[CentOS] /lib/firmware/microcode.dat update on CentOS 6

[Valeri Galtsev]

On 01/18/18 12:55, Matthew Miller wrote:
> On Thu, Jan 18, 2018 at 11:45:42AM -0500, Pete Geenhuizen wrote:
>>>> Do we update the microcode now or do we wait until the latest
>>>> microcode_ctl rpm is available and then tackle this issue?
>>> Check with your hardware vendor for BIOS/EFI firmware updates. Apply
>>> those.
>>>
>> Thanks for the reply, but you missed what I was asking.  I've
>> already downloaded the appropriate files from the links that Johnny
>> provided in a previous posting.
>> My question is, do we wait until the latest microcode_ctl rpm is
>> installed or do it now?  My concern is that if I do it now the new
>> rpm might undo what I've done.
> 
> It does not matter. The microcode_ctl package contains CPU firmware
> that is loaded at by the kernel early in the boot process if it's newer
> than the one provided by the system firmware/BIOS. It is never
> permanently stored in NVRAM or anything — it's loaded at each boot.
> 
> You should get a BIOS/EFI firmware update from your hardware vendor
> which includes updated microcode. Then, you'll get the IBRS-capable
> microcode at boot, every boot. This makes microcode_ctl moot.
> 
> Read more about this here: https://access.redhat.com/solutions/3315431
> 

  Thanks, Johnny, Matthew, Peter, ... everybody for your insights!

  Valeri

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Valeri Galtsev
Sr System Administrator
Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics
Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics
University of Chicago
Phone: 773-702-4247
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