Curséd Homelab part 2: Wii as a local file server
by anne-decusatis
I’m not going to cover why one might do this; if you don’t know, there is nothing I can do that will explain it to you.
Step 0: Acquire a Wii
My current Wii was gifted to me by someone who wasn’t using it, in 2017 or so. I think because I was sad that my ex took all our game consoles in the breakup? I am pretty sure I was clear that I was upset about this because I couldn’t install Linux on them, not because of, like, video games. Anyway, thank you 2017 Will <3
Step 1: Install Priiloader and the Homebrew Channel on it
Pro tip: Make sure you have at least a square meter of floor space if you don’t own a Gamecube controller and intend to use your Gamecube-adapter-powered DDR dance pad to enter required commands.
Step 2: Realize that the Wii Linux you last installed in 2009 has not been updated since 2009
Step 3: Join the latest Wii Linux project discord, rapidly get fed up with the unprofessional behavior and general brokenness of the project
When I joined in 2024 they were based on Void Linux and a non-current version of Python, and had a habit of @everyone whenever anything changed. It’s a hobby project, sure, but not what I wanted.
Step 4: See a post about NetBSD on Mastodon while you are unemployed
(Both unemployment and fediverse usage optional)
https://blog.infected.systems/posts/2025-04-21-this-blog-is-hosted-on-a-nintendo-wii/
Step 5: Copy NetBSD image onto an SD Card
Pro tip: dd on ubuntu works best for SD card writing with both of the params: bs=1M status=progress
Pro tip: sudo sync after dd’ing to a SD card
Step 6: It just works (sort of)!
Wifi configuration info at https://mail-index.netbsd.org/port-powerpc/2025/01/19/msg003669.html
Step 7: Learn how to send emails in “plain text mode” so you can email the NetBSD powerpc mailing list about why it isn’t working
https://mail-index.netbsd.org/port-powerpc/2025/05/05/msg003677.html
They are helpful and friendly! Then wifi breaks entirely halfway through debugging :(
Step 8: Install Wireshark and run sshd with DEBUG1 for debugging purposes six months later when a patch fixes the wifi issue
With a fun detour for a potential OpenSSH version issue: https://precise.space/@anne/115418038044887109
Step 9: Report the bug and wait to see if a fix lands to the nightly build
Amazingly, it is fixed in a matter of days: https://mail-index.netbsd.org/port-powerpc/2025/10/23/msg003721.html
Step 10: Download source for packages
(in progress as of this writing; it’s been going about 15-20 minutes and up to ‘devel’)
https://www.netbsd.org/docs/pkgsrc/getting.html#getting-first
Next up
- Install screen so I don’t have to leave the laptop open for a long running SSH session
- Maybe set up a nonroot user account?
- Compile and run samba https://wiki.netbsd.org/tutorials/how_to_set_up_a_samba_server/
- Buy a drive to plug into the Wii’s USB port semi-permanently to hold files
- Start sharing files at home with it
- NetBSD is fundraising and I feel I have gotten at least the cost of one video game’s worth of enjoyment out of this: https://mail-index.netbsd.org/netbsd-users/2025/10/26/msg033327.html