[SOLVED] Upgrading Remote Computer to 7.0 - Needs Non-free Firmware for NIC
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Upgrading Remote Computer to 7.0 - Needs Non-free Firmware for NIC
Hey there,
Bit of a pinch. I'm upgrading our Debian boxes to 7.0 and ran into a snag on one of them. It requires non-free firmware for the Ethernet adapter that I'm using for my connection.
During the 'apt-get dist-upgrade' it displays the following message. The only option that I have is 'OK'. If I continue, will I lose it?
As the machine is an hour or so drive away, I would like to stop it now and download the package manually.
Code:
Package configuration
тттттттттттттттттЄ Configuring linux-image-3.2.0-4-686-pae тттттттттттттттттт
т т
т Required firmware files may be missing
т
т This system is currently running Linux 2.6.32-5-686 and you are
т installing Linux 3.2.0-4-686-pae. In the new version some of the
т drivers used on this system may require additional firmware files:
т
т r8169: rtl_nic/rtl8168f-2.fw, rtl_nic/rtl8168f-1.fw,
т rtl_nic/rtl8105e-1.fw, rtl_nic/rtl8168e-3.fw, rtl_nic/rtl8168e-2.fw,
т rtl_nic/rtl8168e-1.fw, rtl_nic/rtl8168d-2.fw, rtl_nic/rtl8168d-1.fw
т
т Most firmware files are not included in the system because they do not
т conform to the Debian Free Software Guidelines. You may need to
т reconfigure the package manager to include the contrib and non-free
т sections of the package archive before you can install these firmware
т
т <Ok>
т т
тттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттттт
At present, no I don't although I'm sure I must of had it. It's in the middle of it's upgrade process so I'm thinking that it's been removed already. Is there a way to confirm that? I've just greped the /var/log/apt/history.log* files but there are no traces of it. The only firmware package currently installed is firmware-linux-free which doesn't contain any Realtek firmware. Now I'm wondering how it ever worked. I'm sure it was installed using a netinst without using firmware.
Usually you can Ctrl-C out of "apt-get upgrade" with out too many problems. Anyway, even if the upgrade continues you should have no problems until you boot into the new kernel. So, I would suggest continuing with the upgrade, and once it has finished install the firmware package, *before* booting into the new kernel.
[SOLVED] Upgrading Remote Computer to 7.0 - Needs Non-free Firmware for NIC
Hi evo2,
Thanks for your replies.
According to dpkg, I don't have the firmware installed at present. I'm thinking that it's been removed during the upgrade process as I don't see how it would have been working previously without it.
As per your advice, I just went ahead with it. I had thought that Debian employed some form of ksplice in that once the upgrade was completed, I would already been running the latest kernel or some form of it. I see that I'm mistaken.
The key word here is "may". This message is given whether or not any files are actually missing. I've been getting it for years and there's never been a problem. I'd say ignore it unless there is a problem. If there is one, then you can describe it.
ciao,
jdk
I'd say ignore it unless there is a problem. If there is one, then you can describe it.
I think the OPs concern was that the potential problem would result in the machine having no working network interface... which is a serious problem for a remotely administered machine :-)
I think the OPs concern was that the potential problem would result in the machine having no working network interface... which is a serious problem for a remotely administered machine
FWIW, in this special case missing firmware would not prevent the network interface from working. This firmware is only needed if you want to make use of Gigabit Ethernet connections, it is not needed for 100Mbit or 10Mbit connections.
FWIW, in this special case missing firmware would not prevent the network interface from working. This firmware is only needed if you want to make use of Gigabit Ethernet connections, it is not needed for 100Mbit or 10Mbit connections.
Ah, that would explain why it was working previously. I'll have to remember that.
Thanks.
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Upgrading Remote Computer to 7.0 - Needs Non-free Firmware for NIC
