Re: [Devil-linux-develop] new hostap driver and more ...

[Friedrich L. <fl...@fl...>]

Hi Emmanuel!

Emmanuel ESCARABAJAL wrote on 03.01.2004 15:38 MET:
> here is the COPYRIGHT provided with tarball archive from sourceforge ...
> [..]
> 
> and here an extract of the README file ...
> 
> The ath_hal module contains the Atheros Hardware Access Layer (HAL).
> This code manages much of the chip-specific operation of the driver.
> The HAL is provided in a binary-only form in order to comply with FCC
> regulations.  In particular, a radio transmitter can only be operated at
> power levels and on frequency channels for which it is approved.  The FCC
> requires that a software-defined radio cannot be configured by a user
> to operate outside the approved power levels and frequency channels.
> This makes it difficult to open-source code that enforces limits on
> the power levels, frequency channels and other parameters of the radio
> transmitter.  See
> 
> http://ftp.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Orders/2001/fcc01264.pdf
> 
> for the specific FCC regulation.  Because the module is provided in a
> binary-only form it is marked "Proprietary"; this means when you load
> it you will see messages that your system is now "tainted".

But you have to check the page where the binary only stuff comes
from if they allow packing or not and under which conditions.

Remark: AFAIK please keep in mind that you need different
HAL modules for Europe and the US as there are other
frequencies involved in wireless lan here and there.

> Is it a problem to comply with FCC regulations ? Is GPL v2 enough ?

As said you have to check the licence of the binary-only stuff.
The stuff under GPL is not a problem as it only loads and controls
the most important binary-only part.

> there is a full gpl driver but, at this time, it's only capable of 
> lightning the leds !

Sadly to hear that.

> Furthermore, this driver is hostAP Capable ... so very interesting for 
> use with :
> 
> Netgear WAG511 & WAB501,
> D-Link DWL-AG520, DWL-AG650 & DWL-AB650,
> Linksys WPC55AG, WMP55AG & WPC51AB
> 
> for the most spreaded ...

Yes I can follow you but if we get into commercial copyright law we
have to be damned sure what we are including.

-- 
MfG / Regards
Friedrich Lobenstock
____________________________________________________________________
Friedrich Lobenstock                       Linux Services Lobenstock
URL: http://www.lsl.at/                         Email: fl...@fl...
____________________________________________________________________