Re: Request to add firmware to installation images/nonfree repo
On Sat, 2023-01-21 at 09:38 -0800, Koohyar Hasani wrote: > install Debian (i386 arch) on a touchscreen device (Dell Venue 8 Pro) This device is likely 64-bit, so you should use amd64 instead. https://i.dell.com/sites/csdocuments/Shared-Content_data-Sheets_Documents/en/uk/CSG-EN-XX-ALL-Venue-8-Pro-5830-Spec-Sheet.pdf https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/78416/intel-atom-processor-z3740d-2m-cache-up-to-1-83-ghz.html > needs an Atheros driver > (https://github.com/qca/ath6kl-firmware/tree/master/ath6k/AR6004/hw3.0) This is firmware rather than a driver. I note that it is not present in the upstream linux-firmware git repository, see below for more info. https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/tree/ath6k/AR6004 > installer fails to recognize the file and displays the same prompt again I would suggest filing an installation report, but it is going to be hard for you to do that without a keyboard. https://www.debian.org/releases/stable/amd64/ch05s04.en.html#problem-report Probably the right workaround for you to get the install done would be to download the non-free installer image and repack it to include the relevant non-free firmware files in the right place. The wiki pages below are likely outdated but might be helpful anyway. https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unofficial/non-free/cd-including-firmware/ https://wiki.debian.org/DebianInstaller/Modify https://wiki.debian.org/DebianInstaller/Modify/CD https://wiki.debian.org/RepackBootableISO > Would like to request that this firmware be added to installation > images and/or the appropriate repository. The process for adding firmware to Debian is to get it included in the upstream linux-firmware git repository and then request an update to the Debian firmware-nonfree source package. https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/tree/README https://www.debian.org/Bugs/Reporting Alternatively you could package ath6kl-firmware separately and search for a sponsor, but that is a lot of overhead to workaround the fact that the firmware should be contributed to the linux-firmware git repo, so that the firmware is available to Debian and also other distros. https://mentors.debian.net/intro-maintainers/ -- bye, pabs https://wiki.debian.org/PaulWise signature.asc Description: This is a digitally signed message part
Request to add firmware to installation images/nonfree repo
Hello all, apologies if this is not the correct place to post this. Trying to install Debian (i386 arch) on a touchscreen device (Dell Venue 8 Pro) that needs an Atheros driver ( https://github.com/qca/ath6kl-firmware/tree/master/ath6k/AR6004/hw3.0) which is not available in the nonfree installation image or repo. Installer does not recognize media with the firmware files on it and continues to display a prompt asking for media with the firmware files. Have not filed a bug report yet (not sure whether that is the appropriate first step, and I may not be knowledgeable enough to properly answer follow-up questions). From what I've read, there is possibly a way to manually mount the media with firmware files during install but that requires a keyboard, and this device only has one port (and I do not have a USB hub or USB keyboard). Device boots into live image but WiFi is not recognized; live installer launches and begins installation but fails about halfway through (please forgive me, I did not document the error message). When using graphical installer (I've tried Debian Stable image and Debian Testing), installer prompts that the firmware file referred to above is missing, and asks user to insert media with firmware file on it. With media inserted, installer fails to recognize the file and displays the same prompt again (have tried this with MBR and GUID formatted media, files located in firmware folder, etc). Would like to request that this firmware be added to installation images and/or the appropriate repository. Please let me know if I can provide any further information.
