Re: [gNewSense-users] iwl firmware

[Karl Goetz]

On Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:56:27 +0000
Michael Stevens <address@hidden> wrote:

> On Sat, Jan 30, 2010 at 08:50:31PM +0100, al3xu5 / dotcommon wrote:
> > the drivers are under GPL2... *BUT* they require a *non-free*
> > software firmware to be loaded...
> > 
> > see: http://intellinuxwireless.org/?n=FAQ&s=license
> > 
> > <cite>
> > Q. What license covers these drivers?
> > A. The wireless drivers themselves are licensed under the GPL
> > version 2. Each of the wireless adapters requires a corresponding
> > microcode or firmware image to be loaded in order to function. The
> > microcode for the ipw3945 driver (ieee80211 based) also requires
> > the use of a user space regulatory daemon. All of those binaries
> > are distributed as binaries under a proprietary, free to
> > redistribute (but not modify), license. </cite>
> > 
> > on my laptop (Lenovo/IBM Thinkpad T61 6466-5DG ) i have such an
> > intel wireless adapter (Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG)...
> > 
> > it does not properly work to me with gNS... and manually installing
> > the non-free intel firmware is NOT a solution (in terms of
> > freedom)...
> > 
> > so i have phisically *disabled* (shut off) the intel adapter and
> > now i am happily using one D-Link DWL-G122 rev.C1 (07d1:3c03)
> > wirelss USB adapter instead (driver module: rt73usb - kernel
> > included)
> > 
> > NOTE: the default gNS installed system loads (as you have reported)
> > the iwl3945 driver module (for the Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG) which
> > prevents loading other wireless drivers! so you may need to
> > blacklist iwl3945 (in /ect/modprobe.d/blacklist) to be able to use
> > other wireless adapters
> 
> My complain is that the default gNS on my new install seems to have
> installed the non-free intel firmware by default! So it works when it

Did you do an update after installing?
kk

> shouldn't.
> 
> I mean I was planning to accept the freedom violation and manually
> install the nonfree firmware until I save up and buy some properly
> free hardware, but I wasn't expecting gNS to default to nonfree.
> 
> Michael


-- 
Karl Goetz, (Kamping_Kaiser / VK5FOSS)
Debian contributor / gNewSense Maintainer
http://www.kgoetz.id.au
No, I won't join your social networking group

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