Bug#337219: firmwares and d-i
Package: installation-reports
Debian-installer-version: Debian sarge (current)
uname -a: (I don't know as I am now at the office)
Date: 01/10/2005
Method: Install to a desktop PC connected with a prism54 wireless
card (needs isl3890 firmware to work)
Machine: homemade desktop
Processor: Sempron 2600+
Memory: 512 MB
Root Device: IDE Name of device? hda1
Root Size/partition table:
(I don't know as I am now at the office)Output of lspci and lspci -n:
Base System Installation Checklist:
[O] = OK, [E] = Error (please elaborate below), [ ] = didn't try it
Initial boot worked: [O]
Configure network HW: [O]
Config network: [E]
Detect CD: [ ]
Load installer modules: [ ]
Detect hard drives: [ ]
Partition hard drives: [ ]
Create file systems: [ ]
Mount partitions: [ ]
Install base system: [ ]
Install boot loader: [ ]
Reboot: [ ]
Comments/Problems:
I succesfully installed debian copying firmware (isl3890) after
the reboot (previous to anything else after the rebbot e.g. root password).
However, in ubuntu this firmaware is included in the install CD
and you can configure the network right away from the beginning.
I think that, if the Debian policy does not allow to include this firmware,
it would be convenient to have the possibility to *manually* show it to the
installer e.g. in a floppy so that the network configuration could be easily
made.
For example, at the stage of configuring the network, a message should appear:
"In order to work properly, a propietary firmare (isl3890) is needed. Please
copy this firmware in a floppy disc, insert it and press enter"
I tried to look for the place where this firmware was in ubuntu in this early
stage and tried to do the same in Debian, but I could not access the floppy
where I had the firmware (could not mount the floppy drive: it said it was
a block device or something like that) and besides I would have had to create some
directories: /usr/lib/hotplug/firmware and (perhaps)/lib/firmware.
When I tried to install etch or sid from a CD (testing and unofficial,
respectively), I could not pass this first stage, as the installer
encounterd dependencies that could not satisfy as the network was
not active.
I think this method (d-i asking for the firmware on ina floppy) would be great also
for other firmwares (not only wireless cards').
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