Re: Network-related Chicken and Egg Issue, attempting Install of Debian 9.4
On 04/21/18 14:24, Kenneth Parker wrote:
... wireless.kernel.org to download Firmware for this B43 Device.
My decommissioned Dell Inspiron E1505 required the same firmware. I
bought a replacement WiFi card in the hopes it would be better supported
by GNU/Linux and *BSD, but can't remember if that idea worked...
But how do I download something, when I have no Internet, due to this
"Non-Free Chipset"?
You need another device that can access the Internet, download the file,
and put it onto a USB flash drive in the 'firmware' directory:
https://www.debian.org/releases/stable/installmanual
https://www.debian.org/releases/stable/amd64/ch06s04.html.en
In other words, a long-term Linux Geek, all the way back to Debian 2.1
(Command Line Only, back in 2000) is stymied with something that, back then
could easily have been fixed, by copying files from a different System, via
Floppy Disks! Oh well...
Vote with your dollars -- buy FOSS-friendly hardware.
One more thing: Because of some changes, from 8 to 9, I am being asked to
do Network Administration, with both Hands behind my Back: Debian CD1
does *NOT* install the ifconfig command, which I might have been able to
use, to troubleshoot, even *FINDING* the WiFi Adapter. Ouch!
AFAIK ifconfig was superseded by some component of systemd.
If enough people install net-tools and popularity-contest, ifconfig(8)
will make it to CD 1.
Alternatively, try Devuan:
https://devuan.org/
David
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