On Tuesday 29 January 2002 1:13 pm, Pierre Rousselet wrote:
> Zwane Mwaikambo wrote:
> > But i still think proprietory modules showing up in problem traces is
> > usually enough to warrant the trace as useless. The fact that it works
> > now and not then could be anybody's guess.
>
> The kernel module is actually open-source and could even be merged in
> the kernel tree. If the modem was smart it would run its own firmware
> without relying on the client's machine to do it.
>
> Q1: Are the ST USB drivers for Linux completely Open Source ?
>
> A1: Alcatel supports the Open Source Movement, but feels it has to
> protect it's Intellectual property. Therefore, The drivers are only
> partially Open Source.
> There is a open source kernel-module (GPL) and a closed source
> management application. The management application is distributed as a
> binary and contains the firmware.
It should be possible to replace the Alcatel management application using
code from the user space speedtouch driver project
(see http://speedtouch.sourceforge.net). Of course the firmware uploaded
to the modem would still be closed source, but no closed source program
would run on the computer. Since the module is open-source (GPL) there
is no problem adding the appropriate licence symbol to it, avoiding the "tainted"
problem.
All the best, Duncan.
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu Jan 31 2002 - 21:01:02 EST