Forum Discussion

sozoridge's avatar
sozoridge
Sophomore
8 years ago

access to router source code

I find that the HT2000w router I received today is running Linux.   Linux version 3.3.8 (bruce_ma@debian-wheezy-i386) (gcc version 4.6.3 20120201 (prerelease) (Linaro GCC 4.6-2012.02) ) #1 Fri May ...
  • C0RR0SIVE's avatar
    C0RR0SIVE
    8 years ago

    Last response...
    I could care less if there is a difference between the "modem" and "router", you will get the same response that Jezra did.

  • sozoridge's avatar
    sozoridge
    8 years ago

    Hi Liz

     

    I think your response may have been colored by the oddly aggressive posts by the other forum members.

     

    As you can see in that old quoted thread, it was asking a wholly different question unrelated to this one.

     

    The router of this modem *is* running Linux with Busybox.  Both of which are under the GPL v2 license.  It is not a question of what OS the modem's router is running.  That is already clearly available from the modem's syslog as I quoted in the original post.

     

    For your reference:

     

    https://busybox.net/license.html#enforce

    https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/process/kernel-enforcement-statement.html

     

    Please do pass this on up your support channels.

     

    Thank you.

     

GabeU's avatar
GabeU
Distinguished Professor IV

Good luck with that.  There's no way they're going to give you access to the source code of the software used in the modem, nor should they.  The last thing they need is people messing around with it.  

C0RR0SIVE's avatar
C0RR0SIVE
Associate Professor
8 years ago

LOL, that is NOT going to happen, that aside, I would be careful, they may consider you to be in breech of your contract.

All of that aside, even if you somehow got the actual copywrite holder of the OS to take Hughesnet to court, and the copywrite holder won, the courts can not force Hughesnet, nor Echostar to release the source code as that would be in violation of their own IP.

 

  • sozoridge's avatar
    sozoridge
    Sophomore
    8 years ago

    Liz, Amanda, please forward my request to the appropriate party.

     

    To the other commentors, I don't know what Hughesnet provides you all to add such pointless noise in an attempt to spin the focus of a thread, but its mildly annoying, and in this case they are rather uninformed responses.  Or if I give you the benefit of the doubt, and your statements indicate a deeper knowledge that you have, that the modem itself is running on Linux, then that is of great interest as well.

     

    But in attempt to help you understand. Your quotes of "software used in the modem" and "modem firmware" is misleading - No, it is not the modem software/firmware in question, but rather the software used in the router, which is distinct and separate.  The HT2000w has two pcb boards - one for the modem, one for the router.  The router comes from Arcadyan, as can be found in the eff-cee-cee filing for the wireless router.

     

    As should be obvious, requesting access to the source code does not construe an intent to modify the unit.  And no, there are no special exceptions that allow a company to distribute Linux without providing access to the source code; Linux has no dual licensing.  So as much as you all want to step up and somehow, in your perception, "protect" Hughesnet for whatever misguided reasons, in this case your statements add no value to this thread.

    • MarkJFine's avatar
      MarkJFine
      Professor
      8 years ago

      Lol... You're so confused between operating system software (Linux) and modules that use that software it's hilarious. Again, not all secondary software is required to be open source under GPL. Do you know how many secondary kernel modules I have that are not GPL?

      • sozoridge's avatar
        sozoridge
        Sophomore
        8 years ago

        MarkJFine, no confusion, except on your part.  I'm asking for the LInux source code and any other GPL software that is running on the router.  I'm not asking for any application or non GPL software that is running ontop of it.

    • C0RR0SIVE's avatar
      C0RR0SIVE
      Associate Professor
      8 years ago

      sozoridge,

      Hughesnet is not required to submit anything that could reveal their own copywrited or protected intellectual properties.  Not even courts could force a company to reveal confidential information.  Courts in the past have only been able to force companies (like twice, tops) to change the base operating system.

       

      We have been around in this rodeo before with another user much like you, it's not going to happen.

      There may be two boards inside the unit, but that doesn't mean the main board is seperate in functionality from the daughter board, and that the Router firmware is actually seperate in nature from the modem firmware.  The daughterboard is litterally just a wifi module with wifi radios/amps and other wireless components on board.

      The only bit of information I can throw out there to support what I stated about the two boards in the unit that is public is this:
       

      That is the only interconnect between the two.

    • GabeU's avatar
      GabeU
      Distinguished Professor IV
      8 years ago
      sozoridge wrote: 

      As should be obvious, requesting access to the source code does not construe an intent to modify the unit.  

      Then what is the point in asking for it?  

       

      I can see three reasons.  1.  To modify the unit.  2.  To attempt to modify a 3rd party unit, or your own, to work with the service.  3.  A right fight due to being dismayed with the service, as in, "I'm angry, so I'm going to get them in some way."  

       

      With that said, maybe I'm just not seeing something.  

      • C0RR0SIVE's avatar
        C0RR0SIVE
        Associate Professor
        8 years ago

        Last response...
        I could care less if there is a difference between the "modem" and "router", you will get the same response that Jezra did.

  • MarkJFine's avatar
    MarkJFine
    Professor
    8 years ago

    Not all Linux applications are required to be under GPL, nor in this case does it say anywhere that it is open source under it.