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Linux Processor Microcode Data File
The microcode data file contains the latest microcode definitions for all Intel
processors. Intel releases microcode updates to correct processor behavior as
documented in the respective processor specification updates. While the regular
approach to getting this microcode update is via a BIOS upgrade, Intel realizes
that this can be an administrative hassle. The Linux operating system and VMware
ESX products have a mechanism to update the microcode after booting.
This SlackBuild repackages the official Intel microcode tarball, placing the
microcode.dat file under /lib/firmware/microcode.dat, which can be later
uploaded using microcode_ctl utility (available from SlackBuilds.org).
If the iucode_tool (available from SlackBuilds.org) is installed on the system,
this SlackBuild writes the microcodes with the file names expected by the Linux
kernel firmware loader and places them under /lib/firmware/intel-ucode
directory. In that case, the correct microcode is uploaded when the Intel
microcode kernel's module is loaded.
Please note that the method using the iucode_tool is preferred for multiple
reasons, one being the deprecation of the kernel's interface used by the
microcode_ctl utility.
If you need to load the microcode early during the boot:
1) read https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/x86/early-microcode.txt
2) read the manual for iucode_tool, especially about --write-earlyfw option
3) make sure your kernel has the followings:
CONFIG_MICROCODE=y
CONFIG_MICROCODE_EARLY=y
CONFIG_MICROCODE_INTEL=y
CONFIG_MICROCODE_INTEL_EARLY=y
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