This is a PlayStation2 game loader that runs on the Enceladus Lua environment.
SNL is a highly customizable interface that runs neutrino.
To use this software you will need a ps2 capable of running homebrew, such as FreeMCBoot or PS2BBL.
The full-install size (SNL, Enceladus, and all device drivers) is less than 1.4MB and can be installed on a memory card.
The Lua interface code totals to around 300 lines which makes mods easy.
LaunchELF's text editor paired with a USB keyboard allows changes to be made from the PS2 itself.
The included version of neutrino is modified to read files from the same directory avoiding the need for subfolders.
Hold ↑UP or forward on the left analog stick to scroll up.
Hold ↓DOWN or backwards on the left analog stick to scroll down.
Press ❎CROSS, ⏺CIRCLE, or START to play the selected game.
Press ⏹SQUARE or 🔼TRIANGLE to show what settings neutrino.elf will be passed.
Hold SELECT to exit to browser.
The SNL-Manager application will automatically install Enceladus, SNL, and drivers for UDPBD gameplay.
To save 210KB of space SNL-Manager only includes drivers for UDPBD.
For HDD, HDL, ILINK, MMCE, MX4, or USB use the SNL-Full release.
Download SNL-Manager from here.
Extract the SNL-Manager folder to the Desktop or Documents.
It is a portable app, do NOT use Program Files or any other system related folder.
DIRECT Connection - Plug in the ethernet cable as shown: ↓
For a DIRECT connection set a manual IPv4 address and subnet mask.
ROUTER Connection - Plug in the ethernet cables as shown: ↓
For a ROUTER connection, set the PC's IP assignment to Automatic (DHCP).
- On the PC go into network connections or run
ncpa.cpl. - Right click the Ethernet adapter and select properties, then select IPv4 properties.
- Enable "Obtain an IP address automatically".
For a ROUTER connection the PS2 IP address settings for launchELF need to be changed.
For the first IP address, the first three parts must match the default gateway of the router or switch.
Example: 192.168.1.?
The last part (?) needs to be a unique number between 2 and 254, example: 192.168.1.147
Set the middle number, subnet mask, to 255.255.255.0
The third IP address or default gateway, must match the default gateway of the router or switch.
Most likely it will be 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1
View this guide for more info on how to set the IP address on the PS2.
Make sure that the memory card has at least 1.2MB (1200KB) or more free.
Open MISC -> PS2Net
Let the PS2 idle on this screen for the next steps on the PC.
If you plan to use virtual memory cards please read this:
In the SNL-Manager select udpbd-server then check "use vmcs" then sync to the PS2.
You must use udpbd-server when using VMCs, udpbd-vexfat does NOT support VMCs.
udpbd-server only works with exFAT partitions.
A preformatted virtual exFAT drive can be mounted if no exFAT partition is found.
Start the SNL Manager app (SimpleNeutrinoLoaderGUI.exe).
If no exFAT partitions are found, a prompt will appear to mount a virtual exFAT drive.
Rip/copy any PlayStation 2 disc images you wish to load into the DVD or CD folder.
Example: E:/DVD/Grand Theft Auto III.iso
The app can automatically convert Bin+Cue files to ISO if the box is checked then Synced.
If you are using udpbd-vexfat, a regular folder can be used instead.
For example in Documents, create a new folder PS2.
Example: %USERPROFILE%/Documents/PS2 Games/DVD/Grand Theft Auto III.iso
Type in the IP address and click Connect.
Then click Install to PS2 and choose the target.
Wait for the install to complete, this is what a successful install will show:
Then select your game folder and Sync with PS2.
Click Start Server and make sure to allow.
If you miss clicked, either move the SNL-Manager folder inside a new folder or manually delete the inbound rules for udpbd-vexfat in 'Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security'.
This will start the UDPBDTray notification tray icon which runs the server itself.
UDPBDTray is used to show/hide console output, open the manager app, or shutdown the server.
After UDPBDTray is started SNL-Manager can be closed.
The server needs to be open and running for the entire play session (Disable sleep on the PC).
Now you are ready to play, run Enceladus or reboot the PS2.
If you want the server to start automatically when the PC is turned on follow these steps:
- Right Click
UDPBDTray.exe→ Show more → Create Shortcut - Move the UDPBDTray shortcut to this folder:
C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Now the server will start automatically.
