HI Tim, Can you please elaborate the policy concern?
Is it a license issue? As linux-firmware also contains binary files which is in main repository and loaded by default. From the perspective of "binary", I don't know the difference of cpu microcode vs. device firmwares. As the Intel cpu microcode is used to correct errata in the processor which is important for users who uses the affected platforms. Even the intel-microcode can't be moved to the main repository, is there a way to automatically notify Ubuntu users that there's a cpu microcode update? And users can make their decision to install the package or not. Thanks for your information and advice! -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Kernel Packages, which is subscribed to linux in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1084373 Title: [Feature] Early load microcode for x86 CPU Status in intel: New Status in “linux” package in Ubuntu: Fix Committed Status in “linux” source package in Utopic: Fix Committed Bug description: The problem in current microcode loading method is that we load a microcode way too late; ideally we should load it before turning paging on. This may only be practical on 32 bits since we can't get to 64-bit mode without paging on,but we should still do it as early as at all possible. Similarly, we should load the microcode update as early as possible during AP bringup and when processors are brought back online after hotplug or S3/S4. In order to do that, the microcode patch needs to be permanently present in kernel memory. Each individual patch is fairly small, so that is OK, but the entire blob with support for each CPU is too big. Since only CPU's with same model can be in the same platform, we store microcode with the same model as BSP. Later on AP's can upload microcode from the saved microcodep patches. Note, however, that Linux users have gotten used to being able to install a microcode patch in the field without having a reboot; we support that model too. Upstream schedule: Q4'12 To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/intel/+bug/1084373/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~kernel-packages Post to : kernel-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~kernel-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
