



*Still debating whether or not a full install of Ubuntu is worth the effort vs. Lakka which “just” works, for the most part with little or no configuration. RetroArch is more configurable / tweakable outside of Lakka, however there are key differences which are covered below, mostly related to the configuration of Ubuntu.

Emulators are nothing new nor is RetroArch – a ROM emulator based on libretro cores packaged in a clean & intuitive interface. I started tinkering with this application a few days ago and found it to be rather well done. I installed a Linux distro called Lakka which conveniently boots from a USB stick straight into the emulation interface. This actually works quite well – however i wanted to go a little further with it as i already have an extra machine with Ubuntu 16.04 19.04 installed. I used once again, an additional Lenovo M73 – these are great little machines! This guide similar for more recent builds of Ubuntu as well. I’ll be updating this post as I move a long with the customization of my machine. Installation is straight forward:

For simplicity (not security) optionally enable root:

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sudo passwd root

sudo passwd -u root

sudo ufw disable

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##testing

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libretro / testing

##stable

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libretro / stable

sudo apt update

sudo apt install -y retroarch libretro- *

sudo apt install -y alsa-utils

sudo apt install -y openssh-server

sudo sed -i 's/#PermitRootLogin prohibit-password/PermitRootLogin yes/' / etc / ssh / sshd_config

sudo service ssh restart

To execute the interface I have been running sudo retroarch -v

To execute the interface….on boot – create a service definition and set it to disabled. Then create a cron job to start the service at boot.

*Without root or superuser privileges the emulator does not seem to take any type of user input

RetroArch Service Definition – this also restarts RetroArch when it crashes or on user exit; operates like a “kiosk.”

/etc/systemd/system/retroarch.service

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[ Unit ]

Description =Retroarch

After =graphical.target

ConditionKernelCommandLine = ! retroarch = 0

Requires =graphical.target



[ Service ]

#ExecStartPre=/bin/sleep 30

Environment = DISPLAY =: 0.0

Environment = SDL_MOUSE_RELATIVE = 0

Environment = FB_MULTI_BUFFER = 2

Environment = HOME = / storage

EnvironmentFile =- / run / libreelec / retroarch.conf

ExecStartPre =- / usr / lib / retroarch / retroarch-config

ExecStart = / usr / bin / retroarch

KillMode =process

TimeoutStopSec = 10

Restart =always

#Restart=on-failure

RestartSec = 0

StartLimitInterval = 0



[ Install ]

WantedBy =retroarch.target

Currently I have this service set to disabled by default. It doesn’t seem to start properly due to the before and after service constraints – haven’t figured those out yet. The workaround is to have RetroArch start via a system start chron job. Need to figure out a way to make this service run last at startup, by manipulating the various service parameters / targets “wanted” – any input welcomed.

Once installed load various modules and metadata via the Online Updater menu item.

The configuration file:

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vi / storage / .config / retroarch / retroarch.cfg

Sound Issues with AlsaMixer:

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amixer -c 0 set Master playback 0 % mute

amixer -c 0 set Master playback 100 % unmute

amixer -c 0 set Master 100 unmute

amixer -c 0 set Master 0

amixer -c 0 set Master 100

Important Note: Ubuntu will pause / stall the system on boot indefinately or ~5min until a network connection is detected. on Ubuntu 19.04 this behavior can be adjusted. Other versions of Ubuntu have options such as Hotplug and editing the services file – I have tried all combinations of these solutions and none seem to work with 18.04 – so 19.04 is the answer.

Prerequisites and compiling command lines for Centos 7 / RedHat – I haven’t been able to get this working … yet!

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sudo dnf install git make automake gcc gcc-c++ kernel-devel mesa-libEGL-devel libv4l-devel libxkbcommon-devel mesa-libgbm-devel Cg libCg zlib-devel freetype-devel libxml2-devel ffmpeg-devel SDL2-devel SDL-devel perl-X11-Protocol perl-Net-DBus pulseaudio-libs-devel openal-soft-devel libusb-devel

git clone https: // github.com / libretro / RetroArch

cd RetroArch /

. / configure

make

sudo make install

Pairing a BlueTooth PS3 / PS4 controller to your newly built emulator box.

