Brcmfmac-firmware-usb is not what it is, and should be removed!

For Developers
1

This package will be install automatically in all broadcom chips to add support for USB as it claimed in the description

Broadcom BCM43xx fullmac USB firmware

This package will install 2 files in /lib/firmware/brcm : brcmfmac43143.bin and brcmfmac43236b.bin

These chips are wireless chips that supports USB hosts. They are not even broadcom chips, they are Cypress Semiconductor! links:

I deleted these files and the USB still works in my ASUS RT-AC88U, the issue there is no way to remove "brcmfmac-firmware-usb" package in the OpenWrt Firmware Selector.

I hope someone can confirm.

Thanks in advance!

2

That is wifi firmware https://gitlab.com/kernel-firmware/linux-firmware

1 Like
3

Thanks for the confirmation.

@hauke @zxlhhyccc can someone please remove this package as it is not a USB firmware, but it is a wireless firmware for chips not included in any device

4

Here unnecessary dependency. You can PR it away.

1 Like
5

Cypress semiconductor = broadcom
https://investors.broadcom.com/news-releases/news-release-details/cypress-acquire-broadcoms-wireless-internet-things-business

6

These chips were released long before 2016, the firmware are from 2014. It was still Cypress semiconductor at the time, you can read the pdf attached. No way brcm43143 and brcm43236b were used in broadcom routers, they are USB adapter wifi chips and should be removed

7

I don't have a github account yet. If I made an account, can I edit to improve for all routers?
I mean I can uninstall the package in my router, but this package should be removed for all router, it is a waste to install it on and on again each build for braodcom routers

8

Just drop this aspect of your argumentation, you are wrong and reversed history.

9

read the attached pdf

10

Just drop it you aren't helping your cause - and it's largely irrelevant to your actual intention anyways.

I won't, because if it says what you claim it does, the author would be mistaken.

These are Broadcom designs, Broadcom developments, regardless of the question if the chips are marked with bcm, cyw or syn.

Broadcom sold its (IoT) wireless division twice:

  • in 2016 to Cypress Semiconductors, for 550 million USD
    • Cypress has meanwhile been bought by Infineon in 2019 for 9.4 billion USD
  • in 2020 to Synaptics Incorporated for 250 million USD
  • ...and they still kept parts of it to themselves

So there are largely the same chips sold under three different markings. Among these three, Broadcom has done some (very limited) linux mainline maintenance (after the original brcm80211 submission) - and their involvement has gotten very minimal by now (but they are still the only ones of that bunch who may respond at all). Cypress has largely ignored linux, but they did occassionally sign off firmwares, if prodded by Broadcom's brcmfmac maintainer; communications went silent after being bought by Infineon. Synopsys never participated at all.

(I leave Avago out if this summary, as that doesn't change the gist of it either - that is just another name for Broadcom)

1 Like
11

You are not helping the cause and going off-topic with long posts. These chips were manufactured and marketed as Cypress. Period.

On-topic! This package "brcmfmac-firmware-usb" should be removed from all builds for all routers, how to do that?

12

Remove USB firmware requirement from the universal driver package. The history is of no help, the USB firmware is only necessary if you plug external USB wifi stick, not in general case.

1 Like
13

What is the actual issue here? I find it hard to believe that those 2 files being included in the firmware are causing any problems. It's not like the RT-AC88U is short of flash space.

14

This package is not USB firmeware, it was wrongly distributed as such. I removed this package from my router and the USB still works, I still can connect external USB devices and mount them!

15

The issue they are useless drivers and there is no need to be installed. They are wireless drivers for old chips, and not USB firmware.

This package is installed in all braoadcom routers by default and should be removed

16

And you've checked every device to make sure of that?

Why? What is the issue with those files being present?

Or to put it another way, why should someone spend time checking that removing them has no impact on any supported devices? What benefits does removing them bring to the OpenWRT project?

17

it has impact. Waste of resources and space every time you build an image!

19

The resource impact of adding them to an image is minimal as it's just copying a file. The space impact is also minimal.

20

It is useless and can be removed easily! Removing it it will take less time than you are trying to be a smart guy here. Oh my god

21

Until you've verified that every device that currently installs those files can operate without them then your statement holds very little weight.

Which takes us back to the previous point of what is the adverse impact caused by the presence of these files that would make it worthwhile to check every device?

Or, even more simply, what adverse impact (and I mean tl real measurable impact) is it having on your use of OpenWRT!?