STRUCT OS_AREA_PARAMS(9)

📦 version 7.3.1, in nixpkgs unstable

✨ struct os_area_params(9) — the kernel API manual, but make it a group chat ✨

okay so bestie, we're diving into the struct os_area_params page from the Kernel API Manual. it's giving "PS3 low-level firmware lore" and honestly? kind of iconic. let's get into it 🫶

🌸 NAME 🌸

struct os_area_params — the os area params segment. that's it, that's the whole vibe. lowkey mysterious but we're gonna unpack it 💅

🛠️ SYNOPSIS 🛠️

here's the struct in all its glory, no cap, exactly as it appears:

struct os_area_params {
    u32 boot_flag;
    u32 _reserved_1[3];
    u32 num_params;
    u32 _reserved_2[3];
    s64 rtc_diff;
    u8 av_multi_out;
    u8 ctrl_button;
    u8 _reserved_3[6];
    u8 static_ip_addr[4];
    u8 network_mask[4];
    u8 default_gateway[4];
    u8 _reserved_4[4];
    u8 dns_primary[4];
    u8 dns_secondary[4];
    u8 _reserved_5[8];
};

look at all those _reserved_ fields — they're literally the "do not perceive me" of the struct 🙈 but they're part of the deal so we keep them, periodt.

🎀 Members 🎀

let's go through every single one, bestie, no skips:

  • boot_flag — user preference of operating system, set by the PARAM_BOOT_FLAG flag. it's like the "which OS do you main" marker 💖
  • num_params — number of params in this (params) segment. yes, the params segment counts its own params. meta? maybe. iconic? absolutely ⭐
  • rtc_diff — difference in seconds between 1970 and the ps3 rtc value. a whole time capsule in one s64 🕰️
  • av_multi_out — user preference of AV output, PARAM_AV_MULTI_OUT flag. your display vibe, locked in 🔥
  • ctrl_button — user preference of controller button config, PARAM_CTRL_BUTTON flag. button mapping, but make it personal 🎮
  • static_ip_addr — user preference of static IP address. your fixed address in the network world 💅
  • network_mask — user preference of static network mask. the subnet realness 🌈
  • default_gateway — user preference of static default gateway. your network's main character 👑
  • dns_primary — user preference of static primary dns server. first DNS bestie 🦋
  • dns_secondary — user preference of static secondary dns server. backup DNS bestie, in case the first one ghosts 😭

💜 Description 💜

okay so the lore: the ps3 rtc maintains a read-only value that approximates seconds since 2000-01-01 00:00:00 UTC. that's it, that's the whole clock situation. highkey gives "frozen in time" energy but we respect it ⏳

and the user preference of zero for static_ip_addr means use dhcp. so if you leave it at zero, the network just figures itself out — lowkey self-care tbh ✨

bestie be careful: that rtc value is read-only — you're not changing it, you're just vibing with it. no cap.

💀 SEE ALSO 💀

like, that's the whole friend group right there. go read them if you want the full PS3 os-area cinematic universe 🍓

that's the whole page, bestie! struct os_area_params said "I contain multitudes and also reserved bytes" and we listened 💅

this has been the manual, straight from ./arch/powerpc/platforms/ps3, version vibes: October 2026. stay slay, stay curious, and don't touch the read-only rtc 🧚‍♀️✨

📦 where this page comes from