The firmware that will be installed is the firmware that bkkcoins the developer of these open source boards is creating.
More information can be found here
http://github.com/bkkcoins/klondike .
So is that something my computer can/will send to the board(s) across the USB?
Or something I would need special cabling/kit in order to install it myself?
-MarkM-
Depending on what type of kit you buy it will come flashed onto the board. You just need to plug the USB and boot up cgminer etc.
Yes that is why I was asking: the only "kit" that says it actually includes the firmware is the "testing" option, which isn't really a "kit" at all its a fully assembled, firmware loaded, tested unit. If loading the firmware is not something normal people can do with normal computer and USB or whatever, then really there doesnt' seem to be much option, failing there being some local firmware-loading shop or something I could take it in to that hasd the special gear for loading firmware I'd pretty much have to go with the tersted unit option.
On the other hand, I recall in the past having some ancient wireless networking card that Linux needed something they referred to as "firmware" to make it work, and all I had to do was download the so called firmware and run some firmware-installer command and presto it worked.
So it makes a lot of difference to me whether this so called firmware is akin to what I did to the wireless card or more along the lines of those FPGA re-programming tasks I see people being told to go get Jsomething cables and special kits and such to accomplish.
-MarkM-