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VIRTUALISATION The case for open firmware
VIRTUALISATION The case for open firmware | The case for open firmware |
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| by David M Williams | |
| Tuesday, 03 November 2009 | |
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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. |
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