While I agree with the "no closed-source binary blobs" philosophy on principal there is the real fact that completely free and open-source software written by enthusiasts just might not cut it in some situations, the blade server example is just one of those.
Furthermore there will be obscure equipment with very limited usage outside of a few niches, and we must not forget that the developers working for the manufacturer will have both earlier access to the equipment, better knowledge of the operating specifics, and that they will be working on the drivers and such full-time.
And while it would be great if everyone could share their code, again on principal, in the real world there are such things like the desire for return on investment, protection of intellectual property and other trade secrets and sheer stubbornness on the part of the manufacturer.
Closed source Firmware should be provided IMO, if no good alternatives exist, but we should also make sure the user is notified of the fact that he will need closed source binary blobs and prompted if wants to proceed with the installation.

On December 7, 2014 12:48:48 AM EET, Stephan Seitz <stse+devuan@???> wrote:
>On Sat, Dec 06, 2014 at 08:51:10PM +0000, Roger Leigh wrote:
>>Dropping contrib and non-free would immediately consign Devuan to
>>irrelevance. Non-free firmware is needed for too much hardware.
>
>Indeed. You can’t get a server NIC like Broadcom, which is part of your
>
>Dell blade server, working without the firmware package. So the Debian
>installer will give you no network.
>
>Interestingly the kernel source will provide you with this firmware. If
>
>you get the kernel source and compile your own kernel you will have the
>
>necessary firmware on your system.
>
>This leads to the question if firmware should be in non-free. And this
>is
>important if you see that the Suse Server (for example) doesn’t have
>a problem providing you with firmware.
>
>>Actual need for non-free *programs* is limited today; ironically
>
>That is true.
>
>Shade and sweet water!
>

>    Stephan

>

>-- 
>| Stephan Seitz          E-Mail: stse@??? |
>| Public Keys: http://fsing.rootsland.net/~stse/keys.html |

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