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package: installer
Installing on an old x86 cpu which requires "non free" drivers, the
installer correctly quotes the needed driver's name. Bravo. but...
1) it suggests adding removable media, which is basically impossible
in the context of the installer running from a memory stick
2) it doesn't tell you in what path on the media to place the driver.
I still don't know what path would be appropriate if I could figure out how
and where to mount an additional memory stick where it would be seen,
but if (instead) I go back and insert the file on the installer stick
memory stick, it apparently has to go in /firmware
3) in my particular case, the driver is brcm/brcmfmac43340-sdio.bin, which
*also* requires a text file, brcm/brcmfmac43340-sdio.txt. I know this because
I figured out case 2B and got the installer to accept the .bin; it then
it mentions the need for the .txt file. (Again, thanks, it would have
been impossible to proceed without this key information). However,
there's apparently no way to get the installer to accept the .txt
file in the same way that it finds the .bin.
4) a workaround, if you can complete the installation without
the network working, is to copy both files into /lib/firmware/ and
magically the network will work.
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This whole process is very user unfriendly - especially for for
the case of a novice user (I'm not) trying to install linux for
the first time. Rather than trying to put the whole book of
possibilities in the installer, how about if such messages were
accompanied by links pointing to detailed explanations.
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