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NBD server

Start NBD Server in the main menu shares the PS2's internal HDD over the network as a Network Block Device, so PC tools (hdl_dump, pfs-shell, a hex editor) can use it as if the drive were attached to the PC. It is the easy way to install HDL games on an APA HDD without taking it out. The server is based on lwNBD.

Start it

  1. Set up the PS2's network address (static or DHCP) in Network Settings.
  2. To write to the disk (for example to install games), turn on Write Operations in Settings. Without it the disk is read-only.
  3. Main menu → Start NBD Server. YAOPL stops its devices and shows NBD Server running... while the server runs.
  4. Close that message to stop the server; the devices start again.

The export is named hdd0 (set nbd_default_export in conf_network.cfg for another name). The NBD server cannot start while UDPBD is on: Failed to start NBD Server.

Connect from a PC

Client Systems Connect Disconnect
nbd-client Linux, WSL with a custom kernel nbd-client 192.168.1.45 /dev/nbd1 nbd-client -d /dev/nbd1
nbdfuse Linux, WSL2 mkdir ps2 && nbdfuse ps2/ nbd://192.168.1.45 & umount ps2
WNBD Windows (elevated PowerShell) wnbd-client.exe map hdd0 192.168.1.45 wnbd-client.exe unmap hdd0

Replace 192.168.1.45 with the PS2's address. nbd-client -l <ip> or nbdinfo --list nbd://<ip> lists the exports; nbd-client needs modprobe nbd. For example, to install a game with hdl_dump while connected through nbdfuse:

hdl_dump inject_dvd ps2/nbd "Test Game" ./TEST.ISO

macOS has no client.