B qnnayemhh nr 11 njrap 2008 c. Rafael Almeida m`ohq`k(a):
> Hello,
>
> From time to time I see people debating about blobs on kernels. I have
> some understanding of the issue, but it seems that everytime some
> issue comes out that I was not aware of. Not too recently I've seen a
> discussion regarding intel wireless device, people from linux seem to
> say it doesn't require blobs, though some openbsd users sugested
> otherwise. Linux people even refered to some sourceforge link, I think
> http://ipw2100.sourceforge.net/firmware.php was it. I believe there
> are some problems when it comes to firmware. In that sense, is there
> even wireless hardware that have no need for any kind of blob?
>
> A while ago I've seen theo slides about how hardware vendors do not
> suply the customer with documentation needed for him to operate the
> hardware any way he wants. That is a major problem because it does not
> let the user chose which operating system he will use. Now, couldn't
> the firmware be considered part of the hardware? Why need it be free?
> You can program the hardware without knowing about it, right?
Yes. OpenBSD accepts firmware blobs. But also OpenBSD requires that
firmware is freely _redistributable_. See the Intel wireless firmware
license, and you'll see this point.
> Is there some hardware manufacturer that's actually concerned with the
> customer's freedom? I know some of them eventually release some
> documentation, but are there any hardware vendor which has providing
> documentation as one of its goals?
Ralink?
> I know this is not enterily on topic, but I was looking for a mature
> open source comunity that's willing to discuss those matters with me.
> I hope I have found such comunity and I hope not to see too many (or
> not at all) aswers like 'linux just sucks' and the like (unless the
> phrase comes with proper justification, of course :-)).
Linux is good. OpenBSD is just somewhat better ;)
--
WBR,
Pereresus ne Vlezaet Buggy
