From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: From: Marcel Holtmann To: BlueZ users In-Reply-To: <08C55293-7564-45BD-B18C-571EBC240FEC@gothpunk.com> References: <08C55293-7564-45BD-B18C-571EBC240FEC@gothpunk.com> Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 10:43:49 +0100 Message-Id: <1166521429.29972.10.camel@violet> Mime-Version: 1.0 Subject: Re: [Bluez-users] why does one need bluez-firmware ? Reply-To: BlueZ users List-Id: BlueZ users List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Sender: bluez-users-bounces@lists.sourceforge.net Errors-To: bluez-users-bounces@lists.sourceforge.net Hi Steve, > >>> I read on some web pages that one need bluez-firmware to be able to > >>> operate the BroadCom 203x series bluetooth dongle correctly on a 2.4 > >>> kernel. So I am wondering what is the purpose of bluez-firmware? And > >>> how does it work? > >> > >> that is a misunderstanding. For the 2.6 kernel you use a kernel > >> module > >> to load the firmware. For 2.4 an extra USB application was needed. > >> Both > >> however need the firmware files. > > > > And what is the purpose of bluez-firmware? How does it work? > > The USB dongles themselves are stupid and don't have operational > firmware in them. most of them actually do have the firmware in flash or RAM. Only a few need a firmware download before they can be used. > It's a cost-saving measure. By using uploadable firmware, the > manufacturer (Dlink, Linksys, whoever) > doesn't have to make a Windows version and a Mac version and a Linux > version. > They just make one type of device and then ship the appropriate > firmware blob on the drivers CD. This is a generalization from the WiFi world and it is simply not true. Only a minor number of devices need a firmware download. > So the real reason you need the BlueZ firmware is that the driver has > to upload the right firmware(in this case, for Linux) into the > bluetooth module itself, otherwise it won't work. Just to make it clear. You are talking about a firmware download. You download firmware to the device. An upload would mean to extract the firmware from the device. Regards Marcel ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Take Surveys. Earn Cash. Influence the Future of IT Join SourceForge.net's Techsay panel and you'll get the chance to share your opinions on IT & business topics through brief surveys - and earn cash http://www.techsay.com/default.php?page=join.php&p=sourceforge&CID=DEVDEV _______________________________________________ Bluez-users mailing list Bluez-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bluez-users