Advanced external equipment needed to install Libreboot?
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I saw this
I was not aware that one need external advanced equipment to install Libreboot. So it isn't as simple as getting hold of a compatible computer, one also needs a "chipflashing device" which until now has not existed in free form?
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Some computers can be flashed using only software such as X60/X60s/T60.
Gotcha thanks! :)
> chipflashing device
If a chipflashing device is required and you want it to run on libre software, I was
told on libreboot's irc that you can install gentoo free on a
beaglebone black revision c and use it to install libreboot on a computer.
As mentioned, a Thinkpad X60 can be flashed with Libreboot without external equipment, but is almost always a 32-bit / i686 architecture. There are very few X60 models that have a 64-bit compatible architecture and possibly flashing these with Libreboot is different
Thinkpad T60 also exists with either 64-bit or 32-bit only architecture.
Getting a machine with 32-bit architecture could be problematic one day, many distributions have already dropped support for it (e.g. Tails) and others will likely follow (hopefully not Trisquel).
> possibly flashing these with Libreboot is different
Flashing libreboot on my 64-bit X60 was quick and painless.
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My own X60 tablet convertables are 32 bit but it's not too hard to find
a 64 bit X60 on eBay. Now I want one just so I can flash it.
If you are set on an X200 or T400 and want to help an entrepreneur,
though, I was pleased with elijasmit_32's work on my X200T. He even did
something nice to the place where you put the stylus so that it won't
get stuck in there and have to be pulled out with a pair of tweezers any
more.
I'm sure he is just as less-than-pleased with eBay as I am but that has
nothing to do with him as a person or as a businessman.
https://trisquel.info/en/forum/low-price-libreboot-installation-service-ebay
I'm sure he uses a beaglebone black and has a soldering station and no
irrational phobia about thermal paste.
--
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Apologies for not reading carefully and having to make a second post.
Trisquel 9 will be based on Ubuntu 18.04 which does not support 32 bit.
I believe that Hyperbola will continue 32 bit support but CalmStorm is
infinitely better informed than I am and might correct me later in the day.
Connochaet is also an excellent libre distro that focuses on 32 bit
support.
> Trisquel 9 will be based on Ubuntu 18.04 which does not support 32 bit
So I assume it's very unlikely that there will be a 32-bit version of Trisquel 9?
> Connochaet is also an excellent libre distro that focuses on 32 bit
support
Looks interesting, but I wonder how well it is maintained. Their last release dates back to August 2016
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Traxter said: So I assume it's very unlikely that there will be a 32-bit
version of Trisquel 9?
So I am saying that I am not a developer and don't even code beyond the
navel-gazing "Hello, world!" level, but my own understanding is that
with no upstream 32 bit support from Ubuntu or even Debian, it would
have to be written from scratch and would be beyond the scope of the
Trisquel project:
https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-release/2017-December/004257.html
Traxter said: I wonder how well it (Connochaet) is maintained. Their
last release dates back to August 2016
So I am saying: Updates took awhile the last time I installed it. I
might pay a bit more attention next time if there are other 32-bit users
here who would be interested. It had improved significantly since my
last P4 went to P4 heaven and has the look and feel of old school
Slackware but with a graphical UI for slapt-get and other modernization.
The package selection wasn't bad at all either. It's not as
user-friendly as Trisquel but definitely not something I would
personally consider overly intimidating to a motivated GNUbie who likes
things simple and clean.
Again, I don't want to misrepresent myself as anything more than an
"Average Joe" hobbyist with modest computing needs.
> with no upstream 32 bit support from Ubuntu or even Debian, it would
> have to be written from scratch and would be beyond the scope of the
> Trisquel project
That's unfortunate. Do you know how Parabola and Hyperbola are able to support 32-bit despite Arch having dropped support?
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I do now:
https://www.parabola.nu/news/continuation-of-i686-support/
Is there an unofficial 32-bit port of Bionic Beaver?
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Traxter said: Debian (Stretch) still supports 32 bit.
So I say: I stand corrected. This is good news,
Traxter said: What do you think was the reason for it (lots of updates
to Connochaet)? Not enough maintainers?
So I say: That wasn't my own reasoning, although it is certainly sound.
I was coming from the Trisquel 7 reality and just saw that Connochaet
was not trying to maintain a live CD but that the software could be
updated after installation.
Keeping older machines out of the landfills for ecological reasons is a
personal interest as is appreciation for craftmanship and fewer
deliberate backdoors. I'm excited to learn that a 32 bit Trisquel 9 is
not completely out of the question and will start a separate thread when
I am in a better position to continue this discussion.
> my own understanding is that with no upstream 32 bit support from Ubuntu or even Debian, it would have to be written from scratch and would be beyond the scope of the
Trisquel project
These were pretty much my thoughts, too...though Debian (Stretch) still supports 32 bit.
> Updates took awhile the last time I installed it
What do you think was the reason for it? Not enough maintainers?
Interesting to hear. Is flashing LB on a 64-bit X60 any different than on a 32-bit X60?
What about the X200? Is it something a "tech-n00b" like me could manage?
I don't understand this: https://libreboot.org/docs/install/x200_external.html
"This guide is for those who want libreboot on their ThinkPad X200 while they still have the original Lenovo BIOS present."
Isn't the whole point to remove proprietary software?
And I can't find any other guide for those who want that?
Am I overseeing something?
The wording is a little unclear. They mean that this guide is for people who *currently* have the original Lenovo BIOS and want to *replace* it with libreboot. Someone who has coreboot or an older version of libreboot does not need to flash libreboot externally, so this guide is not necessary for them.
Oh :)
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