Date: Tue, 27 May 2003 07:43:15 -0500 From: David Leimbach <leimy2k@mac.com> To: Wilko Bulte <wkb@freebie.xs4all.nl> Cc: freebsd-current@freebsd.org Subject: Re: policy on GPL'd drivers? Message-ID: <C90CF9CA-9040-11D7-941E-0003937E39E0@mac.com> In-Reply-To: <20030527123626.GA76205@freebie.xs4all.nl>
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On Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at 07:36 AM, Wilko Bulte wrote: > On Tue, May 27, 2003 at 02:35:41PM +0200, Stijn Hoop wrote: >> On Tue, May 27, 2003 at 07:28:29AM -0500, David Leimbach wrote: >>> I have the GPLd source to the nforce drivers for Linux >>> to support the nVidia nforce and nforce2 drivers in the kernel. >>> >>> To port these to FreeBSD would be an interesting task [if it hasn't >>> already been done] and I have been looking for an excuse to get >>> down and dirty with FBSD. >>> [Yes... talk is cheap... just do it... Nike-a-go-go etc etc... :)] >>> >>> What is the policy on drivers that are clearly going to have to be >>> GPLd by the viral clause since I am referencing a GPL driver to do >>> the >>> porting work myself? Are these allowed in the kernel? > > Yes, see for example the GPL_ed floating point emulator. > > However the idea is that all GPL infected stuff be isolated, allowing a > fully working kernel without GPL stuff in there. Sounds like a "kernel module" is the way to go then. Perhaps it could exist in the ports tree instead of the mainline kernel sources :). I know I'd be happy with that... the problem is hosting the driver since I am sure "patching" it won't be enough to map the linux innards to freebsd's. > >>> <semi-joke> >>> Can we have a "tainted" flag for kernels running GPL drivers :). >>> </semi-joke> >> >> I'm interested in this too -- I have a working FreeBSD prototype of >> the >> i8k Linux driver, fan control for Dell laptops. I was planning to ask >> the author if he was willing to relicense it to BSD, but failing that > > A BSD license is ***strongly*** prefered. > Indeed. I am very grateful that nVidia open sourced the driver at all. I see that it was merged into 2.5.70's linux kernel version so it will be there supported in 2.6.x. I would hate to have to use other hardware for achieving the same effect on FreeBSD and lately. >> the answer to this question might be interesting. > > -- > | / o / /_ _ wilko@FreeBSD.org > |/|/ / / /( (_) Bulte
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