Annotated edit history of
Firmware version 2, including all changes.
View license author blame.
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JohnMcPherson |
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A small piece of [Software] that resides in a piece of [Hardware] to implement low-level functions. |
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This is often stored on the hardware permanently, either in [ROM] (which can't be changed) or in [NVRAM] which can be "flashed" and replaced with a newer firmware. |
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Many cheaper hardware peripherals (such as the wireless chip used in many Centrino-based laptops) don't store the firmware at all, and require the OperatingSystem's [Driver] to load the firmware onto the card before use. |
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IanMcDonald |
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The LinuxKernel hackers have had a policy of not including drivers that require ClosedSource firmware to make the hardware work, although many [Linux] [distributions|Category:Distribution] include such drivers (and firmware, where they are allowed to distribute it) in their kernel images. More recently the LinuxKernel has had accepted a number of network [Driver]s with ClosedSource firmware. |