Automating `chiaki-ng` Launch¶

Use the Auto Connect Feature Instead if it Meets Your Needs

Now that you have chiaki-ng configured, it's time to make it wake up your PlayStation and connect to it automatically. Note: If you only have 1 console please try the autoconnect feature. Otherwise, proceed with this guide to setup a script to automatically launch your different systems.

Sleep Mode Required

For this to work, your PlayStation needs to either be in rest/sleep mode or on (so that it is listening for the wake up signal). This means you will want to keep your PlayStation in rest/sleep mode when you are not playing (instead of off).

Open a konsole session (launch it via Applications by clicking the Steam icon in the bottom left and searching for it in the All Applications section)
Get your PlayStation IP
1. Get your registered PlayStation's IP Address
  1. Launch Chiaki via your desktop or via:
```
flatpak run io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck
```
  2. Get your IP address via the console widget and then close the window and return to the konsole session
    
    Prevent IP From Changing
    
    In order to prevent your IP from changing (which would make the script stop working) if you ever disconnect your PlayStation console from your network and reconnect it (especially if other devices are added to the network in the meantime), you should go into your router settings and reserve an IP address for your PlayStation (DHCP IP reservation / "static" IP) or create a hostname for it. For a TP-Link, Netgear, Asus or Linskys router, follow these instructions. If you have a different router, you can search (using a search engine such as DuckDuckGo or Google) for instructions for that specific router using the formula "dhcp reservation myroutername router" such as "dhcp reservation netgear router" and follow the instructions to reserve an IP for your PlayStation console so that it won't change. Alternatively, if your router has an option to set hostnames for your devices, you can set a hostname for your PlayStation console and use your hostname in the automation instead of a static IP address.

Create script for waking PlayStation and launching Chiaki

Automated Instructions (Recommended)Manual Instructions (For People who like to do things by hand)

Run the gen-launcher script using the following command in your konsole and answer the prompts (you will need your IP address from step 2 above)

bash <(curl -sLo- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/streetpea/chiaki-ng/main/scripts/gen-launcher.sh)

What Do the Different Modes (i.e., fullscreen [uses Normal], zoom, stretch) Look Like?

To see examples of the different launch modes, visit the Updates section

Connecting Outside of Your Local Network

You can add an external IP or hostname in addition to your local one to connect from an external network. To do so, you need to set up port forwarding as detailed in the prior remote connection section. Then, you can choose to setup an external IP/hostname as part of the setup script process. The automation will take your home network name (SSID) to check if you are home or not to use the correct IP/hostname automatically. The script will automatically detect your current SSID. Thus, if you are on your home network while running the setup script (gen-launcher.sh), it will detect your home ssid so you will just need to hit Enter. If not, you can enter ot manually (instead of using the default of your client device's [i.e., Steam Deck's] current network's SSID). You can get your home SSID for manual entry via iwgetid -r from the konsole when connected to your home network or by looking in your network history on your client device [i.e., Steam Deck] (it will be the connection name for your home network such as StreetPea-5G). Of course, if you want to skip this now and setup the external address later, you can always rerun the automation or choose a placeholder external IP now and manually edit it to your desired IP/hostname later.

Example Output [click to expand me]

bash <(curl -sLo- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/streetpea/chiaki-ng/main/scripts/gen-launcher.sh)

1) PlayStation 4
2) PlayStation 5
Please select the number corresponding to your Playstation Console: 2
Option 2: PlayStation 5 was chosen




HOME ADDRESS
-------------
1) IP
2) hostname
NOTICE: Use 1 unless you created a hostname (FQDN) for your PlayStation
Please select the number corresponding to your address type: 1
Option 1: IP was chosen

Enter your PlayStation IP (should be xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx like 192.168.1.16):
192.168.1.16

Do you have a separate address (DNS or IP) to access this console away from home? (y/n):
y
Enter your home SSID [hit enter for default: StreetPea-5G]: 



AWAY ADDRESS
-------------
1) IP
2) hostname
NOTICE: Use 1 unless you created a hostname (FQDN) for your PlayStation
Please select the number corresponding to your address type: 2
Option 2: hostname was chosen

Enter your PlayStation FQDN (hostname) (should be abc.ident like foo.bar.com):
foo.bar.com

1) fullscreen
2) zoom
3) stretch
Please select the number corresponding to the default mode you want to use: 3
Option 3: stretch was chosen

Do you have a PlayStation Login Passcode? (y/n):
y
Enter your 4 digit PlayStation Login Passcode:
1111

