diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'docs/index.html')
| -rw-r--r-- | docs/index.html | 240 |
1 files changed, 240 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/docs/index.html b/docs/index.html new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a2c21557 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/index.html @@ -0,0 +1,240 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html> +<head> + <meta charset="utf-8"> + <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + + <style type="text/css"> + @import url('css/main.css'); + </style> + + <title>GNU Libreboot documentation</title> +</head> + +<body> + + <div class="section"> + <h1 id="pagetop">GNU Libreboot documentation</h1> + <p> + Information about this release can be found at <a href="release.html">release.html</a>. + Always check <a href="http://libreboot.org">libreboot.org</a> for updates. + </p> + <p> + <a href="#why">What is libreboot?</a> + </p> + <p> + <a href="#version">How do I know what version I'm running?</a> + </p> + </div> + + <div class="section"> + + <h1>Table of contents</h1> + <ul> + <li><a href="hcl/index.html">Hardware compatibility list</a> - <a href="https://www.gnu.org/distros/">GNU/Linux</a> is expected to be running on your device.</li> + <li><a href="install/index.html">How to install libreboot</a></li> + <li><a href="gnulinux/index.html">How to install GNU/Linux on a libreboot system</a></li> + <li> + <a href="git/index.html">How to use the git repository and build libreboot from source</a> + <ul> + <li><a href="maintain/index.html">Maintaining libreboot</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + <li><a href="security/index.html">Hardware security</a></li> + <li><a href="hardware/index.html">Hardware maintenance</a></li> + <li><a href="depthcharge/index.html">Depthcharge payload</a></li> + <li><a href="grub/index.html">GRUB payload</a></li> + <li><a href="misc/index.html">Miscellaneous</a></li> + </ul> + + </div> + + <div class="section" id="why"> + + <h1>About the libreboot project</h1> + + <p> + GNU Libreboot is a free BIOS or UEFI replacement (<a href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html">free as in freedom</a>); + libre <em>boot firmware</em> that initializes the hardware and starts a bootloader for your operating + system. + It's also an open source BIOS, but open source <a href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/open-source-misses-the-point.html">fails</a> to + promote freedom; <em>please call libreboot <strong><a href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html">free software</a></strong></em>. + Since 14 May 2016, Libreboot is part of the <a href="https://www.gnu.org/">GNU project</a>. + </p> + + <p> + Libreboot originally began during December 2013, as a commercial effort + by the <a href="https://minifree.org">Ministry of Freedom</a> to achieve + <a href="https://www.fsf.org/resources/hw/endorsement/respects-your-freedom">RYF</a> endorsement for a modified ThinkPad X60 + (the first system to ever be added to libreboot). + </p> + + <p> + Back then, the name <i>libreboot</i> didn't exist; the project was nameless, + referring to itself as a <i>deblobbed version of coreboot</i>. The project named + itself libreboot at some point during early 2014, and has since rapidly expanded + to support more hardware and become more user-friendly. + </p> + + <p> + Libreboot is a <a href="http://coreboot.org/">coreboot</a> distribution (distro) with proprietary software removed, + intended to be a <a href="https://www.fsf.org/about/what-is-free-software">free</a> + (libre) 'BIOS' replacement for your computer. The project is aimed at users, attempting to make + coreboot as easy to use as possible. + Read the full <a href="https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html">Free Software definition</a>. + </p> + + <p> + Libreboot has many practical advantages over <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/proprietary/">proprietary</a> boot firmware, + such as faster boot speeds and better security. You can + <a href="gnulinux/index.html">install GNU/Linux with encrypted /boot/</a>, + <a href="http://www.coreboot.org/GRUB2#signed_kernels">verify GPG signatures on your kernel</a>, + put a kernel in the flash chip and more. + </p> + + <h2> + The libreboot project has three main goals: + </h2> + <ul> + <li> + <i><u><b>Recommend and distribute only free software</b></u></i>. + Coreboot distributes certain pieces of proprietary software which is needed on some systems. + Examples can include things like CPU microcode updates, memory initialization blobs and so on. + The coreboot project sometimes recommends adding more blobs which it does not distribute, such + as the Video BIOS or Intel's <i>Management Engine</i>. However, a lot of dedicated and talented + individuals in coreboot work hard to replace these blobs whenever possible. + </li> + <li> + <i><u><b>Support as much hardware as possible!</b></u></i> + Libreboot supports less hardware than coreboot, because most systems from coreboot still require + certain proprietary software to work properly. Libreboot is an attempt to support as much + hardware as possible, without any proprietary software. + </li> + <li> + <i><u><b>Make coreboot easy to use</b></u></i>. + Coreboot is notoriously difficult to install, due to an overall lack of user-focussed + documentation and support. Most people will simply give up before attempting to install coreboot.