Skipping the 3.21 PS3 update [DEFUNCT]

[Aaron]

Figured I'd at least post this somewhere, since Sony made a pathetic move today (April Fools, yeah right) that affects a large number of PS3 owners; the removal of OtherOS. The 3.21 update apparently does nothing but remove a feature for "security concerns." I didn't even want to install it on my PS3 Slim, so I went and adjusted my server to bypass the update for myself and others.

Basically, this will allow you to use the PSN and play your games online while still having an older PS3 firmware version installed, such as 3.15.

If, eventually, a disc game comes out that requires 3.21, you will be forced to upgrade to play that game; there's nothing you can do about that yet. But in the meantime...

You can go to customize your network settings from XMB, and get to the part about DNS nameservers. Select custom, and enter the following IP as your Primary DNS:
67.202.81.137

And there you go, PSN works.

UPDATE: [April 13th, 2010] Sony has effectively blocked all known methods of bypassing the latest firmware. At the moment there is no alternative for accessing PSN besides updating through the normal means. For those who were using this DNS, set your Network DNS Settings back to Auto (or whatever you had it set to previously) if you wish to make the update.

[Omega]

Awesome, great work Aaron.

[job4chris]

I'd be particular curious to know more about what you did on the DNS end to accomplish this. I run my own DNS servers at home and would personally apply the fix there rather than having to alter the settings on the PS3 end if that is at all possible.

[Aaron]

I'd be particular curious to know more about what you did on the DNS end to accomplish this. I run my own DNS servers at home and would personally apply the fix there rather than having to alter the settings on the PS3 end if that is at all possible.

I configured BIND to point *.ps3.update.playstation.net to the same IP, and configured my lighttpd to serve a custom updatelist.txt file for all regions that tells the PS3 it's up-to-date.

[RoBz]

Nicely done, cheers.

[Red Terry]

Does this text file you created trick the server into thinking that any firmware you have is the correct fully updated one?

[Aaron]

Does this text file you created trick the server into thinking that any firmware you have is the correct fully updated one?

It does indeed. Well, it tricks the PS3, not the server.

Though I believe if you try connecting to PSN with a really old firmware version, it will fail because of some changes that have been made. I'm not sure exactly how far back you can be and still have it work.

[job4chris]

I'd be particular curious to know more about what you did on the DNS end to accomplish this. I run my own DNS servers at home and would personally apply the fix there rather than having to alter the settings on the PS3 end if that is at all possible.

I configured BIND to point *.ps3.update.playstation.net to the same IP, and configured my lighttpd to serve a custom updatelist.txt file for all regions that tells the PS3 it's up-to-date.

Sounds like you basically setup a web server that hosts your own updatelist.txt and pointed DNS to it instead of the PSN servers. Would you be willing by any chance to share your updatelist.txt file?

--Edit--

Nevermind, I see how it's done now Thanks for sharing your fix info. I run BIND myself although I run apache for an internal web server. I don't see why that wouldn't work either.

[rizcom]

Aaron will i have to pay to use your dns server

[job4chris]

Take a queue from the conversation I had with Aaron here and you can do this yourself in your own home with a little know how.