Re: [Acx100-users] Firmware directory.

[Marcel K. <mk...@en...>]

Am Samstag, 11. Dezember 2004 23:52 schrieb Miguel Gea Milvaques:

Hello,

> I've received a bug about debian acx100 package
> (http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=285218). The bug talks
> about the correct place to put firmware files.
>
> The FHS 2.1 in 4.4 says:

The current Version of FHS announced on January 29 this year is 2.3 and can be 
found at [1]

> "/usr/lib includes object files, libraries, and internal binaries that
> are not intended to be executed directly by users or shell scripts."
> ...
> "Miscellaneous architecture-independent application-specific static
> files and subdirectories should be placed in /usr/share"

Same text in the 2.3 Version but now with a footnote that reads:

Miscellaneous architecture-independent application-specific static files and 
subdirectories _must_ be placed in /usr/share

(footnote replaced 2. paragraph)

> I asked the previous debian package maintainer and in debian-devel,
> debian-mentors irc channels.
>
> Then:
>
>  * /usr/share/acx could be not the correct place for firmware files (?)

Did they give any reason? IMHO is this the right place for the firmware image 
and I'm really curious about their cases :-)

>  * The possible correct place tho place them is /usr/lib/acx100

4.7. /usr/lib : Libraries for programming and packages
Purpose: (as stated above)

This directory contains object files, libraries, and internal binaries which 
are loaded at runtime by programms. But a Firmware is loaded up to a "piece 
of hardware" to run it like a minimal OS (Yes, i know, only in the broadest 
sense ^^)

>    or one in /lib/firmware, /usr/local/lib/firmware,

3.9. /lib : Essential shared libraries and kernel modules
3.9.1. Purpose
The /lib directory contains those shared library images needed to boot the 
system and run the commands in the root filesystem, ie. by binaries in /bin 
and /sbin.

This firmware is not nessecary to boot the system. Is it in fact actually 
possible to do a Network boot with a WLAN-Card without having it's firmware 
uploaded? But I think this is OT.

4.8.2. /usr/local : Local hierarchy
4.8.2.1. Purpose
The /usr/local hierarchy is for use by the system administrator when 
installing software locally. It needs to be safe from being overwritten when 
the system software is updated. It may be used for programs and data that are 
shareable amongst a group of hosts, but not found in /usr.

Nothing installed with any installer of the system (apt-utility in debians 
case) should be placed here, it is reserved for software installed manually 
(i. e.) compiled with make. (But not static delivered programs which should 
be placed to /opt)

>    /usr/lib/hotplug/firmware directories (if it will use hotplug)

Not the right place IMHO for the above given reason on /usr/lib/

> If you agree with me, it could be fixed in a new release.

Fortunatelly I don't have to agree with you on that :-) I'm glad about it, 
because I know that discussions about the FHS in most cases start a fully 
fledged religious war. I just wanted to say, that in my point of 
view /usr/share/ is the right location. But on the other hand, it won't be 
any problem for me to put it elsewere :-)

Have Fun!


[1] http://www.pathname.com/fhs/pub/fhs-2.3.pdf