Linux Box Auto-Login as Root

Removing Linux Ubuntu Boot Screen

Conclusion – I’ve been able to build a console that functions as it should; combining this unit with a media server would be an interesting possibility. However, for a dedicated system it is just easier to install Lakka, it’s developed by the same team that builds RetroArch, mostly everything just works 🙂

Example Ubuntu retroarch.cfg:

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ai_service_enable = "false"

ai_service_mode = "0"

ai_service_source_lang = "0"

ai_service_target_lang = "0"

ai_service_url = "http://localhost:4404/"

all_users_control_menu = "false"

apply_cheats_after_load = "false"

apply_cheats_after_toggle = "false"

aspect_ratio_index = "1"

assets_directory = "~/.config/retroarch/assets"

audio_block_frames = "0"

audio_device = "hdmi:CARD=HDMI,DEV=0"

audio_driver = "alsa"

audio_dsp_plugin = ""

audio_enable = "true"

audio_enable_menu = "true"

audio_enable_menu_bgm = "true"

audio_enable_menu_cancel = "true"

audio_enable_menu_notice = "true"

audio_enable_menu_ok = "true"

audio_filter_dir = "/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/retroarch/filters/audio/"

audio_latency = "64"

audio_max_timing_skew = "0.050000"

audio_mixer_mute_enable = "false"

audio_mixer_volume = "0.000000"

audio_mute_enable = "false"

audio_out_rate = "48000"

audio_rate_control = "true"

audio_rate_control_delta = "0.005000"

audio_resampler = "sinc"

audio_resampler_quality = "3"

audio_sync = "true"

audio_volume = "0.000000"

auto_overrides_enable = "true"

auto_remaps_enable = "true"

auto_screenshot_filename = "true"

auto_shaders_enable = "true"

automatically_add_content_to_playlist = "true"

autosave_interval = "10"

block_sram_overwrite = "false"

builtin_imageviewer_enable = "true"

builtin_mediaplayer_enable = "true"

bundle_assets_dst_path = ""

bundle_assets_dst_path_subdir = ""

bundle_assets_extract_enable = "false"

bundle_assets_extract_last_version = "0"

bundle_assets_extract_version_current = "0"

bundle_assets_src_path = ""

cache_directory = "/tmp"

camera_allow = "false"

camera_device = ""

camera_driver = "video4linux2"

cheat_database_path = "~/.config/retroarch/cheats"

check_firmware_before_loading = "true"

cheevos_auto_screenshot = "false"

cheevos_badges_enable = "false"

cheevos_enable = "false"

cheevos_hardcore_mode_enable = "false"

cheevos_leaderboards_enable = "false"

cheevos_password = ""

cheevos_test_unofficial = "false"

cheevos_token = ""

cheevos_username = ""

cheevos_verbose_enable = "false"

config_save_on_exit = "true"

content_database_path = "~/.config/retroarch/database/rdb"

content_favorites_path = "~/.config/retroarch/content_favorites.lpl"

content_favorites_size = "100"

content_history_dir = ""

content_history_path = "~/.config/retroarch/content_history.lpl"

content_history_size = "100"

content_image_history_path = "~/.config/retroarch/content_image_history.lpl"

content_music_history_path = "~/.config/retroarch/content_music_history.lpl"

content_runtime_log = "true"

content_runtime_log_aggregate = "false"

content_show_add = "true"

content_show_favorites = "true"

content_show_history = "true"

content_show_images = "false"

content_show_music = "false"

content_show_netplay = "true"

content_show_playlists = "true"

content_show_settings = "true"

content_show_settings_password = ""

content_show_video = "false"

content_video_history_path = "~/.config/retroarch/content_video_history.lpl"

core_assets_directory = "~/.config/retroarch/downloads"

core_options_path = ""

core_set_supports_no_game_enable = "true"

core_updater_auto_extract_archive = "true"

core_updater_buildbot_assets_url = "http://buildbot.libretro.com/assets/"

core_updater_buildbot_cores_url = "http://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/linux/x86_64/latest/"

crt_switch_center_adjust = "0"

crt_switch_resolution = "0"

crt_switch_resolution_super = "2560"

crt_switch_resolution_use_custom_refresh_rate = "false"

crt_video_refresh_rate = "60.000000"

current_resolution_id = "0"

cursor_directory = "~/.config/retroarch/database/cursors"

custom_viewport_height = "2160"

custom_viewport_width = "2880"

custom_viewport_x = "608"

custom_viewport_y = "0"

desktop_menu_enable = "true"

discord_allow = "false"

discord_app_id = "475456035851599874"

dpi_override_enable = "false"

dpi_override_value = "200"

dynamic_wallpapers_directory = "default"

enable_device_vibration = "false"

