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This page contains information on Flash, a proprietary format for delivering audio and video content, primarily over the Internet.
This page contains information on Flash, a proprietary format for delivering audio and video content, primarily over the Internet.


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Adobe's Flash plugin cannot be included in Fedora because it is not free/libre and open source software.  Adobe does release a version of the Flash plugin for Linux, and this can be used in Firefox, Konqueror and other popular Internet browsers.  When Adobe releases a newer version of the Linux Flash plugin, it makes packages available for Fedora, but Fedora cannot include Adobe's plugin as long as it is unavailable as free and open source software.
Adobe's Flash plugin cannot be included in Fedora because it is not free/libre and open source software.  Adobe does release a version of the Flash plugin for Linux, and this can be used in Firefox, Konqueror and other popular Internet browsers.  When Adobe releases a newer version of the Linux Flash plugin, it makes packages available for Fedora, but Fedora cannot include Adobe's plugin as long as it is unavailable as free and open source software.


{{admon/note | Free alternatives to Adobe Flash | There is a free and open source alternative called [http://www.gnu.org/software/gnash/ Gnash] available in Fedora's package repositories.  Gnash can play flash videos but the audio portion of Flash is often under the MP3 format which is patent encumbered.  Since Gnash uses Gstreamer, you can get additional codecs from other third party repositories but Fedora unfortunately cannot include them. There is also another free and open source alternative called [http://sourceforge.net/apps/trac/lightspark Lightspark]. Scroll below for more details on installing Gnash.
There are other open alternatives to Flash itself, including the patent unencumbered and free WebM,  Ogg Theora video and Ogg Vorbis audio formats. Fedora has complete support for such open formats, and Fedora includes several web browsers including Firefox, Epiphany etc that plays Ogg and WebM files directly, without any need of third party and proprietary browser plugins.
 
There are other open alternatives to Flash itself, including the patent unencumbered and free WebM,  Ogg Theora video and Ogg Vorbis audio formats. Fedora has complete support for such open formats, and Fedora includes a version of Firefox web browser that plays Ogg files directly, without any need of third party and proprietary browser plugins.}}
 
== YouTube and WebM support ==
 
Google has recently open sourced the VP8 video format and combined it with Ogg Vorbis audio and an adaptation of the Matroska container, creating a new format for free and open video and audio called WebM.  YouTube is switching over to using WebM extensively and Fedora has embraced this format as well. 
 
Updates to the GStreamer multimedia framework in [https://admin.fedoraproject.org/updates/gstreamer-plugins-good-0.10.23-1.fc13,gstreamer-plugins-bad-free-0.10.19-1.fc13 Fedora 13] and [https://admin.fedoraproject.org/updates/gstreamer-plugins-good-0.10.23-1.fc12,gstreamer-plugins-bad-free-0.10.19-1.fc12 Fedora 12] enable users to play many YouTube videos directly without Flash via browsers such as Epiphany and Midori, which use Gstreamer. Fedora 12 users also need the [https://admin.fedoraproject.org/updates/webkitgtk-1.2.0-1.fc12 webkitgtk] update.
 
Once you have the updates installed, to enable support for it in YouTube, go to http://youtube.com/html5 and click on "Join the HTML5 Beta" link in the bottom of that page. Note that all videos are not available in WebM format yet, but this is expected to happen over time.  [http://www.permadi.com/blog/2010/05/sample-webm-video-2/ Here] is a sample video for testing. Fedora 14 will have more extensive support for WebM by default.
 
== Enabling Flash plugin ==
 
Adobe offers several methods to install their 32-bit Flash 10 plugin.  In general, the YUM version is preferred, since it allows the plugin to be updated automatically through Fedora's normal update mechanism.  The YUM version simply installs the repository configuration files, after which you must install the Flash plugin separately.
 
To begin, refer to the Adobe site at http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/.  Select ''YUM for Linux'' to download, and confirm (or the .tar.gz version for the 64 bit alpha; see bottom).
 
This will download the adobe-release-i386-1.0-1.noarch.rpm file. Installation of the repository file adobe-linux-i386.repo to /etc/yum.repos.d/ can be performed by installing the .rpm file. Issue the following command within the directory where you have downloaded the repository rpm file.
<pre>
su -c 'rpm -ivh adobe-release-i386-1.0-1.noarch.rpm'
</pre>
 
The .rpm file also copies the adobe General Public Key (GPG key) to /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-adobe-linux but does not import it. To import the key, type:
<pre>
su -c 'rpm --import /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-adobe-linux'
</pre>
 
The system is now ready to fetch rpm packages from adobe using yum. To verify this, take a look at the /etc/yum.repos.d/adobe-linux-i386.repo file that was just created. You should see something similar to the following:
 
<pre>
[adobe-linux-i386]
name=Adobe Systems Incorporated
baseurl=http://linuxdownload.adobe.com/linux/i386/
enabled=1
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-adobe-linux
</pre>
 
Notice that the file contains the URL where the packages are located, whether or not the repository should be enabled, whether rpm should check downloaded packages from adobe against the GPG key, and the location of the key itself.
 