This guide uses ubuntu, if you are using a different distribution these steps may vary.
Compile the udpbd-server
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt install git build-essential
git clone https://gitlab.com/ps2max/udpbd-server.git
cd udpbd-server
make
Install .NET 10, GParted, and exfatprogs
sudo apt install dotnet-runtime-10.0 gparted exfatprogs
Create a new exFAT partition in GParted and note the partition number.
For this guide the exFAT partition is /dev/nvme0n1p6, it will be different on your system.
Mount it to /mnt/ps2. Your storage device /dev/nvme0n1p6 will probably be different.
sudo mkdir /mnt/ps2/
sudo mount /dev/nvme0n1p6 /mnt/ps2/ -o uid=$USER
Create folders named CD and DVD in the exFAT partition.
Rip/copy any PlayStation 2 disc images you wish to load into the folder that corresponds with their original source media.
Example: /mnt/ps2/DVD/Grand Theft Auto III.iso
Install Enceladus and SimpleNeutrinoLoader.
The target install device must have 1.2MB or more free space.
Please note the IP address settings and change the following commands accordingly.
dotnet SNL-CLI.dll -install mc0 -ps2ip 192.168.0.10 -boot
-install '?' will install Enceladus, neutrino, and SNL to the specified device (mc0, mc1, or mass).
-ps2ip '?' is the ip address for connecting to the PS2 with PS2Net.
-boot will modify basic-boot-loader to auto-run SNL.
Next sync the game list, note that 'enablevmc' is optional.
dotnet SNL-CLI.dll -path '/mnt/ps2' -ps2ip 192.168.0.10 -bin2iso -enablevmc
-path '?' is the file path to the CD and DVD folder that contain game ISOs.
-bin2iso enables automatic CD-ROM Bin to ISO conversion.
-enablevmc will assign a virtual memory card for each game or group of games in 'vmc_groups.list'.
Unmount the exFAT partition then Start the udpbd-server.
sudo umount /mnt/ps2
sudo ./udpbd-server /dev/nvme0n1p6
The server needs to be open and running for the entire play session.
Now the setup is complete, run mc0:/Enceladus/enceladus_pkd.elf and Play!
To add or rename/remove games, stop the server then mount the exFAT storage device to /mnt/ps2
sudo mount /dev/nvme0n1p6 /mnt/ps2/ -o uid=$USER
Download the latest release of SimpleNeutrinoLoader (SNL-Full) from here.
Extract then copy the Enceladus and SimpleNeutrinoLoader folders onto a PS2 memory card with LaunchELF.
If using psuInstall, copy the psu files then psuPaste onto the memory card.
The Enceladus and SimpleNeutrinoLoader folder should be placed in the root directory.
In the root directory of the storage device, create CD and DVD folders.
Rip/copy any PlayStation 2 ISOs you wish to play into the DVD or CD folder.
Bin+Cue files must be converted to ISO.
Please view the README from XEB+ neutrino loader for info specific to the type of storage device you are using.
Run SNL-ListBuilder.py with python to create a game list specific to your device.
Alternatively an XEB+neutrino list can be converted to SNL with ListConvertXEBtoSNL.py
Copy the list file (example: HDDList.txt) into the SimpleNeutrinoLoader folder on the PS2.
Connect the game storage device to the PS2.
Edit the configuration for PS2BBL:
The text editor built into LaunchELF can do this.
Replace the line LK_AUTO_E1 with this:
LK_AUTO_E1 = mc?:/Enceladus/enceladus_pkd.elf
or
LK_AUTO_E1 = mass:/Enceladus/enceladus_pkd.elf
This will set PS2BBL to auto-run SNL.
LaunchELF can be accessed by holding R1 during PS2BBL startup.
The following list files are checked on SNL startup:
HDDList.txt, HDLList.txt, ILINKList.txt, MMCEList.txt, MX4List.txt, UDPBDList.txt, and USBList.txt.
