Cobra ODE User Manual
Cobra ODE
User Manual v2.4
March 2015
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MANUAL VERSION INFORMATION
Language
English
Applicable hardware version
All
Applicable software version(MCU)
2.2 (also lower*)
*Lower versions of MCUs do not support features described in higher versions. MCU 2.0 (recommended
2.2) is the minimum MCU needed to bypass security features of the 4.55 PS3 firmware. MCU 2.2 is the
minimum MCU needed to bypass security features of the 4.60 PS3 firmware (also applies to users who use
4.55)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 1
1.1 SUPPORTED CONSOLES ........................................................................................... 1
1.1.1 FAT – 1. Generation PlayStation 3 ................................................................... 1
1.1.2 SLIM – 2. Generation PlayStation 3 ................................................................. 2
1.1.3 SUPER SLIM – 3. Generation PlayStation 3 .................................................... 2
1.2 FEATURES OF COBRA ODE ..................................................................................... 3
2 HARDWARE OPERATION ...................................................................................... 4
2.1 SELECTION OF EMULATION OR PASS-THROUGH MODE: .......................................... 4
2.2 CONNECTING USB STORAGE: ................................................................................. 5
2.2.1 Types of USB cables included in the Cobra ODE kit ........................................ 5
2.3 USB MASS STORAGE PREPARATION ........................................................................ 6
2.3.1 Instructions and notes ........................................................................................ 6
2.3.2 Final file structure ............................................................................................. 8
2.3.3 Tools for generating ISOs ................................................................................. 9
2.3.4 ISO Generation Instructions .............................................................................. 9
2.3.5 ISO Generation Instructions for Super Slim (4xxx model) users on 4.55 PS3
firmware ........................................................................................................................ 9
3 COBRA ODE USAGE .............................................................................................. 10
3.1 BOOTING REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................... 10
3.2 ERROR CONDITIONS .............................................................................................. 10
3.2.1 Defragmenting your HDD ............................................................................... 11
3.3 PLAYING MULTIMEDIA CONTENT .......................................................................... 12
3.3.1 Playing PS1 games .......................................................................................... 12
3.3.2 Playing PS2 games .......................................................................................... 12
3.3.3 Playing PS3 games .......................................................................................... 13
3.3.4 Playing DVD movies ....................................................................................... 13
3.3.5 Playing BD movies .......................................................................................... 13
3.4 USING COBRA ODE MANAGER ............................................................................. 14
3.4.1 New features in Cobra manager since Cobra ODE 2.0 update ...................... 15
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3.5 USING COBRA ODE BROWSER ............................................................................. 16
3.5.1 Mounted game ................................................................................................. 19
3.5.2 Instructions for using genps3extra PC application ......................................... 21
4 ONBOARD CHIP MANIPULATION .................................................................... 23
4.1 MCU FIRMWARE UPDATE FOR COBRA ODE ......................................................... 23
4.2 BOOTLOADER FIRMWARE UPDATE FOR COBRA ODE ....................................... 23
4.3 FPGA FIRMWARE UPDATE FOR COBRA ODE ........................................................ 24
4.3.1 Correct update sequence ................................................................................. 24
5 VARIOUS CONFIGURATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS ................................... 30
5.1 COBRA ODE CONFIGURATION FILE ...................................................................... 30
5.1.1 MCU v1.4 supported options ........................................................................... 30
5.1.2 MCU v1.5 added options ................................................................................. 30
5.1.3 MCU v1.6 added options ................................................................................. 31
5.1.4 MCU v1.9 added options ................................................................................. 31
5.1.5 MCU v2.0 added options ................................................................................. 31
5.1.6 MCU v2.1 added options ................................................................................. 31
5.1.7 MCU v2.2 added options ................................................................................. 32
5.1.8 Configuration options for the latest MCU ....................................................... 32
5.1.9 Valid COBRA/cobra.cfg configurations .......................................................... 41
5.1.10 Recommended cobra.cfg configuration (Cobra ODE 2.0 update onwards) 41
5.2 VALID HOMEBREW ISO GENERATION ................................................................... 43
5.3 VALID ISO FILE SPECIFICATION ............................................................................ 44
