The PS3 NOR Manager Project

[dlevere]

Posted by tthousand
Published on 07/16/11 2:12 A.M.

No_One, the anonymous hacker who released a PDF "Theory for Dual Firmware PS3" two months ago, returns today.

No_One has contacted PSX-SCENE, with information about a great new release, the PNM Project, the "PS3 NOR Manager" Project.

This new piece of hardware has been designed to help us further explore the PlayStation3 NOR FLASH, and find more exploitable areas that are hidden with our consoles. PNM is open-hardware and open-source.

With advancements in being able to DUMP/COPY your PS3 (NOR), as well as downgrade methods, the possibility of 3.6x+ Key Decryption/CFW, and even a true Dual Firmware are closer then ever.

[dlevere]

PNM Project Update - 3.60 Slim Flash Dumped - 3.6x+ Keys Coming Soon

By grandy
Published on 7/24/2011 11:50 A.M.

Today, we were informed that the PNM Project has advanced nicely since we first reported on it last week. The project is shaping up to be the PS3 scene's saving grace by eventually delivering us with the new 3.6x+ keys.

For those of you unfamiliar with the project, it intends to dump the new 3.6x keys by utilizing dual NOR flashes/firmware (which is very plausible). The project's leader, No_One, has informed us that he has successfully dumped a 3.60 NOR flash by using one of the sockets on his PNM board.

In the newly released photos, we can clearly see this PlayStation 3 NOR flash chip plugged into the 2nd socket, ready to be dumped. No_One went on to state that jailbreaking new PS3's will soon become a reality once again. Unfortunately, he also informed us that he will be taking a three week vacation, so advancements to the project will be put on hold until he returns.

[dlevere]

Project PNM: PS3 NOR Manager - Details Released

By grandy
Published on 08-11-2011 02:42 AM

Today, No_One has released an updated PDF for Project PNM, which contains a wealth of information. Project PNM, one of the more promising projects in the scene, is a piece of hardware which allow users to run a dual firmware setup via dual NOR flashes, as well as several other things.

The document explains how PNM works from a hardware point of view. In addition, it provides all of the necessary information needed for users to build their own PNM hardware. The document contains detailed schematics, diagrams, explanations, and a list of materials needed.

Furthermore, in an attempt to get this hardware into as many hands as possible, it was revealed that a cheaper version of the hardware is currently being designed, and will be released in the near future.

Please note, the PDF document is highly technical. It is recommended that only skilled hardware experts should try their hand at building a PNM circuit.

Hi mates,
Here is the PDF documentation that explains how PNM works from an hardware point of view :
- schematics,
- explanations,
- bill of materials (BOM),
- diagrams.

Coming soon :

- A virtual SOCKET #3 to access (Read/Write) the PS3 NOR (on motherboard itself)
It will give the ability to manage what others flashers around do without removing the embedded NOR.
- Realtime tests on a PS3 in differents situations :
* Static switching between 2 firmwares,
* Dynamic switching....

Tasks finished these last 2 days :
- serial link has been enhanced (speed) to 1Mbit/s,
- virtual SOCKET #3 instanciated in the FPGA,
- Teraterm macros to help managing DUMP/UPDATE (not yet fully functionnal),
- automatic detection of the firmware flashed,
- some minor software updates...

See ya very soon for more progress !

Cheers
No_One