Machine translation:
SCEI Kutaragi president interview (part 2)
"Full function Linux is installed in HDD of PS 3. "
- Age of network drive
【Q】 Local HDD is not recorded by default though PLAYSTATION 3 is a spec only in that. Why is it?
【 Kutaragi 】 HDD is not put in default. Because it is insufficient no matter how it puts it. The following are already correct and network drives. (Storage :. )In the Cell server, it is possible to access it from anywhere via the network. House..friend..house..provide..logical..same..network drive..see.Such the world.
There is saying if HDD doesn't attach to the main body even if it says. Therefore, 2.5 inches HDD are put this time, and 80GB or 120GB enters. However because it is necessary to make OS the first with the unit though it is not worth at all. When the attestation of the computer is taken from ..terabite (..drinking.. storage).. here (server on the network) in the network drive with and I , unit, the drive where do the first of OS is needed.
- OS is put because it is considered as a computer.
【Q】 Is OS to use it as a computer made the first?
【 Kutaragi 】Nintendo in saying and the same industry for a long time when we are computers asserts the desire that I am amusing to be a toy toward outside. Therefore, the public office seems that it is a toy though here makes the importing and exporting management at the super computer level necessary.
Even PlayStation 2 is ..game machine.. though moves a terrible chip like Emotion Engine to Linux making it. It was thought that it improved a little because Microsoft had come from the IT industry. However, because they do not want also to destroy their businesses, curettage is not said. Xbox is called a game machine because it dares to be thought that it embarrasses it when Windows moves by Xbox. It is unbearably troublesome.
This time, it makes it to the location that we (PS3 Smile are super computers. However, OS is made the first because of there is a person who doesn't see as a computer if not applying as a computer. Multi OS moves at the same time in Cell. Therefore, OS is moved as it is, and there is HDD because it is a yes computer.
Therefore,
and it is extra to think that it is likely to put it of Linux because of the beginning (To HDD). It will apply as computer
【Q】 Linux comes out as OS moved on Cell.
【 Kutaragi 】 Linux becomes the first chance in the legacy, too. Because OS is an application program for Cell, it is ..(.. ..laughter... )The kernel becomes a style that it moves with Cell (Haiparbaiza layer of Cell OS), and two or more OS is recorded on that (On a virtual machine) as an application program. Linux is . ..recording naturally... If Linux is recorded, any Lindows is recorded.
Other..OS..vender..put..think..put.By chance, different OS might come out.
- The ecosystem is turned with PLAYSTATION 3.
【Q】 The person who writes the program on that comes out if there is OS. The ecosystem (ecosystem) should turn on Cell so that Cell may succeed as a computer. It is necessary to establish the ecosystem that a lot of people spontaneously write the program of Cell, and it presses the spread of Cell further.
【 Kutaragi 】Does not the ecosystem turn when PLAYSTATION 3 goes out like being so before and Apple Computer is opened?Adobe came out even if Apple did not do everything, it came out what, it took, , ecosystem turned, and it rose when becoming Macintosh. PC was also originally so. Nevertheless (Microsoft : to Windows), because everyone absorbs it,
. Oh dear, it is not understood though it might be aesthetics (result of expansion) what OS is.
We had made it up to now, and the library was offered, and had been made in-house by the game software manufacturer. However, it might already be impossible. The width or more is necessary no matter what it does. However, I think that it becomes it so. For instance, synchronous software with iTunes came out from the surprise of us by PSP by the swift attack. Various one that moves on that comes out when it seems to be interesting.
【Q】 When software that makes the best use of the advantage of Cell other than the game come to come out one after another, too.
【 Kutaragi 】 It comes what kind of software for you to write on of what. For instance, software that edits the HD image is basically the same as the edit system of non-linear done in the broadcasting station. It is software at the level that try to do on PS3. It is more terrible though the edit system of non-linear is terrible when bringing it on that Cell. The difference comes into view to the wind of cutting it by the span though it manages to do also on PC if it is on PS3. Various applications on PC the other. For instance, photo retouch. I think that the software comes out fast (On PS3), too.
