[Mageia-dev] Removal of non-free firmware from core section

Thu Nov 10 16:39:17 CET 2011

Wolfgang Bornath wrote:
+> 2011/11/10 xi <ctrl.alt.sup at free.fr>:
+>> Wolfgang Bornath wrote:
+>>> 2011/11/10 Frank Griffin <ftg at roadrunner.com>:
+>>>> On 11/10/2011 02:25 AM, Johnny A. Solbu wrote:
+>>>>> In other words, you would prefer to have non-free drivers to remain in
+>>>>> the
+>>>>> "core" tree because otherwise some hardware may not work? (Did i
+>>>>> understand
+>>>>> you correctly?)
+>>>> If we're going to have core and non-free to begin with, then non-free
+>>>> stuff
+>>>> shouldn't be in core.  That being said, it isn't the problem here.  The
+>>>> problem is that non-free isn't as available as core.  It should be, based
+>>>> on
+>>>> prompting the user during install.  Those who want a totally free system
+>>>> that lacks non-free functionality just have to say no.
+>>>>
+>>>> If it makes a philosophical difference, then have no default and require
+>>>> the
+>>>> user to explicitly answer yes or no, and get treated accordingly.
+>>>>  Putting
+>>>> non-free stuff in core is an attempted solution to the problem that
+>>>> enabling
+>>>> and using non-free in an installed core-only system is much more
+>>>> complicated
+>>>> than it ought to be.  By the time a user boots his installed system,
+>>>> non-free stuff should already be there if he wants it there.
+>>> By the time a user boots his installed system he either has the online
+>>> repositories already set (after install from liveCD) or is just a
+>>> mouse click away from setting them. When the online repos are set the
+>>> non-free repo is available if the user wants to have it.
+>>>
+>> What about if I don't have internet access ?
+> 
+> Then he should use the liveCD. As has been in Mandriva.
+> 
+>> If it is just a matter of asking to user whether or not he wants to install
+>> non free firmware, then just go! But if the user with no internet access is
+>> stuck because of firmware absence, then that's just stupid!
+> 
+> This has been the same in Mandriva times:
+>  - an installation DVD as Free Edition without non-free stuff
+>  - installable LiveCDs including non-free drivers.
+
+Are we talking about non-free _drivers_ or _firmware_ ?
+
+Mandriva free DVD didn't contain non-free _drivers_, but _did_ contain 
+non free _firmwares_.
+I am quite sure of this because we are able to run Edgeport serial 
+devices which needs non free firmware (io_ti driver) with Mandriva free DVD.
+
+If you remove the non-free firmware, then such kind of material won't 
+work anymore.
+
+Absence of non-free drivers generally don't prevent system from running 
+(eg for graphic card, you can still use Vesa driver). But Absence of 
+firmware will prevent hardware from running ...
+
+
+Xavier
+