GNU bug report logs - #57269
[rtl8812au-aircrack-ng-linux-module] Missing Source for hal/rtl8812a/hal8812a_fw.c (and probably other files ending in fw.c)

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From: help-debbugs <at> gnu.org (GNU bug Tracking System)
To: Maxim Cournoyer <maxim.cournoyer <at> gmail.com>
Cc: tracker <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: bug#57269: closed ([rtl8812au-aircrack-ng-linux-module] Missing
 Source for hal/rtl8812a/hal8812a_fw.c (and probably other files ending in
 fw.c))
Date: Sat, 27 Aug 2022 15:48:03 +0000

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Your message dated Sat, 27 Aug 2022 11:47:40 -0400
with message-id <87y1v9bsdf.fsf <at> gmail.com>
and subject line Re: bug#57269: [rtl8812au-aircrack-ng-linux-module] Missing Source for hal/rtl8812a/hal8812a_fw.c (and probably other files ending in fw.c)
has caused the debbugs.gnu.org bug report #57269,
regarding [rtl8812au-aircrack-ng-linux-module] Missing Source for hal/rtl8812a/hal8812a_fw.c (and probably other files ending in fw.c)
to be marked as done.

(If you believe you have received this mail in error, please contact
help-debbugs <at> gnu.org.)


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57269: https://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=57269
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From: Jacob K <jacobk <at> disroot.org>
To: bug-guix <at> gnu.org
Subject: [rtl8812au-aircrack-ng-linux-module] Missing Source for
 hal/rtl8812a/hal8812a_fw.c (and probably other files ending in fw.c)
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2022 20:12:18 -0500

Files such as hal8812a_fw.c [1] have large arrays that seem to be binary
firmware encoded in text. My understanding is that source code is not
available, so I believe the files are nonfree software, and should, in
the short-term at least, be removed from Guix. Long term it would be
good to get the source code (via reverse engineering or asking Realtek),
but I imagine that would take a significant amount of time and effort (I
do have a Realtek USB Wi-Fi card, maybe not with this exact firmware
though.).

[1] web copy at
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/aircrack-ng/rtl8812au/6c1b4a333b067eaddc9b8b34927019b41b99bc36/hal/rtl8812a/hal8812a_fw.c

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From: Maxim Cournoyer <maxim.cournoyer <at> gmail.com>
To: Tobias Geerinckx-Rice <me <at> tobias.gr>
Cc: Jacob K <jacobk <at> disroot.org>, 57269-done <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#57269: [rtl8812au-aircrack-ng-linux-module] Missing Source
 for hal/rtl8812a/hal8812a_fw.c (and probably other files ending in fw.c)
Date: Sat, 27 Aug 2022 11:47:40 -0400

Hello,

Maxim Cournoyer <maxim.cournoyer <at> gmail.com> writes:

> Hi,
>
> Tobias Geerinckx-Rice <me <at> tobias.gr> writes:
>
>> Hi Jacob,
>>
>> Jacob K via Bug reports for GNU Guix 写道：
>>> Files such as hal8812a_fw.c [1] have large arrays that seem to be
>>> binary
>>> firmware encoded in text. My understanding is that source code is
>>> not
>>> available, so I believe the files are nonfree software,
>>
>> Even if free source code exists, we should still remove the blobs and
>> build our own.  (Yes, we actually do this for other firmware :-)
>>
>>> the short-term at least, be removed from Guix. Long term it would be
>>> good to get the source code (via reverse engineering or asking
>>> Realtek),
>>> but I imagine that would take a significant amount of time and
>>> effort (I
>>> do have a Realtek USB Wi-Fi card, maybe not with this exact firmware
>>> though.).
>>
>> Unfortunately all correct.  Another blow to wireless networking with
>> Guix.  Attached is a patch removing the rtl8821ce-linux-module and
>> rtl8812au-aircrack-ng-linux-module packages.

Closing, as the drivers were removed in Tobias's commit
b8f2eb286ec52c97048e23d326d94ae5772797e8.

Thanks,

Maxim

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