5.4 SPECIFICATIONS FOR THIRD PARTY MANAGER COMPATIBILITY ............................. 45
5.4.1 ISO file information format ............................................................................. 47
5.4.2 COBRA.NFO format ........................................................................................ 48
5.4.3 Information about DISC.ISO post-processing ................................................ 49
6 REFERENCES .......................................................................................................... 50
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TABLE OF FIGURES
Figure 1.1: PlayStation 3 FAT. .............................................................................................. 1
Figure 1.2: PlayStation 3 SLIM. ............................................................................................ 2
Figure 1.3: PlayStation 3 SUPER SLIM. .............................................................................. 2
Figure 2.1: Clip-on PCB of Cobra ODE (with switch encircled). ......................................... 4
Figure 2.2: Clip-on PCB of Cobra ODE (with USBs encircled). .......................................... 5
Figure 2.3: Final file structure of USB Key/HDD. ............................................................... 8
Figure 3.1: No Hard Drive error message. .......................................................................... 10
Figure 3.2: Selection of Cobra ODE manager. .................................................................... 14
Figure 3.3: Inside the Cobra ODE manager. ....................................................................... 14
Figure 3.4: Cobra ODE Browser in the “Game category” of the XMB. ............................. 16
Figure 3.5: Cobra ODE Browser in the “Video category” of the XMB. ............................. 17
Figure 3.6: Mounted game in XMB. ................................................................................... 19
Figure 3.7: The “Return to Cobra Manager” trigger. .......................................................... 19
Figure 3.8: The “Return to Cobra Manager” trigger in the sub-menu. ............................... 20
Figure 3.9: genps3extra program (now discontinued). ........................................................ 21
Figure 4.1: Correct update sequence diagram. .................................................................... 25
INDEX OF TABLES
Table 5.1: Manager Type configuration options. ................................................................ 32
Table 5.2: Manager Disc type options. ................................................................................ 33
Table 5.3: Game disc type options. ..................................................................................... 34
Table 5.4: Game type options. ............................................................................................. 36
Table 5.5: ISO int type options. ........................................................................................... 36
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Table 5.6: LED configuration options. ................................................................................ 38
Table 5.7: Table of folder settings. ...................................................................................... 39
Table 5.8: Accessed files on ISO load. ................................................................................ 46
Table 5.9: Game type indicator values. ............................................................................... 47
TABLE OF CONFIGURATION EXCERPTS
Configuration excerpt 5.1: Automatic return to manager mode on reboot. ........................ 41
Configuration excerpt 5.2: Automatic loading of a single game. ........................................ 41
Configuration excerpt 5.3: Recommended configuration for cobra.cfg (non 4k). .............. 41
Configuration excerpt 5.4: Recommended configuration for cobra.cfg (4k). ..................... 41
Configuration excerpt 5.5: Loading of a custom manager with triggers for 3 games. ........ 42
Configuration excerpt 5.6: Scetool command for generating the EBOOT.BIN. ................ 43
Configuration excerpt 5.7: MAKEFILE line for EBOOT.BIN generation. ........................ 43
Configuration excerpt 5.8: ISO encrypted and plain regions. ............................................. 44
Configuration excerpt 5.9: Second ISO sector. ................................................................... 45
Configuration excerpt 5.10: Basic ISO file information. .................................................... 47
Configuration excerpt 5.11: Extended ISO file information. .............................................. 48
Configuration excerpt 5.12: Basic COBRA.NFO format (2 byes). .................................... 48
Configuration excerpt 5.13: Extended COBRA.NFO format (6 bytes). ............................. 48
Configuration excerpt 5.14: Extended COBRA.NFO format (with quick eject byte). ....... 49
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USED ABBREVIATIONS
ODE – Optical Drive Emulator
PS3 – PlayStation 3
SEN – Sony Entertainment Network
PSN – Play Station Network
PT – Pass-through Mode
EMU – Emulation Mode
PATA – Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment
SATA – Serial Advanced Technology Attachment
XMB – Xross Media Bar
OFW – Official Firmware
CFW – Custom Firmware
PCB – Printed Circuit Board
BD – Blu-Ray Disk
MCU – MicroController Unit
FPGA – Field-Programmable Gate Array
LED – Light Emitting Diode
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1 INTRODUCTION
The Cobra ODE is the world's most advanced and feature rich ODE for PS3 which is
also simple and easy to use!
1.1 Supported consoles
1.1.1 FAT – 1. Generation PlayStation 3
· CECHA (PATA)
· CECHB (PATA)
· CECHC (PATA)
· CECHE (PATA)
· CECHG (PATA)
· CECHH (PATA)
· CECHK (PATA)
· CECHL (SATA) (most consoles)*1
Figure 1.1: PlayStation 3 FAT.
