Unwanted Packages in updates
Today's OS updates for Raspberry Pi OS Trixie include:
firmware-atheros
firmware-libertas
firmware-realtek
firmware-mediatek
I don't know what these have to do with RaspberryPi, they have come from Debian.
I can put apt-mark hold on them, but is it safe or reasonable to remove them from the OS installation?
firmware-atheros
firmware-libertas
firmware-realtek
firmware-mediatek
I don't know what these have to do with RaspberryPi, they have come from Debian.
I can put apt-mark hold on them, but is it safe or reasonable to remove them from the OS installation?
Re: Unwanted Packages in updates
Judging by their names they're firmware packages for network adapters.
If you don't use those chipsets then probably yes.
If you don't use those chipsets then probably yes.
Knowledge, skills, & experience have value. If you expect to profit from someone's you should expect to pay for them.
All advice given is based on my experience. it worked for me, it may not work for you.
Need help? https://github.com/thagrol/Guides
All advice given is based on my experience. it worked for me, it may not work for you.
Need help? https://github.com/thagrol/Guides
- roliver
- Raspberry Pi Engineer & Forum Moderator
Raspberry Pi Engineer & Forum Moderator - Posts: 50
- Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2012 10:10 am
Re: Unwanted Packages in updates
These all originate from the firmware-nonfree source package which we make modifications to:
https://github.com/RPi-Distro/firmware- ... c26865d49b
A selection of the binary packages produced from this source package are selected for RaspiOS Lite images:
https://github.com/RPi-Distro/pi-gen/bl ... 0-packages
https://github.com/RPi-Distro/firmware- ... c26865d49b
A selection of the binary packages produced from this source package are selected for RaspiOS Lite images:
https://github.com/RPi-Distro/pi-gen/bl ... 0-packages
Re: Unwanted Packages in updates
Are they all included just in case somebody plugs in a device that requires them?roliver wrote: ↑Thu Nov 13, 2025 10:20 amThese all originate from the firmware-nonfree source package which we make modifications to:
https://github.com/RPi-Distro/firmware- ... c26865d49b
A selection of the binary packages produced from this source package are selected for RaspiOS Lite images:
https://github.com/RPi-Distro/pi-gen/bl ... 0-packages
- keyboardman
- Posts: 272
- Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2023 6:48 pm
Re: Unwanted Packages in updates
Yeah, I had also installed non-free firmware package and it installed those and even intel, nvidia firmware.
Re: Unwanted Packages in updates
The non-free stuff comes by default, as far as I can see. I don't want to exclude it because I've seen some Broadcom stuff comes with it.
But at the same time, it would be better to avoid wasting time and storage on stuff like useless NVidia blobs.
But at the same time, it would be better to avoid wasting time and storage on stuff like useless NVidia blobs.
- roliver
- Raspberry Pi Engineer & Forum Moderator
Raspberry Pi Engineer & Forum Moderator - Posts: 50
- Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2012 10:10 am
Re: Unwanted Packages in updates
Which NVidia blobs do you have installed? I don't believe there's any included in the images we publish.
Code: Select all
pi@roliver-500 ~> apt policy firmware-nvidia-graphics
firmware-nvidia-graphics:
Installed: (none)
Candidate: 1:20241210-1+rpt4
- keyboardman
- Posts: 272
- Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2023 6:48 pm
Re: Unwanted Packages in updates
It was installed when I was on Raspi OS Bookworm after installing non-free firmware package.roliver wrote: ↑Thu Nov 13, 2025 11:43 amWhich NVidia blobs do you have installed? I don't believe there's any included in the images we publish.
Code: Select all
pi@roliver-500 ~> apt policy firmware-nvidia-graphics firmware-nvidia-graphics: Installed: (none) Candidate: 1:20241210-1+rpt4
Re: Unwanted Packages in updates
I was referring to the other comment from "keyboardman". But Nvidia or not isn't really relevant to how to stop the unwanted non-free updates.roliver wrote: ↑Thu Nov 13, 2025 11:43 amWhich NVidia blobs do you have installed? I don't believe there's any included in the images we publish.
Code: Select all
pi@roliver-500 ~> apt policy firmware-nvidia-graphics firmware-nvidia-graphics: Installed: (none) Candidate: 1:20241210-1+rpt4
Re: Unwanted Packages in updates
That would be silly.
I think you can safely remove the four packages mentioned in your original post, if you do not have any hardware that requires them.
If you do need them, or if you keep them installed just in case, then you really must allow them to stay up to date.
Re: Unwanted Packages in updates
At some point they were automatically installed as an update to the non-free package in Bookworm.roliver wrote: ↑Thu Nov 13, 2025 11:43 amWhich NVidia blobs do you have installed? I don't believe there's any included in the images we publish.
Code: Select all
pi@roliver-500 ~> apt policy firmware-nvidia-graphics firmware-nvidia-graphics: Installed: (none) Candidate: 1:20241210-1+rpt4
There's a post / topic somewhere on the forum (or was it github...) and IIRC @Shift+1 explained the situation.