<br/><br/> + + Libreboot attempts to bridge this divide, making sure that everything from building + to installing coreboot is automated, as much as is feasibly possible. Secondly, the project + produces documentation aimed at non-technical users. Thirdly, the project attempts + to provide excellent user support via mailing lists and IRC.<br/><br/> + + Libreboot already comes with a payload (GRUB), flashrom and other needed parts. Everything + is fully integrated, in a way where most of the complicated steps that are otherwise required, + are instead done for the user in advance.<br/><br/> + + You can download ROM images for your libreboot system and install them, without having + to build anything from source. The build system is also fully automated, so building + from source is easy if you wanted to do that (for whatever reason). + </li> + </ul> + + <h2> + Libreboot is a coreboot distribution, not a coreboot fork + </h2> + + <p> + Libreboot is not a fork of coreboot. Every so often, the project re-bases on the latest + version of coreboot, with the number of custom patches in use minimized. + </p> + + <p> + All new coreboot development should be done in coreboot (upstream), not libreboot! + Libreboot is about deblobbing and packaging coreboot in a user-friendly way, where most work + is already done for the user. + </p> + + <p> + For example, if you wanted to add a new board to libreboot, you should add it to coreboot first. + Libreboot will automatically receive your code at a later date, when it updates itself. + </p> + + <p> + The deblobbed coreboot tree used in libreboot is referred to as <i>coreboot-libre</i>, + to distinguish it as a component of <i>libreboot</i>. + </p> + + <h2> + Libreboot is a 'stable' version of coreboot + </h2> + <ul> + <li> + Coreboot uses the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_release">rolling release</a> model, + which means that it is not guaranteed to be stable, or to even work at all on a given day. + Coreboot does have a strict code review process, but being such a large project with so many contributors, regressions + are always possible. + </li> + <li> + Libreboot freezes on a particular revision of coreboot, making sure that everything works properly, + making fixes on top of that and repeating this during each subsequent update to a later version + of coreboot. By doing this, it provides a stronger guarantee to the user that the firmware + will be reliable, and not break their system. + </li> + </ul> + + <p><a href="#pagetop">Back to top of page.</a></p> + + </div> + + <div class="section" id="version"> + + <h1>How do I know what version I'm running?</h1> + <p> + See <a href="https://libreboot.org/faq/#version">https://libreboot.org/faq/#version</a> + </p> + + </div> + + <div class="section"> + + <p> + Copyright © 2014, 2015, 2016 Leah Rowe <info@minifree.org><br/> + Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document + under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 + or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; + with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. + A copy of the license can be found at <a href="gfdl-1.3.txt">gfdl-1.3.txt</a> + </p> + + <p> + Updated versions of the license (when available) can be found at + <a href="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/licenses.html">https://www.gnu.org/licenses/licenses.html</a> + </p> + + <p> + UNLESS OTHERWISE SEPARATELY UNDERTAKEN BY THE LICENSOR, TO THE + EXTENT POSSIBLE, THE LICENSOR OFFERS THE LICENSED MATERIAL AS-IS + AND AS-AVAILABLE, AND MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF + ANY KIND CONCERNING THE LICENSED MATERIAL, WHETHER EXPRESS, + IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHER. THIS INCLUDES, WITHOUT LIMITATION, + WARRANTIES OF TITLE, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR + PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ABSENCE OF LATENT OR OTHER DEFECTS, + ACCURACY, OR THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF ERRORS, WHETHER OR NOT + KNOWN OR DISCOVERABLE. WHERE DISCLAIMERS OF WARRANTIES ARE NOT + ALLOWED IN FULL OR IN PART, THIS DISCLAIMER MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. + </p> + <p> + TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, IN NO EVENT WILL THE LICENSOR BE LIABLE + TO YOU ON ANY LEGAL THEORY (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, + NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, + INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, OR OTHER LOSSES, + COSTS, EXPENSES, OR DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THIS PUBLIC LICENSE OR + USE OF THE LICENSED MATERIAL, EVEN IF THE LICENSOR HAS BEEN + ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSSES, COSTS, EXPENSES, OR + DAMAGES. WHERE A LIMITATION OF LIABILITY IS NOT ALLOWED IN FULL OR + IN PART, THIS LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. + </p> + <p> + The disclaimer of warranties and limitation of liability provided + above shall be interpreted in a manner that, to the extent + possible, most closely approximates an absolute disclaimer and + waiver of all liability. + </p> + + </div> + +</body> +</html> + + |