Bug#1036565: debian-installer-12-netboot-amd64: Installers needed b43 ucode16_mimo.fw, had to eth0 net install + manual firmware-b43-installer, MacBookPro5,5

[Fan Naibed]

May 24, 2023 at 9:37 PM, "Cyril Brulebois"  wrote:

> 
> Fan Naibed  (2023-05-24):
> 
> > 
> > May 23, 2023 at 3:17 AM, "Cyril Brulebois"  wrote:
> >  How would this work? firmware-b43-installer is just a downloader,
> >  so for it to do anything, you need to have a working connection in
> >  the first place. It's basically an empty shell, with its postinst
> >  doing the downloading.
> >  
> >  Installing onto slightly older Macbooks, using Wi-Fi, just worked(TM).
> >  So, their WiFi fw was included.
> > 
> 
> Do you know which firmware files/packages were involved on those?

The older macbook has

03:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries BCM43224 
802.11a/b/g/n [14e4:4353] (rev 01)

and uses firmware-brcm80211.

The macbook pro has

03:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries BCM4322 
802.11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN Controller [14e4:432b] (rev 01)



> 
> > 
> > The b43 installer/downloader would need to be changed to a firmware
> >  file that can be included with the installer. :)
> > 
> 
> Presumably those are working this way because the license doesn't
> allow for redistribution. Feel free to get that part resolved!

Since I don't understand how automating the download and install 
is significantly different than including the firmware in the 
debian installer, from a license/legal standpoint, that is beyond me!

> Also, see https://wiki.debian.org/bcm43xx

Thanks

Bug#1036565: debian-installer-12-netboot-amd64: Installers needed b43 ucode16_mimo.fw, had to eth0 net install + manual firmware-b43-installer, MacBookPro5,5

[Cyril Brulebois]

Hi,

Fan Naibed  (2023-05-24):
> May 23, 2023 at 3:17 AM, "Cyril Brulebois"  wrote:
> > How would this work? firmware-b43-installer is just a downloader,
> > so for it to do anything, you need to have a working connection in
> > the first place. It's basically an empty shell, with its postinst
> > doing the downloading.
> 
> Installing onto slightly older Macbooks, using Wi-Fi, just worked(TM).
> So, their WiFi fw was included.

Do you know which firmware files/packages were involved on those?

> The b43 installer/downloader would need to be changed to a firmware
> file that can be included with the installer. :)

Presumably those are working this way because the license doesn't
allow for redistribution. Feel free to get that part resolved!

Also, see https://wiki.debian.org/bcm43xx


Cheers,
-- 
Cyril Brulebois (k...@debian.org)
D-I release manager -- Release team member -- Freelance Consultant


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Bug#1036565: debian-installer-12-netboot-amd64: Installers needed b43 ucode16_mimo.fw, had to eth0 net install + manual firmware-b43-installer, MacBookPro5,5

[Fan Naibed]

May 23, 2023 at 3:17 AM, "Cyril Brulebois"  wrote:

> 
> Fan Naibed  (2023-05-22):
> 
> > 
> > Package: debian-installer-12-netboot-amd64
> > 
> >  Tried to install with live installer on USB stick, plain installer on USB
> >  stick, then net installer on USB stick
> > 
> 
> None of those are relatd to debian-installer-12-netboot-amd64, which
> ships files to boot the installer via PXE.

Sorry. 
Feel free to change to the correct debian installer 12 amd64 installers.
It applies to a few. Reportbug and I guessed wrong.


> 
> > 
> > Installers popped up error - wanted subject firmware to continue;
> >  putting downloaded (standard) firmware on a second USB stick also
> >  failed. Finally connected to ethernet over cable and installed with
> >  net installer on USB stick.
> >  
> >  Needed firmware included with installers so install using WiFi would
> >  just work.
> > 
> 
> How would this work? firmware-b43-installer is just a downloader, so for
> it to do anything, you need to have a working connection in the first
> place. It's basically an empty shell, with its postinst doing the
> downloading.
> 

Installing onto slightly older Macbooks, using Wi-Fi, just worked(TM).
So, their WiFi fw was included.
The b43 installer/downloader would need to be changed to a firmware file 
that can be included with the installer. :)

Cheers

Bug#1036565: debian-installer-12-netboot-amd64: Installers needed b43 ucode16_mimo.fw, had to eth0 net install + manual firmware-b43-installer, MacBookPro5,5

[Cyril Brulebois]

Hi,

Fan Naibed  (2023-05-22):
> Package: debian-installer-12-netboot-amd64

> Tried to install with live installer on USB stick, plain installer on USB
> stick, then net installer on USB stick

None of those are relatd to debian-installer-12-netboot-amd64, which
ships files to boot the installer via PXE.

> Installers popped up error - wanted subject firmware to continue;
> putting downloaded (standard) firmware on a second USB stick also
> failed. Finally connected to ethernet over cable and installed with
> net installer on USB stick.
> 
> Needed firmware included with installers so install using WiFi would
> just work.

How would this work? firmware-b43-installer is just a downloader, so for
it to do anything, you need to have a working connection in the first
place. It's basically an empty shell, with its postinst doing the
downloading.


Cheers,
-- 
Cyril Brulebois (k...@debian.org)
D-I release manager -- Release team member -- Freelance Consultant


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Bug#1036565: debian-installer-12-netboot-amd64: Installers needed b43 ucode16_mimo.fw, had to eth0 net install + manual firmware-b43-installer, MacBookPro5,5

[Fan Naibed]

Package: debian-installer-12-netboot-amd64
Severity: normal
Tags: d-i
X-Debbugs-Cc: oregano+deb...@disroot.org

Dear Maintainer,

   * What led up to the situation?

Tried to install with live installer on USB stick, plain installer on USB
stick, then net installer on USB stick

   * What exactly did you do (or not do) that was effective (or
 ineffective)?

Installers popped up error - wanted subject firmware to continue; putting
downloaded (standard) firmware on a second USB stick also failed. Finally
connected to ethernet over cable and installed with net installer on USB stick.

Then installed firmware-b43-installer manually.

   * What was the outcome of this action?

Successful install eventually. :)

   * What outcome did you expect instead?

Needed firmware included with installers so install using WiFi would just work.



-- System Information:
Debian Release: 12.0
  APT prefers testing-security
  APT policy: (500, 'testing-security'), (500, 'testing')
Architecture: amd64 (x86_64)

Kernel: Linux 6.1.0-9-amd64 (SMP w/2 CPU threads; PREEMPT)
Locale: LANG=en_US.UTF-8, LC_CTYPE=en_US.UTF-8 (charmap=UTF-8), LANGUAGE not set
Shell: /bin/sh linked to /usr/bin/dash
Init: systemd (via /run/systemd/system)
LSM: AppArmor: enabled

debian-installer-12-netboot-amd64 depends on no packages.

debian-installer-12-netboot-amd64 recommends no packages.

Versions of packages debian-installer-12-netboot-amd64 suggests:
pn  tftpd-hpa