Re: [GNU-linux-libre] The "Free" Kernel In Debian Squeeze

[Nicolás Reynolds]

El 29/12/10 09:35, Nicolás Reynolds dijo:
> El 29/12/10 07:29, Alexandre Oliva dijo:
> > The kernel logs the request, including the identifier, and, when it
> > fails, the module that issued the request often logs an error message,
> > that usually includes the firmware name.
> > 
> > Also, the kernel sends the firmware name/identifier to the userland
> > hotplug program, and that program can do pretty much whatever it likes
> > with the name, including looking up the name in package repositories,
> > suggesting users to install the package that provides the firmware, or
> > even install it behind their backs.
> > 
> > 
> > In Linux-libre, we mangle the firmware name both in the request and the
> > error message, so there's no chance that any of this may happen.
> > However, this also disables any possibility of using non-Free firmware
> > that the user has installed and would like to use.
> 
> Stupid question: Can't you modify this userland program the kernel calls to
> handle firmware requests?

Propposal on this: preffix all unfree firmware as being unfree ("unfree_",
probably) instead of hashing their name identifiers. This way the firmware
loader can simply log a warning stating clearly that the firmware harms your
freedoms.



-- 
Salud!
Nicolás Reynolds,
xmpp:address@hidden
omb:http://identi.ca/fauno
blog:http://selfdandi.com.ar/
gnu/linux user #455044

http://parabolagnulinux.org
http://endefensadelsl.org

pgpMEBj4mKmyy.pgp
Description: PGP signature