Re: RTL8111 Networking Drivers
On 4/16/17, Mark Fletcher <mark27q1@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sun, Apr 16, 2017 at 09:12:14AM -0500, Ron Bales wrote:
>> Why do you not include the drivers for RTL8111 I have not used Mint for
>> years because the network never worked I found the drivers and installed
>> them but way to much trouble I was getting ready to give up for good and
>> found the instructions to install. The network works fine in Ubuntu?
I can't speak for that specifically, but perhaps it's because it's
non-free'ly available? If so, that would be one reason it's not
included in a standard Debian package. Other distributions handle
those cases differently, and that would be why it would, yes, indeed,
be found instantly available even in the most basic of installs.
> To whom are you addressing this question?
:)
Is there maybe a definitive (itemized) list of what's free and not? If
it's non-free, this isn't a bug so that's off the checklist. Next
there are the instances where things *are* free, but use cases have
not occurred such that an omission was apparent..
Or something like that... there. :)
Never mind (sort of) because I next got the idea to attempt an
"rtl8111 debian firmware" Internet search. That landed this
"firmware-realtek" package:
https://packages.debian.org/jessie/firmware-realtek
Clicking that red "non-free" word brought this:
https://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-archive.html#s-non-free
+++++ QUOTED TEXT +++++
2.2.3 The non-free archive area
The non-free archive area contains supplemental packages intended to
work with the Debian distribution that do not comply with the DFSG
[Debian Free Software Guidelines] or have other problems that make
their distribution problematic. They may not comply with all of the
policy requirements in this manual due to restrictions on
modifications or other limitations.
Packages must be placed in non-free if they are not compliant with the
DFSG or are encumbered by patents or other legal issues that make
their distribution problematic.
In addition, the packages in non-free
* must not be so buggy that we refuse to support them, and
* must meet all policy requirements presented in this manual that it
is possible for them to meet. [5]
Referenced Footnote #5: "It is possible that there are policy
requirements which the package is unable to meet, for example, if the
source is unavailable. These situations will need to be handled on a
case-by-case basis."
+++++ END QUOTED TEXT +++++
That would be why it takes extra steps to get an RTL8111 driver
functional. It turns out to in fact be about its relationship to
Debian's long standing, explicitly expressed policy regarding that
kind of thing....
Cindy :)
--
Cindy-Sue Causey
Talking Rock, Pickens County, Georgia, USA
* hoppity-hop-hop-hop! *
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