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FAT consoles (SATA) CECHL, CECHM, CECHP and CECHQ with drive controller BMD-21 are
currently not supported, it will be supported in a future HW revision. Please visit our web site for more news
concerning upcoming product available.
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1.1.2 SLIM – 2. Generation PlayStation 3
· CECH2XXX (SATA)
· CECH21XX (SATA)
· CECH25XX (SATA)
· CECH3XXX (SATA)
Figure 1.2: PlayStation 3 SLIM.
1.1.3 SUPER SLIM – 3. Generation PlayStation 3
· CECH4XXX (SATA)
Figure 1.3: PlayStation 3 SUPER SLIM.
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1.2 Features of Cobra ODE
· Supports virtually all PS3's including previously "unbreakable" 2k5,3k and 4k systems!
· Homebrew now possible on previously "unbreakable" 2k5,3k and 4k systems!
· Play games on SEN in pass-through or emulation modes*1!
· On screen selection of games through Cobra ODE manager or Cobra ODE Browser in
XMB
· Emulation or pass-through modes
· PS1 game support
· PS2 ISO support on backward compatible consoles
· DVD and BD movies support
· Advanced Smart Fusion AES encryption and decryption engine on board
· Fully updatable high speed FPGA's and high speed secure MCU on board
· Updatable via USB storage
· Expansion ports for future proofing
· Simple and easy to use
· High quality components used throughout
· Built at a high tech facility
· Solder-less installation on all FAT* and SLIM (2xxx and 21xx) series
· Easy installation on 25xx,3xxx and 4xxx series Slim and Super Slim series consoles
with QSB (quick solder board)
· Easy setup for PATA or SATA consoles
· Advanced software onboard and frequent free updates
· PS3 BD game disc dumping on all PS3 consoles is supported and can be enabled
through third party managers.
1
We cannot guarantee the longevity of this feature for people using homebrew apps.
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2 HARDWARE OPERATION
This chapter contains information about various hardware parts of Cobra ODE that are
important for normal every-day use such as switching between Emulation and Passthrough mode. This chapter also contains information about the format, usage and
preparation of USB storage that is used to store game and video ISOs.
2.1 Selection of Emulation or Pass-through mode:
Pass-through is enabled when the switch (SW1) is to the left as shown (Figure 2.1).
Emulation mode can be selected by simply sliding the switch on the clip on PCB to the
right as shown in the picture below. This enables the emulation functionality of the device
and allows you to run games from external mass storage on your PS3. Pass-through mode
silently disables the ODE and allows your PS3 to act as a stock OFW or CFW console,
when you want to play games directly from the BD drive, watch movies or go online for
SEN etc...
Please do not switch between Pass-through and Emulation modes whilst the
console is running. Only switch modes when the console is in standby or powered off.
Figure 2.1: Clip-on PCB of Cobra ODE (with switch encircled).
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2.2 Connecting USB storage:
There are two USB connectors on the clip on PCB, a full size USB A connector (J1)
for connection of mass storage devices and a Mini USB B (J3) connector for optional extra
power input. As shown in the photo below. Please connect your USB mass storage device
to the USB A connector.
Figure 2.2: Clip-on PCB of Cobra ODE (with USBs encircled).
2.2.1 Types of USB cables included in the Cobra ODE kit
· USB 2.0 Mini USB Y cable
· USB 3.0 Y cable
· USB extension cable
The USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 Y cable may be coupled with the USB extension cable and
connected to a port on the front of the PS3 and then to the CLIP on USBA A connector and
your hard drive, in cases where a standard USB cable cannot supply enough power.
Alternatively and preferably use a 1A 5V wall USB charger (Samsung, HTC…).
The QSV version of Cobra ODE does not include the USB cables.
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2.3 USB mass storage preparation
The Cobra ODE supports reading files from the vast majority of USB HDD's and USB pen
drives available in the market.
Kindly follow the instructions and notes below for setting up USB storage devices for use
with the Cobra ODE.
2.3.1 Instructions and notes
· Your USB pen drive or USB HDD must be formatted with either NTFS 4k (4096
allocation unit size) or FAT32 file system: If formatting the NTFS partition, make sure
the cluster size (named "Allocation unit size" in Windows's format tool) is a multiple of
2048 bytes. This means that 512 byte and 1024 byte cluster sizes will not work, but
2048 byte and 4096 byte will work. We recommend you use 4096 bytes which should
be the default and recommended setting that Windows will use for drives with a
capacity lower than 16 TB.
