diff options
author | Frans Pop <elendil@planet.nl> | 2008-10-03 19:11:55 +0000 |
---|---|---|
committer | Frans Pop <elendil@planet.nl> | 2008-10-03 19:11:55 +0000 |
commit | 5330abfe2785291648dca87312e1cd860300c09a (patch) | |
tree | a1ebcbb50438795dc675ce7c709c09f1713ff4c8 /en/using-d-i/loading-firmware.xml | |
parent | 25e826383aad600be87cf771d0094f43783d85ec (diff) | |
download | installation-guide-5330abfe2785291648dca87312e1cd860300c09a.zip |
Update of untranslated documents
Diffstat (limited to 'en/using-d-i/loading-firmware.xml')
-rw-r--r-- | en/using-d-i/loading-firmware.xml | 131 |
1 files changed, 131 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/en/using-d-i/loading-firmware.xml b/en/using-d-i/loading-firmware.xml new file mode 100644 index 000000000..fcced447a --- /dev/null +++ b/en/using-d-i/loading-firmware.xml @@ -0,0 +1,131 @@ +<!-- retain these comments for translator revision tracking --> +<!-- $Id$ --> + + <sect1 id="loading-firmware" arch="not-s390"> + <title>Loading Missing Firmware</title> +<para> + +As described in <xref linkend="hardware-firmware"/> some devices require +firmware to be loaded. In most cases the device will not work at all +if the firmware is not available; sometimes basic functionality is not +impaired if it is missing and the firmware is only needed to enable +additional features. + +</para><para> + +If a device driver requests firmware that is not available, &d-i; will +display a dialog offering to load the missing firmware. If that question +is confirmed, &d-i; will scan available devices for either loose firmware +files or packages containing firmware. If found, the firmware will be +copied to the correct location (<filename>/lib/firmware</filename>) and +the driver module will be reloaded. + +</para> +<note><para> + +Which devices are scanned and which file systems are supported depends on +the architecture, the installation method and the stage of the installation. +Especially during the early stages of the installation, loading the firmware +is most likely to succeed from a FAT-formatted floppy disk or USB stick. +<phrase arch="x86">On i386 and amd64 firmware can also be loaded from an +MMC or SD card.</phrase> + +</para></note> +<para> + +Note that it is possible to skip loading the firmware if you know the +device will also function without it or if the device is not needed during +the installation. + +</para> +<warning><para> + +Support for loading firmware is still relatively basic and is likely to +be improved in future releases of the installer. Please report any issues +you encounter. + +</para></warning> + + <sect2><title>Preparing a medium</title> +<para> + +Although in some cases the firmware can also be loaded from a partition on +a hard disk, the most common method to load firmware will be from some +removable medium such as a floppy disk or a USB stick. +The firmware files or packages must be placed in either the root directory +or a directory named <filename>/firmware</filename> of the file system on +the medium. The recommended file system to use is FAT as that is most +certain to be supported during the early stages of the installation. + +</para><para> + +Tarballs containing current packages for the most common firmware are +available from: + +<itemizedlist> +<listitem><para> +<ulink url="&url-firmware-tarballs;"/> +</para></listitem> +</itemizedlist> + +Just download the tarball for the correct release and unpack it to the file +system on the medium. + +</para><para> + +If the firmware you need is not included in the tarball, you can also +download specific firmware packages from the (non-free section of the) +archive. The following overview should list most available firmware +packages but is not guaranteed to be complete and may also contain +non-firmware packages: + +<itemizedlist> +<listitem><para> +<ulink url="&url-firmware-packages;"/> +</para></listitem> +</itemizedlist> + +</para><para> + +It is also possible to copy individual firmware files to the medium. Loose +firmware could be obtained for example from an already installed system or +from a hardware vendor. + +</para> + </sect2> + + <sect2><title>Firmware and the Installed System</title> +<para> + +Any firmware loaded during the installation will be copied automatically +to the installed system. In most cases this will ensure that the device +that requires the firmware will also work correctly after the system is +rebooted into the installed system. However, if the installed system runs +a different kernel version from the installer there is a slight chance that +the firmware cannot be loaded due to version skew. + +</para><para> + +If the firmware was loaded from a firmware package, &d-i; will also install +this package for the installed system and will automatically add the non-free +section of the package archive in APT's <filename>sources.list</filename>. +This has the advantage that the firmware should be updated automatically if +new a version becomes available. + +</para><para> + +If loading the firmware was skipped during the installation, the relevant +device will probably not work with the installed system until the firmware +(package) is installed manually. + +</para> +<note><para> + +If the firmware was loaded from loose firmware files, the firmware copied to +the installed system will <emphasis>not</emphasis> be automatically updated +unless the corresponding firmware package (if available) is installed after +the installation is completed. + +</para></note> + </sect2> + </sect1> |