JockeyHotplug

Differences between revisions 2 and 3
⇤ ← Revision 2 as of 2009-11-25 09:41:37 →
Size: 1035
Editor: pD9EB5127
Comment:
← Revision 3 as of 2010-01-13 17:39:56 → ⇥
Size: 1669
Editor: reverse
Comment: add release note and test case
Deletions are marked like this. Additions are marked like this.
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TODO The check for required hardware drivers ("Jockey") is now run when hotplugging hardware which needs firmware, such as DVB-T or Broadcom WLAN USB sticks.
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TODO when spec is beta.  1. Ensure that you do not have firmware installed yet: no `/lib/firmware/b43/`, and the `linux-firmware-nonfree` package is not installed.
 1. Log into a GNOME or netbook session.
 1. Plug in an USB device which needs firmware, such as a DVB-T stick or a hotpluggable Broadcom Wifi device.
 1. After some seconds, Jockey should pop up, offering the firmware package/download.
 1. Regardless of whether you installed it or not, if you remove the device and plug it back in, Jockey should not pop up again.

Summary

Jockey supports printers, Wifi cards, and DVB-T cards, which often come with USB and are hotplugged. Instead of just triggering Jockey to check for drivers once after installation, we bring up Jockey when such a device is plugged in and needs firmware.

Release Note

The check for required hardware drivers ("Jockey") is now run when hotplugging hardware which needs firmware, such as DVB-T or Broadcom WLAN USB sticks.

Design

  • When a device is plugged in which needs firmware, the kernel triggers a "firmware" subsystem uevent.

  • Add code to update-notifier to watch for those uevents, check if the requested firmware file is missing, and if so, launch jockey-gtk (or jockey-kde in update-notifier-kde).

  • Check modules which have jockey handlers (b43, wl, dvb-*) for having correct firmware file links in modinfo. E. g. b43 has a wrong one, which needs to be fixed in the kernel.

Implementation

See blueprint work items.

Test/Demo Plan

  1. Ensure that you do not have firmware installed yet: no /lib/firmware/b43/, and the linux-firmware-nonfree package is not installed.

  2. Log into a GNOME or netbook session.
  3. Plug in an USB device which needs firmware, such as a DVB-T stick or a hotpluggable Broadcom Wifi device.
  4. After some seconds, Jockey should pop up, offering the firmware package/download.
  5. Regardless of whether you installed it or not, if you remove the device and plug it back in, Jockey should not pop up again.

CategorySpec

DesktopTeam/Specs/Lucid/JockeyHotplug (last edited 2010-01-13 17:39:56 by reverse)