										0				No partition structure data
				(3.1(1.3))	ps3vflashd	dev_flash2	?	FAT16 ?		16 MB_(32768)(0x1000000 bytes)		XRegistry		Console/User settings
										0				No partition structure data
				(3.1(1.4))	ps3vflashe	dev_flash3	?	FAT12 ?		512KB ₍₁₀₂₄₎(0x80000 bytes)		CRL/DRL		Bluray revocation lists
										0				No partition structure data
				(3.1(1.5))	ps3vflashf	?	?	RAW ?		4MB₍₈₁₉₂₎(0x800000 bytes)	8MB_(16384)	OtherOS bootloader	OtherOS++ bootloader	Linux/FreeBSD bootloader (otheros.bld)
										0				No partition structure data
				(3.1(1.6))	ps3vflashg	?	?	?		256KB ₍₅₁₂₎(0x40000 bytes)		?
										?				?
				(3.1(1.7))	ps3vflashh	?	Not used		All supported by linux kernel	0	Any	Not used	Linux/FreeBSD for NOR models Based on graf drivers (deprecated)
										?				?
		(3.2)	ps3db			dev_hdd0	NAND:aes-cbc-192 NOR:aes-xts-128	UFS2		Any		GameOS
										0				No partition structure data
		(3.3)	ps3dc			dev_hdd1	?	FAT16		2047 MiB_(4194296) (0x7FFFF000 bytes)		GameOS Cache
										8 sectors (0x1000 bytes)				Partition structure data
		(3.4)	ps3dd			dev_hdd2 ?	No	All supported by linux kernel		10GB_(?) All HDD except 10GB_(Any)	Any	OtherOS	Linux/FreeBSD for NAND/NOR models Based on glevand drivers	Officially only in firmware 3.15 or older

This table (pretends to) show all the posible partition layouts in all PS3 models, even when there are 2 big differences that changes partition positions (and consequently region names in Otheros/linux)
- Flash type
  - NAND flash 256mb - All firmware is stored in real NAND flash
  - NOR flash 16mb - A small part of the firmware is stored in real NOR flash, and most of the firmware is stored in the first "virtual flash" (ps3vflash) partition in HDD (his position makes the other partitions to be displaced)
- Otheros installation
  - OtherOS official - Linux/FreeBSD partition is added as the last partition of the HDD
  - OtherOS++ unofficial - Linux/FreeBSD is installed in the last partition of Vflash (the last partition of Vflash is resized conveniently)

Devices contains a single physical partition
Physical partitions contains one or more logicall partitions

Partition formatting in a service mode firmware installation for NOR flash. Google it: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=site%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fpastebin.com%2F+%22vflash+is+enabled...%22

manufacturing updating start
PackageName = /dev_usb000/PS3UPDAT.PUP
settle polling interval success
vflash is enabled...
creating system regions...
create storage region: (region id = 1)
create storage region: (region id = 2)
format partition: (region_id = 2, CELL_FS_UTILITY:HDD0, CELL_FS_UFS)
create storage region: (region id = 3)
format partition: (region_id = 3, CELL_FS_UTILITY:HDD1, CELL_FS_FAT)
creating system regions done.
boot from nor flash...
creating nor flash regions...
create storage region: (region id = 2)
create storage region: (region id = 3)
creating flash regions...
create storage region: (region id = 1)
create storage region: (region id = 2)
format partition: (region_id = 2, CELL_FS_IOS:BUILTIN_FLSH1, CELL_FS_FAT)
create storage region: (region id = 3)
format partition: (region_id = 3, CELL_FS_IOS:BUILTIN_FLSH2, CELL_FS_FAT)
create storage region: (region id = 4)
format partition: (region_id = 4, CELL_FS_IOS:BUILTIN_FLSH3, CELL_FS_FAT)
create storage region: (region id = 5)
create storage region: (region id = 6)

Partition formatting in a service mode firmware installation for NAND flash. Google it: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=site%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fpastebin.com%2F+%22vflash+is+disabled...%22

manufacturing updating start
PackageName = /dev_usb000/PS3UPDAT.PUP
settle polling interval success
vflash is disabled...
boot from nand flash...
creating flash regions...
create storage region: (region id = 2)
format partition: (region_id = 2, CELL_FS_IOS:BUILTIN_FLSH1, CELL_FS_FAT)
create storage region: (region id = 3)
format partition: (region_id = 3, CELL_FS_IOS:BUILTIN_FLSH2, CELL_FS_FAT)
create storage region: (region id = 4)
format partition: (region_id = 4, CELL_FS_IOS:BUILTIN_FLSH3, CELL_FS_FAT)
create storage region: (region id = 5)
create storage region: (region id = 6)