fastforward_ratio = "0.000000"

filter_by_current_core = "false"

flicker_filter_enable = "false"

flicker_filter_index = "0"

fps_show = "true"

fps_update_interval = "256"

frame_time_counter_reset_after_fastforwarding = "false"

frame_time_counter_reset_after_load_state = "false"

frame_time_counter_reset_after_save_state = "false"

framecount_show = "false"

frontend_log_level = "1"

game_specific_options = "true"

gamma_correction = "0"

global_core_options = "true"

history_list_enable = "true"

joypad_autoconfig_dir = "~/.config/retroarch/autoconfig"

keyboard_gamepad_enable = "true"

keyboard_gamepad_mapping_type = "1"

kiosk_mode_enable = "false"

kiosk_mode_password = ""

led_driver = "null"

libretro_directory = "~/.config/retroarch/cores"

libretro_info_path = "~/.config/retroarch/cores"

libretro_log_level = "1"

load_dummy_on_core_shutdown = "true"

location_allow = "false"

location_driver = "null"

log_dir = "~/.config/retroarch/logs"

log_to_file = "false"

log_to_file_timestamp = "false"

log_verbosity = "false"

materialui_icons_enable = "true"

materialui_menu_color_theme = "0"

memory_show = "false"

menu_battery_level_enable = "true"

menu_core_enable = "true"

menu_driver = "xmb"

menu_dynamic_wallpaper_enable = "false"

menu_enable_widgets = "true"

menu_font_color_blue = "255"

menu_font_color_green = "255"

menu_font_color_red = "255"

menu_footer_opacity = "1.000000"

menu_framebuffer_opacity = "0.900000"

menu_header_opacity = "1.000000"

menu_horizontal_animation = "true"

menu_left_thumbnails = "1"

menu_linear_filter = "true"

menu_mouse_enable = "true"

menu_navigation_browser_filter_supported_extensions_enable = "true"

menu_navigation_wraparound_enable = "true"

menu_pause_libretro = "true"

menu_pointer_enable = "false"

menu_rgui_full_width_layout = "true"

menu_rgui_shadows = "false"

menu_savestate_resume = "true"

menu_shader_pipeline = "2"

menu_show_advanced_settings = "true"

menu_show_configurations = "true"

menu_show_core_updater = "true"

menu_show_dump_disc = "true"

menu_show_help = "true"

menu_show_information = "true"

menu_show_latency = "true"

menu_show_legacy_thumbnail_updater = "false"

menu_show_load_content = "true"

menu_show_load_core = "true"

menu_show_load_disc = "true"

menu_show_online_updater = "true"

menu_show_overlays = "true"

menu_show_quit_retroarch = "true"

menu_show_reboot = "true"

menu_show_restart_retroarch = "true"

menu_show_rewind = "true"

menu_show_shutdown = "true"

menu_show_sublabels = "true"

menu_swap_ok_cancel_buttons = "false"

menu_throttle_framerate = "true"

menu_thumbnail_upscale_threshold = "0"

menu_thumbnails = "3"

menu_ticker_smooth = "true"

menu_ticker_speed = "1.000000"

menu_ticker_type = "0"

menu_timedate_enable = "true"

menu_timedate_style = "5"

menu_unified_controls = "false"

menu_use_preferred_system_color_theme = "false"

menu_wallpaper = ""

menu_wallpaper_opacity = "0.300000"

menu_xmb_animation_horizontal_highlight = "0"

menu_xmb_animation_move_up_down = "0"

menu_xmb_animation_opening_main_menu = "0"

menu_xmb_thumbnail_scale_factor = "100"

midi_driver = "alsa"

midi_input = "Off"

midi_output = "Off"

midi_volume = "100"

netplay_allow_slaves = "true"

netplay_check_frames = "600"

netplay_input_latency_frames_min = "0"

netplay_input_latency_frames_range = "0"

netplay_ip_address = ""

netplay_ip_port = "55435"

netplay_mitm_server = "nyc"

netplay_nat_traversal = "true"

netplay_nickname = ""

netplay_password = ""

netplay_public_announce = "true"

netplay_request_device_p1 = "false"

netplay_request_device_p10 = "false"

netplay_request_device_p11 = "false"

netplay_request_device_p12 = "false"

netplay_request_device_p13 = "false"

netplay_request_device_p14 = "false"

netplay_request_device_p15 = "false"

netplay_request_device_p16 = "false"

netplay_request_device_p2 = "false"

netplay_request_device_p3 = "false"

