linux-kernel - [PATCH] platform/x86/intel/ifs: Update documentation to match current availability of firmware images

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Message-ID: <20250102194358.33029-1-anisse@astier.eu>
Date: Thu,  2 Jan 2025 20:43:57 +0100
From: Anisse Astier <anisse@...ier.eu>
To: platform-driver-x86@...r.kernel.org,
	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org
Cc: Anisse Astier <anisse@...ier.eu>,
	Jithu Joseph <jithu.joseph@...el.com>,
	Ashok Raj <ashok.raj.linux@...il.com>,
	Tony Luck <tony.luck@...el.com>,
	Hans de Goede <hdegoede@...hat.com>,
	Ilpo Järvinen <ilpo.jarvinen@...ux.intel.com>
Subject: [PATCH] platform/x86/intel/ifs: Update documentation to match current availability of firmware images

Firmware images necessary for the In-field scan[1] functionality are not
available at the moment[2], and require having access to at least an
Intel customer account[3].

Update documentation to match current state, it can be updated again
when the images are finally published.

[1] https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000099537/processors/intel-xeon-processors.html
[2] https://cdrdv2.intel.com/v1/dl/getContent/826383?explicitVersion=true
[3] https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/secure/design/confidential/software-kits/kit-details.html?kitId=815180

Signed-off-by: Anisse Astier <anisse@...ier.eu>
---
I realize Intel had a few troubled years, and that having this feature
in the kernel must be quite helpful to some users. But right now, it
cannot be used unless one has a commercial relationship with Intel.

I am not advocating for the removal of this driver; this is just an
update of the documentation to show that the publication of the firmware
images necessary to use the driver might have fallen through the cracks,
and might not happen soon.

Kind regards,

Anisse
---
 drivers/platform/x86/intel/ifs/ifs.h | 11 +++++++----
 1 file changed, 7 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/drivers/platform/x86/intel/ifs/ifs.h b/drivers/platform/x86/intel/ifs/ifs.h
index 5c3c0dfa1bf8..9a7ad9cc9d08 100644
--- a/drivers/platform/x86/intel/ifs/ifs.h
+++ b/drivers/platform/x86/intel/ifs/ifs.h
@@ -23,9 +23,11 @@
  * IFS Image
  * ---------
  *
- * Intel provides a firmware file containing the scan tests via
- * github [#f1]_.  Similar to microcode there is a separate file for each
- * family-model-stepping. IFS Images are not applicable for some test types.
+ * As of early 2025, Intel provides the firmware files containing the scan tests
+ * to select customers [#f1]_. When this driver was merged in 2022, it was
+ * announced that firmware files would be available via github [#f2]_. Similar
+ * to microcode there is a separate file for each family-model-stepping. IFS
+ * Images are not applicable for some test types.
  * Wherever applicable the sysfs directory would provide a "current_batch" file
  * (see below) for loading the image.
  *
@@ -125,7 +127,8 @@
  * 2) Hardware allows for some number of cores to be tested in parallel.
  * The driver does not make use of this, it only tests one core at a time.
  *
- * .. [#f1] https://github.com/intel/TBD
+ * .. [#f1] https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000099537/processors/intel-xeon-processors.html
+ * .. [#f2] https://github.com/intel/TBD
  *
  *
  * Structural Based Functional Test at Field (SBAF):
-- 
2.47.1