OT Mini-RANT: fc5: wifi & ndiswrapper

[Darrin Chandler]

<disclaimer>
This broadcom card is probably something you've had laying around for 
ages, and you're just trying to get it to work. Josh, this isn't 
*really* aimed *directly* at you... (unless it applies)
</disclaimer>

If you need ndiswrapper then you're not using free software. If you've 
got a binary kernel driver (such as nVidia's) then you're not using free 
software. Is this a minor, pedantic point? No! It's important to you, 
whether you know it or not!

When I got into computers in the early 80's I had control of my 
computer. As the years went by that slipped away as MS and hardware 
vendors did me the "favor" of taking those needless details of out my 
hands. As a coder I never appreciated it the way some normal computer 
consumers did.

When I started using Linux ('96?) I felt an elation, because once again 
I owned my computer! I bought it, and I should be able to do with it as 
I wanted.

Now vendors are using the same tricks to corrupt Linux. If you're using 
ndiswrapper or any binary driver, then you're losing control of the 
hardware you bought and paid for. You're supporting vendors which will 
not allow open source developers access to the hardware. You are 
encouraging proprietary, vendor-only solutions.

You should care about this! If you buy something and it's not supported 
by open source community drivers then take it back to the store! Write a 
letter to the vendor telling them how disappointed you are that you 
can't use their product due to lack of proper documentation! Don't 
settle for having a minor convenience right now. Your freedom to use the 
hardware you purchase is at stake.


Daniel Brown wrote:

> You might try purchasing a Orinoco PCMCIA wireless card, I have a 
> similar laptop zv5030 and have never been able to get the integrated 
> wireless to work. Have had no problem with my using this brand of 
> PCMCIA wireless card with Fedora Core 3 & 4.
> Josh Coffman wrote:
>
>> Yeah, I've watched the threads on the fedora list, but
>> nothing seems to have been clarified for me.
>>
>> I'm using and really liking FC5, but the ndiswrapper
>> seems to have taken a step backwards. Or at least
>> something with kernel modules. (the non-gpl thing
>> maybe?)
>>
>> BTW, this is on a pavilion zv5440 with a broadcom
>> 43xx. I will eventually try the bcm43xx driver.
>>
>> Using either the livna ndiswapper packages or
>> compiling from source, I have the same problem. I
>> don't get an entry in modprob.conf unless I amnually
>> enter it. So system-network-config doesn't see
>> ndiswrapper(wlan0) as a type of wireless device it can
>> manage.
>>
>> When I enter "alias wlan0 ndiswrapper" in
>> modprob.conf, I can add wlan0 in sys-net-cfg but it
>> can't actually manage it and causes NetwrokManager to
>> lose control of it unless I remove and reinstall
>> ndiswrapper.
>>
>> Anyone understand what is going on and how I could fix
>> it? I'm fine with using cli to manage it, but my
>> family uses it too.
>>
>>
>> &#9556;&#9552;&#9552;&#9559;
>> &#9553; j&#8776; &#9562;&#9552;&#9552;&#9565;
>>
>>
>>
>> __________________________________________________
>> Do You Yahoo!?
>> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
>> http://mail.yahoo.com 
>> ---------------------------------------------------
>> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change  you mail settings:
>> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
>>
>>  
>>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------
> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss at lists.plug.phoenix.az.us
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change  you mail settings:
> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
>


-- 
Darrin Chandler            |  Phoenix BSD Users Group
dwchandler at stilyagin.com   |  http://bsd.phoenix.az.us/
http://www.stilyagin.com/  |