 
Now proceed to either the instructions for [[#For_i386 | 32-bit (i386) platforms]] or [[#For_x86_64 | 64-bit (x86_64) platforms]].
 
{{anchor|For i386}}
=== On 32-bit Fedora ===
 
After completing the Adobe repository configuration, run the following command to install the Flash plugin and ensure sound is enabled:
<pre>
su -c 'yum install nspluginwrapper alsa-plugins-pulseaudio flash-plugin'
</pre>
 
You may see messages indicating that some of these packages are already installed. This is not a problem. (In particular, a default graphical install of 32-bit Fedora already includes both <code>nspluginwrapper</code> and <code>alsa-plugins-pulseaudio</code>.)
 
Next, you should [[#Checking_the_plugin | check the plugin]].
 
{{anchor|For x86_64}}
=== On 64-bit Fedora ===
 
====32 bit wrapped version====
 
These instructions will install a 32-bit plugin that will work with the 64-bit browser by being "wrapped" with nspluginwrapper.
 
After completing the Adobe repository configuration, run the following two commands, in the order indicated, to install the Flash plugin and ensure sound is enabled. The first command will automatically pull in the 32-bit version of libstdc++, which will prevent the Adobe Reader from being pulled in as a dependency when flash-plugin is installed (see [http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/users/2010-May/373309.html this thread] for an explanation).
 
The Adobe repository is only needed when running the second command. If the Adobe repository configuration is completed ''after'' running the first command, then omit the <code>--disablerepo</code> option.
 
For Fedora 10:
<pre>
su -c 'yum install nspluginwrapper.{x86_64,i386} alsa-plugins-pulseaudio.i386 --disablerepo=adobe-linux-i386'
su -c 'yum install flash-plugin'
</pre>
 
For Fedora 11:
<pre>
su -c 'yum install nspluginwrapper.{x86_64,i586} alsa-plugins-pulseaudio.i586 --disablerepo=adobe-linux-i386'
su -c 'yum install flash-plugin'
</pre>
 
For Fedora 12 or later:
<pre>
su -c 'yum install nspluginwrapper.{x86_64,i686} alsa-plugins-pulseaudio.i686 --disablerepo=adobe-linux-i386'
su -c 'yum install flash-plugin'
</pre>
 
You may see messages indicating that some of these packages are already installed.  This is not a problem. (In particular, a default graphical install of 64-bit Fedora already includes <code>nspluginwrapper.x86_64</code>.)
 
Next, you should [[#Checking_the_plugin | check the plugin]].
 
====64-bit Preview Release====
 
Adobe also has a Preview Release version of a 64-bit plugin.
 
{{admon/warning | 64-bit plugin may be subject to security issues | The 64-bit plugin, as a beta, is updated less frequently than the 32-bit plugin, and Adobe does not commit to issuing security updates for it. It may happen, and in several cases already has happened, that there is a known, serious vulnerability in Flash, and an update is issued to fix the 32-bit plugin, but not the 64-bit plugin. If you are going to install the Adobe plugin at all, it is highly recommended to keep a close eye on security alerts, and seriously consider running the 32-bit plugin wrapped (see above) rather than the 64-bit plugin.}}
 
{{admon/note | No automatic security updates for tarball installs | If the .tar.gz install method is used, you must manually check the Adobe site for new releases.}}
 
{{admon/note | Broken sound with 64-bit plugin in Fedora 14 | There is a known bug in the 64-bit Flash plugin which results in distorted sound when using it on Fedora 14. Please see [[Common_F14_bugs#flash-64-sound|this common bugs entry]] for more details. The recommended workaround is to use the 32-bit plugin instead, which is also recommended for security reasons (see above).}}
 
To install the Adobe tar.gz file, you will need to do the following:
 
First, download the .tar.gz version from Adobe: http://labs.adobe.com/downloads/flashplayer10_square.html
 
