Here is a list of Linux drivers that require proprietary firmware. If you are shopping for hardware, you should avoid anything that requires a driver on this list.

There are a few 100% free -- including the BIOS -- complete systems in use here at the FSF that we recommend. In addition, we have verified reports that the following devices work with free systems:

• Cameras
• Modems
• Networking
• Wired
• Wireless
• Printers
• Sound Devices
• Storage Devices
• Video Cards

Ubuntu's Free Software Drivers page provides a scoring system rating various vendors on their support for free software operating systems.

The FSF can't afford to purchase one of every new piece of hardware on the market, so we rely on free software activists, like you, to help us maintain this directory. Ryan's Linux Inventory Aggregator can help you easily gather information about the hardware on your own system.

Please send hardware database contributions to <hardware@fsf.org>. For example, if you are using gNewSense with a hardware device that isn't listed here, let us know. Since gNewSense does not distribute binary firmware, any device that works with it "out of the box" is free-software compatible and we'd like to list it here.

Please read our contributor's guidelines for what information should be included in a report.

We are also actively seeking volunteers to help us maintain this section, by doing research and reviewing reports we receive from free software supporters. If you would like to volunteer to help build and maintain this important resource, let us know at <hardware@fsf.org>.

We also plan to include information about devices that are confirmed to not work with free software, so please send us those reports as well.

Our effort focuses on the GNU/Linux operating system. However, please feel free to send along information regarding compatibility with other free operating systems, like those from the BSD family, we'll gladly include it.