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: Jacob K <jacobk <at> disroot.org>
Subject: bug#57269: closed (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 15:48:04 +0000

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Your bug report

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

which was filed against the guix package, has been closed.

The explanation is attached below, along with your original report.
If you require more details, please reply to 57269 <at> debbugs.gnu.org.

-- 
57269: https://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi/bugreport.cgi?bug=57269
GNU Bug Tracking System
Contact help-debbugs <at> gnu.org with problems

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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

[Message part 3 (message/rfc822, inline)]

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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