CPU microcode is the latest known available version: NO

SlackIT · 09-15-2023, 06:17 PM

I'm running Slack 15.0, which has at this moment kernel-firmware-20230725_b6ea35f-noarch-1.

I thought the amd microcode in it, would be the latest.

But when I run spectre-meltdown-checker.sh I get this back at the terminal;

* CPU microcode is the latest known available version: NO (latest version is 0xa201025 dated 2021/10/14 according to builtin firmwares DB v273+i20230808+b6bd)

This is how I installed and setup the amd microcode;

Code:

mkdir -p /tmp/amd-ucode/kernel/x86/microcode
cd /tmp/amd-ucode
cat /lib/firmware/amd-ucode/microcode_amd*.bin > kernel/x86/microcode/AuthenticAMD.bin
echo kernel/x86/microcode/AuthenticAMD.bin | bsdcpio -o -H newc -R 0:0 > /boot/amd-ucode.img

Then I ran;

Code:

mkinitrd -c -F -k 5.15.131 -f ext4 -r /dev/sda1 -m ext4 -u -o /boot/initrd.gz

Last cmd I ran, then I rebooted;

Code:

grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

kernel-firmware-20230725_b6ea35f-noarch-1 does not have the latest amd microcode in it? The termial output from spectre-meltdown-checker.sh says the latest is dated at 2021/10/14, and I assumed the kernel-firmware in Slack 15.0 is dated 2023/07.

hmm

Petri Kaukasoina · 09-16-2023, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlackIT

Code:

mkinitrd -c -F -k 5.15.131 -f ext4 -r /dev/sda1 -m ext4 -u -o /boot/initrd.gz

Do you have MICROCODE_ARCH=/boot/amd-ucode.img in /etc/mkinitrd.conf?

Didier Spaier · 09-16-2023, 01:25 AM

What Petri said or append to the mkinitrd command:
-P /boot/amd-ucode.img

SlackIT · 09-16-2023, 06:31 PM

Yes my /etc/mkinitrd.conf;

Code:

MICROCODE_ARCH="/boot/amd-ucode.img"

P.S. After posting this, I noticed there was a new BIOS update for my mobo, so I flashed it.

Now spectre-meltdown-checker.sh says;

CPU microcode is the latest known available version: YES

elcore · 09-17-2023, 04:29 AM

That's a desktop or server CPU? Some AMD desktop models won't get microcode updates until october.

dchmelik · 09-17-2023, 09:45 PM

Where do you get spectre-meltdown-checker.sh?

denydias · 09-18-2023, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dchmelik

Where do you get spectre-meltdown-checker.sh?

https://github.com/speed47/spectre-meltdown-checker

SlackIT · 09-18-2023, 11:41 PM

It's a desktop, and that's the Github URL I got the spectre-meltdown-checker from that @denydias posted.

Anyhow, I guess I'm good now with the new BIOS for my mobo...