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jf384

Member

Registered: 2018-06-28

Posts: 5  

non-free available upon fresh install?

Hi-

btw...first post!

We have Dell production servers with Broadcom onboard nic. We've been using Debian non-free iso to get the install to work smoothly.
I want to convince the team to switch to Devuan, but I can't figure out if Devuan netinst iso grabs non-free drivers by default. 

I'm testing in VBox, so of course everything installs fine. (I just can't practice on the production servers.)

I see that /etc/apt/sources.list shows the cdrom line has non-free, but it's commented out. Does this mean that when it first ran it used non-free, then later during install it gets automatically commented out? Or is it off by default?

I'd rather not use the Live version for installing...team just wants things like the old days...and I don't want systemd!!
Is there a way to make sure non-free is going to get used automatically *during* fresh install? 
Thank you.

cynwulf

Member

Registered: 2017-10-09

Posts: 234  

Re: non-free available upon fresh install?

I believe the Devuan iso images include the proprietary firmware (much like the Debian unofficial iso images).

jf384

Member

Registered: 2018-06-28

Posts: 5  

Re: non-free available upon fresh install?

OK, thanks.
So, if we just run with the Devuan netinst iso, the Broadcom drivers should be there right off the bat.

basati

Member

Registered: 2018-04-03

Posts: 37  

Re: non-free available upon fresh install?

if is possible the problem are in the kernel. And then you need compile kernel. I'm not use the default linux-image, because any drivers i need are no market as module in default linux-image

Basati

---

Gora gu ta gutarrok

8=þ

fsmithred

Administrator

Registered: 2016-11-25

Posts: 2,486  

Re: non-free available upon fresh install?

Depends on which broadcom firmware you need. Some of the broadcom packages require a network connection to download the actual firmware files. Your might need to use a wired connection for the netinstall.

jf384

Member

Registered: 2018-06-28

Posts: 5  

Re: non-free available upon fresh install?

Yes, it will only be wired. I don't remember which combination of Debian+Dell version stopped finding all devices...until only the third-party(?) non-free iso was only version that would recognize NICs on a fresh install.
As long as it runs with non-free, I'm confident the NICs in these Dell R920 will be found.

BTW...Is there a Devuan DVD iso that also has non-free? Thinking there'd be more variety of drivers baked-in to the image.

Thanks.

fsmithred

Administrator

Registered: 2016-11-25

Posts: 2,486  

Re: non-free available upon fresh install?

All the live isos have non-free wireless firmware already installed (except for a few broadcom packages) and all the installer isos have non-free wireless and other firmware packages in /firmware in the iso.

jf384

Member

Registered: 2018-06-28

Posts: 5  

Re: non-free available upon fresh install?

Yes, thanks fsmithred.