Run Ubuntu 12.04 on Ouya 🌱

NOTE: None of the slowness/delays have been edited out of the Linux footage so you can see first hand what the Linux experience was like running on the Ouya

Things You Will Need

Prerequisites and Downloads

  1. Download Ubuntu 12.04 files Download
  2. Download win32diskimager Download
  3. Download i12bretro_OUYA_Ubuntu_commands.zip Download
  4. Extract Ubuntu 12.04 files
  5. Extract the downloaded i12bretro_OUYA_Ubuntu_commands.zip
  6. Extract win32diskimager
  7. Launch win32diskimager
  8. Navigate to the extracted Ubuntu files and select the .img file
  9. Select and then double and triple check the correct device is selected from the dropdown

    All data will be lost, check the selected device one more time

  10. Click the Write button
  11. Ignore prompts to format the drive
  12. Safely remove the flash drive
  13. Plug the flash drive, keyboard and mouse in the USB hub
  14. Plug the USB hub into the Ouya

Installing Ouya USB Drivers

  1. Right click Start > Command Prompt (Admin)
  2. Paste the following commands to disable driving signing checks temporarily
    bcdedit -set loadoptions DISABLE_INTEGRITY_CHECKS
    bcdedit -set TESTSIGNING ON
    shutdown /r
  3. Your PC will reboot
  4. Connect a USB cable from the micro USB port on the back of the Ouya to your PC
  5. Connect the USB hub to the USB port on the Ouya > Plug in the USB keyboard and prepared USB flash drive
  6. Make sure the Ouya is connected to a display via HDMI
  7. Power on the Ouya
  8. After a few seconds you should hear Windows chime that a new device has been detected
  9. Right click Start > Device Manager
  10. Expand Other Devices and you should see OUYA listed
  11. Right click OUYA > Update Driver
  12. Select Browse my computer for driver software
  13. Click the Browse... button
  14. Navigate to the extracted i12bretro_OUYA_Ubuntu_commands\files\driver
  15. Click OK
  16. Make sure "Include subfolders" is checked, click Next
  17. Windows should find the correct driver for the Ouya and install it
  18. Navigate to the i12bretro_OUYA_Ubuntu_commands in windows explorer
  19. Right click i12bretro_OUYA_Ubuntu_commands.bat > Run as administrator
  20. The script uses the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) to boot the Ouya into recovery
  21. When the command prompts to "-- Setup the fastboot driver", go back to Device Manager expand Android Device
  22. Right click Android Bootloader Device > Update Driver
  23. Select Browse my computer for driver software
  24. Click the Browse... button
  25. Navigate to the extracted i12bretro_OUYA_Ubuntu_commands\files\driver
  26. Click OK
  27. Make sure "Include subfolders" is checked, click Next
  28. Windows should find the correct driver for the Ouya and install it
  29. Press Enter at the command prompt once the driver is installed to continue
  30. The script will run another ADB command to push a custom zImage kernel to the Ouya
  31. The Ouya should boot Ubuntu 12.04 from the USB
  32. Default logins are as follows:

    root/123456
    developer/ouya

Configure Ubuntu

  1. Change the root and developer passwords by running the commands below, replacing the passwords with something secure
    sudo passwd developer
    sudo passwd root
  2. Configure wireless networking by modifying /etc/network/interfaces
  3. To return to the Ouya OS simply reboot from the Ubuntu interface

There are instructions included in the Ubuntu download to dual boot the Ouya with Ubuntu and Android. I did not test this option, but beware the dual boot option has the potential to brick your device. The fastboot option demonstrated in the video poses very little risk to your console. For further reading and history on this check out http://tuomas.kulve.fi/blog/2013/09/12/debian-on-ouya-all-systems-go/.

Cleaning Up