Other flash/hdd regions. Google it: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=site%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fpastebin.com%2F+%22CELL_FS_UTILITY%3AHDD2%22 and Mountpoints

CELL_FS_IOS:BUILTIN_FLSH1
CELL_FS_IOS:BUILTIN_FLSH2
CELL_FS_IOS:BUILTIN_FLSH3
CELL_FS_IOS:BUILTIN_FLSH4
CELL_FS_UTILITY:HDD0
CELL_FS_UTILITY:HDD1
CELL_FS_UTILITY:HDD2

Speed tests running in PS3 nativelly

Speed Tests (PS3)
Brand	Series	Model	Linux			GameOs
			[hdparm -Tt]			N/A
			Cache read ^(MB/s)	Disk read ^(MB/s)	Link

Fujitsu	MHW	MHW2040BH			N/A
	MHZ	MHZ2080BH			N/A
	MHZ	MHZ2160BH			N/A

Hitachi	Travelstar 5K160	HTS541640J9SA00			N/A
	Travelstar 5K250	HTS542580K9SA00			N/A
	Travelstar 5K500	HTS545012B9SA00			N/A
	Travelstar Z5K500	HTS545050A7E380			N/A

Seagate	Momentus 5400.2	ST96812AS			N/A
	Momentus 5400.3	ST980811AS			N/A
	LD25 SATA	ST920217AS			N/A
	LD25 SATA	ST9402115AS			N/A
	LD25 5400.2	ST940210AS			N/A

Toshiba	MKxx52GSX	MK8052GSX			N/A
	MKxx52GSX	MK1652GSX			N/A
	MKxx55GSX	MK1255GSX			N/A
	MKxx55GSX	MK2555GSX			N/A
	MKxx65GSX	MK1665GSX			N/A
	MKxx65GSX	MK3265GSX			N/A
	MKxx76GSX	MK1676GSX			N/A
	MKxx76GSX	MK3276GSX			N/A

Phat NAND HDD Entropy Table (After zerofill,no vflash)

Start Offset	End Offset	Size	Description
0x0000	0x1000	0x1000	Header
0x4000	0x16000	0x12000	unknown
0x18000	0x28000	0x10000	unknown

file

Slim NOR HDD Data Table (After zerofill,vflash)

Start Offset	End Offset	Size	Description
0x0	0x2000	0x2000	Header
0x4400	0x8118240	please fill	unk
0x8119000	0x8149960	please fill	unk
0x814B000	0x8152CB0	please fill	unk
0x8153000	0x81530C0	please fill	unk
0x8155000	0x8159B10	please fill	unk
0x815B000	0x815E3D0	please fill	unk
0x815F000	0x8166190	please fill	unk
0x8167000	0x817B750	please fill	unk
0x817D000	0x817D5C0	please fill	unk
0x817F000	0x818A500	please fill	unk
0x818B000	0x818CDC0	please fill	unk
0x818D000	0x81C9F10	please fill	unk
0x81CB000	0x81D1FD0	please fill	unk
0x81D3000	0x81D9E20	please fill	unk
0x81DB000	0x81DB1B0	please fill	unk
0x81DD000	0x81DD0A0	please fill	unk
0x81DF000	0x81DF090	please fill	unk
0x81E1000	0x81E1080	please fill	unk
0x81E3000	0x81E3090	please fill	unk
0x81E5000	0x81E50A0	please fill	unk
0x81E7000	0x81E70A0	please fill	unk
0x81E9000	0x81E9090	please fill	unk
0x81EB000	0x81F4CD0	please fill	unk

There is actual readable data near the end of the disk, so this has been renamed to Data Table instead of Entropy Table
The table is incomplete, please help filling it.
the dump and key

GameOS fsck

code uses memory container ( there is also fsck without ) - does fsck on hdd0:

LOAD:0000000000030270 .set var_3C, -0x3C
LOAD:0000000000030270 .set var_38, -0x38
LOAD:0000000000030270 .set var_34, -0x34
LOAD:0000000000030270 .set var_30, -0x30
LOAD:0000000000030270 .set var_20, -0x20
LOAD:0000000000030270 .set var_18, -0x18
LOAD:0000000000030270 .set arg_10,  0x10
LOAD:0000000000030270
LOAD:0000000000030270                 lis       r9, aFsck_cfs@h # "fsck_cfs"
LOAD:0000000000030274                 mflr      r0
LOAD:0000000000030278                 lis       r11, aY@h     # "-y"
LOAD:000000000003027C                 lis       r10, aHdd0@h  # "hdd0"
LOAD:0000000000030280                 stdu      r1, -0xB0(r1)
LOAD:0000000000030284                 addi      r9, r9, aFsck_cfs@l # "fsck_cfs"
LOAD:0000000000030288                 addi      r11, r11, aY@l # "-y"
LOAD:000000000003028C                 addi      r10, r10, aHdd0@l # "hdd0"
LOAD:0000000000030290                 std       r28, 0xB0+var_20(r1)
LOAD:0000000000030294                 li        r3, 1 = "App" 
LOAD:0000000000030298                 li        r28, 0
LOAD:000000000003029C                 stw       r11, 0xB0+var_38(r1)
LOAD:00000000000302A0                 std       r0, 0xB0+arg_10(r1)
LOAD:00000000000302A4                 stw       r9, 0xB0+var_3C(r1)
LOAD:00000000000302A8                 stw       r10, 0xB0+var_34(r1)
LOAD:00000000000302AC                 std       r29, 0xB0+var_18(r1)
LOAD:00000000000302B0                 stw       r28, 0xB0+var_30(r1)
LOAD:00000000000302B4                 bl        _vsh_E7C34044_getMemoryContainerId
LOAD:00000000000302B8                 clrldi    r4, r3, 32
LOAD:00000000000302BC                 addi      r6, r1, 0xB0+var_40
LOAD:00000000000302C0                 li        r5, 0x200
LOAD:00000000000302C4                 lis       r3, 0x200
LOAD:00000000000302C8                 stw       r28, 0xB0+var_40(r1)
LOAD:00000000000302CC                 bl        sys_memory_allocate_from_container
LOAD:00000000000302D0                 lis       r7, stru_1429E8@h
LOAD:00000000000302D4                 lwz       r5, 0xB0+var_40(r1)
LOAD:00000000000302D8                 addi      r4, r1, 0xB0+var_3C
LOAD:00000000000302DC                 addi      r7, r7, stru_1429E8@l
LOAD:00000000000302E0                 lis       r6, 0x200
LOAD:00000000000302E4                 li        r8, 0
LOAD:00000000000302E8                 li        r3, 3
LOAD:00000000000302EC                 bl        _fs_utility_init_1F3CD9F1
LOAD:00000000000302F0                 li        r11, 0x15D    # sys_memory_free
LOAD:00000000000302F4                 mr        r29, r3
LOAD:00000000000302F8                 lwz       r3, 0xB0+var_40(r1)
LOAD:00000000000302FC                 sc
LOAD:0000000000030300                 clrldi    r3, r29, 32
LOAD:0000000000030304                 bl        _sysPrxForUser_sys_ppu_thread_exit
LOAD:0000000000030308                 lis       r9, dword_146D74@h
LOAD:000000000003030C                 ld        r0, 0xB0+arg_10(r1)
LOAD:0000000000030310                 ld        r29, 0xB0+var_18(r1)
LOAD:0000000000030314                 mtlr      r0
LOAD:0000000000030318                 stw       r28, dword_146D74@l(r9)
LOAD:000000000003031C                 ld        r28, 0xB0+var_20(r1)
LOAD:0000000000030320                 addi      r1, r1, 0xB0
LOAD:0000000000030324                 blr
LOAD:0000000000030324 # End of function fsck_cfs_main

Talk:Harddrive

Contents

Todo

maximum size internal drive

Personal experience

Using Normal Mode and Recovery - when trying to install a 1.5TB 3.5" drive as internal (using an eSATA cradle)

Using Factory Service Mode - when trying to install a 1.5TB 3.5" drive as internal (using an eSATA cradle) FSM

Going back to the 1TB and crosschecking

maximum size external drive

AES-256-CBC versus AES-256-XTS

Experimental Tables

HDD partitions

Speed tests running in PS3 nativelly

Phat NAND HDD Entropy Table (After zerofill,no vflash)

Slim NOR HDD Data Table (After zerofill,vflash)

GameOS fsck

Navigation menu

Talk:Harddrive

Todo

maximum size internal drive

Personal experience

Using Normal Mode and Recovery - when trying to install a 1.5TB 3.5" drive as internal (using an eSATA cradle)

Using Factory Service Mode - when trying to install a 1.5TB 3.5" drive as internal (using an eSATA cradle) FSM

Going back to the 1TB and crosschecking

maximum size external drive

AES-256-CBC versus AES-256-XTS

Experimental Tables

HDD partitions

Speed tests running in PS3 nativelly

Phat NAND HDD Entropy Table (After zerofill,no vflash)

Slim NOR HDD Data Table (After zerofill,vflash)

GameOS fsck

Navigation menu

Search