[3357] in linux-net channel archive
Re: Bug in 1.2.13 firewall?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (lilo)
Thu Jun 20 05:48:43 1996
From: lilo <TaRDiS@mail.utexas.edu>
Date: Wed, 19 Jun 1996 20:49:13 -0500 (CDT)
To: Dennis <dennis@etinc.com>
cc: hab <hab@ece.engr.ucf.edu>, ATPlack <ATPlack@scj.com>,
linux-net@vger.rutgers.edu
In-Reply-To: <199606192212.SAA06341@etinc.com>
On Wed, 19 Jun 1996, Dennis wrote:
> > If your board is not prpietary does this mean that have
> >available with no restrictions the data that allows your board
> >to be used. Ie things like register addresses, the meaning of
> >bits in status registers etc. much like we would get from
> >Hewlett Packard when we get their developers kit for their
> >products. They also supply binary only drivers, but they also
> >supply data that allows independent developers to incorporate
> >their hardware into non HP supported products. I am not suggesting
> >that you supply the board unbundled, but that you allow the additional
> >flexability of the board being used in manners that you would find
> >unechnomical support?
>
> This information is available. Problem with most of you guys is that
> you complain, complain, complain....when all you have to do is ask for
> it. We've also offered to provide lower cost "spare" boards for use
> with such drivers. The only stipulation is that we dont give support for
> development with the processor that we use...the spec for that
> part (SGS MK5025) is publically available...so dont call us and ask
> us how it works...call them.
Um, if there's nothing proprietary about the hardware, it seems to me the
choices are all there. I have never been worried about binary-only drivers
if the specs for the hardware were freely available. If there's really a
problem here, it seems to me it's more of the sort of `philosophy of free
software' variety that would be a good topic to take to a GNU newsgroup....
Free software works. In a lot of ways it shines even better when there's
non-free-software competition to compare it to. If Dennis' company is using
documented, stock components, then it has created the perfect opportunity
for that sort of competition.
lilo
