https://github.com/nathanneurotic/ps2-servers
Multi-Platform Support for SMBv1, UDPBD, and UDPFS servers for Playstation 2 homebrew, such as OPL.
https://github.com/nathanneurotic/ps2-servers
aio loader open playstation ps2 py server smb smbv1 udpbd udpfs
Last synced: 27 days ago
JSON representation
Multi-Platform Support for SMBv1, UDPBD, and UDPFS servers for Playstation 2 homebrew, such as OPL.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/nathanneurotic/ps2-servers
- Owner: NathanNeurotic
- Created: 2026-06-25T06:39:26.000Z (about 1 month ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-06-25T16:38:49.000Z (about 1 month ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-06-25T17:09:23.811Z (about 1 month ago)
- Topics: aio, loader, open, playstation, ps2, py, server, smb, smbv1, udpbd, udpfs
- Language: Python
- Homepage:
- Size: 1.28 MB
- Stars: 1
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# PS2-Servers
Network servers for loading PlayStation 2 games and apps over a LAN with
[Open PS2 Loader](https://github.com/ps2homebrew/Open-PS2-Loader) (OPL) and forks —
plus a small **GUI launcher** so anyone can run them without touching a terminal.
## Quick start — the launcher
The launcher lets you pick a server, choose your games folder, and click **Start**.
It detects your PC's LAN IP and shows the exact settings to enter in OPL.
- **Packaged app (no Python needed):** download the release for your OS.
**On Windows, prefer the folder build** — unzip
`PS2Servers-windows-x64-folder.zip` and run **`PS2Servers.exe`** from inside
the folder. It is the same app, but without the self-extracting wrapper that
makes the single-file `.exe` trip antivirus heuristics, so it comes up clean.
A single-file `PS2Servers-windows-x64.zip` is still provided for convenience
if your AV doesn't object. (Linux: `PS2Servers-linux-x64`, or
`PS2Servers-linux-x64-folder.tar.gz` if `/tmp` is mounted `noexec`.)
- **From source:** double-click **`Start-Launcher.bat`** (Windows) or run
`./start-launcher.sh` (Linux/macOS). Requires Python 3.
The launcher starts normally without administrator rights. The GUI shows whether
it is currently running as administrator and includes a **Restart as administrator**
button for the few Windows setup actions that actually need elevation.
The GUI uses a lightweight PS2-themed Tkinter skin. It does not use Electron,
Qt, a browser view, or any heavy UI framework.
## Windows security note
PS2 Servers is an unsigned open-source network tool. Because it runs local server
processes and may ask Windows Firewall to allow inbound LAN traffic, some
antivirus products may flag the packaged Windows EXE heuristically.
The SMBv1/RiptOPL server does **not** enable Windows' built-in SMB1 optional
feature tree. It speaks the OPL-compatible SMB1/CIFS subset itself and normally
listens on custom TCP port `1111`; OPL connects to this program directly. (Avoid
ports below 1033 — Windows can reserve or block low ports.)
Windows setup is intentionally narrow:
- no automatic enabling of Windows SMB1;
- no disabling of SMB1 automatic removal;
- Windows Firewall changes are limited to rules named `PS2 Servers - ...`;
- firewall allow/cleanup can be handled from the GUI without a terminal;
- administrator rights are requested only for firewall changes or advanced port
`445` mode;
- advanced port `445` mode is optional and temporarily pauses Windows File
Sharing only while that server mode is running.
Normal custom-port SMB mode, UDPFS, UDPBD, folder browsing, and logs do not need
the whole launcher to run as administrator. Keeping the default launch non-admin
reduces the blast radius of bugs and keeps the app easier to trust.
If a download is flagged, the antivirus statement
([docs/antivirus-transparency.md](docs/antivirus-transparency.md) — styled web
version at [docs/falsepositives.html](docs/falsepositives.html)) explains exactly
why heuristics fire, what the app does and does not do, how to verify a download,
and how to report a false positive to each vendor. A non-self-extracting
**folder** build is offered as an alternative download for AV-wary users.
See [SECURITY.md](SECURITY.md) for verification, cleanup, and reporting details.