User interface (UI) will become interesting, too. It is made to wait from UI of XP to the following Longhorn for years how many when it is PC. However, here develops faster. For instance, it enters "Minority Report" state if it is an interface (Application can be operated)(movie) operated in the gesture and the word like Itori (EyeToy). Naturally, such evolution is reflected in the game.
【Q】 Is the Cell computer at that time PLAYSTATION 3 form factor?
【 Kutaragi 】 This shape will spread most previously. It is possible to connect also with the keyboard, and all necessary mouths (interface) are attached. Media and the network are good at how much. The general-purpose one is an opening the so much.
For instance, because it is possible to use it for all Linux to open when putting it (The programmer Smile, it is possible to do very. There is Shader about the graphics and it is the same (Provide with the programmability).
- The ecosystem approval is a base of development.
For Sony computer entertainment (SCEI) to aim with PLAYSTATION 3 as reported in the last interview article is to establish PS3 as a real entertainment computer. It is included to make not only the game but also a more variegated application run in that.
However, SCE should start up "Ecosystem" for that with the Cell software. In a word, software doesn't increase then if the ecosystem cannot be tidied so that the business may consist if software for Cell is written. A positive spiral "Software more than → that the business comes to consist of the →Cell software that the number of those who use →Cell that software increases naturally increases appears in Cell" begins to turn when the ecosystem can be done once.
Only this was a source of the success of PC and Macintosh as pointed out by Kutaragi. Therefore, PS3 aims at the same as for SCE. It seems to examine putting Linux OS of full by default in HDD this time for that. In a word, there is OS of a full function unlike the situation to date this time when PS3+HDD is bought, and it is presumed to come to be able to use it as a computer. Because software is expected increasing ..SCE.. ..troublesome ..all.... spontaneously if it does so
Going out without fail when the executive of, Intel, and Microsoft criticizes Cell is a story of this ecosystem. For instance, the executive of Intel was talking about Cell so at Intel Developer Forum(IDF) of February this year. .."Sony should construct the ecosystem that supports this architecture" Justin Rattner (Jastin Ratonar).. (Intel Senior Fellow,Director,Corporate Technology Group). ..Craig R. Barrett of "Sony should bring the market a quite new software system" and "In a sense, it is more difficult to obtain OS and the application than to make the processor" (Craig and R and Barret).. (Intel,Chairman of the Board).
To understand from the word of this Kutaragi is to understand this point as for the SCE side. In a word, the necessity for spreading OS is recognized as a soil where software arises. And, it tries to take a concrete means for that. Of course, the development environment that various elements are necessary, and matched to the structure and the programming model that Cell is special especially in addition is important for the programming. It seems no expensive system of the NDA base it for the game development, and important an easier environment.
It is software that SCE expects in the Cell application that made the best use of a huge floating point arithmetic performance of course. There are many software fields where it seems to obtain other favors though the HD Movie edit etc. are the barrel one. Cell will be skillful most in the application in the field a so-called "RMS", that is, "Recognition (recognition)", "Mining (Mining)", and "Synthesis (synthesis)". Even if it is not so, the level of plug-in of the photo retouch is large the effect. Moreover, there is a possibility that the application that SCEI doesn't assume comes out fast, too, if software arises spontaneously, and the ecosystem expands.
" "Because of application program OS and Kutaragi talk in Cell by the way because Cell has the virtual machine support function. This is a function to make two or more virtual CPU on CPU, and for "VMM(Virtual Machine Manager)" to be able to make OS different on each virtual CPU the first to support with hardware.
It is VMM software of the type that is called "Hyper visor" in general that runs for Cell at a deepest privileged level of CPU, and comes to be do the first of OS of a general meaning on that. Haiparbaiza layer (VMM) of this Cell OS starts first, and it is presumed that it is a mechanism that the upper layer layer of Linux and Cell OS starts on that though in Cell, there is original OS that is called Cell OS. Therefore, OS such as Linux is seen from Haiparbaiza and the one of similar to the application.
This mechanism of Cell is a function similar to "Pacifica (Pacifica)" of "VT(Virtualization Technology)" and AMD of Intel. Only IBM abundantly has this function of depending to begin with in the mainframe IBM etc. in that sense in the technology that has introduced it.