Would you like to test the newly created script? (y/n):
y
sounds good, launching script now...
[I] Logging to file /home/deck/.var/app/io.github.streetpea.chiaki-ng/data/Chiaki/Chiaki/log/chiaki_session_2023-01-06_08-33-49-583583.log
[I] Chiaki Version 2.1.1
[I] Using hardware decoder "vaapi"
Device Found
type: 28de 1205
path: /dev/hidraw3
serial_number: 
Manufacturer: Valve Software
Product:      Steam Deck Controller
Release:      200
Interface:    2
Usage (page): 0x1 (0xffff)

[I] Connected Steam Deck ... gyro online


[I] Controller 0 opened: "Microsoft X-Box 360 pad 0 (030079f6de280000ff11000001000000)"
[I] Starting session request for PS5
[I] Trying to request session from 192.168.1.16:9295
[I] Connected to 192.168.1.16:9295
[I] Sending session request
[I] OpenGL initialized with version "4.6 (Core Profile) Mesa 22.2.4 (git-80df10f902)"
[I] Session request successful
[I] Starting ctrl
[I] Ctrl connected to 192.168.1.16:9295
[I] Sending ctrl request
[I] Ctrl received http header as response
[I] Ctrl received ctrl request http response
[I] Ctrl got Server Type: 2
[I] Ctrl connected
[I] Ctrl received Login PIN request
[I] Ctrl requested Login PIN
[I] Session received entered Login PIN, forwarding to Ctrl
[I] Ctrl received entered Login PIN, sending to console
[I] Steam Deck Haptics Audio opened with 2 channels @ 3000 Hz with 150 samples per audio analysis.
[I] Ctrl received Login message: success
[I] Ctrl received valid Session Id: 1673022831TZLW3NGFZP76ZLUPAOHZBA64PQQ2AF6LXUET2OFDTKAJF4XVGUAXOMOQDXBVVCAS
[I] Starting Senkusha
[I] Enabling DualSense features
[I] Takion connecting (version 7)
[I] Takion enabled Don't Fragment Bit
[I] Takion sent init
[I] Takion received init ack with remote tag 0xb18ccf, outbound streams: 0x64, inbound streams: 0x64
[W] Received Ctrl Message with unknown type 0x16
[W] offset 0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  a  b  c  d  e  f  0123456789abcdef
[W]      0 01 ff                                           ..              
[I] Takion sent cookie
[I] Takion received cookie ack
[I] Takion connected
[I] Senkusha sending big
[I] Senkusha successfully received bang
[I] Senkusha Ping Test with count 10 starting
[I] Senkusha enabled echo
[I] Senkusha sending Ping 0 of test index 0
[I] Senkusha received Pong, RTT = 3.019 ms
[I] Senkusha sending Ping 1 of test index 0
[I] Senkusha received Pong, RTT = 2.841 ms
[I] Senkusha sending Ping 2 of test index 0
[I] Senkusha received Pong, RTT = 3.460 ms
[I] Senkusha sending Ping 3 of test index 0
[I] Senkusha received Pong, RTT = 2.504 ms
[I] Senkusha sending Ping 4 of test index 0
[I] Senkusha received Pong, RTT = 3.030 ms
[I] Senkusha sending Ping 5 of test index 0
[I] Senkusha received Pong, RTT = 2.778 ms
[I] Senkusha sending Ping 6 of test index 0
[I] Senkusha received Pong, RTT = 3.131 ms
[I] Senkusha sending Ping 7 of test index 0
[I] Senkusha received Pong, RTT = 2.795 ms
[I] Senkusha sending Ping 8 of test index 0
[I] Senkusha received Pong, RTT = 2.992 ms
[I] Senkusha sending Ping 9 of test index 0
[I] Senkusha received Pong, RTT = 3.064 ms
[I] Senkusha disabled echo
[I] Senkusha determined average RTT = 2.961 ms
[I] Senkusha starting MTU in test with min 576, max 1454, retries 3, timeout 14 ms
[I] Senkusha MTU request 1454 (min 576, max 1454), id 1, attempt 0
[I] Senkusha MTU 1454 success
[I] Senkusha determined inbound MTU 1454
[I] Senkusha starting MTU out test with min 576, max 1454, retries 3, timeout 14 ms
[I] Senkusha sent initial client MTU command
[I] Senkusha received expected Client MTU Command
[I] Senkusha MTU 1454 out ping attempt 0
[I] Senkusha MTU ping 1454 success
[I] Senkusha determined outbound MTU 1454
[I] Senkusha sending final Client MTU Command
[I] Senkusha is disconnecting
[I] Senkusha closed takion
[I] Senkusha completed successfully
[I] Takion connecting (version 12)
[I] Takion sent init
[I] Takion received init ack with remote tag 0x7033129, outbound streams: 0x64, inbound streams: 0x64
[I] Takion sent cookie
[I] Takion received cookie ack
[I] Takion connected
[I] StreamConnection sending big
[I] BANG received
[I] StreamConnection successfully received bang
[I] Crypt has become available. Re-checking MACs of 0 packets
[W] Received Ctrl Message with unknown type 0x41
[W] offset 0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  a  b  c  d  e  f  0123456789abcdef
[W]      0 00 00 00 00 02 01 00 00                         ........        
[D] StreamConnection received audio header:
[D] offset 0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  a  b  c  d  e  f  0123456789abcdef
[D]      0 02 10 00 00 bb 80 00 00 01 e0 00 00 00 01       ..............  
[I] Audio Header:
[I]   channels = 2
[I]   bits = 16
[I]   rate = 48000
[I]   frame size = 480
[I]   unknown = 1
[I] ChiakiOpusDecoder initialized
[I] Audio Device alsa_output.pci-0000_04_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra2 opened with 2 channels @ 48000 Hz, buffer size 19200
[I] Video Profiles:
[I]   0: 1920x1080
[I] StreamConnection successfully received streaminfo
[I] Switched to profile 0, resolution: 1920x1080
[I] StreamConnection is disconnecting
[I] StreamConnection sending Disconnect
[I] StreamConnection was requested to stop
[I] StreamConnection closed takion
[I] StreamConnection completed successfully
[I] Ctrl requested to stop
[I] Ctrl stopped
[I] Session has quit
    .__    .__        __   .__   _____     .___             __    
____ |  |__ |__|____  |  | _|__| /  |  |  __| _/____   ____ |  | __
_/ ___\|  |  \|  \__  \ |  |/ /  |/   |  |_/ __ |/ __ \_/ ___\|  |/ /
\  \___|   Y  \  |/ __ \|    <|  /    ^   / /_/ \  ___/\  \___|    < 
\___  >___|  /__(____  /__|_ \__\____   |\____ |\___  >\___  >__|_ \
    \/     \/        \/     \/       |__|     \/    \/     \/     \/
                    .__        __             .___._.
______ ___________|__|______/  |_  ____   __| _/| |
/  ___// ___\_  __ \  \____ \   __\/ __ \ / __ | | |
\___ \  \___|  | \/  |  |_> >  | \  ___// /_/ |  \|
/____  >\___  >__|  |__|   __/|__|  \___  >____ |  __
    \/     \/         |__|             \/     \/  \/

