Re: Finding firmware (and SHA sums etc), was Re: Linux Mint, Ubuntu, Arch Linux recognize my Acer Aspire S wifi, debian does not

[Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk>]

On Thu 16 Mar 2017 at 12:04:14 -0500, David Wright wrote:

> On Thu 16 Mar 2017 at 14:05:17 (+0100), tomas@tuxteam.de wrote:
> > On Thu, Mar 16, 2017 at 12:52:00PM +0000, GiaThnYgeia wrote:
> > > Brian:
> > > 
> > > > Documentation dispels ignorance. Dispelling ignorance requires the
> > > > co-operation of the user.
> > 
> > :-)
> > 
> > > To recapitulate, the purpose of the list as I understand it is not to
> > > answer practical problems with "read the manual".  It defeats the purpose.
> > 
> > I think you're being a bit unfair here. Brian has surely done a bit
> > beyond saying "read the manual". He has provided leads to the relevant
> > spots in there.
> 
> He showed a much better path to the important web page
> http://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current/i386/iso-cd/
> He hasn't disagreed with my analysis of why people can get
> stuck on another pathway to the ISO files on that page,
> particularly the people desiring a network installation.

There was never had any reason to disagree with the analysis. The
queries starting this subthread

 > Is it just me, or are the "unofficial" images hard to get to?

have the answers "no" and "yes". However, the routes to the images are
varied and guessing which one a user takes to get there isn't fruitful.
 
> But the Installation Manual comment, particularly the rhetorical
> question, was a cheap shot IMO. Navigating these pages should be
> straightforward. Any indication that the Installation Manual
> is going to help that navigation, or should help, is laughable
> and contradicts the very raison d'être of the web.

Note that the OP knew he might require firmware for his install. The
Manual doesn't remove the need for web page navigation to be improved
but it does give a destination for firmware images, so any port in a
storm etc. I'd use the text version for searching.

Fortunately, the OP was helpfully directed to the correct netinst ISO.
Unfortunately, it is quite possible it does not contain the firmware for
what looks like the Atheros-based chipset he has. Off to backports and
firmware-atheros, then. I'd link to pages on the wiki but documentation
does not appear to be in good standing at the moment and we are told
it is not the purpose of this list to answer practical problems by
by guiding people to it. :)

-- 
Brian.