Public bug reported:
## Summary
On a fresh Ubuntu 26.10 installation, the Intel Integrated Sensor Hub
(ISH) fails to initialize on an HP EliteBook 8 G2i with Intel Panther
Lake.
The correct HP-specific ISH firmware is already included in Ubuntu's
`linux-firmware` package. However, the corresponding lookup symlink is
missing from `/usr/lib/firmware/intel/ish/`.
As a result, the Linux kernel loads Intel's generic Panther Lake
firmware, which fails initialization.
I confirmed that manually adding the missing symlink, rebuilding the
Dracut initramfs, and rebooting completely resolves the ISH
initialization failure.
## System information
- **Manufacturer:** HP
- **Model:** HP EliteBook 8 G2i 14 inch Notebook Next Gen AI PC
- **CPU:** Intel Core Ultra 7 356H (Panther Lake)
- **BIOS:** HP Y70 Ver. 01.02.08
- **Operating system:** Ubuntu 26.10 (Stonking Stingray)
- **Kernel:** 7.3.0-9-generic
- **linux-firmware:** 20260915.git1522c78a.1ubuntu
- **Initramfs generator:** Dracut
DMI information:
```text
sys_vendor: HP
product_name: HP EliteBook 8 G2i 14 inch Notebook Next Gen AI PC
product_family: 103C_5336AN HP EliteBook
```
## Actual behavior before the fix
During boot, the kernel selects generic Intel ISH firmware:
```text
intel_ish_ipc 0000:00:12.0: ISH loader: load firmware: intel/ish/ish_ptl.bin
intel_ish_ipc 0000:00:12.0: ISH loader: cmd 2 failed 10
intel_ish_ipc 0000:00:12.0: ISH loader: cmd 2 failed 10
intel_ish_ipc 0000:00:12.0: ISH loader: cmd 2 failed 10
intel_ish_ipc 0000:00:12.0: Timed out waiting for HW ready
intel_ish_ipc 0000:00:12.0: ISH: hw start failed.
```
The ISH does not initialize.
## Investigation
The Ubuntu firmware package already contains the HP-specific image:
```text
/usr/lib/firmware/HP/ish/ish_ptl_12128606_581.7779.0.bin.zst
```
However, the `intel/ish` directory initially contained lookup symlinks
for Dell and Lenovo Panther Lake systems but no corresponding HP lookup
symlink.
The following was missing:
```text
/usr/lib/firmware/intel/ish/ish_ptl_12128606.bin.zst
```
The initramfs also lacked the HP firmware and its lookup symlink.
## Confirmed working workaround
I created a symlink to the HP firmware already packaged by Ubuntu:
```bash
sudo ln -s \
../../HP/ish/ish_ptl_12128606_581.7779.0.bin.zst \
/usr/lib/firmware/intel/ish/ish_ptl_12128606.bin.zst
```
I then regenerated the initramfs:
```bash
sudo dracut -f "/boot/initrd.img-$(uname -r)" "$(uname -r)"
```
I verified that both the HP firmware and lookup symlink were included:
```text
usr/lib/firmware/HP/ish/ish_ptl_12128606_581.7779.0.bin.zst
usr/lib/firmware/intel/ish/ish_ptl_12128606.bin.zst
-> ../../HP/ish/ish_ptl_12128606_581.7779.0.bin.zst
```
After rebooting, the kernel successfully loaded the HP firmware.
## Confirmed successful boot after workaround
Kernel log:
```text
intel_ish_ipc 0000:00:12.0: ISH loader: load firmware:
intel/ish/ish_ptl_12128606.bin
intel_ish_ipc 0000:00:12.0: ISH loader: firmware loaded. size:883200
intel_ish_ipc 0000:00:12.0: ISH loader: FW base version: 5.8.1.7779
intel_ish_ipc 0000:00:12.0: ISH loader: FW project version: 5.1.0.13186
ish-hid {33AECD58-B679-4E54-9BD9-A04D34F0C226}: [hid-ish]:
enum_devices_done OK, num_hid_devices=1
hid-sensor-hub 001F:8087:0AC2.0003: hidraw2: SENSOR HUB HID v2.00 Device
[hid-ishtp 8087:0AC2]
```
The previous firmware loading errors and hardware initialization timeout
are gone.
