Fedora Freedom and linux-libre

[Les Mikesell]

Andrew Haley wrote:
> 
>>>> If you remove the non-free software from tg3.c the device will still
>>>> work.
>>> Completely?
>> Yes.
>>
>>> no loss of functionality whatsoever?
>> I think the firmware does some TCP offloading or something so more
>> processing happens in the card instead of the kernel, but I'm really not
>> certain what the firmware is doing. In fact, only the people with the
>> source code know what it's doing, I supppose.
>>
>> But it works 100% fine as a regular network card without the firmware.
> 
> So, let me summarize: we have a bit of binary-only fimware that does
> goodness knows what in a critical part of our systems.  We don't actually
> need this firmware; it may or may not improve performance.  Is this right?

I don't know if this is correct or varies from device to device but my 
assumption was that most devices would have a version of firmware 
installed when shipped and the drivers are updating to current versions.

> It sounds to me as though we're better off without it, regardless of its
> status with regard to the GPL.

Perhaps, if you like old buggy versions of firmware...

-- 
   Les Mikesell
     lesmikesell at gmail.com