The case for open firmware

[David M Williams]

If you’re a gadget junkie like me your house is probably similarly littered with devices that did a job once, and could still do so much more, if only the vendors kept them up with the times. Join with me in lobbying for open source firmware.

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Earlier this year I complained about my frustrations with Linksys hardware not supporting WPA encryption. I had a Linksys WAG325N ADSL gateway, a Linksys WET54G wireless to Ethernet bridge and a Linksys DMA2200 media centre extender.

The WET54G only offered the weaker WEP wireless security protocol and the DMA2200 only worked reliably if WEP security was used, rather than WPA.

Linksys contacted me after my story and told me they’d be making new firmware for the WAG325N (which, ironically, was the one device that did offer WPA) and would let me know when this was released. I never heard from them again.

Linksys aren’t the only hardware provider who is lacking reasonably-expected standards. I also have a MediaGate MG-35NDAS portable media player. Stick in a hard drive, plug it in to a TV or projector, and you can watch all your, er, legitimately procured digital media.

It has a built-in WiFi adapter, but again, no WPA support. So, like with the Linksys devices, I must choose to either diminish the security of my home wireless network or go without.

Mediagate now list the MG-35NDAS as having reached end of life and consequently I would not expect any new firmware to ever eventuate.

So, vendors, why not turn over your firmware to the open source community for maintenance and development?

One of the remarkable benefits of technology over other appliances is the opportunity to give new functions through software. I’m not talking about adding features that physically can’t work; for example it would be unreasonable to moan that the MG-35NDAS doesn’t have HDMI output when I know it simply does not have the necessary components.

However, it’s another thing entirely to be effectively prevented from using it because it just does not have the programming to cater for a specific WiFi security protocol.

The only thing preventing this is the lack of someone with the skill and time to introduce that enhancement. So, vendors, if not you, then let us, the open source community.

There is a precedent. Heck, there's even a possible revenue model in it. Let me tell you more.



Article Link at http://www.itwire.com/content/view/29011/1141/

[DavidT]

Amen

Good to see someone in the media requesting for something like this to happen, if they just thought it about it for some time, they would realise that it could also have the potential to generate more revenue for them as well, but somehow i don't think they will delve that deep into their thought processes.


Cheers,


David.

[cefiar]

Re: The MG-35NDAS (well, MG-350HD actually if you've got wireless). There is a group of people out there that have played a bit with the firmware (replaced the boring images with much cleaner ones and so on), and it's even possible to build your own images with your own code, though it of course comes with a big fat warning that you could brick your unit. Last I saw, there was a group buried somewhere on Yahoo Groups for them. I have no idea if they've tackled the WPA issue though. But, the devices run a variant of Linux, so who knows what is possible.

And on a similar note, it seems that Sony use Linux as the core for a quite a few of their TV's. There is a list buried somewhere under http://www.sony.com/Linux which not only includes a list of models containing Linux code (as well as other GPL code such as zlib and OpenSSL), but links to the code as well! They don't seem to document the firmware image format though, which makes it harder. However, I think the biggest stumbling block on the TV front has simply been that most of the models aren't that cheap, and people aren't willing to play with them yet. Seems my new one isn't listed (damn!). Hopefully you might have better luck.

[alancramer]

Same for both the Philips VOIP841 and the NETGEAR SPH200D (one and the same device). There has not been a new firmware for donkeys and I don't believe there is an open firmware.

[Nezuji]

Stick in a hard drive, plug it in to a TV or projector, and you can watch all your, er, legitimately procured digital media.

Why did you feel it necessary to imply that "everybody pirates" in this article about device firmware? It seems harmless to us but it's a weak, old joke that should have been retired long ago, and its continued propagation only serves to fan the flames of argument from over-zealous publishers.

Obviously I can't speak for everyone, but I have devices like this which I use with a very large and very legitimate personal CD, DVD and VHS collection which I'd rather not have to physically shuffle through whenever I want something. Surely, I can't be the only one?

Nezuji

[sjdtmv]

i have used dd-wrt firmware on both linksys and netgear wireless units, i now look before i buy if the type of PC gear has ability for open source firmware undating.
i have been running a chipped xbox with XBMC for many years thats feeds off differnet media files on my home network but has come to its limits now

I have just built myself a Home Theartre PC (HTPC) with HDMI that sits under my LCD TV and feeds my surround sound, instead of buying a ready made unit from leading brands that only do half the job, it also allows me to upgrade any component inside the HTPC at little cost instead of buying new again and again, this HTPC has HD TV card, Also added a aftermarket Pay TV decoder that then runs though a ethernet streaming box by the component lead outputs (HAVA). now can watch on any PC on my wireless and wired network.
This HTPC runs on Windows 7 at the moment but will also run on Linux open source which gives me the best of both world, and over the years i have seen a growth in open source capable PC gear.

regard
Rossco