**This confirms that the firmware binary itself works on this hardware.
The missing lookup path was preventing its selection.**
## Expected behavior
Ubuntu's `linux-firmware` packaging should provide the appropriate
manufacturer-specific firmware lookup path so the Intel ISH driver
automatically selects the compatible HP firmware.
Users should not need to create firmware symlinks manually or rebuild
their initramfs after a fresh Ubuntu installation.
## Requested fix
Please update the appropriate Ubuntu firmware package to provide the
correct HP Panther Lake ISH firmware mapping for this hardware.
The following symlink has been confirmed to resolve the initialization
failure on this HP EliteBook:
```text
intel/ish/ish_ptl_12128606.bin.zst
-> ../../HP/ish/ish_ptl_12128606_581.7779.0.bin.zst
```
If a more specific DMI-based mapping is necessary to avoid selecting
this firmware on incompatible HP models, please use the appropriate
mapping.
Please also ensure the firmware and lookup symlink are included during
initramfs generation.
## Related bug
[https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2158073](https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2158073)
The previous bug concerns adding HP Lunar Lake and Panther Lake ISH
firmware.
This report documents a remaining integration problem in Ubuntu 26.10:
the HP firmware is already installed, but the kernel does not select it
automatically.
## Verification
The workaround has been tested on real hardware, including a full
reboot.
ISH firmware loading, device enumeration, and HID sensor-hub
initialization all succeed after the change.
I can provide additional logs or test a package update if needed.
ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 26.10
Package: linux-firmware 20260915.git1522c78a.1ubuntu
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 7.3.0-9.9-generic 7.3.0-rc6
Uname: Linux 7.3.0-9-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.36.0-0ubuntu1
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
/dev/snd/controlC0: wmortl 4972 F.... pipewire
wmortl 4976 F.... wireplumber
/dev/snd/seq: wmortl 4972 F.... pipewire
CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Sat Oct 24 02:31:08 2026
InstallationDate: Installed on 2026-10-24 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 26.10 "Stonking Stingray" - Official amd64 (20261013)
MachineType: HP HP EliteBook 8 G2i 14 inch Notebook Next Gen AI PC
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcEnviron:
LANG=en_US.UTF-8
PATH=(custom, no user)
SHELL=/bin/bash
TERM=xterm-256color
XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
ProcFB: 0 xedrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-7.3.0-9-generic
root=/dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-ubuntu--lv ro quiet splash
crashkernel=2G-4G:320M,4G-32G:512M,32G-64G:1024M,64G-128G:2048M,128G-:4096M
SourcePackage: linux-firmware
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 08/04/2026
dmi.bios.release: 2.8
dmi.bios.vendor: HP
dmi.bios.version: Y70 Ver. 01.02.08
dmi.board.name: 8ED5
dmi.board.vendor: HP
dmi.board.version: KBC Version 08.5D.00
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: HP
dmi.ec.firmware.release: 8.93
dmi.modalias:
dmi:bvnHP:bvrY70Ver.01.02.08:bd08/04/2026:br2.8:efr8.93:svnHP:pnHPEliteBook8G2i14inchNotebookNextGenAIPC:pvrSBKPFV3:rvnHP:rn8ED5:rvrKBCVersion08.5D.00:cvnHP:ct10:cvr:skuDL8F2UA#ABA:pfa103C_5336ANHPEliteBook:
dmi.product.family: 103C_5336AN HP EliteBook
dmi.product.name: HP EliteBook 8 G2i 14 inch Notebook Next Gen AI PC
dmi.product.sku: DL8F2UA#ABA
dmi.product.version: SBKPFV3
dmi.sys.vendor: HP
** Affects: linux-firmware (Ubuntu)
Importance: Undecided
Status: New
** Tags: amd64 apport-bug stonking wayland-session
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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2172107
Title:
[Ubuntu 26.10] HP Panther Lake Intel ISH fails to initialize due to
missing firmware lookup symlink — confirmed fix
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