PS3 sMAN 1.08n (by deank) - Adds new XMB Intergration Option, Improved ICON/SFO Scanning & more...

One of many legends in the PS3 Homebrew Community developer deank is back with a new progression of the sMAN plugin. We all know deank from projects like multiMAN, webMAN and now the sMAN plugin that has appeared to perhaps replaced (?) the original webMAN (aka webMAN Vanilla) project as now a new feature will allow you to choose between old style of "My Games" with the "XML" Mod, this option is off by default. As seen in the included pic in the release notes, the "XMB Intergration" can be toggled on/off easily in sMAN setup. The dev did not stop there with improving this PS3 Plugin in v1.08n additional details such as improved speed on scanning from external / internal hdd when extracting Game Icons / obtaining info from the PARAM.SFO can be seen with all details of this update​

sMAN v1.08n (via deank) What is sMAN Changelog History

• 
  
  sMAN 1.08n is available:​
  
  
  http://deanbg.com/sman.sprx | 404 KB (414 135 bytes) | http://deanbg.com/sMAN_1.08.zip
  

  
  
  sMAN version 1.08n Changes:
  
  • Added [x] XMB Integration option in setup for people who like the older xmb/xml style (off by default)
  • Improved scan speed from ntfs/internal hdd when extracting icons/sfo
  • sMAN resources in /dev_hdd0/tmp/wmtmp/res will not be overwritten if exist (at least until the next version)
  • Supports up to 2000 titles (even in XMB Integration mode)
  • Still uses the same amount of memory (~2300KB free while idle)
  
  
  Dean
  
• 
  
  • Developer: @deank
  • Type of Release: A PS3 Plugin for use with Custom Firmware : Such as a COBRA CFW or other CFW types such as (STANDARD) with the ability to boot plugins via external applications ..
    
  • Short Description: the sMAN plugin takes deank original webMAN plugin and adds the new slaunch feature also developed by deank and merges them into a single plugin that also gives the ability with all the original webMAN features developed by deank.
  
  
• 
  
  
  History of Changes​
  
  sMAN v1.07
  
  • It can be either 10 or 40 games per page. Both layouts can be switched with [R3].
  sMAN 1.06n
  
  • Some important parts of the plugin are rewritten and optimized to reduce stack usage
  • Returned another 112KB back to fg vsh (2316KB free - was 1920KB a month ago without ntfs so about 396KB less used)
  • Changed sman.bin to support longer game names/paths/icons - a rescan will be initiated
  • Cleaned some code (about 1000 lines gone after the optimization)
  • Loading games speed improved (at least the perceived speed)
  • sMAN will show the name of the loaded game as popup message (not the filename)
  • sMAN is now properly unloaded when requested (no zombie or dead threads should remain)
    
  • It supports up to 2000 titles (games/bd/dvd) now
  
  sMAN v1.05
  
  • Use [L2+R2] to start sMAN
  • The sprx is bigger (but actually uses less memory) because it contains some glued resources
  • It will use standard PS1/PS2/PSP/PS3/Blu-ray/DVD icons when there is no proper cover/image available
  • This version of the plugin must be named sman.sprx and loaded from (in this exact order):
    • /dev_hdd0/sman.sprx or
      /dev_hdd0/plugins/sman.sprx or
      /dev_flash/vsh/module/sman.sprx otherwise it won't work.​
  
  sMAN v1.02
  
  • Changed netiso/rawseciso implementation (external) - use plugin slot #0
  • Fixed crash when trying to load another PS1 title after one is played
  
  sMAN v1.01
  
  • Added "Setup" option in side-menu
  • Removed xml generation - no need for custom category_game.xml anymore
  • Removed xai_plugin/idle_plugin usage
  • Added x2 upscale for small images/covers (w/h < 336)
  • Added indication of current group mode (PS3 1 / xxx) under title name/path
  • Removed "My Games" entry from XMB - hold [START] to launch sMAN
  
  

Downloads:

• http://deanbg.com/sman.sprx
• http://deanbg.com/sMAN_1.08.zip

Source: PSX-Place.com​

 

Ahh, sorry. I Misread your name as well. Apologies.

If you can play with it and try get it semi repeatable it would make it a lot easier to work out what is going on.

I switched to Dex last night and played around, but everything was working fine for me. Rebug 4.81.2 + updated cobra 7.52, latest psnpatch and sman plugins (as of last night) loaded.

Only really have multiman, rebug toolbox, psnpatch and retroarch installed homebrew wise though.

I guess you guys were talking about me? I only reported fan problem and the sman freezing problem which does not happen anymore.