Next, use "tar -xvf" to extract libflashplayer.so and put it in either in {{filename|/usr/lib64/mozilla/plugins/}} or {{filename|~/.mozilla/plugins/}}.
For example:
<pre>tar -xvf flashplayer10_2_p3_64bit_linux_111710.tar.gz</pre>
Followed by:
<pre>su -c 'mv libflashplayer.so /usr/lib64/mozilla/plugins'</pre>
 
 
If [[SELinux]] is enabled (it is by default), please restore the context with:
<pre>su -c 'restorecon /usr/lib64/mozilla/plugins/libflashplayer.so'</pre>
 
You may also have to register the plugin with the nspluginwrapper tool:
<pre>/usr/lib64/nspluginwrapper/npconfig -i /usr/lib/flash-plugin/libflashplayer.so</pre>
 
Next, you should [[#Checking_the_plugin | check the plugin]].
 
=====Third Party Repository=====
Alternately, a third-party yum repository for the 64-bit Adobe Flash plugin is available from community member leigh123linux.  The forum thread for this effort is [http://forums.fedoraforum.org/showthread.php?t=205642 here].  To install the yum repository, one would issue:
 
<pre>
sudo /bin/rpm -Uhv http://www.linux-ati-drivers.homecall.co.uk/flashplayer.x86_64/flash-release-1-2.noarch.rpm
</pre>
 
Be sure to check the GPG key fingerprint against a trusted source.  It is assumed this repository will post updates as they become available, but as with any repo be aware you are delegating your system security to a third party. To install the flash plugin, remove old versions (especially i586) if necessary, then install from the repository:
 
<pre>
sudo /usr/bin/yum remove flash-plugin
sudo /usr/bin/yum install flash-plugin
</pre>
 
== Checking the plugin ==
 
After the installation, exit all copies of '''Firefox''' and start it again to enable the plugin.  Then type the following text in the Firefox address bar:
<pre>
about:plugins
</pre>
 
A section similar to the following should appear:
 
[[Image:Flash-check-2.png]]
 
This information tells you that the Adobe Flash plugin has been successfully installed.
 
 
Also check the [http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/ Adobe Flash Player test page]
 
== Installing the plugin on Chrome ==
 
Follow all of the instructions above. Then:
 
- create a Chrome plugin folder:
<pre>
sudo mkdir /opt/google/chrome/plugins
</pre>
 
- on 32-bit, create a symbolic link that tells Chrome how to find the 32-bit plugin:
<pre>
sudo ln -s /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/libflashplayer.so /opt/google/chrome/plugins/libflashplayer.so
</pre>
 
- on 64-bit, create a symbolic link that tells Chrome how to find the 64-bit plugin:
 
- run Mozilla Firefox once so that it creates /usr/lib64/mozilla/plugins-wrapped/nswrapper_32_64.libflashplayer.so
<pre>
sudo ln -s /usr/lib64/mozilla/plugins-wrapped/nswrapper_32_64.libflashplayer.so /opt/google/chrome/plugins/nswrapper_32_64.libflashplayer.so
</pre>
 
 
- Exit all Chrome windows and restart Chrome.
 
- In the Chrome address bar, type "about:plugins" to check whether the plugin loaded. You may have to re-run Chrome with the --enable-plugins command line switch to force Chrome to re-scan its plugins folder.
 
== Installing the plugin on Chromium ==
 
Follow all of the instructions in the Enabling Flash Plugin section. Then:
 
- on 32-bit, create a symbolic link that tells Chromium how to find the 32-bit plugin:
<pre>
sudo ln -s /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/libflashplayer.so /usr/lib/chromium-browser/plugins/libflashplayer.so
</pre>
 
- on 64-bit, create a symbolic link that tells Chromium how to find the 64-bit plugin:
 
- run Mozilla Firefox once so that it creates /usr/lib64/mozilla/plugins-wrapped/nswrapper_32_64.libflashplayer.so
<pre>
sudo ln -s /usr/lib64/mozilla/plugins-wrapped/nswrapper_32_64.libflashplayer.so /usr/lib64/chromium-browser/plugins/nswrapper_32_64.libflashplayer.so
</pre>
 
- Exit all Chromium windows and restart Chromium.
 
- In the Chromium address bar, type "about:plugins" to check whether the plugin loaded. You may have to re-run Chromium with the --enable-plugins command line switch to force Chromium to re-scan its plugins folder.
 