Here is an example of the list file contents:
Katamari Damacy|SLUS_210.08|-bsd=udpbd|-dvd=mass:/DVD/Katamari Damacy.iso
LEGO Star Wars 2|SLUS_214.09|-bsd=udpbd|-dvd=mass:/DVD/LEGO Star Wars 2.iso
Midway Arcade Treasures 3|SLUS_210.94|-bsd=udpbd|-dvd=mass:/DVD/Midway Arcade Treasures 3.iso
Each line uses | as a separator for different parts.
The first part is the name that will be visible on the SNL interface.
The second part is the serial game ID found in SYSTEM.CNF.
All further parts are command line arguments that will tell neutrino what settings to use for the selected game.
There can be a variable number of parts, for example:
Katamari Damacy|SLUS_210.08|-bsd=udpbd|-dvd=mass:/DVD/Katamari Damacy.iso|-gc=23
The last part -gc=23, enables compatibility modes 2 and 3 when playing Katamari.
Here is a list of all neutrino arguments:
-bsd=<driver> Backing store drivers, supported are:
- no (uses cdvd, default)
- ata (block device)
- usb (block device)
- mx4sio (block device)
- udpbd (block device)
- ilink (block device)
- mmce (file system)
-bsdfs=<driver> Backing store filesystem drivers used for block device, supported are:
- exfat (default)
- hdl (HD Loader)
- bd (Block Device)
NOTE: Used only for block devices (see -bsd)
-dvd=<mode> DVD emulation mode, supported are:
- no (default)
- esr
- <file>
-ata0=<mode> ATA HDD 0 emulation mode, supported are:
- no (default)
- <file>
NOTE: only both emulated, or both real.
mixing not possible
-ata0id=<mode> ATA 0 HDD ID emulation mode, supported are:
- no (default)
- <file>
NOTE: only supported if ata0 is present
-ata1=<mode> See -ata0=<mode>
-mc0=<mode> MC0 emulation mode, supported are:
- no (default)
- <file>
-mc1=<mode> See -mc0=<mode>
-elf=<file> ELF file to boot, supported are:
- auto (elf file from cd/dvd) (default)
- <file>
-gc=<compat> Game compatibility modes, supported are:
- 0: IOP: Fast reads (sceCdRead)
- 1: dummy
- 2: IOP: Sync reads (sceCdRead)
- 3: EE : Unhook syscalls
- 5: IOP: Emulate DVD-DL
- 7: IOP: Fix game buffer overrun
Multiple options possible, for example -gc=23
-gsm=x:y:z GS video mode
Parameter x = Interlaced field mode
A full height buffer is used by the game for displaying. Force video output to:
- : don't force (default) (480i/576i)
- fp : force progressive scan (480p/576p)
Parameter y = Interlaced frame mode
A half height buffer is used by the game for displaying. Force video output to:
- : don't force (default) (480i/576i)
- fp1 : force progressive scan (240p/288p)
- fp2 : force progressive scan (480p/576p line doubling)
Parameter z = Compatibility mode
- : no compatibility mode (default)
- 1 : field flipping type 1 (GSM/OPL)
- 2 : field flipping type 2
- 3 : field flipping type 3
Examples:
-gsm=fp - recommended mode
-gsm=fp::1 - recommended mode, with compatibility 1
-gsm=fp:fp2:2 - all parameters
-cwd=<path> Change working directory
-cfg=<file> Load extra user/game specific config file (without .toml extension)
-dbc Enable debug colors
-logo Enable logo (adds rom0:PS2LOGO to arguments)
-qb Quick-Boot directly into load environment
--b Break, all following parameters are passed to the ELF
Alex Parrado & Matías Israelson & Rick Gaiser - udpbd-server
https://github.com/israpps/udpbd-server
awaken1ng - udpbd-vexfat
https://github.com/awaken1ng/udpbd-vexfat
Damián Parrino - ps2vmc-tool
https://github.com/bucanero/ps2vmc-tool
Daniel Santos - Enceladus
https://github.com/DanielSant0s/Enceladus
Matías Israelson - PS2-Basic-Bootloader
https://github.com/israpps/PlayStation2-Basic-BootLoader
PS2Dev Team - ps2client
https://github.com/ps2dev/ps2client
Rick Gaiser - neutrino
https://github.com/rickgaiser/neutrino
sync-on-luma - XEB+ neutrino Launcher Plugin
https://github.com/sync-on-luma/xebplus-neutrino-loader-plugin
