Mainboard?
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I was checking out the RYF mainboards page - https://ryf.fsf.org/categories/mainboards - and I don't understand why only the mainboards are RYF Certified. Which parts prevent these finished systems from being RYF Certified? I am thinking of either --purchasing multiple x200/t400 thinkpads --or D8 (D8 is the only RYF certified pre-built desktop). I noticed on Vikings website that some of their workstation computers ship with Coreboot not Libreboot...
Please advise, ideally I am looking for the strongest librebooted desktop CPU+GPU setup if it is at a good price point (as opposed to the multiple x200).
If I were to get one or two more x200 I have an idea to set one up as a website+mail hosting and another to use as a network storage hub.
Thanks!
"I am looking for the strongest librebooted desktop CPU+GPU setup"
Asus KGPE-D16. They cane be found for about $150 on the internet.
"I don't understand why only the mainboards are RYF Certified."
Has anyone submitted a full system of those boards for RYF? We know what you do. We are all members of the public and don't have any secret info. But if someone were to submit, say, a hard disk or SSD to go into the RYF program I'd hope that the FSF would not approve it because of the proprietary firmware.
> Has anyone submitted a full system of those boards for RYF? We know what you do. We are all members of the public and don't have any secret info. But if someone were to submit, say, a hard disk or SSD to go into the RYF program I'd hope that the FSF would not approve it because of the proprietary firmware.
Are you okay with the FSF approving laptops like Technoethical's which ship with hard disks or SSDs?
"...a hard disk or SSD to go into the RYF program I'd hope that the FSF would not approve it because of the proprietary firmware."
I didn't know that SSD and HDD have non-free components, how come x200/t400/D8 can get RYF while shipping with SSD/HDD storage, yet others cannot? Is it only like you said, because they submitted their computer finished while other finished computers were not submitted?
If I purchase the same SSD/Sound card/Wifi card as the D8, but put everything on the ASUS KGPE-D16 board it would be free? Or better yet which components do you recommend one gets while building the D16
I checked h-node.org, under hardware, there really are no SSD/HDD on their site either...
Thanks!
Indeed, there is firmware in SSDs, e.g. for wear leveling. Firmware is everywhere, and you can't possibly do any computing without firmware. Instead of pursuing a "100% firmware free" system, one should try to minimize the negative impact of non-free firmware in real hardware.
> I didn't know that SSD and HDD have non-free components, how come x200/t400/D8 can get RYF while shipping with SSD/HDD storage, yet others cannot? Is it only like you said, because they submitted their computer finished while other finished computers were not submitted?
My understanding is that the FSF only considers it a problem if the firmware is going to be changed during the life of the product. If it can never be changed then it is considered part of the hardware rather than user controllable software, and the device can still obtain RYF certification.
FSF has no way to know if the firmware is going to be changed or not. "If it can never be changed" it would be fixed in ROM, not in EPROM. HDD/SSD firmware can be updated.
Don't forget about microcode too.
Whether the firmware is upgradeable is unimportant. What is important is whether the firmware and its upgrading mechanism grant users the four essential freedoms. As mentioned above, without firmware one can't possibly do any computing. One should accept firmware as an inherent component of computing devices.
Since desktop motherboards with removable processors are much less restricted by Boot Guard, there are coreboot implementations for very new platforms, maybe Skylake or even newer.
I've been using a Skylake mini desktop with ME neutralized. The system could still boot, so the firmware was not restricted by Boot Guard. coreboot transplanting is in progress.
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