Get your console nickname
1. It was the nickname listed with your console in the console widget. It can also be obtained with
```
flatpak run io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck list
```
  Example Output
```
Host: PS5-012
```
  In this example, the console nickname is PS5-012, please use your nickname. If you have multiple, choose the one from the list you want and choose the corresponding regist_key in the next step (i.e., if you pick the console on the 2^nd line here, pick the regist_key on the 2^nd line in the next step).
Get your remote play registration key
1. Run the following command in your console
```
cat ~/.var/app/io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck/config/Chiaki/Chiaki.conf | grep regist_key | cut -d '(' -f2 | cut -d '\' -f1
```
  Example Output
```
2ebf539d
```
  Chiaki Configuration File
  
  This command is printing the Chiaki configuration file generated when you ran chiaki-ng for the first time. This is where the flatpak version of Chiaki saves your settings and details. In fact, all flatpaks store their details with the ~/.var/app/app_id pattern. If you want to look at the file itself and get the value you can open the file at /home/deck/.var/app/io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck/config/Chiaki/Chiaki.conf and look for the remote play registration key [rp_regist_key].
Choose your default launch option (fullscreen, zoom, or stretch)
- fullscreen: A full screen picture with black bars, aspect ratio maintained
- zoom: A full screen zoomed picture with no black bars, aspect ratio maintained, edges of image cut off by zoom
- stretch: A full screen stretched picture with no black bars, aspect ratio slightly distorted by vertical [in the case of Steam Deck] stretch
Default Launch Option

This is the option remote play will launch with. You can always toggle to a different option by using the Ctrl+S (toggles between stretch and normal) and Ctrl+Z (toggles between zoom and normal) options which should be set if desired in the Steam controller configuration for the game. See Controller Configuration Section for more details.
Get your 4 digit PlayStation login passcode (if applicable). You will know your PlayStation login passcode if you have one because you have to enter it every time you log onto your PlayStation console. If you don't have to do this, you don't have a PlayStation login passcode and will leave that field blank.
Create a new blank file located in the folder /home/deck/.var/app/io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck/config/Chiaki named Chiaki-launcher.sh
```
touch "${HOME}/.var/app/io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck/config/Chiaki/Chiaki-launcher.sh"
```

Open the /home/deck/.var/app/io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck/config/Chiaki/Chiaki-launcher.sh file in your favorite editor and save the following output.