See [docs/antivirus-transparency.md](docs/antivirus-transparency.md) for the
public antivirus false-positive review note, stable release identity, ports,
firewall behavior, and uninstall/cleanup details.
## What's inside
All three servers are pure-Python (standard library) and run on Windows, Linux and macOS.
| Folder | Server | What it does |
|--------|--------|--------------|
| [`smbv1_server/`](smbv1_server/) | **SMBv1 (RiptOPL)** | Shares a games folder over SMB — works even on Windows 11 where the OS removed SMB1. |
| [`udpfs_server/`](udpfs_server/) | **UDPFS** | Serves a folder and/or disk image over UDP; can transparently decompress CHD/CSO/ZSO. |
| [`udpbd_server/`](udpbd_server/) | **UDPBD** | Serves a disk image as a block device over UDP; the PS2 auto-discovers it. |
`udpbd_server/udpbd_server.py` is a pure-Python port of Rick Gaiser's UDPBD server —
see [its provenance](udpbd_server/SOURCE.md). UDPBD has largely been superseded by UDPFS.
UDPFS can transparently decompress CHD/CSO/ZSO images. How that support is bundled
in releases and provided in source mode is documented in
[docs/optional-compression-dependencies.md](docs/optional-compression-dependencies.md).
Want a UDPFS server without Python (handy on low‑end hardware, or to avoid antivirus
false positives on packaged builds)? **[udpfsd](https://github.com/pcm720/udpfsd)** by
pcm720 is a Go alternative — a single prebuilt binary with the same CHD/CSO/ZSO
support. See [Credits & thanks](#credits--thanks).
## Run a server on its own (terminal)
Each server still runs standalone, and the launcher can run them too:
```sh
python smbv1_server/smbserver_opl.py --share games=D:/PS2Games
python udpfs_server/udpfs_server.py -d D:/PS2Games --enable-compression
python udpbd_server/udpbd_server.py D:/PS2Games/game.iso
# or, via the launcher engine:
python -m launcher --serve udpfs -d D:/PS2Games
python -m launcher --list # show servers available on this machine
```
## Build the packaged app
[Nuitka](https://nuitka.net) bundles the launcher and all three servers into one
executable per OS — no Python install required for the end user:
```sh
python -m pip install -r requirements-build.txt
python build/build.py # -> dist/PS2Servers(.exe)
```
## Release verification
Automatic releases (built on every push to `main`) include `SHA256SUMS.txt`, a
portable source ZIP, and GitHub artifact attestations for the packaged assets.
Tagged `vX.Y.Z` releases include a per-asset `.sha256.txt` checksum file
plus attestations. Example verification (automatic-release assets):
```sh
sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS.txt
gh attestation verify PS2Servers-windows-x64.zip -R NathanNeurotic/PS2-Servers
```
Checksums prove the file was downloaded intact. Attestations prove build
provenance. Neither is a magic safety certificate. Because the app is plain
Python and `build/build.py` rebuilds the release from source (single-file or
`PS2_BUILD_MODE=standalone` folder build), the lowest-trust path is to inspect
the source and build/run it yourself — see
[docs/antivirus-transparency.md](docs/antivirus-transparency.md) for the full
verification, "build it yourself", and false-positive-reporting guide.
## Status
The UDPBD port is validated by `udpbd_server/selftest.py` at the protocol level
(INFO/READ/WRITE byte-for-byte). As with the SMBv1 server, **final validation is on
real hardware** — an actual PS2 running OPL, or PCSX2 with a network adapter.
## Legal & responsible use
Please read this before using PS2 Servers.
- **Your content, your responsibility.** PS2 Servers is a general-purpose file
server. It ships **no games and no copyrighted content** — it only serves files
*you* point it at, from *your* PC. You are solely responsible for ensuring you
have the legal right to use, copy, and serve any games, disc images, saves, or
other files, and for complying with the laws of your jurisdiction. This project
does not condone or facilitate copyright infringement; the intended use is with
homebrew and with backups of media you legally own.
- **Not affiliated with Sony.** "PlayStation", "PlayStation 2", and "PS2" are
trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment. This is an independent, unofficial
fan/homebrew project with no affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement from Sony,
the Open PS2 Loader team, or any other rights holder. See [`NOTICE.md`](NOTICE.md).
