So... is there any way I can connect to ADSL using free
{soft,firm}ware?
Short of getting a big research grant to test all the ADSL routers
with GPL software in existence there is no way of answering that.
SoC manfuacturers are crap, to give you an idea there's probably over
a thousand different ARM SoCs with GNU/Linux bundled with them and
precisely two have got enough code into Linux mainline for Debian to
support them from their mainline based build process.
If not, that's disappointing. In that case, could someone recommend
the "least bad" solution? ADSL and 56k are the only two connection
methods available to me, and realistically I can't get by with
dialup
speed, so it has to be ADSL.
If there is no completely free solution, what's the "most free", if
there is one? Is it the Solos PCI card? I'd rather not use the
non-free blob, but if it's the only way for me to connect to the
I have already answered this. Read the DD-WRT.com homepage and then
lots and lots both there and on OpenWRT and work out for yourself if
the Buffalo WBMR-HP-G300H is working well enough to do what you want
right now. If you're concerned about your internal network security
then read the Linux Networking HOWTO and Network Administrators'
Guide and see if constructing a DMZ barrier your side of the ADSL
router with one of the LibreWRT supported Buffalo routers is a good
thing for you.
Flashing a router with beta firmware must be backed up with lots of
careful research, there are many gotchas. So make sure you do the
legwork first.
A 56k modem will have non-free firmware to process the AT commands in
any event. So you'd not gain any freedom.
The Solos will _never_ be supported in Trisquel. Why move to a
non-free GNU/Linux for your PC for the sake of a PCI card you don't
nhave to use? Better putting the proprietary poison in a different
physical box IMO.
Internet, I'll have to, right? I mean, it's gotta be better than the
proprietary Linksys router I'm using now.
To quote myself 'Always seek to maximise your software freedom.' As
of now getting by without any devices with non-free software, or
indirectly using some businesses etc use to provide goods and
services to you (e.g. banks) is impossible. So simply maximisng is
all you can do.
Leny
