Re: No Wifi Option
On Sat 04 May 2019 at 22:19:43 +0200, Jonas Smedegaard wrote:
> Quoting Brian (2019-05-04 22:01:07)
> > On Sat 04 May 2019 at 21:32:19 +0200, Jonas Smedegaard wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Terrill,
> > >
> > > Quoting Terrill Wallace (2019-05-04 20:44:24)
> > > > I am trying to install Debian 9 on my desktop but within the install I
> > > > am not given a Wifi Option. Can you please help me with this issue?
> > >
> > > Most likely the wifi device built into your computer requires non-free
> > > firmware, which is not included with Debian.
> >
> > Quite possibly.
> >
> > > Best option (from a Free Software standpoint) is to buy a wifi dongle
> > > which works with Free Software. See e.g. https://wiki.debian.org/WiFi
> >
> > Indeed.
> >
> > > Alternatively (if you don't mind the legal implications that comes with
> > > including non-free formware to your installation) look for the
> > > unofficial debian-installer image which includes non-free firmware.
> >
> > Are there legal implications with a user installing non-free software
> > as long as they follow the conditions?
>
> I am not a lawyer - please have your own lawyer consult you regarding
> the licensing terms involved - i.e. possibly some of these:
> https://metadata.ftp-master.debian.org/changelogs/non-free/f/firmware-nonfree/
A nice side-step of *a user* installing non-free software. Nobody needs
a lawyer to read and understand the conditions under which he got it.
And, of course, there is a considerable difference between what an
individual does and how an organisation behaves.
> > Debian, of course, decided it cannot distribute such software. That is
> > why we have the pragmatic nonsense of having official and unofficial
> > installers.
>
> It seems you are mistaken: Debian can and evidently do distribute such
> software - just not as part of a Free Software distribution.¹
>
> Feel free to label it nonsense if that makes you happy. Cheers!
From
https://www.debian.org/social_contract
Debian will remain 100% free
We will never make the system require the use of a non-free component.
But you maintain "we do distribute such software". So the unofficial
debian-installer is distributed as a less than 100% free part of Debian?
Just like the non-free archive, I suppose?
Confused.
--
Brian.
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