Dear all,

during the last days I tried to install a Printer / Fax from HP (M127fn)
on several different platforms.

On every OS it seems the same: You can only get these printers to work
when installing a mandatory proprietary "plugin". This plugin originally
comes from HP and you will never see the sources. It's just a binary
"run" file which you may trust and invoke, or not.

As if this was not bad enough, the run file seems to have moved to a
different location some days ago, and, hence, on e.g. Mageia 6
installation failed completely, and on Raspbian Stretch I had to do an
"apt-get update" prior to being able to proceed.

But even after that I got complaints about not fitting pgp checks and had
to continue even though the plugin potentially was manipulated.

So, at least, this has nothing to do with OpenSource philosophy.

I am wondering why so many people running Linux for higher security, are
nevertheless agreeing on having non-OpenSource components like this on
their machines.

- Has anyone found out, what this "plugin" exactly does? And, to which
locations the installer ("run file") writes or modifies files?

- Are there alternatives as true Open Source drivers?
I know that high end laser printers can be accessed via PCL or PS
protocol, but not so with HP Fax Lasers.

Any ideas highly appreciated!

Best regards,

Markus


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