Linux 5.19 Adding Ability To Initiate Firmware Updates Using Sysfs

[RushPL]

Upon your word, I tried to read the patch a little bit. There doesn't seem any talk of how to know if the firmware update succeed or fail. So... you are right that the API may be a little bit lacking. Or maybe there are some people who can clarify this a bit more.

That's unfortunate. Using sysfs doesn't exclude good error handling. There could be another "error" file which could expose any error conditions.

[billyswong]

Can't they create a sane API with error handling like microsoft did 30 years ago instead of echoing/cating values and crossing your fingers it works, I can already see userspace flashing utilities failing for random reasons resulting in undefined UX experience.

Upon your word, I tried to read the patch a little bit. There doesn't seem any talk of how to know if the firmware update succeed or fail. So... you are right that the API may be a little bit lacking. Or maybe there are some people who can clarify this a bit more.

[sinepgib]

I'm on 5.17 arch, and I'm almost sure zfs is supported for firmware init.

What do you mean? Isn't it just a filesystem? What does it has to do with firmware?

Can't they create a sane API with error handling like microsoft did 30 years ago instead of echoing/cating values and crossing your fingers it works, I can already see userspace flashing utilities failing for random reasons resulting in undefined UX experience.

It looks dangerous indeed.

[AndyChow]

I'm on 5.17 arch, and I'm almost sure zfs is supported for firmware init.

[hax0r]

Can't they create a sane API with error handling like microsoft did 30 years ago instead of echoing/cating values and crossing your fingers it works, I can already see userspace flashing utilities failing for random reasons resulting in undefined UX experience.

[phoronix]

Phoronix: Linux 5.19 Adding Ability To Initiate Firmware Updates Using Sysfs

In addition to driver-core-next having queued up the long-awaited Zstd compressed firmware support ahead of the Linux 5.19 kernel, another change readied is allowing support for initiating firmware updates for supported drivers via sysfs...

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Linux-5.19-FW_UPLOAD-sysfs