- **Trusted networks only.** The servers are unauthenticated (guest) and designed
for a private home LAN. Do not expose them to the internet or run them on
untrusted networks.
- **Data-loss risk.** Writable modes let the PlayStation 2 write to the folders and
disc images you share (saves, VMC). Keep backups; use `--read-only` if you want a
strictly read-only share.
- **No warranty.** PS2 Servers is provided **"as is", without warranty of any
kind**, and the authors' liability is limited, as set out in the Academic Free
License 3.0 (see §7 "Disclaimer of Warranty" and §8 "Limitation of Liability" in
[`LICENSE`](LICENSE)). You use it at your own risk.
## License and notices
PS2 Servers is licensed under the **Academic Free License 3.0 (AFL-3.0)**. See
[`LICENSE`](LICENSE).
This repository also includes third-party notices and provenance details in
[`NOTICE.md`](NOTICE.md), including the redistributed Neutrino UDPFS server,
UDPBD protocol references, optional compression libraries, build tooling, and
trademark notes.
## Credits & thanks
This is a fan project that stands entirely on the shoulders of the PS2 homebrew
community. None of the clever parts are ours — we just wrapped brilliant existing
work in something click‑and‑go. With genuine gratitude:
- **Rick Gaiser — [@rickgaiser](https://github.com/rickgaiser)** — the heart of all
of this. He designed the **UDPBD** and **UDPFS** network protocols and wrote the
original servers, alongside **[Neutrino](https://github.com/rickgaiser/neutrino)**.
[`udpfs_server/udpfs_server.py`](udpfs_server/udpfs_server.py) is his UDPFS server
(from Neutrino's `pc/` host tools), and
[`udpbd_server/udpbd_server.py`](udpbd_server/udpbd_server.py) is our independent
Python re‑implementation of his UDPBD v2 protocol. The network game‑loading here
simply does not exist without his work — thank you.
- **pcm720 — [@pcm720](https://github.com/pcm720)** — a core Neutrino contributor and
author of **[udpfsd](https://github.com/pcm720/udpfsd)**, a UDPFS server written in
Go. If you'd rather not run our Python UDPFS server — e.g. on a low‑end device, or
to sidestep the antivirus heuristics that hit unsigned packaged Python builds —
udpfsd is an excellent no‑Python alternative: one standalone binary, prebuilt for
Windows, macOS, and low‑end ARM/MIPS targets, with the same transparent CHD/CSO/ZSO
decompression. Thanks as well for generously taking the time to vet the
network‑boot docs. 🙏
- **El_isra — [@israpps](https://github.com/israpps)** — maintains the canonical
**[udpbd-server](https://github.com/israpps/udpbd-server)** on GitHub (Rick's code,
with CI), which is the reference we ported from.
- **Alex Parrado** — the Windows port of udpbd-server.
- **[Open PS2 Loader](https://github.com/ps2homebrew/Open-PS2-Loader)** and the
**[ps2homebrew](https://github.com/ps2homebrew)** team — the loader everything here
serves, and the wider toolchain that makes PS2 homebrew possible.
- **[prodeveloper0/pyudpbd](https://github.com/prodeveloper0/pyudpbd)** — a pure‑Python
UDPBD port we read while writing our own.
- The folks behind **CHD ([libchdr](https://github.com/rtissera/libchdr) / MAME)**,
**CSO**, and **ZSO** — the compressed‑image formats UDPFS decompresses on the fly.
### What's original here
The **GUI launcher**, the **RiptOPL** SMBv1 server, and the **pure‑Python UDPBD port**
were written for this repo. Everything at the protocol level is the community's —
we reimplemented from public protocols/source (rather than copying code) where we
could, and tried to attribute accurately.
### To the authors above 🙏
This exists out of appreciation for what you've given the PS2 scene, not any sense of
ownership. If you'd like attribution changed, a link corrected, or your work removed
from this repo entirely, please [open an issue](../../issues) — we'll sort it out
right away, no questions asked. Thank you, sincerely.