linux-kernel - Re: [tip:x86/microcode] x86/microcode_intel_early.c: Early update ucode on Intel's CPU

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Message-ID: <50C763C2.5020603@zytor.com>
Date:	Tue, 11 Dec 2012 08:48:02 -0800
From:	"H. Peter Anvin" <hpa@...or.com>
To:	Yinghai Lu <yinghai@...nel.org>
CC:	Borislav Petkov <bp@...en8.de>,
	"Yu, Fenghua" <fenghua.yu@...el.com>,
	"mingo@...nel.org" <mingo@...nel.org>,
	"linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org" <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
	"tglx@...utronix.de" <tglx@...utronix.de>,
	"hpa@...ux.intel.com" <hpa@...ux.intel.com>,
	"linux-tip-commits@...r.kernel.org" 
	<linux-tip-commits@...r.kernel.org>
Subject: Re: [tip:x86/microcode] x86/microcode_intel_early.c: Early update
 ucode on Intel's CPU

On 12/11/2012 08:46 AM, Yinghai Lu wrote:
> On Tue, Dec 11, 2012 at 6:57 AM, Borislav Petkov <bp@...en8.de> wrote:
>> On Mon, Dec 10, 2012 at 11:07:38PM -0800, Yinghai Lu wrote:
>>> BTW, do we really need to update microcode so early?
>>
>> Yes we do. Normally ucode gets applied by the BIOS - this early approach
>> is for those cases where OEMs don't release new BIOS anymore but we
>> still need to apply a ucode patch as early as possible.
> 
> but old bios with old ucode still work with some kind of previous kernel?
> 
> Do we have case that system would not work with kernel if ucode is not
> updated so early?
> 

It's not about "not working"... it is about "if the microcode isn't
loaded early we have to disable features."

	-hpa


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