Upgrade from 9.3 Pro to 10.1 and using an Atheros card how does the "non-GPL kernel modules" descision affect me?
Hi, I'm still running on SuSE Pro 9.3 and it is in urgent need of an update to a more recent system. Should 9.3 be upgradeable to 10.1? Or should I consider a reinstall? I use a Atheros wireless card so I guess the descision to not distribute "non-GPL kernel modules" will cause problems for me since I guess the ath-driver won't be supplied with 10.1? I googled and I searched the mailinglists for a answer to this question but I didn't find any answer which could make me understand what I need to do? so I can get "non GPL" kernels with bugfixes etc? Or will Novell's commercial SUSE Linux 10.1 kernel include "non-GPL kernel modules"? Best Regards Patrik
On Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:46, Patrik Dahl wrote:
Hi,
I'm still running on SuSE Pro 9.3 and it is in urgent need of an update to a more recent system. Should 9.3 be upgradeable to 10.1? Or should I consider a reinstall?
I use a Atheros wireless card so I guess the descision to not distribute "non-GPL kernel modules" will cause problems for me since I guess the ath-driver won't be supplied with 10.1? I googled and I searched the mailinglists for a answer to this question but I didn't find any answer which could make me understand what I need to do? so I can get "non GPL" kernels with bugfixes etc?
Or will Novell's commercial SUSE Linux 10.1 kernel include "non-GPL kernel modules"?
I use OSS 10. OSS 10 ships non-GPL part as a source only. A compiled rmp you find in a commercial version. You have two options: install the kernel-non-GPL part from commercial version, and compile kernel source and madwifi source (either from non-GPL kernel source or from madwifi site). Both options work well. -- Marek Chlopek
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The Tuesday 2006-05-16 at 10:46 +0200, Patrik Dahl wrote:
I use a Atheros wireless card so I guess the descision to not distribute "non-GPL kernel modules" will cause problems for me since I guess the ath-driver won't be supplied with 10.1?
Have a look at the non-oss aka add-on CD. - -- Cheers, Carlos Robinson -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.0 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Made with pgp4pine 1.76 iD8DBQFEaaEotTMYHG2NR9URAmrSAKCRrGevB5HUjGL+xNAobFRXSOMsKwCeMZ8n B43DAXx+fekPWeZccN9QmQA= =n/ae -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
I didn't burn the CD but I looked at the directory of the ftp server, and it looks like it contains applications rather than a "Non GPL" kernel. I'm Downloading the CD now. I did find some information that Ndiswrapper (http://en.opensuse.org/HCL/Network_Adapters_%28Wireless%29) is recommended and sure, that is a great "When everything else fails" application (CPU/Memoryhungry but working) but to use it when there is a real (ok, non GPL..) Linux driver for it....that sounds...strange? I also found some earlier posts that recommends KOTD (Kernel Of The Day) but I'm not sure if it contains "Non GPL" modules anymore? and I really wanna be on a supported SUSE kernel which is upgraded with security fixes etc... So, does anyone know if the commercial version of SuSE 10.1 includes a Non-GPL kernel? Can an up-to-date Non-GPL kernel be downloaded somewhere else? Best Regards Patrik PS: Is upgrade to 10.1 safe from 9.3 if I can solve a hardware questions, like my atheros card? Carlos E. R. skrev:
The Tuesday 2006-05-16 at 10:46 +0200, Patrik Dahl wrote:
I use a Atheros wireless card so I guess the descision to not distribute "non-GPL kernel modules" will cause problems for me since I guess the ath-driver won't be supplied with 10.1?
Have a look at the non-oss aka add-on CD.
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The Tuesday 2006-05-16 at 12:24 +0200, Patrik Dahl wrote:
I didn't burn the CD but I looked at the directory of the ftp server, and it looks like it contains applications rather than a "Non GPL" kernel. I'm Downloading the CD now.
I looked and didn't see your driver (misspeling?), but I did see the softmodem parts.
PS: Is upgrade to 10.1 safe from 9.3 if I can solve a hardware questions, like my atheros card?
Dunno. I also have to update from 9.3, but I'll wait some time first. You can try to install it fresh in another partition, and see how it goes. I did that with the RC1..3 - -- Cheers, Carlos Robinson -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.0 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Made with pgp4pine 1.76 iD8DBQFEacBstTMYHG2NR9URAo+zAJsFskVTEuxR6XtG2FLzF77klNvyhACeNX/0 akvKuSI9eNfB2x0pxJJ7WhA= =OpgM -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
The Download did finally complete....and No "Non GPL" kernel or atheros driver was available on that CD as Carlos E. R. allready had verified. This is feeling like a showstopper at the moment :( Regards Patrik Carlos E. R. skrev:
The Tuesday 2006-05-16 at 12:24 +0200, Patrik Dahl wrote:
I didn't burn the CD but I looked at the directory of the ftp server, and it looks like it contains applications rather than a "Non GPL" kernel. I'm Downloading the CD now.
I looked and didn't see your driver (misspeling?), but I did see the softmodem parts.
PS: Is upgrade to 10.1 safe from 9.3 if I can solve a hardware questions, like my atheros card?
Dunno. I also have to update from 9.3, but I'll wait some time first.
You can try to install it fresh in another partition, and see how it goes. I did that with the RC1..3
--- Patrik Dahl
So, does anyone know if the commercial version of SuSE 10.1 includes a Non-GPL kernel? Can an up-to-date Non-GPL kernel be downloaded somewhere else?
AFAIK no version of SUSE 10.1 comes with Madwifi support built in at the moment. Options: 1) Upgrade to 10.0 instead of 10.1. 10.0 has Madwifi in the NONGPL kernel rpm, part of extras. 2) Use ndiswrapper if you are running a 32bit x86 box. I agree that this is more of a work-around than a solution. 3) Compile and install Madwifi. You will need gcc, make, Madwifi sources, and kernel sources. This is what I did to get Madwifi working on my 10.1 x86_64 box. If you have a 32 bit box you might be able to find and install the madwifi-1468-14.i586 rpm, but I really have no idea if it would work or not. Compiling and installing from source did work.
participants (4)
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Carlos E. R. -
Marek Chlopek -
Patrik Dahl -
Wendell Sexson