Re: Bug#239952: kernel-source-2.6.4: qla2xxx contains non-free firmware
On Mon, Mar 29, 2004 at 03:17:33AM -0500, Nathanael Nerode wrote:
> you feel that images are for wimps? Or are just you being deliberately
> perverse by obscuring the difference between actual burnt-in-hardware
> firmware and so-called "firmware" which is actually software loaded from a
> host system? I'd guess that more people need *Debian-distributed* PNG
> files than need *Debian-distributed* firmware.
There is no need to obscure diffrence between "burnt-in" and "host-loaded"
firmware, hardware manufacturers have already done it for us.
Usually the difference is that the latter ones lack persistent memory.
Take for example some usb adsl "modems". They are excactly the
hardware as the ethernet ADSL routers except for:
1) no ethernet port
2) no flash memory to store the firmware
So, in order to use the usb adsl modem, the driver has to upload
the firmware to the modems RAM and boot it.
Now i would never buy such crap, but lots of people do, because they
are marginally cheaper than the fully equipped hardware. Considering
that sarge will take 13(?) cd's, for most users the only real option to
install is a netinst CD, which indeed will not work without the adsl
modem firmware.
--
Riku Voipio | riku.voipio@iki.fi |
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dark> A bad analogy is like leaky screwdriver |
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