· Should you decide to use FAT32, then this must be the first partition on the drive and
the subsequent partition may be NTFS.
· The first NTFS partition found will be the partition recognized by the ODE.
· When an HDD has both FAT32 and NTFS partitions, then the FAT32 partition will be
ignored by the ODE.
· The partition should contain a COBRA directory containing the "cobra.db" file (the .db
database file can be downloaded from the cobra-ode.com “Downloads” section) and a
game manager iso with the filename "manager.iso" and for the Cobra Browser
feature, a iso with the filename 'browser.iso.
· The COBRA manager iso can also be substituted by any other manager which
incorporates support for our board (instructions for enabling Cobra ODE in other
managers is provided at the end of this document)
· PS3 games must be placed in a directory named "PS3_GAMES" in the root of the
partition.
· PS2 games must be placed in a directory named "PS2_GAMES" in the root of the
partition.
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· PS1 games must be placed in a directory named "PS1_GAMES" in the root of the
partition.
· DVD movies must be placed in a directory named "DVD_MOVIES" in the root of the
partition.
· BD movies must be placed in a directory named "BD_MOVIES" in the root of the
partition.
· File names can be complex or simple, so long as Unicode and special characters are
avoided.
· User may split an iso into multiple files (convenient if you have a FAT32 partition,
subsequent files must however be named with extension .1, .2, .3 and so on
o Examples:
§ uncharted.iso.0, uncharted.iso.1, uncharted.iso.2,
§ uncharted.foobar, uncharted.foobar.1, uncharted.foobar.2
· We would recommend partitioning your hard drive with a 10MB FAT32 partition as
the first partition on the drive, and the second partition as NTFS taking the rest of the
HDD space. The FAT32 partition can then be used for updates to the ODE.
· PS1 games cannot be split into multiple files
· The final file structure can be seen on Figure 2.3.
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2.3.2 Final file structure
Figure 2.3: Final file structure of USB Key/HDD.
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2.3.3 Tools for generating ISOs
· The GenPS3iso tool may be used to generate .iso images from a directory structure of
a game dumped using CFW. Split type files generated by the tool are also supported
(available from our “Downloads” section on the cobra-ode.com website).
· As a user convenience we also support iso files generated by the 3k3y ripper tool.
However, 3k3y iso files must be decrypted before use on Cobra ODE. You should first
decrypt the 3k3y generated iso file using the "ISOCrypto" button in the 3k3y ripper
PC application.
Please note that in order to benefit from the superior performance of the Cobra ODE
device, the decrypted images files should be extracted and then re-processed with the
GenPS3iso tool we provide for better performance.
2.3.4 ISO Generation Instructions
In order to generate a valid ISO, run genps3iso and specify the correct directory (The
parent directory which contains the PS3_GAME directory) and the output .iso file, as well
as whether or not to split the iso into 4GB files. The resulting iso file (or files) can be put
into the PS3_GAMES directory o f the USB drive and will work with the COBRA
manager.
Splitting the iso into 4GB files is only useful if you want to use a FAT32 drive.
Starting from version 2.2, genps3iso will ask for an IRD file which will generate a 1:1
copy of an original disc. IRD files are optional, and the IRD file selection dialog can be
cancelled in which case genps3iso will work as it did before.
2.3.5 ISO Generation Instructions for Super Slim (4xxx model) users on 4.55 PS3
firmware
In order to bypass the new Anti-ODE security measures added by Sony in the 4.55 PS3
firmware. Super Slim (4xxx model) users who have updated to 4.55 must generate their
ISO files differently. Please refer to the “Anti-ODE Security Bypass Manual” Erreur !
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Source du renvoi introuvable. for detailed instructions on how to bypass the security of
firmwares 4.55 and up.
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3 COBRA ODE USAGE
3.1 Booting requirements
Cobra ODE requires an original disc to be inserted in the drive at all times to boot the
Cobra ODE manager and run games from HDD. The game disc used must be supported by
the Cobra ODE database. A current list of supported titles is available in t he “Downloads”
section of our website. We will provide updates to expand the list of supported titles.
3.2 Error conditions
On booting the PS3, the XMB will display the COBRA ODE manager icon, if the icon
is not shown, then you have not inserted a disc into the PS3. Should the XMB fail to
display the COBRA ODE manager, an error message may be displayed in the XMB which
will inform you of the current error condition.
Figure 3.1: No Hard Drive error message.
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