netplay_request_device_p4 = "false"

netplay_request_device_p5 = "false"

netplay_request_device_p6 = "false"

netplay_request_device_p7 = "false"

netplay_request_device_p8 = "false"

netplay_request_device_p9 = "false"

netplay_require_slaves = "false"

netplay_share_analog = "1"

netplay_share_digital = "1"

netplay_spectate_password = ""

netplay_start_as_spectator = "false"

netplay_stateless_mode = "false"

netplay_use_mitm_server = "false"

network_cmd_enable = "false"

network_cmd_port = "55355"

network_on_demand_thumbnails = "true"

network_remote_base_port = "55400"

network_remote_enable = "false"

network_remote_enable_user_p1 = "false"

network_remote_enable_user_p10 = "false"

network_remote_enable_user_p11 = "false"

network_remote_enable_user_p12 = "false"

network_remote_enable_user_p13 = "false"

network_remote_enable_user_p14 = "false"

network_remote_enable_user_p15 = "false"

network_remote_enable_user_p16 = "false"

network_remote_enable_user_p2 = "false"

network_remote_enable_user_p3 = "false"

network_remote_enable_user_p4 = "false"

network_remote_enable_user_p5 = "false"

network_remote_enable_user_p6 = "false"

network_remote_enable_user_p7 = "false"

network_remote_enable_user_p8 = "false"

network_remote_enable_user_p9 = "false"

overlay_directory = "~/.config/retroarch/overlay"

ozone_collapse_sidebar = "false"

ozone_menu_color_theme = "1"

ozone_truncate_playlist_name = "true"

pause_nonactive = "true"

perfcnt_enable = "false"

playlist_directory = "~/.config/retroarch/playlists"

playlist_entry_remove_enable = "1"

playlist_entry_rename = "true"

playlist_fuzzy_archive_match = "false"

playlist_show_inline_core_name = "0"

playlist_show_sublabels = "true"

playlist_sort_alphabetical = "true"

playlist_sublabel_last_played_style = "0"

playlist_sublabel_runtime_type = "0"

playlist_use_old_format = "false"

quick_menu_show_add_to_favorites = "true"

quick_menu_show_cheats = "true"

quick_menu_show_close_content = "true"

quick_menu_show_controls = "true"

quick_menu_show_download_thumbnails = "true"

quick_menu_show_information = "true"

quick_menu_show_options = "true"

quick_menu_show_recording = "true"

quick_menu_show_reset_core_association = "true"

quick_menu_show_restart_content = "true"

quick_menu_show_resume_content = "true"

quick_menu_show_save_content_dir_overrides = "true"

quick_menu_show_save_core_overrides = "true"

quick_menu_show_save_game_overrides = "true"

quick_menu_show_save_load_state = "true"

quick_menu_show_set_core_association = "true"

quick_menu_show_shaders = "true"

quick_menu_show_start_recording = "true"

quick_menu_show_start_streaming = "true"

quick_menu_show_streaming = "true"

quick_menu_show_take_screenshot = "true"

quick_menu_show_undo_save_load_state = "true"

quit_press_twice = "true"

record_driver = "ffmpeg"

recording_config_directory = ""

recording_output_directory = ""

resampler_directory = ""

rewind_buffer_size = "20971520"

rewind_buffer_size_step = "10"

rewind_enable = "false"

rewind_granularity = "1"

rgui_aspect_ratio = "0"

rgui_aspect_ratio_lock = "0"

rgui_background_filler_thickness_enable = "true"

rgui_border_filler_enable = "true"

rgui_border_filler_thickness_enable = "true"

rgui_browser_directory = "~/"

rgui_config_directory = "~/.config/retroarch/config"

rgui_extended_ascii = "false"

rgui_inline_thumbnails = "false"

rgui_internal_upscale_level = "0"

rgui_menu_color_theme = "4"

rgui_menu_theme_preset = ""

rgui_particle_effect = "0"

rgui_particle_effect_speed = "1.000000"

rgui_show_start_screen = "false"

rgui_swap_thumbnails = "false"

rgui_thumbnail_delay = "0"

rgui_thumbnail_downscaler = "0"

run_ahead_enabled = "false"

run_ahead_frames = "1"

run_ahead_hide_warnings = "false"

run_ahead_secondary_instance = "false"

runtime_log_directory = "default"

savefile_directory = "~/savefiles"

savefiles_in_content_dir = "false"

savestate_auto_index = "false"