 

Don't forget being unable to change backgrounds (bad images) and psx bin+cue problems (well known game specific bug).

No offence meant though, mate. Apologies all round!
Glad it's all working well for you again.

I really should stay away from the internet after 2am.... lol

 

Don't forget being unable to change backgrounds (bad images) and psx bin+cue problems (well known game specific bug).

No offence meant though, mate. Apologies all round!
Glad it's all working well for you again.

I really should stay away from the internet after 2am.... lol

No problem my friend I never was reporting psx problem with bin+cue with sman as tomb raider 2 did not even work with webman mod I was just wanted ask this question even to aldostools for long time I was not reporting a bug.The background image thing is my fault lol I guess that site messing up my images or something.

 

Can you try to use multIMAN (switch to mutlMAN mode) and start the PSX game (BIN+CUE) (mM uses a different psx emulator and it may work). I have Tomb Raider IV and the only way to play it is via multiMAN - it won't load otherwise (it is 2448 bytes/sector but won't work with any plugin wM/sM/wMM in cobra mode).

 

@deank
While I was fixing the issue of my fork of ps3netsrv with sMAN, I found that sMAN can't mount PSXISOs that have a sector size different to 2352.

I think that the error is due the missing sector size as parameter when cobra's storage proxy function is called:

unsigned int cd_sector_size_param = 0;

if(CD_SECTOR_SIZE_2352 != 2352) cd_sector_size_param = CD_SECTOR_SIZE_2352<<4;

ret = sys_storage_ext_mount_discfile_proxy(result_port, command_queue_net, emu_mode, discsize, _256KB_, (num_tracks | cd_sector_size_param), tracks);

The same applies for netiso & rawseciso plugins.

I added the following code to Cobra's sys_storage_ext_mount_discfile_proxy function in storage_ext.c months ago:

// -- AV: cd sector size
cd_sector_size = (trackscount & 0xffff00)>>4; //  <- Use: trackscount = num_of_tracks | (cd_sector_size<<4);
if(cd_sector_size != 2352 && cd_sector_size != 2048 && cd_sector_size != 2336 && cd_sector_size != 2448) cd_sector_size = 2352;
trackscount &= 0xff;
// --

IIRC your code also supports sector size of 2368, but cobra code only handles the sector sizes: 2048, 2336, 2352 and 2448. Maybe @Joonie want to add support for 2368.

----------

Now, I would like to have your advice in the following issue of wMM:
- wMM can start the first PSXISO without problem, but if I exit to XMB, mount a second PSXISO and start it, I get a black screen.
- sMAN doesn't suffer of this issue.

Before I invest a lot of time trying fix this, I would like to ask if you know the cause.
I think wM also had the same issue that I have with wMM.

Thank you for everything you have done for the scene.

 

just a update ai havent played with Sman since 1.06 but i was suffering from constant freezes and system didnt shut down properly messages and this was after deleting Sman. had to re-enable webman thru toolbox even though it was disabled was still getting webman loaded message. has this been addressed for rebug users?

 

@aldostools I didn't know this change was also available for Habib's firmware, but I noticed the sector count in wMM some time ago. I added parsing of the sector size to discfile_proxy in net/ntfs plugins. Sadly this Tomb Raider IV game still doesn't work. I even burned it to disc, but that was a no go.

effective disc type = ff50, fake disc type = ff50
Disc auth: 5007 d00f0bf0 (process: 01000300_main_vsh.self)
Faked size to 4c8a0
[system utility]: Mounting BDVD failed, code: 0x80010038.
xAutoMounter::Mount failled 80010038
[system utility]: Unknown media, code: 0xff50.

With the second PSX game the proxy_read fails in cobra (if you had debug stage2 you can see it really easy). Sadly I found no way to fix it - I believe it is somehow related to the event queue or the memory. The only way to make it work is what I did - use external net/ntfs prx and load them in slot 0 just like mM does. It seems that unloading the prx fixes the issue and that's why the second attempt succeeds.

 

@aldostools have you already applied this fix / workaround?

I just tried latest wMM and prepntfs (+6 commits) on github and tried about 6 different psx games in a row from the ntfs drive - mounting, starting, exit to xmb, repeat with no issue. Or am I misunderstanding what's going on?

Everything seems to be working well again from what I've tried quickly by the way. None of the issues I experienced on commit +3 seem to be present anymore. Nice work.
Currently in rebug dex mode if it matters...

