Re: [ PATCH ] RFC: Search and load drivers automatically from usb-storage media

[John Summerfield <debian herakles homelinux org>]

Sandeep_K_Shandilya Dell com wrote:
> Hello
>
> Qualified drivers for server hardware that are on on support.dell.com are dkms rpms (http://linux.dell.com/projects.shtml#dkms). The licensing is GPL.
>
> regards,
> sandeep.

If your _drivers_ are GPL-licenced, what is Dell doing to have them 
incorporated into the kernel?

However, if you're talking about this, then I really do not like it.
[root ns ~]# rpm -q dkms
dkms-2.0.17.6-1.el4.rf
[root ns ~]# rpm -qi dkms
Name        : dkms                         Relocations: (not relocatable)
Version     : 2.0.17.6                          Vendor: Dag Apt 
Repository, http://dag.wieers.com/apt/
Release     : 1.el4.rf                      Build Date: Fri 07 Mar 2008 
02:28:07 WST
Install Date: Thu 13 Mar 2008 20:41:23 WST      Build Host: 
lisse.leuven.wieers.com
Group       : System Environment/Kernel     Source RPM: 
dkms-2.0.17.6-1.el4.rf.src.rpm
Size        : 175402                           License: GPL
Signature   : DSA/SHA1, Fri 07 Mar 2008 02:57:27 WST, Key ID 
a20e52146b8d79e6
Packager    : Dag Wieers <dag wieers com>
URL         : http://linux.dell.com/dkms/
Summary     : Dynamic Kernel Module Support Framework
Description :
DKMS stands for Dynamic Kernel Module Support. It is designed to create
a framework where kernel dependant module source can reside so that it
is very easy to rebuild modules as you upgrade kernels. This will allow
Linux vendors to provide driver drops without having to wait for new
kernel releases while also taking out the guesswork for customers
attempting to recompile modules for new kernels.
[root ns ~]#


Given the choice between a system using this, and some other system 
using fully open source drivers, the first vendor had better have a 
damned good story (or the other be pitiful). That's exactly what bugs me 
about the madwifi drivers I found at a CentOS site.

dkms sounds a lot like ndiswrapper, and if a wireless card requires that 
to work, I don't consider it. There are better choices.

> And if the Vendor's Dell hear this. Standard graphics on Dells sucks 
> bunnies through garden hoses. I'm taking about whether it works at all, 
> not how swish it is, and I'm talking about on-board graphics.


--

Cheers
John

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