#!/usr/bin/env bash

connect_error_loc()
{
    echo "Error: Couldn't connect to your PlayStation console from your local address!" >&2
    echo "Error: Please check that your Steam Deck and PlayStation are on the same network" >&2
    echo "Error: ...and that you have the right PlayStation IP address or hostname!" >&2
    exit 1
}

connect_error_ext()
{
    echo "Error: Couldn't connect to your PlayStation console from your external address!" >&2
    echo "Error: Please check that you have forwarded the necessary ports on your router" >&2
    echo "Error: ...and that you have the right external PlayStation IP address or hostname!" >&2
    exit 1
}

wakeup_error()
{
    echo "Error: Couldn't wake up PlayStation console from sleep!" >&2
    echo "Error: Please make sure you are using a PlayStation 5." >&2
    echo "Error: If not, change the wakeup call to use the number of your PlayStation console" >&2
    exit 2
}

timeout_error()
{
    echo "Error: PlayStation console didn't become ready in 35 seconds!" >&2
    echo "Error: Please change 35 to a higher number in your script if this persists." >&2
    exit 1
}
if [ "$(iwgetid -r)" == "<local_ssid>" ]
then
    addr="<local_addr>"
    local=true
else
    addr="<external_addr>"
    local=false
fi
SECONDS=0
# Wait for console to be in sleep/rest mode or on (otherwise console isn't available)
ps_status="$(flatpak run io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck discover -h ${addr} 2>/dev/null)"
while ! echo "${ps_status}" | grep -q 'ready\|standby'
do
    if [ ${SECONDS} -gt 35 ]
    then
        if [ "${local}" = true ]
        then
            connect_error_loc
        else
            connect_error_ext
        fi
    fi
    sleep 1
    ps_status="$(flatpak run io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck discover -h ${addr} 2>/dev/null)"
done

# Wake up console from sleep/rest mode if not already awake
if ! echo "${ps_status}" | grep -q ready
then
    flatpak run io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck wakeup -<playstation_console> -h ${addr} -r '<remote_play_registration_key>' 2>/dev/null
fi

# Wait for PlayStation to report ready status, exit script on error if it never happens.
while ! echo "${ps_status}" | grep -q ready
do
    if [ ${SECONDS} -gt 35 ]
    then
        if echo "${ps_status}" | grep -q standby
        then
            wakeup_error
        else
            timeout_error
        fi
    fi
    sleep 1
    ps_status="$(flatpak run io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck discover -h ${addr} 2>/dev/null)"
done

# Begin playing PlayStation remote play via Chiaki on your Steam Deck :)
flatpak run io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck --passcode <login_passcode> --<launch_option> stream '<console_nickname>' ${addr}

Edit the /home/deck/.var/app/io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck/config/Chiaki/Chiaki-launcher.sh file, replacing the following values for your values:

<local_ssid> local network name found with:
Via konsoleVia GUI
iwgetid -r
Must Be Currently Connected to Local Network

You must be connected to your current local network for this konsole method to work. Otherwise, it will give you the network you are currently connected to or nothing (if you're not currently connected to a network). If you're not connected to your home network you can view your SSID via the GUI using the Via GUI tab.
The connection name/SSID for your home network in the client device's [i.e., Steam Deck] network settings such as StreetPea-5G.
<local_addr> with local PlayStation IP
<external_addr> with external IP or hostname.

Filling this in Later

You can use your local PlayStation IP or something like foo.bar.com as a placeholder if haven't set up an external IP/hostname yet. Then, if you decide to set up an external connection, you can manually substitute the "real" external IP/hostname.
<console_nickname>

Beware of '

If you have any ' in your nickname itself, such as Street Pea's PS5, you will need enter the ' as '\''. Thus, for Street Pea's PS5 instead of using Street Pea's PS5 you would use Street Pea'\''s PS5. All other characters are fine. This is due to the PlayStation console allowing any manner of names (including non-valid hostnames with all manner of special characters) and Chiaki using that name in its configuration file.
<remote_play_registration_key>
<launch_option>
<playstation_console> (either 4 or 5)
<login_passcode> (just erase this field if you don't have a login passcode)

Example Script with "fake" values [yours will be different]

