Skipping the 3.21, 3.42, 3.56 PS3 update

[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.

UPDATE: [September 7th, 2010] 3.42 is now out and blocks PSGroove. For whatever reason, the DNS/proxy trick hasn't been blocked yet. People on 3.41 (and possibly lower) can still get on PSN! I've reestablished my DNS server for the time being.

UPDATE: [January 27th, 2010] 3.56 can still be bypassed by those on 3.55 at the moment. This is expected to last for a little less than a week, so if you don't want to update past 3.55 now's your chance to jump on PSN and maybe grab something from the store.

[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.

[rizcom]

dont really know much about it

[Aaron]

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.

Yeah, there are a few different paths used depending on the region... Easiest thing to do is set it to serve the updatelist.txt on all 404s for the domain though. Don't know why I didn't think of doing that when I set mine up >.>

Aaron will i have to pay to use your dns server

Nope, and it should stay up for a long time.

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.

Heh, I set it up outside of my own home because I can never count on one computer being on at any given time.

[Frost]

Man, talk about a deus ex machina. I NEED to keep YDL running for the time being but I don't have the cash to go buy a Slim, and yet didn't want to give up my PS3's online... major headache. Been spending all day looking for ways around 3.21, and was in the middle of setting up a proxy bypass (and having it repeatedly fail despite following instructions to the letter) when I found this.

THANKS, Aaron! You just saved my ass.

[rizcom]

Thanks Aaron

[natesice]

Thank you!!!!! I don't want to lose ZeroGame or PSN and this is easy and awesome!

[NBCraftsman]

Aloha, "Aaron"...

Many huge thanks for setting up the DNS, much appreciated.

You saved me from having to buy a *Netbook*.

peace.
[-NBCraftsman]

[job4chris]

I took a slightly different route than Aaron and setup my own BIND and Apache web server on my home network and implemented the same setup and it works like a charm. Played Final Fantasy 13 last night and my PS3 signed into PSN without any errors or notices. I even taunted my system currently running 3.15 and asked it to check for updates and none found

[rizcom]

job4chris where did you get the updatelist.txt from

[job4chris]

job4chris where did you get the updatelist.txt from

This is the official Sony version for US 3.15 firmware:

http://www.mediafire.com/?dyjldy24yod

[job4chris]

Figured I should add too that by setting up my own servers locally on my LAN my PSN sign-ins seem to process much more quickly than before.