Subject: Re: Alcatel DSL drivers
To: None <Chris.Smith@raytheon.co.uk>
From: Jorgen Lundman <lundman@lundman.net>
List: netbsd-users
Date: 03/23/2001 11:39:21
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Chris.Smith@raytheon.co.uk wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> > I see they've release the Linux drivers for Alcatel DSL USB modems. Is
> > anyone looking at the NBSD version of that? The OpenSource section
> > http://www.alcatel.com/consumer/dsl/SpeedTouch.tar.gz
> > seems to be linked against a "sarlib" which appears to be not available.
> >
> > As it is kernel level I suspect there is little chance to simply /emul
> > it ?:)
>
> Two problems:-
>
> 1/ Linux drivers dont work on NetBSD at all, so a rewrite
> would be required.
Oh yeah, but I think we have all the bits required for a re-write. Just
needs the knowledge. I know NBSD fairly well, with some kernel stuff,
but I know nothing of Linux kernels so I'm not sure I'm up to it, unless
there is some How to convert from Linux kernel drivers to NetBSD
documentation about.
>
> 2/ Their definition of Open is not 100% open AFAIK. Read
> the license. You could probably write a firmware loader
> and distribute it, but not the firmware, which you'd
> need to download but you cant because you need the
> device to get on the internet to get the firmware
> with ;) Thats a hypothetical worst case situation
> though ;))
Personally I'm not at all interested in getting the source for the
firmware, it is proprietry and probably some weird CPU (just guessing).
You get the firmware with the Windows drivers, so you'd never be quite
as stuck as above :)
Lund
--
Jorgen "Lord" Lundman <lundman@lundman.net>
Technology Manager, Unix Administrator
Phone: +44 (020)8659-1860 Mobile: (07958)642-918
Pager: 07958642918@one2one.net
"Rare is the person who can weigh the faults of others
without putting his thumb on the scales": Byron J. Langenfeld
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<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Chris.Smith@raytheon.co.uk wrote:</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> Hi,</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> > I see they've release the Linux drivers =
for Alcatel DSL USB modems. Is</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> > anyone looking at the NBSD version of =
that? The OpenSource section</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> > <A =
HREF=3D"http://www.alcatel.com/consumer/dsl/SpeedTouch.tar.gz" =
TARGET=3D"_blank">http://www.alcatel.com/consumer/dsl/SpeedTouch.tar.gz<=
/A></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> > seems to be linked against a =
"sarlib" which appears to be not available.</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> ></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> > As it is kernel level I suspect there is =
little chance to simply /emul</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> > it ?:)</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> Two problems:-</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> 1/ Linux drivers dont work on NetBSD at all, so =
a rewrite</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> would be required.</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Oh yeah, but I think we have all the bits required =
for a re-write. Just</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>needs the knowledge. I know NBSD fairly well, with =
some kernel stuff,</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>but I know nothing of Linux kernels so I'm not sure =
I'm up to it, unless</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>there is some How to convert from Linux kernel =
drivers to NetBSD</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>documentation about.</FONT>
</P>
<BR>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>> </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> 2/ Their definition of Open is not 100% open =
AFAIK. Read</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> the license. You could =
probably write a firmware loader</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> and distribute it, but not =
the firmware, which you'd</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> need to download but you cant =
because you need the</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> device to get on the internet =
to get the firmware</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> with ;) Thats a =
hypothetical worst case situation</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>> though ;))</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Personally I'm not at all interested in getting the =
source for the</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>firmware, it is proprietry and probably some weird =
CPU (just guessing).</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>You get the firmware with the Windows drivers, so =
you'd never be quite</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>as stuck as above :)</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Lund</FONT>
</P>
<BR>
<BR>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>-- </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Jorgen "Lord" Lundman =
<lundman@lundman.net></FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Technology Manager, Unix Administrator</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Phone: +44 (020)8659-1860 Mobile: =
(07958)642-918</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Pager: 07958642918@one2one.net</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>"Rare is the person who can weigh the faults of =
others </FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=3D2> without putting his thumb on the scales": =
Byron J. Langenfeld</FONT>
</P>
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