Firmware is needed after kernel upgrade

10110111 · 07-03-2010, 07:06 PM

I've upgraded from linux 2.6.29.4 to 2.6.34. My Ralink 2860 used to work on the previous kernel, but now it says

Code:

[40618.867750] rt2860 0000:01:00.0: firmware: requesting rt2860.bin
[40618.887624] rt2860 0000:01:00.0: firmware file rt2860.bin request failed (-2)
[40618.887638] ERROR! NICLoadFirmware failed, Status[=0x00000001]
[40618.887650] rt28xx Initialized fail!

and trying to

Code:

sudo ifconfig wlan0 up

leads to "Operation not permitted" error.
Also, i noticed that network interface name changed from ra0 to wlan0 after upgrade.
What's up? Why do i need to use a firmware module which i never had to use? I.e. why does kernel need it now but didn't need it before?

AlucardZero · 07-03-2010, 09:28 PM

Non-free firmware separated out into a different package. You don't mention what distro, but see http://wiki.debian.org/rt2860sta ; since it's a kernel thing the reason is the same, but the solution might be different. You'll have to get the firmware somehow.

10110111 · 07-04-2010, 08:32 AM

Quote:

You don't mention what distro

It's Ubuntu. But this doesn't matter, i just installed vanilla kernel, so the problem would arise on any distro. I installed the latest linux-firmware which contains licensed firmware, i.e. not that 'non-free', so wonder, why isn't this firmware inside the kernel package while the driver is. According to your link, the firmware was removed from the kernel... but as it is in the licensed linux-firmware package, i would like to know why it's been removed...

AlucardZero · 07-04-2010, 10:14 AM

Probably because it's non-free? I mean, it's in the non-free section of Debian..

10110111 · 07-05-2010, 09:16 AM

Quote:

I mean, it's in the non-free section of Debian

Strange... Then this must mean that Debian and Ubuntu are different in their understanding of 'free'... or maybe i just haven't understood something.

pixellany · 07-05-2010, 09:26 AM

Lots of SW, libraries, drivers, etc, have to be compiled for the kernel you are using. When you upgrade using the package manager, that is typically all taken care of----except for things that were installed manually (ie without the package manager)

Quote:

Then this must mean that Debian and Ubuntu are different in their understanding of 'free'

The definition of "free" is probably not the issue. Different distros have different policies about when and how to include non-free SW.

craigevil · 07-05-2010, 09:49 AM

IDK about Ubuntu but in Debian the kernel module is in the kernel but you still need the firmware.

/lib/modules/2.6.32-5-686/kernel/drivers/staging/rt2860
/lib/modules/2.6.32-5-686/kernel/drivers/staging/rt2860/rt2860sta.ko
firmware-ralink - Binary firmware for Ralink wireless cards

pixellany · 07-05-2010, 09:52 AM

I've never seen firmware get installed as a kernel module....

craigevil · 07-05-2010, 10:35 AM

From the dpkg bot in #debian
The vendor driver for Ralink RT2760/RT2790/RT2860/RT2890 PCI 802.11n wireless LAN devices (rt2860sta) is included as a staging driver (amd64,i386 only) in mainline Linux kernels from 2.6.29. Firmware is required, ask me about <ralink firmware>. Installation procedure at http://wiki.debian.org/rt2860sta .

Firmware from userspace is required by the <rt61pci> and <rt73usb> drivers. It is also required by the <rt2860sta>, <rt2870sta>, <rt2800usb> and <rt3090sta> drivers available in Squeeze's 2.6.32 kernel. Ask me about <non-free sources>, then install the firmware-ralink package to provide.

non-free sources
<dpkg> Edit /etc/apt/sources.list, ensure that the two main Debian mirror lines end with "main contrib non-free" rather than just "main", then aptitude update. But bear in mind that you'll be installing <non-free> software. These may have onerous terms; check the licenses.

Ubuntu may handle it differently.