Groups > linux.debian.user > #219665

Re: Net Install: Installation halts for disk change

From	Andrei POPESCU <andreimpopescu@gmail.com>
Newsgroups	linux.debian.user
Subject	Re: Net Install: Installation halts for disk change
Date	2020-03-01 09:30 +0100
Message-ID	<zFs93-2EZ-7@gated-at.bofh.it> (permalink)
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On Sb, 29 feb 20, 21:45:48, John Kaufmann wrote:
> 
> I have to agree with that script: a Thinkpad without wifi could fairly 
> be called a non-working system... which comes back to my two-part 
> first question, about the philosophical/operational aspect of the 
> "free" commitment:
>  - Is it a choice between a free non-working system or a non-free 
>  working system?

According to the Social Contract[1] the Debian system is free (as in 
freedom).

In the case of firmware this is achieved by providing it (as a service 
to its users) from the non-official part of the archive.

>  - Are OEM hardware drivers by definition "non-free"?

Not necessarily. Many free drivers in the kernel are contributed by the 
OEMs, including Intel, AMD, etc.

Some hardware requires "firmware" in addition to the driver. As far as I 
understand most firmware is just pre-compiled software provided as is, 
without source, which automatically makes it non-free (even if freely
distributable).

Some hardware has free firmware (see firmware-linux-free and the other 
packages in the 'main' archive) and some don't require external firmware 
at all[2].

Debian's position on non-free firmware is making things more difficult 
for owners of specific hardware. Hopefully this works as an incentive to 
consider hardware with better free software support on their next 
purchase.

[1] https://www.debian.org/social_contract

[2] in most cases[3] this is arguably even worse than requiring external 
non-free firmware, because the hardware still uses some firmware stored 
internally which is very difficult or even impossible to upgrade.

[3] as far as I understand there are pieces of hardware that don't need 
any kind of firmware, external or internal.

Kind regards,
Andrei
-- 
http://wiki.debian.org/FAQsFromDebianUser

Thread

Net Install: Installation halts for disk change John Kaufmann <kaufmann@nb.net> - 2020-02-26 22:20 +0100
  Re: Net Install: Installation halts for disk change Lee <ler762@gmail.com> - 2020-02-27 04:30 +0100
    Re: Net Install: Installation halts for disk change Peter Ehlert <peter@sdi-baja.com> - 2020-02-27 05:10 +0100
      Re: Net Install: Installation halts for disk change Lee <ler762@gmail.com> - 2020-02-27 05:40 +0100
        Re: Net Install: Installation halts for disk change John Kaufmann <kaufmann@nb.net> - 2020-02-27 08:20 +0100
      Re: Net Install: Installation halts for disk change John Kaufmann <kaufmann@nb.net> - 2020-02-27 08:10 +0100
        Re: Net Install: Installation halts for disk change Andrei POPESCU <andreimpopescu@gmail.com> - 2020-02-27 09:50 +0100
          Re: Net Install: Installation halts for disk change Charles Curley <charlescurley@charlescurley.com> - 2020-02-27 14:30 +0100
          Re: Net Install: Installation halts for disk change Peter Ehlert <peter@sdi-baja.com> - 2020-02-27 15:30 +0100
          Re: Net Install: Installation halts for disk change John Kaufmann <kaufmann@nb.net> - 2020-02-27 23:20 +0100
        Re: Net Install: Installation halts for disk change Lee <ler762@gmail.com> - 2020-02-27 15:50 +0100
          Re: Net Install: Installation halts for disk change John Kaufmann <kaufmann@nb.net> - 2020-02-27 23:20 +0100
            Re: Net Install: Installation halts for disk change David Wright <deblis@lionunicorn.co.uk> - 2020-03-01 02:20 +0100
              Re: Net Install: Installation halts for disk change John Kaufmann <kaufmann@nb.net> - 2020-03-01 03:50 +0100
                Re: Net Install: Installation halts for disk change Andrei POPESCU <andreimpopescu@gmail.com> - 2020-03-01 09:30 +0100
                Re: Net Install: Installation halts for disk change David Wright <deblis@lionunicorn.co.uk> - 2020-03-01 16:50 +0100
    Re: Net Install: Installation halts for disk change John Kaufmann <kaufmann@nb.net> - 2020-02-27 08:10 +0100

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