wiki:HardwareInfo/WirelessFirmwares

Version 16 (modified by mmadia, 14 years ago) ( diff )

Corrected firmware download links for ipw2xxx

This page tries to list all the legal and technical implications of distributing the different WiFi firmwares for use on Haiku.
While a nice source of info, it is not intended as a user install guide but for Haiku developers and contributors to bring WiFi on Haiku while fully complying to the various vendor licenses.

(author note: 2009-12-4, in construction, please refine/fix/complete)

Intel

Official Downloads: http://www.intellinuxwireless.org/?n=downloads&f=ucodes_3945
Official License FAQ: http://www.intellinuxwireless.org/?n=FAQ&s=license

Old OSNews Article: http://www.osnews.com/story/17444/FreeBSD_Gets_Intel_Approval_for_Redistribution_of_Wireless_Firmware

Should we ask Intel for an agreement?

Versions recommended for Haiku (cf. Colin):
2100 -> 1.3
2200 -> 3.0
3945 -> 2.14.4
4965 -> 4.44.17

ipw3945

2.14.4 Download: http://www.intellinuxwireless.org/iwlwifi/downloads/iwlwifi-3945-ucode-2.14.4.tgz
2.14.4 Licence: http://www.intellinuxwireless.org/tar.php?p=iwlwifi&f=LICENSE.iwlwifi-3945-ucode&a=iwlwifi-3945-ucode-2.14.4.tgz
2.14.4 Readme: http://www.intellinuxwireless.org/tar.php?p=iwlwifi&f=README.iwlwifi-3945-ucode&a=iwlwifi-3945-ucode-2.14.4.tgz

-> Distribution method: seems possible with the image.

ipw4965

4.44.17 Download http://www.intellinuxwireless.org/iwlwifi/downloads/iwlwifi-4965-ucode-4.44.17.tgz
4.44.17 Licence http://www.intellinuxwireless.org/tar.php?p=iwlwifi&f=README.iwlwifi-4965-ucode&a=iwlwifi-4965-ucode-4.44.17.tgz
4.44.17 Readme http://www.intellinuxwireless.org/tar.php?p=iwlwifi&f=LICENSE.iwlwifi-4965-ucode&a=iwlwifi-4965-ucode-4.44.17.tgz

-> Distribution method:

ipw2100

License & Download: http://ipw2100.sourceforge.net/firmware.php?fid=4
The download link is at the bottom, in "I Agree"

-> Distribution method: post install unmodified download + licence warning ?

ipw2200

License: http://www.intellinuxwireless.org/LICENSE.ipw2200-fw
License & Download: http://ipw2200.sourceforge.net/firmware.php?fid=7
The download link is at the bottom, in "I Agree"

-> Distribution method: probably the same as ipw2100

References: http://www.intellinuxwireless.org/?n=Info
http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=iwi&apropos=0&sektion=0&manpath=FreeBSD+8.0-RELEASE&format=html

Broadcom

b43xx

  • http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/b43#device_firmware
  • from the above link, "Please note that the firmware from the binary drivers is Copyrighted by Broadcom Corporation and must not be redistributed." and "Because the proprietary driver containing the firmware cannot be included in the distribution, you will need a working connection to the Internet."
  • A required tool, 'b43-fwcutter' is GNU GPL V2. HaikuPorts has ported b43-fwcutter
  • One of the suggested driver downloads, broadcom-wl-4.80.53.0.tar.bz2 contains a file 'WHERE_FROM' with the contents "From the Linksys WRT350N v1.03.2 GPL release"
  • At least some distributions explicitly request acknowledgment from the end user.

-> Distribution method: post install unmodified download + post download processing + license warning ?

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