OT Mini-RANT: fc5: wifi & ndiswrapper

Tue Mar 28 16:37:08 MST 2006

There are good open source drivers for the atheros wireless chipset, if
you end up getting a different adapter. It actually was a factor in my
buying a toshiba laptop a couple of years ago.

On Tue, March 28, 2006 4:14 pm, Darrin Chandler wrote:
> <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;
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
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>
>
> --
> Darrin Chandler            |  Phoenix BSD Users Group
> dwchandler at stilyagin.com   |  http://bsd.phoenix.az.us/
> http://www.stilyagin.com/  |
>
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