FS#15132 - [kernel26] make kernel26-firmware an optional dependency of kernel26

Attached to Project: Arch Linux
Opened by Greg (dolby) - Tuesday, 16 June 2009, 15:33 GMT
Last edited by Tobias Powalowski (tpowa) - Thursday, 18 June 2009, 21:36 GMT
Task Type Feature Request
Category Packages: Core
Status Closed
Assigned To Tobias Powalowski (tpowa)
Thomas Bächler (brain0)
Architecture All
Severity Low
Priority Normal
Reported Version
Due in Version Undecided
Due Date Undecided
Percent Complete 100%
Votes 0
Private No

Details

Description: I dont remember the exact reason there was a seperate firmware package but i do remmeber i had read some part of the bug report,
i think it was to ease custom kernel building or something like that.
But the firmware, since its now a seperate package, its not needed by most people.
I wonder what your thoughts are about making it an optional dependency of kernel26.
This task depends upon

Closed by  Tobias Powalowski (tpowa)
Thursday, 18 June 2009, 21:36 GMT
Reason for closing:  Won't implement
Comment by Aaron Griffin (phrakture) - Tuesday, 16 June 2009, 17:19 GMT
Hmmm, I'm on the fence. I think if we make it option, people that don't know they need firmware will never know.
Comment by Greg (dolby) - Tuesday, 16 June 2009, 17:23 GMT
AFAIK though these firmware files arent essential for booting, or using the machine etc, so unaware people can find out along the way. :)
Also if someone could link to the report that caused the firmware to be a seperate package i would be grateful. Thanks
Comment by Jan de Groot (JGC) - Tuesday, 16 June 2009, 18:02 GMT
There's quite some networkcards that need this firmware (intel e100, broadcom tg3 and bnx2). We could make it an optdepend, as the kernel will show in dmesg when it wants a firmware file. I would recommend putting it in the base group in that case, and kernels should be built in a way that they conflict with firmware packages that are outdated.
Comment by Tobias Powalowski (tpowa) - Wednesday, 17 June 2009, 06:02 GMT
It would be installed by standard kernel, we may break things here which would normally work.
Network cards come first to my mind, also scsi controllers and soundcards.
Next request will be kernel headers splitted?
Thomas opinion?
Comment by Thomas Bächler (brain0) - Wednesday, 17 June 2009, 08:17 GMT
Name : kernel26-firmware
Version : 2.6.30-1
Required By : kernel26
Installed Size : 1597.00 K

I don't really care about 1.6MB. Those were compiled into the kernel modules in the past.

These firmware files may be essential for booting, especially for users with SCSI controllers. They may not be for others (I don't need a single file from kernel26-firmware). If we include the package in the base group, new installations won't be broken. It might break for people who update their system and then don't install kernel26-firmware. The options are "depends" or "optdepends + base group", I am happy either way.
Comment by Tobias Powalowski (tpowa) - Wednesday, 17 June 2009, 09:11 GMT
Since we cannot say which devices will need firmware in the future i would like to keep it as depend.
Comment by Aaron Griffin (phrakture) - Wednesday, 17 June 2009, 19:15 GMT
I agree with tpowa here. Considering both options are largely equivalent, keeping it as a dep is the safe route. You can always "-Rd" the package if you don't want it

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