Edit: see e.g. https://github.com/raspberrypi/linux/is ... 2722032161
https://github.com/raspberrypi/bookworm ... issues/394
Re: Unwanted Packages in updates
Why bother? Unless you are using a 16GB Sdcard, the space they take up isn't much.
Package: firmware-atheros
Version: 1:20241210-1+rpt4
Installed-Size: 84.1 MB
Package: firmware-libertas
Version: 1:20241210-1+rpt4
Installed-Size: 11.7 MB
Package: firmware-realtek
Version: 1:20241210-1+rpt4
Installed-Size: 18.1 MB
Package: firmware-mediatek
Version: 1:20241210-1+rpt4
Installed-Size: 33.9 MB
They serve no real purpose, however if the package that recommends them is updated or reinstalled the above packages will also get installed.
Simplest thing to do would be to disable recommends.
Rather than create a new file I just edited /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50raspi and added:
Package: firmware-atheros
Version: 1:20241210-1+rpt4
Installed-Size: 84.1 MB
Package: firmware-libertas
Version: 1:20241210-1+rpt4
Installed-Size: 11.7 MB
Package: firmware-realtek
Version: 1:20241210-1+rpt4
Installed-Size: 18.1 MB
Package: firmware-mediatek
Version: 1:20241210-1+rpt4
Installed-Size: 33.9 MB
They serve no real purpose, however if the package that recommends them is updated or reinstalled the above packages will also get installed.
Simplest thing to do would be to disable recommends.
Rather than create a new file I just edited /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50raspi and added:
Code: Select all
APT::Install-Recommends "0";Raspberry PI 500 Pi OS Trixie Kernel: 6.12.58-v8 Ram: 8GB DE: XFCE
Debian - "The Universal OS - One OS to Rule Them ALL"
Debian - "The Universal OS - One OS to Rule Them ALL"
Re: Unwanted Packages in updates
Thank you everybody, I will tidy up the OS by removing these packages, now I know it is safe as @thagrol said right at the start!
I'm not really any closer to understanding why they are in involved in every Pi OS installation when 99.something % of Pis will never use them.
I'm not really any closer to understanding why they are in involved in every Pi OS installation when 99.something % of Pis will never use them.
- ShiftPlusOne
- Raspberry Pi Engineer & Forum Moderator
Raspberry Pi Engineer & Forum Moderator - Posts: 6546
- Joined: Fri Jul 29, 2011 5:36 pm
Re: Unwanted Packages in updates
I'm sure more than 1% of people have plugged in a wifi dongle at some point and it's a reasonable expectation that if you plug in a common USB device that it should work.andrew_pi wrote: I'm not really any closer to understanding why they are in involved in every Pi OS installation when 99.something % of Pis will never use them.
Re: Unwanted Packages in updates
Aha! An actual explanation. Thank you.ShiftPlusOne wrote: ↑Thu Nov 13, 2025 3:33 pmI'm sure more than 1% of people have plugged in a wifi dongle at some point and it's a reasonable expectation that if you plug in a common USB device that it should work.andrew_pi wrote: I'm not really any closer to understanding why they are in involved in every Pi OS installation when 99.something % of Pis will never use them.
Jump to
- Community
- General discussion
- Announcements
- Other languages
- Deutsch
- Español
- Français
- Italiano
- Nederlands
- 日本語
- Polski
- Português
- Русский
- Türkçe
- User groups and events
- Raspberry Pi Official Magazine
- Using the Raspberry Pi
- Beginners
- Troubleshooting
- Advanced users
- Assistive technology and accessibility
- Education
- Picademy
- Teaching and learning resources
- Staffroom, classroom and projects
- Astro Pi
- Mathematica
- High Altitude Balloon
- Weather station
- Programming
- C/C++
- Java
- Python
- Scratch
- Other programming languages
- Windows 10 for IoT
- Wolfram Language
- Bare metal, Assembly language
- Graphics programming
- OpenGLES
- OpenVG
- OpenMAX
- General programming discussion
- Projects
- Networking and servers
- Automation, sensing and robotics
- Graphics, sound and multimedia
- Other projects
- Media centres
- Gaming
- AIY Projects
- Hardware and peripherals
- Camera board
- Compute Module
- Official Display
- HATs and other add-ons
- Device Tree
- Interfacing (DSI, CSI, I2C, etc.)
- Keyboard computers (400, 500, 500+)
- Raspberry Pi Pico
- General
- SDK
- MicroPython
- Other RP2040 boards
- Zephyr
- Rust
- AI Accelerator
- AI Camera - IMX500
- Hailo
- Software
- Raspberry Pi OS
- Raspberry Pi Connect
- Raspberry Pi Desktop for PC and Mac
- Beta testing
- Other
- Android
- Debian
- FreeBSD
- Gentoo
- Linux Kernel
- NetBSD
- openSUSE
- Plan 9
- Puppy
- Arch
- Pidora / Fedora
- RISCOS
- Ubuntu
- Ye Olde Pi Shoppe
- For sale
- Wanted
- Off topic
- Off topic discussion