Marvell microkernel: Difference between revisions

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(→‎To Do: ARM manuals)
m (→‎History: Rearrange reference to interface spec)
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* [http://dev.laptop.org/ticket/46 Bug 46 Eliminate dependency on licensed code in Marvell firmware]
* [http://dev.laptop.org/ticket/46 Bug 46 Eliminate dependency on licensed code in Marvell firmware]
* [http://dev.laptop.org/ticket/429 Bug 429 wireless firmware not in-house]
* [http://dev.laptop.org/ticket/429 Bug 429 wireless firmware not in-house]
* The proprietary firmware implements [[:Media:Firmware-Spec-v5.1-MV-S103752-00.pdf|an interface]] which the Linux driver uses.
* The proprietary firmware implements an interface [[:Media:Firmware-Spec-v5.1-MV-S103752-00.pdf|(Firmware Spec)]] which the Linux driver uses.
* [http://dev.laptop.org/ticket/2177 Bug 2177 Need a document describing supported firmware features] Includes errata for Marvell manual.
* [http://dev.laptop.org/ticket/2177 Bug 2177 Need a document describing supported firmware features] Includes errata for Marvell interface manual.
* [http://lists.laptop.org/pipermail/devel/2006-December/003380.html Open-Source Substandard?] thread
* [http://lists.laptop.org/pipermail/devel/2006-December/003380.html Open-Source Substandard?] thread
* [http://www.marvell.com/drivers/driverDisplay.do?dId=160&pId=38 Marvell's proprietary code and license] including no-reverse-engineer clause "except to the extent that such restrictions are prohibited by applicable law."
* [http://www.marvell.com/drivers/driverDisplay.do?dId=160&pId=38 Marvell's proprietary code and license] including no-reverse-engineer clause "except to the extent that such restrictions are prohibited by applicable law."

Revision as of 07:58, 12 January 2008

The microkernel on the Marvell 88W8388 wireless chip is the only non-Free user-modifiable software on the XO laptop. This is where we explain what needs to be done to create a Free replacement, who is doing it, and what progress we have made.

Problem definition

Richard Stallman, in conversation with Ed Cherlin at the Linux CABAL, said that this driver is the only reason he doesn't support the XO. Ed thinks that support from rms and others who feel the same way is worth some trouble.

Theo de Raadt of OpenBSD is very angry at the use of this proprietary firmware module.

"The Marvell chip has very specific features that are essential to us -- stores its routing table in RAM, can forward packets through the mesh at low power while the main CPU is off, etc."--cjb

  • ARM 946E-S processor
  • Proprietary microkernel; Marvell does not own this code
  • Source code for OLPC driver written on top of this microkernel is available.
  • "The 88W8388 is a wireless controller chip made by Marvell. It is part of the unliberated Libertas chip family. Outside of this page, it is undocumented."

Participants

These people have had something to do with the issue, or expressed interest in helping.

  • Ed Cherlin is herding the cats on this one.
  • Alex Gibson says he has some volunteers to work on it from University of Technology Sydney.
  • cjb Chris Ball
  • mbletsas
  • AlbertCahalan
  • bobkeyes
  • palfrey

At one time gumstix was said to be interested.

LinuxToGo has a related project.

To Do

We need data and code. Put some links here.

Do we need an NDA from Marvell?

There appears to be no documentation of this chip on the Marvell Web site. They say that it is still in OEM sampling, and a developer's kit is available. OK, who has the kit?

ARM manuals

History