[Bug 2890] New: Review request: wl-6xx-kmod - Kernel module series 6.xx for Broadcom wireless devices

[RPM Fusion Bugzilla]

https://bugzilla.rpmfusion.org/show_bug.cgi?id=2890

             Bug #: 2890
           Summary: Review request: wl-6xx-kmod - Kernel module series
                    6.xx for Broadcom wireless devices
    Classification: Unclassified
           Product: Package Reviews
           Version: Current
          Platform: All
        OS/Version: GNU/Linux
            Status: NEW
          Severity: normal
          Priority: P5
         Component: Review Request
        AssignedTo: rpmfusion-package-review at rpmfusion.org
        ReportedBy: nicolas.vieville at univ-valenciennes.fr
                CC: rpmfusion-package-review at rpmfusion.org


SPEC file: 
http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/25699833/rpmfusion/Rawhide/wl-6xx-kmod/wl-6xx-kmod.spec

SRPMS file: 
http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/25699833/rpmfusion/Rawhide/wl-6xx-kmod/wl-6xx-kmod-6.30.223.30-1.fc20.src.rpm

Sources URL:
https://launchpad.net/~albertomilone/+archive/broadcom/+packages

Description:
These packages contain Broadcom's IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n hybrid Linux device 
driver version 6.xx for use with Broadcom's BCM4311-, BCM4312-, BCM4313-,
BCM4321-, BCM4322-, BCM43224-, and BCM43225-, BCM43227-, BCM43228-, 
BCM43142- and BCM4331-based hardware.

rpmlint wl-6xx-kmod.spec 
0 packages and 1 specfiles checked; 0 errors, 0 warnings.

rpmlint wl-6xx-kmod-6.30.223.30-1.fc20.src.rpm 
wl-6xx-kmod.src: W: spelling-error %description -l en_US readme -> reamed,
remade, read me
1 packages and 0 specfiles checked; 0 errors, 1 warnings.

This package depends on broadcom-wl-6xx package (review request filled at the
same time with same comment).
This review request obsolete review request #2550.

As the maintainer of the actual wl-kmod package for rpmfusion, I had to face
some unresolved bug report against the current wl-kmod 5.100.82.112 version
(rfbz#2721). The only solution was to provide this new device driver.
This driver comes from Ubuntu developer's repository, and is not a Broadcom
official wireless device driver, even if it was provided by Broadcom to the
Ubuntu team (in a goal of testing I guess). This driver is actually used in
recent official Ubuntu distributions.

Why proposing a wl-6xx-kmod instead of just "bumping" the actual rpmfusion
wl-kmod?
Some Ubuntu users with not so old wireless devices had bad experience with the
new driver (ie 6.30.223.30 and previous one 6.20) and had to revert to the
actual official Broadcom driver (ie 5.100.82.112). So, the two versions have to
be available in order to keep user's experience as smoother as possible as
described below. 
Some new wireless devices don't work with the old driver (5.xx series), but
with the new one (6.xx series). 
Some not so old wireless devices works with the old and the new driver (5.xx
and 6.xx series - my bcm4313 do for example).
Some not so old wireless devices works only with old driver (5.xx series).

Last reason to keep two versions of this driver is that it isn't an official
Broadcom one. Its status should be considered as "early-alpha" even if this one
is functional since April 2013 on some Fedora laptops (see rfbz#2721 or
rfbz#2550 for user's feedback).

Why offer this driver while the official kernel driver should also work on
certain wireless devices?
Users want their device to work to highest possible bit rate, want a working
LED on their laptop, etc.

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Cordially,


-- 
NVieville

-- 
Configure bugmail: https://bugzilla.rpmfusion.org/userprefs.cgi?tab=email
------- You are receiving this mail because: -------
You are on the CC list for the bug.
You are the assignee for the bug.