Gentoo

Gentoo is a source-based Linux distribution, so software is compiled as it installed (often at the cost of many hours!). As such, once linux-wiiu supports SMP, Gentoo is likely to be the distro that enables it, since the distro can be trivially compiled with SMP workarounds baked in.

Downloads

A third-party image is available:

The linux-wiiu project has a large server seeding these images, so please use torrent if you can.

Once you have downloaded your image, proceed with the Install guide.

Huh? You want a stage3 tarball? You’re really better off using crossdev and compiling packages on something that Isn’t a Wii U. Have fun :)

Do try the SMP patches. SMP isn’t enabled yet but if the compiler breaks I’d like to know about it…

At some point in the future, linux-wiiu is likely to provide SMP-enabled binpkgs for Gentoo for regular users to enjoy without melting their Wii U. At that point this page will be updated with more actual instruction and guidance. (2024 update: I’m no longer convinced this is a great idea since Gentoo binpkgs still take forever to install. Will have to weigh up the costs and benefits.)

In addition to the linux-wiiu Matrix/Discord, YouTuber Cursed Silicon has been pushing forward Gentoo on Wii U development a fair bit, so his Discord has some knowledgable people in it.