I have a new install of Debian 12 Bookworm, and I have added the nonfree firmware sources to my sources list.
However, when I run apt search firmware-linux I see three options
firmware-linux
firmware-linux-free [installed, automatic]
firmware-linux-nonfree
I would like to use nonfree firmware, but I am confused by that first option. what does firmware-linux include or not include that is different from firmware-linux-nonfree? Which should I install?
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“Binary firmware for various drivers in the Linux kernel (metapackage)
This package depends on both free and non-free firmware which may be used with drivers in the Linux kernel.”
So it’s a metapackage. That means it’s an empty package that exists only so that other packages can say “I need to have linux firmware, but I don’t care which one”, and as long as one of the other two are installed those packages will be satisfied.
Okay, this makes sense. So it might need to be installed as a dependency for something else?
It wouldn’t be needed unless something else depends on it.
firmware-linux : Metapackage
firmware-linux-free [installed, automatic]:
- This is firmware that’s complies with DFSG (Debian Free Software Guidelines). It includes few firmware.
firmware-linux-nonfree
- This is the rest of firmware that isn’t free. This has more firmware but at a cost of your freedom.
If your system runs well, you may be fine with what you have. If you are missing anything, install nonfree or any of its dedicated firmware packages.
I suppose that is true that I might not need it. I am running a very minimal install with no DE, and so far I am not aware of anything that is broken.