Re: How free is Debian
On Thu, 2019-08-08 at 17:37 +1000, Andrew McGlashan wrote:
> Hi,
>
> On 8/8/19 2:27 pm, Shahryar Afifi wrote:
> > Very well said. If debian free is not using amd64 microcode, so
> > what kernel module runs my cpu as 64bit?
>
> Here's part of the problem.....
>
> The CPU has it's own microcode, when you buy it; the motherboard
> manufacturer may or may not update the BIOS and if they do, then they
> may or may not provide an update to the microcode.
>
> Now, you already have microcode, one way or another, using non-free
> to
> get an update to the microcode is the best you can do as you,
> theoretically know you can trust the source of the blob (as much as
> you trust Debian AND Intel of course.
>
> You can download microcode directly from Intel, it won't stop it
> being
> a binary blob though.
>
> If you really need more TOTALLY FREE, then consider RISC-V now or in
> the future; their may be other viable alternatives, but something
> will
> always get you.... like for instance the blob of firmware with your
> mouse or your monitor, even your keyboard. And yes there are open
> source keyboards, but I'm not sure about other components. Heck,
> even
> your HDD (of any type) has it's own firmware blobs, some of which can
> only be sent to the device and never read back.
>
> So, I guess, totally free really means, give up on electronic gear
> altogether.
>
> Cheers
> A.
Thank you for this acknowledgment.
Currently I have X61 with Middleton BIOS that claims to be free. Is
that also not the case?
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