Re: [lfs-support] Intel microcode updates adding confusion?

2018-01-13 Thread Bruce Dubbs

Paul Rogers wrote:


Updating microcode can be a dangerous thing.  I've never found a need
to live on the bleeding edge of technology.


I agree about bleeding edge issues, but leading edge is OK.  My view is 
that rc releases and betas or earlier are bleeding edge and latest stable 
is leading edge.


I don't really think updating microcode is dangerous if you have control. 
After all, there is really no difference between firmware (aka BIOS or 
UEFI) loading microcode and the kernel doing it via an initrd.


  -- Bruce

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Re: [lfs-support] Intel microcode updates adding confusion?

2018-01-13 Thread Paul Rogers
> I don't have any love for general initrds, but using an initrd for
> microcode allows early loading - for a few intel machines with buggy
> microcode, that is the only available method.

Sure, if it comes to that being necessary.  Otherwise, I'll opt for late 
loading whenever possible.  AFAICT, none of my machines are members of that 
"few".

> 
> But since you aren't going to load new microcode without knowing
> what it does (I suppose that means knowing what it claims to fix,
> otherwise you would not be looking at microcode at all), for your
> older machines I guess you will never apply any.
> 
> ĸen

I don't know.  I suspect there's a chance Intel *may* start publishing a 
Changelog.  It really need not be so detailed that it reveals "trade secrets".  
And I could make-do with a report that certain updates *do* mitigate Spectre.

Intel has withdrawn some of the updates because they caused new problems.  
Updating microcode can be a dangerous thing.  I've never found a need to live 
on the bleeding edge of technology.

-- 
Paul Rogers
paulgrog...@fastmail.fm
Rogers' Second Law: "Everything you do communicates."
(I do not personally endorse any additions after this line. TANSTAAFL :-)
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