savestate_auto_load = "false"

savestate_auto_save = "false"

savestate_directory = "~/savestates"

savestate_thumbnail_enable = "false"

savestates_in_content_dir = "false"

scan_without_core_match = "false"

screen_orientation = "0"

screenshot_directory = "~/screenshots"

screenshots_in_content_dir = "false"

settings_show_achievements = "true"

settings_show_ai_service = "true"

settings_show_audio = "true"

settings_show_configuration = "true"

settings_show_core = "true"

settings_show_directory = "true"

settings_show_drivers = "true"

settings_show_frame_throttle = "true"

settings_show_input = "true"

settings_show_latency = "true"

settings_show_logging = "true"

settings_show_network = "true"

settings_show_onscreen_display = "true"

settings_show_playlists = "true"

settings_show_power_management = "true"

settings_show_recording = "true"

settings_show_saving = "true"

settings_show_user = "true"

settings_show_user_interface = "true"

settings_show_video = "true"

show_hidden_files = "false"

slowmotion_ratio = "3.000000"

soft_filter_enable = "false"

soft_filter_index = "0"

sort_savefiles_enable = "false"

sort_savestates_enable = "false"

state_slot = "-1"

statistics_show = "false"

stdin_cmd_enable = "false"

streaming_mode = "0"

suspend_screensaver_enable = "true"

sustained_performance_mode = "false"

system_directory = "default"

systemfiles_in_content_dir = "false"

threaded_data_runloop_enable = "true"

thumbnails_directory = "~/.config/retroarch/thumbnails"

twitch_stream_key = ""

ui_companion_enable = "false"

ui_companion_start_on_boot = "true"

ui_companion_toggle = "false"

ui_menubar_enable = "true"

user_language = "0"

vibrate_on_keypress = "false"

video_adaptive_vsync = "false"

video_allow_rotate = "true"

video_aspect_ratio = "-1.000000"

video_aspect_ratio_auto = "true"

video_black_frame_insertion = "false"

video_context_driver = ""

video_crop_overscan = "true"

video_disable_composition = "false"

video_driver = "gl"

video_filter = ""

video_filter_dir = "/usr/share/video_filters"

video_font_enable = "true"

video_font_path = "/usr/share/retroarch-assets/xmb/monochrome/font.ttf"

video_font_size = "32.000000"

video_force_aspect = "true"

video_force_srgb_disable = "false"

video_frame_delay = "0"

video_fullscreen = "true"

video_fullscreen_x = "1280"

video_fullscreen_y = "720"

video_gpu_record = "false"

video_gpu_screenshot = "false"

video_hard_sync = "false"

video_hard_sync_frames = "0"

video_max_swapchain_images = "3"

video_message_color = "ffff00"

video_message_pos_x = "0.050000"

video_message_pos_y = "0.050000"

video_monitor_index = "0"

video_msg_bgcolor_blue = "0"

video_msg_bgcolor_enable = "false"

video_msg_bgcolor_green = "0"

video_msg_bgcolor_opacity = "1.000000"

video_msg_bgcolor_red = "0"

video_post_filter_record = "false"

video_record_config = ""

video_record_quality = "4"

video_record_scale_factor = "1"

video_record_threads = "2"

video_refresh_rate = "60.002399"

video_rotation = "0"

video_scale = "3.000000"

video_scale_integer = "false"

video_shader_delay = "0"

video_shader_dir = "/tmp/shaders"

# tweaked for fzero

video_shader_enable = "true"

video_shader_watch_files = "false"

video_shared_context = "true"

video_smooth = "false"

video_stream_config = ""

video_stream_port = "56400"

video_stream_quality = "9"

video_stream_scale_factor = "1"

video_stream_url = ""

video_swap_interval = "1"

video_threaded = "true"

video_vsync = "true"

video_window_opacity = "100"

video_window_save_positions = "false"

video_window_show_decorations = "true"

video_windowed_fullscreen = "false"

video_windowed_position_height = "720"

video_windowed_position_width = "1280"

video_windowed_position_x = "0"

video_windowed_position_y = "0"

vrr_runloop_enable = "false"

vulkan_gpu_index = "0"

wifi_driver = "null"

xmb_alpha_factor = "75"

xmb_font = ""

xmb_layout = "0"

xmb_menu_color_theme = "4"

xmb_scale_factor = "100"

xmb_shadows_enable = "true"

xmb_theme = "0"

xmb_vertical_thumbnails = "true"

youtube_stream_key = ""

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