#!/usr/bin/env bash

connect_error_loc()
{
    echo "Error: Couldn't connect to your PlayStation console from your local address!" >&2
    echo "Error: Please check that your Steam Deck and PlayStation are on the same network" >&2
    echo "Error: ...and that you have the right PlayStation IP address or hostname!" >&2
    exit 1
}

connect_error_ext()
{
    echo "Error: Couldn't connect to your PlayStation console from your external address!" >&2
    echo "Error: Please check that you have forwarded the necessary ports on your router" >&2
    echo "Error: ...and that you have the right external PlayStation IP address or hostname!" >&2
    exit 1
}

wakeup_error()
{
    echo "Error: Couldn't wake up PlayStation console from sleep!" >&2
    echo "Error: Please make sure you are using a PlayStation 5." >&2
    echo "Error: If not, change the wakeup call to use the number of your PlayStation console" >&2
    exit 2
}

timeout_error()
{
    echo "Error: PlayStation console didn't become ready in 35 seconds!" >&2
    echo "Error: Please change 35 to a higher number in your script if this persists." >&2
    exit 1
}
if [ "$(iwgetid -r)" == "StreetPea-5G" ]
then
    addr="192.168.1.16"
    local=true
else
    addr="foo.bar.com"
    local=false
fi
SECONDS=0
# Wait for console to be in sleep/rest mode or on (otherwise console isn't available)
ps_status="$(flatpak run io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck discover -h ${addr} 2>/dev/null)"
while ! echo "${ps_status}" | grep -q 'ready\|standby'
do
    if [ ${SECONDS} -gt 35 ]
    then
        if [ "${local}" = true ]
        then
            connect_error_loc
        else
            connect_error_ext
        fi
    fi
    sleep 1
    ps_status="$(flatpak run io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck discover -h ${addr} 2>/dev/null)"
done

# Wake up console from sleep/rest mode if not already awake
if ! echo "${ps_status}" | grep -q ready
then
    flatpak run io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck wakeup -5 -h ${addr} -r '2ebf539d' 2>/dev/null
fi

# Wait for PlayStation to report ready status, exit script on error if it never happens.
while ! echo "${ps_status}" | grep -q ready
do
    if [ ${SECONDS} -gt 35 ]
    then
        if echo "${ps_status}" | grep -q standby
        then
            wakeup_error
        else
            timeout_error
        fi
    fi
    sleep 1
    ps_status="$(flatpak run io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck discover -h ${addr} 2>/dev/null)"
done

# Begin playing PlayStation remote play via Chiaki on your Steam Deck :)
flatpak run io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck --passcode --zoom stream 'PS5-012' ${addr}

Example is Without Login Passcode #

If you have a passcode you would set it like --passcode 1111, changing the last line of the example above to flatpak run io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck --passcode 1111 --zoom stream 'PS5-012' 192.168.1.16

Make the script executable:

chmod +x "${HOME}/.var/app/io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck/config/Chiaki/Chiaki-launcher.sh"

Test your newly created script (if you haven't already) by running:
```
"${HOME}/.var/app/io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck/config/Chiaki/Chiaki-launcher.sh"
```
Your script worked!Your script didn't work...
We have liftoff!

Chiaki launched in your desired screen mode on your client device [i.e., Steam Deck]! Congratulations!
You are no longer on the happy path

Script fails before launching stream windowError in stream window

Check the error message and fix issues if obvious. Otherwise, things to check:

Make sure your PlayStation console is in either rest/sleep mode or on (otherwise this won't work)

Double check the values you entered in the script to make sure they are correct.

Open your script at: /home/deck/.var/app/io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck/config/Chiaki/Chiaki-launcher.sh and try to run each command individually to see what's causing your problem.

If issues persist with this and chiaki-ng launches fine regularly via the application link, just not the automation, feel free to reach out. If you think the documentation itself needs to be updated click the underneath "Was this page helpful?" and open the feedback form for this page. If you just need help, you can reach me via Reddit or email

Close chiaki-ng gracefully by closing any open dialog boxes and then using Ctrl+Q on the stream window. If chiaki-ng doesn't close gracefully, move your mouse to the top left corner of the stream window and a blue circle should highlight the corner of the screen. Click on it to see all of your windows and select the konsole window. Then, close the konsole window itself (click its x icon in the top right corner). Next, you can relaunch the script again to make sure it wasn't a one-time snafu. Note: Chiaki seems to perform better (audio/visual quality) in Game Mode vs. Desktop Mode for me. If issues persist, feel free to reach out via Reddit or email. If you think the documentation itself needs to be updated click the underneath "Was this page helpful?" and open the feedback form for this page.

Last update: July 29, 2024
Created: September 1, 2022

Automating chiaki-ng Launch¶

Automating `chiaki-ng` Launch¶