== Troubleshooting and notes ==
 
=== SELinux problems ===
 
In some cases, <code>nspluginwrapper</code> produces SELinux AVC errors, some of which may prevent viewing Flash content.  Changing the relevant SELinux boolean may resolve this problem, but eliminates a great deal of additional security when using <code>nspluginwrapper</code>.  To make the change, run the following command:
 
<pre>
su -c 'setsebool -P allow_unconfined_nsplugin_transition=0'
</pre>
 
=== <code>libflashsupport</code> deprecated ===
 
The <code>libflashsupport</code> package is no longer needed with Flash 10 and has been removed from Fedora.  The Flash plugin now calls the appropriate ALSA functions directly, and in the default configuration ALSA delivers sound to PulseAudio.
 
=== Sound distorted in Fedora 14 ===
 
A recent change to <code>glibc</code> in Fedora 14 has exposed a bug in the '''64 bit''' Flash plugin that causes sound distortion on some videos.  Discussion of what to do about it is ongoing as of 2010-11-17.  For details and workarounds, see [[rhbug:638477|bug 638477]].
 
=== After Fedora upgrade/preupgrade ===
To regenerate wrapper previously generated by nspluginwrapper you need to remove the old one:
<pre>su -c 'rm /usr/lib64/mozilla/plugins-wrapped/nswrapper_32_64.libflashplayer.so'</pre>
 
Please, restart your browser after this.
 
== Installing Gnash ==


Fedora includes a free and open source Flash player called Gnash.  Gnash is very modular and includes plugins for Mozilla and Konqueror as well as a desktop player.  You likely want the Mozilla plugin.
== YouTube, Vimeo and WebM support ==


Use PackageKit or run the following as root user
Google has open sourced an implementation of VP8 video format and combined it with Ogg Vorbis audio and an adaptation of the Matroska container, creating a new format for free and open video and audio called WebM.  YouTube is switching over to using WebM extensively and Fedora has embraced this format as well.  Current versions of Fedora support WebM by default.


<pre> yum install gnash-plugin </pre>
The Vimeo videoportal makes intensive use of javascript, and can in most cases be accessed without the need for Flash.


If you use Konqueror as your web browser,  
Youtube will automatically forward your Webbrowser to the right version, where no flash is needed if Flash is not installed on your system. Vimeo does that even more often, even if a flash player is installed.


<pre> yum install gnash-klash </pre>
{|
|-
| style="border-width: 0;" | {{admon/tip | Worth to mention | Note that not all videos are available in WebM, or an open webmedia format yet, but the majority of them should play just fine. }}


If you would like to have a desktop flash player,
== Flash plugin ==


<pre> yum install gnash </pre>
For information on installing the plugin, refer to [https://ask.fedoraproject.org/en/question/10217/ Ask Fedora Flash page]


Note that Flash often relies on MP3 for audio and Fedora cannot include support for it since it is a patent encumbered format.  Gnash uses the Gstreamer multimedia framework and hence additional multimedia codecs can be installed separately.  [[Third party repositories]] might provide such codecs.
== See Also ==
* [[How to create and use Live USB|Flash Drive]]

Revision as of 15:39, 5 August 2015

This page contains information on Flash, a proprietary format for delivering audio and video content, primarily over the Internet.

Flash is non-free/proprietary software

Adobe's Flash plugin cannot be included in Fedora because it is not free/libre and open source software. Adobe does release a version of the Flash plugin for Linux, and this can be used in Firefox, Konqueror and other popular Internet browsers. When Adobe releases a newer version of the Linux Flash plugin, it makes packages available for Fedora, but Fedora cannot include Adobe's plugin as long as it is unavailable as free and open source software.

There are other open alternatives to Flash itself, including the patent unencumbered and free WebM, Ogg Theora video and Ogg Vorbis audio formats. Fedora has complete support for such open formats, and Fedora includes several web browsers including Firefox, Epiphany etc that plays Ogg and WebM files directly, without any need of third party and proprietary browser plugins.

YouTube, Vimeo and WebM support

Google has open sourced an implementation of VP8 video format and combined it with Ogg Vorbis audio and an adaptation of the Matroska container, creating a new format for free and open video and audio called WebM. YouTube is switching over to using WebM extensively and Fedora has embraced this format as well. Current versions of Fedora support WebM by default.

The Vimeo videoportal makes intensive use of javascript, and can in most cases be accessed without the need for Flash.

Youtube will automatically forward your Webbrowser to the right version, where no flash is needed if Flash is not installed on your system. Vimeo does that even more often, even if a flash player is installed.

Idea.png
Worth to mention
Note that not all videos are available in WebM, or an open webmedia format yet, but the majority of them should play just fine.

Flash plugin

For information on installing the plugin, refer to Ask Fedora Flash page

See Also