Lenovo, Dell, and HP Financially Support Linux Vendor Firmware Service (itsfoss.com) 9
The It's FOSS blog has news about the Linux Vendor Firmware Service, which gives hardware vendors a secure portal to upload firmware updates "which can then be downloaded and installed by users through clients such as GNOME Software or fwupdmgr." (Originally developed in 2015 by GNOME maintainer Richard Hughes...)
The issue, however, obviously, had been funding with the largest contributors being the usual suspects, Framework and Open Source Framework Foundation, at $10K a year. Recently, however, Lenovo and Dell joined suite as Premier sponsors, which is the highest tier at $100K a year each, making the project more sustainable and manageable.
These companies contributing makes a lot of sense, considering they are two of the bigger computer companies which offer Linux by default in some cases, especially with Lenovo's ThinkPads being the Linux users' favorite for decades. And now... HP has followed suit as a Premier sponsor, also providing $100K a year, right alongside Dell and Lenovo...
The question still remains, however, where are the other vendors? What are they waiting for... This major move by these three companies should not only be seen as a sign of relief and wider acceptance of the usage of Linux, but as a beacon for other vendors to follow, who ought to make their hardware more accessible to the open-source community.
These companies contributing makes a lot of sense, considering they are two of the bigger computer companies which offer Linux by default in some cases, especially with Lenovo's ThinkPads being the Linux users' favorite for decades. And now... HP has followed suit as a Premier sponsor, also providing $100K a year, right alongside Dell and Lenovo...
The question still remains, however, where are the other vendors? What are they waiting for... This major move by these three companies should not only be seen as a sign of relief and wider acceptance of the usage of Linux, but as a beacon for other vendors to follow, who ought to make their hardware more accessible to the open-source community.
What's the problem? (Score:2)
I dont understand what's the problem they are fixing. Why would someone go to a 3rd party site for firmware files when the vendors have download sites? Or i
Re: (Score:3)
Running fwupdmgr on my system, there's 9 different devices it detects. There was no way I was, nor will I regularly, visit 9 different vendor websites checking to see if their latest firmware version is newer than the versions I have. Further, those sites often get redesigned and old versions randomly disappear. That's why people grab them from random 3rd party websites. You can find those 3rd party sites when searching online using your product model. You don't find the company's upgrade site. Having
Re: (Score:3)
I dont understand what's the problem they are fixing. Why would someone go to a 3rd party site for firmware files when the vendors have download sites? Or is this really about the vendors agreeing to provide linux compatible CAB files?
This is mostly about the server manufacturers, and their commitment to supporting their Linux server customers (which may include some larger data centers), who are in various stages of insisting on fwupd/lvfs for firmware deployment rather than unique (and often Windows based) executable files for updates. Helping to pay for the bill to maintain the lvfs repository allows those manufacturers to compete for the large sales to customers who now have a fwupd/lvfs requirement in the RFP.
While some vendors
Re: (Score:2)
It's nice that Dell is financially supporting this, but - I wish they'd support it for more machines. Last time I checked, it appeared Dell only supported this for a single model out of their entire line.
Re: (Score:2)
It's nice that Dell is financially supporting this, but - I wish they'd support it for more machines.
In one of the fwupd organizations github repositories (fwupd/firmware-dell) you can request additional systems (they actually provide firmware for a number of their current gen systems, but certainly not all). https://fwupd.org/lvfs/search?... [fwupd.org] for a quick list of the supported Dell platforms today.
Re: (Score:2)
Try going to those sites for hardware you bought 5 years ago but don't have a support contract for.
Malware distribution in 3.. 2.. 1.. (Score:3)
I can easily see how this central firmware delivery service will become the target of a malicious actor at some point. Just a matter of time.
Surprising Absolutely No One (Score:2)
Neither the article, nor its source, explain what this site is for, why anyone would go to it, why a website would cost so much... nor anything else.
I rely solely on my distros to provide updates, including things like kernel firmware. Though I have no idea what the fuck kernel firmware is or does.
Anyway, apparently Richard Hughes is now getting a big fat pay cheque.
Re: (Score:3)
>"Neither the article, nor its source, explain what this site is for, why anyone would go to it, why a website would cost so much... nor anything else."
Yeah, I don't understand why so much money would be needed for just a "web site". More must be going on.
>"I rely solely on my distros to provide updates, including things like kernel firmware. Though I have no idea what the fuck kernel firmware is or does."
The idea is primarily for certain non-open-source firmware, like the BIOS/UEFI, and closed firmw