Re: HEADS UP: iwlwifi firmware removed from main (stable/14 to follow), run fwget before updating
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2025 14:49:51 UTC
On Thu, 10 Apr 2025, Bjoern A. Zeeb wrote: Hi, and the firmware is now also gone from stable/14 (which at the same time got a few bug fixes for LinuxKPI malloc and LinuxKPI 802.11). In case you run into any issues updating from a supported 14.x or 15 (younger than a year old [3]) please follow-up, ideally on the wireless mailing list. Lots of health, Bjoern [3] https://lists.freebsd.org/archives/freebsd-wireless/2025-April/003199.html > On Wed, 19 Mar 2025, Bjoern A. Zeeb wrote: > > Hi, > > before updating your system please run fwget(8) or build > wifi-firmware-iwlwifi-kmod (or the appropriate flavor) from ports if you > are using iwlwifi(4) or iwx(4). > > You can do it any time as the extra firmware files will do no harm until > your next reboot at least. > > As announced almost a month ago firmware just got removed from the src > repository main branch [1]. stable/14 will follow in a few days. > > If you are using iwlwifi(4) you may get automatically upgraded to > HT and VHT support by the tunables the firmware installs along (if you > haven't done yourself in the last weeks already). > I wrote a summary for testing [2] the other day and the freebsd wireless > list is generally a good place to follow and the right place to follow > up. > The email may also help in case you face problems though I am fervently > working on solving open problems currently, so by the time you update > they may already be gone.. (famous last words). > > [1] > https://cgit.FreeBSD.org/src/commit/?id=558d638896239f9cd25b9d825ecfce62ec54681e > [2] > https://lists.freebsd.org/archives/freebsd-wireless/2025-April/003131.html > > Lots of joy, > Bjoern > >> I pushed an update to the iwlwifi firmware port today[1] and with the last >> release of FreeBSD 13 being out the door, 14.1-Release EoL end of this >> month passed and the packages for the updated port appearing I'll >> >> !!! >> remove iwlwifi firmware from src.git for main and stable/14 >> some time early April. >> !!! >> >> >> * What you need to do? >> >> Please run fwget(8) to install the right firmware package for your chipset >> if you have not already and then pkg upgrades will provide updates as >> needed. >> You can do this today already as that won't change the status quo compared >> to what is in the tree. >> >> >> * Why is this happening? >> >> iwlwifi following rtw88 and rtw89 after a request from core to not add >> more binary blob wireless firmware into src.git (accumulated firmware >> for a set of modern wireless drivers at that time would have been >> slightly over 100MB if I remember correctly with the amount increasing). >> >> As a result firmware was put into ports, broken down into flavors, added >> to fwget(8) to automatically install it, updated the port to no longer >> install kernel modules but firmware files on 14.2-R and later, enhanced >> the install media to contain firmware so wireless-only laptops could have >> connectivity with these drivers, and enhanced the installer to have a step >> to run fwget and install firmware into the new installation. All of this >> shipped in 14.2-R already. >> Thanks to everyone who helped along these steps to make it all happen. >> >> >> * What's your bonus? >> >> If you have't already tried yourself, the updated port will also turn on >> HT and VHT by default for iwlwifi chipsets 22000, ax210, and bz (that's >> AX200 and newer) on both main and stable/14. >> Reports so far have been encouraging enough from some people who've been >> testing during the last weeks (the rough edges being sorted step but >> step now). For more information about how to test, about older chipsets, >> or other drivers see the wireless mailing list archive[2] of this year >> and the FreeBSD Foundation Laptop Project on github [3] for links to the >> postings. >> >> Please follow up as appropriate on the wireless list. >> >> >> Lots of health and joy, >> Bjoern >> >> >> [1] >> https://cgit.freebsd.org/ports/commit/?id=ef3fa2a325a592baa6573782a72cf0d833589ffa >> [2] https://lists.freebsd.org/archives/freebsd-wireless/ >> [3] https://github.com/FreeBSDFoundation/proj-laptop/ >> >> > > -- Bjoern A. Zeeb r15:7