Edit: Is the memory usage right? Says Ive got 3884Kb free as I type this from the ps3 browser with a game still mounted. Sounds to good to be true...so I assume it is. lol

 

3072KB is the total VSH memory, so it can't be right. The issue with PSX games in wM/wMM is when you load a game, play, unmount, load another - try to play - black screen. It works in sMAN because it uses external plugins now. If it works for you then you're probably not using wMM/wM. The issue only affects ntfs/net games and not internal/fat32-usb-hdd.

 

@aldostools have you already applied this fix / workaround?

I just tried latest wMM and prepntfs (+6 commits) on github and tried about 6 different psx games in a row from the ntfs drive - mounting, starting, exit to xmb, repeat with no issue. Or am I misunderstanding what's going on?

Everything seems to be working well again from what I've tried quickly by the way. None of the issues I experienced on commit +3 seem to be present anymore. Nice work.
Currently in rebug dex mode if it matters...

Edit: Is the memory usage right? Says Ive got 3884Kb free as I type this from the ps3 browser with a game still mounted. Sounds to good to be true...so I assume it is. lol

In wMM the issue is only happening with PSXISO on ps3netsrv...

For PSXISO on NTFS, wMM uses raw_iso.sprx (which is the same sprx_iso used by IRISMAN to mount ntfs games) .
As it is the same approach used by deank in SMAN, it doesn't cause the black screen on ntfs games.

I guess I will have to implement also netiso.sprx

 

Any standard or recommendation for naming ISO files? I have seen this: "Game name.iso.ntfs[PS3ISO]" in the screenshot provided by @deank.

 

.ntfs[***] is a generated file for ntfs access. Do not name your files like that. Use normal/simple names and not like some *** guys using the whole alphabet + 3000 remarks in [brakets].

These are my games:

Alien Isolation.iso
Batman - Arkham City.iso
Dirt 3.iso
Dishonored.iso
Far Cry.iso
God of War Ascension EU.iso
Gran Turismo 6.iso
Grid 2.iso
MARVEL VS CAPCOM 3.iso
Mortal Kombat.iso
Motorstorm.iso
Need For Speed ProStreet.iso
Need For Speed Shift 2.iso
NFS Undercover.iso
NFS-Rivals.iso
PACMAN and the Ghostly Adventures.iso
Prince of Persia - The Forgotten Sands.iso
Prince of Persia - Trilogy 3D.iso
Prince of Persia.iso
Red Dead Redemption.iso
Remember Me.iso
Star Wars.iso
Thief.iso
Tomb Raider.iso
Uncharted 3.iso
Watch Dogs.iso
X-Men - Origins.iso

 

Why GUI is enabled by default ? Isntead of "xmb integration" checkbox must be "enable GUI" option, wich must be turned off by default, because this GUI is ugly.

 

@fomorijece Just do it by yourself and try to avoid comments like: "this is ugly" "I don't like this/that". The option is enabled by default because the author decided so. If you want the option be enabled by default, go and compile yourself, the source is available for everybody.

 

@deank in sman_net, main.c line 103 should be: ScsiTrackDescriptor tracks[32]; like in sMAN's main.c line 5113

 

Why GUI is enabled by default ? Isntead of "xmb integration" checkbox must be "enable GUI" option, wich must be turned off by default, because this GUI is ugly.

First post what do you do you criticize a Dev let me be the first to warn you
I will have a major problem if anything like this keeps up

 

Why GUI is enabled by default ? Isntead of "xmb integration" checkbox must be "enable GUI" option, wich must be turned off by default, because this GUI is ugly.

I want in on this tooo 1st off is the GUI is the default as sMAN derived from sLAUNCH which was the GUI. 2nd XMB integration was added by @deank because someone asked for it, by rights it don't need to be as that's what webMAN is. 3rd As everyone has already said we don't need the negative remark because deank is doing us a favor by coding this, if it's not constructive (bugs, suggestive add-ons, etc) please refrain from commenting NEGATIVE remarks.

 

@deank in sman_net, main.c line 103 should be: ScsiTrackDescriptor tracks[32]; like in sMAN's main.c line 5113

Actually tracks[1] is just fine, because only the 1st element is used as a pointer to the rest of the track data (args->tracks[0]) and since the memory is already allocated by sM and track data populated in the arguments it works just fine. Here we use tracks[0] just as a pointer to the rest of the preallocated track data and not as a real array. Thank you for mentioning it

 

Thanks to @freddy38510 the ntfs library now supports proper date/time stamps for files/folders. sMAN is updated to show actual date/times in FTP and web-browser for NTFS drives.

http://www.psx-place.com/threads/li...ilation-with-cellsdk.11906/page-11#post-75770

Thanks @freddy38510

p.s. libntfs_prx.a is also updated in sman_1.09.zip

 

Thanks @freddy38510 & @deank