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submitted 19 hours ago by Joker@sh.itjust.works to c/linux@lemmy.ml

If the distribution does not have it by default, please include the instructions to use it on the system.

Note: I can't compile the libre kernel from the source.

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[-] refalo@programming.dev 4 points 12 hours ago

I would argue they're not safe to use because they block security updates like CPU microcode in the name of absolute freedom.

[-] kixik@lemmy.ml 2 points 10 hours ago

Not sure why you mentioned this. At least on Arc, or any distro based on it like Artix, the ucode per CPU is offered as a separate package:

% pacman -Ss ucode
system/amd-ucode 20241111.b5885ec5-1
    Microcode update image for AMD CPUs
world/intel-ucode 20241112-1 [installed]
    Microcode update files for Intel CPUs
world/iucode-tool 2.3.1-5
    Tool to manipulate Intel
galaxy/amd-ucode-xz 20230625.ee91452d-4
    Microcode update image for AMD CPUs
extra/intel-ucode 20241112-1 [installed]
    Microcode update files for Intel CPUs
extra/iucode-tool 2.3.1-5
    Tool to manipulate Intel

If your distro doesn't help with ucode packages, you can ultimately download it from intel/amd/whatever. And the same applies for the hardware firmware in general.

So it's true that some hardware won't properly work out of the box by using libre-linux, but nothing prevents you from getting the required firmware from other packages or sources. Granted that doesn't make things easier. And granted that might defeat the purpose of using linux-libre, but you might at least only add only strictly required binary blobs for your current hardware.

[-] refalo@programming.dev 1 points 9 hours ago

real linux-libre distros do not offer microcode packages because they are non-free

[-] underscores@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 10 hours ago

That's definitely a factor to consider, but running binary blobs that you don't have the source for is also a risk. It comes down to what threat vectors you think are important and what risks you're willing to take.

this post was submitted on 22 Nov 2024
21 points (95.7% liked)

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