What's new in Debian GNU/Linux 3.1

Proprietary Kernel Firware

Adrian Bunk noticed that Linux 2.6.4 contains non-free firmware which is uploaded into the device by the kernel. Herbert Xu explained that in most of these cases the driver cannot communicate with the device in any meaningful way until the firmware is loaded.

J.D. Hood summarised the options about how Debian could handle binary-only firmware components for which no source code is available. Herbert Xu added his view on this issue and his preference is to move all kernel packages to non-free since this pays homage both to our commitment to Free Software as well as our users' needs.

After the kernel package maintainer has removed the acenic and tg3 ethernet drivers because they contain an embedded firmware blobs, Marco d'Itri investigated the Linux kernel and XFree86 packages for other drivers containing a firmware dump. He added that if Debian will continue with this policy then the MGA, Rage 128 and Radeon DRM drivers will have to be removed as well.

The release manager explained that the firmware issue consists of two different problems, firmware being non-free and violation of the GNU GPL. While the first is not an issue for sarge the latter is. He also pointed out that we the problem was known for nearly two years. Later he asserted that both are not considered release issues at the moment.