Chip Salzenberg wrote:
>
> According to Michael Wood:
> > So what's the difference between Plex86 and the Linux kernel
> > when you look at it this way? Is it because there is only one
> > BIOS that currently works with Plex86 and that BIOS is non-free?
>
> Is the Elpin BIOS specialized for use with Plex86, if only in such a
> minor way as knowing what kinds of pseudo-hardware it's going to find?
> More to the point, does Plex86 effectively require that the BIOS it
> uses be specialized in this way? If so, then Plex86 is actually
> depending on the specific features of non-free software, and it does
> belong in contrib.
It's just a plain vanilla VGA BIOS. There's nothing custom in it.
We needed one for bootup of real OSes, and of course all the time
for DOS.
At this point, plex86 isn't ready for being a package in a distro.
When it is, the Debian folks can distribute plex86 without the
VGA BIOS and provide the user with instructions on how to access
it by CVS for those who want it (probably most).
-Kevin
--
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Kevin Lawton [EMAIL PROTECTED]
MandrakeSoft, Inc. Plex86 developer
http://www.linux-mandrake.com/ http://www.plex86.org/