PS5 Pi Host

Use Raspberry Pi OS Lite 64-bit, Bookworm or newer with NetworkManager. A 64 GB SD card has ample room. This runs the existing Python host; do not flash the ESP32 binary to the Pi or its SD card.

What this does

The Pi creates a Wi-Fi network for the PS5. Its DHCP server assigns the console an IP address and tells it to use the Pi for DNS. DNS resolves manuals.playstation.net to 192.168.4.1, where the Python servers serve this project over HTTP and HTTPS. Opening the PS5 User's Guide loads the local page.

The installer copies the site to /home/ps5, installs its dependencies, generates a local self-signed TLS certificate, and creates systemd services. It starts the host when installation finishes and enables it on every boot; you do not need to leave a terminal or SSH session open.

You need a Raspberry Pi with hotspot-capable Wi-Fi, an SD card with Raspberry Pi OS, a suitable power supply, and Internet access during installation. Use Ethernet for setup because the Pi's built-in Wi-Fi becomes the hotspot. Set the Wi-Fi country to US if using the Pi in the United States.

Download

Clone this repository on the Pi, then run the installer over Ethernet SSH or a local console:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y git
git clone https://github.com/flex36ty/ps5-pihost.git ~/ps5-selfhost
cd ~/ps5-selfhost
sudo bash setup-pi5.sh

Despite its filename, the installer checks Wi-Fi capabilities rather than requiring a Pi 5. Other models have not been verified on hardware. This repository contains the script installation only.

The archive instructions below apply if you received the packaged tar.gz separately. Alternatively, download the repository ZIP, extract it, and upload its contents to the Pi.

Install

Use Raspberry Pi Imager to install Raspberry Pi OS. Configure a username, password and SSH, and set your actual Wi-Fi country (or use sudo raspi-config after boot). Connect Ethernet for installation and remote access if possible.
Enable SSH in Imager, or run this from a terminal on the Pi:
```
sudo systemctl enable --now ssh
hostname -I
```
From Windows PowerShell, connect using your username and the Pi's Ethernet IP address, for example ssh [email protected]. Use the same credentials for SFTP on port 22; root login is not required.
Upload ps5-pi5-selfhost.tar.gz from the project's releases folder to your Pi user's home folder using SFTP. Extract and install it:
```
mkdir -p ~/ps5-selfhost
tar -xzf ~/ps5-pi5-selfhost.tar.gz -C ~/ps5-selfhost --strip-components=1
cd ~/ps5-selfhost
sudo bash setup-pi5.sh
```
The archive contains a top-level folder, so --strip-components=1 places the installer directly in ~/ps5-selfhost. If you upload the whole project instead, run the installer from the folder containing setup-pi5.sh.

Optionally choose a different name/password:
```
sudo bash setup-pi5.sh --ssid PS5-Host --password 'YourChosenPassword'
```
Setup starts all services immediately and enables them at every boot. Run setup over Ethernet SSH or a local keyboard/screen: activation converts the built-in Wi-Fi to a hotspot and disconnects an SSH session using that Wi-Fi. Internet is needed for package installation, not normal hosting. Boot activation retries while the Wi-Fi adapter initializes. Setup checks all services and prints diagnostics if startup fails.

For an existing installation, stop it before rerunning setup:
```
sudo systemctl stop ps5-host.target
cd ~/ps5-selfhost
sudo bash setup-pi5.sh
```

Services and automatic startup

ps5-host.target groups four services. It is a systemd target, not a terminal session. Setup enables it under multi-user.target and starts it immediately.

Unit	Purpose
`ps5-hotspot.service`	Activates the NetworkManager Wi-Fi access point; retries while the adapter initializes
`ps5-dns.service`	Provides DNS on port 53 and DHCP on UDP port 67
`ps5-http.service`	Runs `/home/ps5/serve.py` on TCP port 80
`ps5-https.service`	Runs `/home/ps5/serve_https.py` on TCP port 443

Both Python servers run at the same time. DNS waits for the hotspot to start. The web and DNS processes restart on failure. Stopping the target stops all four services; restarting it restarts them together.

Check boot enablement and service health:

systemctl is-enabled ps5-host.target
systemctl status ps5-host.target ps5-hotspot ps5-dns ps5-http ps5-https --no-pager

The target should be enabled, the hotspot active (exited), and the DNS and web services active (running). The hotspot uses a one-shot activation command, so active (exited) is normal. Reboot and repeat these checks to confirm boot startup on your Pi.

Connect the PS5

Setting	Value
Wi-Fi network	PS5-Host
Password	ps5offline (unless changed during setup)
IP address	Automatic
DNS	Automatic
DHCP hostname	Do not specify
MTU / Proxy	Automatic / Do not use
Pi hotspot IP	192.168.4.1
DHCP pool	192.168.4.100–192.168.4.150, 12-hour lease

Open User's Guide and proceed past the local certificate prompt if offered. DNS directs manuals.playstation.net to the Pi; HTTPS handles the guide request. R2 sends nanoDNS, ShadowMount Plus, then kstuff. The hotspot has no configured Internet sharing, so the Internet/PSN connection test can fail while the local page works. Ethernet remains available for administering the Pi.

After the exploit reaches the ELF loader, R2 sends these files in order:

payloads/nanodns.elf
payloads/shadowmountplus.elf
payloads/kstuff.elf

Keep these exact filenames and capitalization. The order is defined in src/kexp.js; adding another ELF file to the folder does not automatically add it to the R2 sequence. etaHEN.elf is not part of this sequence.

Manage and test

sudo systemctl start ps5-host.target
sudo systemctl stop ps5-host.target
sudo systemctl restart ps5-host.target
sudo systemctl status ps5-hotspot ps5-dns ps5-http ps5-https
sudo journalctl -u ps5-hotspot -u ps5-dns -u ps5-https -f

From a computer joined to the hotspot:

nslookup manuals.playstation.net 192.168.4.1
curl -k https://192.168.4.1/

Use /home/ps5 for web files and payloads. Restart web services after changing Python files; close/reopen the PS5 guide after changing JavaScript. To reinstall, stop the target and rerun this installer. Do not run the generic container setup-ps5.sh on this hotspot installation: it configures a different DNS service.

The installer creates a dedicated NetworkManager profile and a dedicated ps5-dns service. It does not change Ethernet profiles, install NetworkManager over another network stack, replace existing DNS services, or add NAT/firewall rules. If another DNS/DHCP service occupies the required ports, resolve that conflict first. When a firewall is enabled, allow UDP 67, TCP/UDP 53 and TCP 80/443 on the hotspot interface only. Keep the host on your local network.

Troubleshooting

Hotspot missing or failed at boot

Collect these logs before manually starting the host, so the boot failure is visible:

sudo journalctl -b -u ps5-hotspot.service -u NetworkManager.service --no-pager -n 100
nmcli device status
rfkill list

Set your Wi-Fi country through sudo raspi-config if it was not configured. The default interface is wlan0; use --interface NAME with the installer if your Wi-Fi adapter uses another name. After resolving the reported error:

sudo systemctl restart ps5-host.target

Works after manual startup but not after reboot

Check enablement and inspect the boot logs:

systemctl is-enabled ps5-host.target
sudo journalctl -b -u ps5-hotspot -u ps5-dns -u ps5-http -u ps5-https --no-pager -n 100

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ps5-pihost