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Latest microcode missing for Xeon E5 2696 v4

JRang
Beginner
2,532 Views

Hello, why is the microcode missing in the latest microcode update for one of your processors, the Xeon E5 2696 v4? Especially considering it's basically the same as the Xeon E5 2699 v4, which does have the latest microcode update.

I need it to patch my Linux system against Spectre (variant 2).

URL in question:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/27591/Linux-Processor-Microcode-Data-File?v=t Download Linux* Processor Microcode Data File

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6 Replies
idata
Employee
1,389 Views

Hello Jranger210,

 

 

I understand that you are unable to find the micro-code for the processor you currently have.

 

 

Upon review of the model you provided I was able to determine that this unit is what is called "Tray" processor, which are processors that are sold to the different OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) like Dell, HP, etc and the warranty and firmware or micro-codes are managed by them.

 

 

After checking our download center you are completely right, the unit has no firmware or micro-code available so in this case what I could recommend you to do is to either contact the manufacturer of the system in question or else the motherboard manufacturer in order to find mentioned micro-code.

 

 

 

Regards,

 

David V
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JRang
Beginner
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I purchased the processor off of eBay, I do not have a "system manufacturer" to contact.

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idata
Employee
1,389 Views

Hello Jranger210,

 

 

Thank you for your response,

 

 

If that is the case then please contact the motherboard manufacturer to see if they have any micro-codes or firmwares available for the unit.

 

 

 

Regards,

 

David V
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idata
Employee
1,389 Views

Hello Jranger210,

 

 

I am following up with your case and see that we have not heard back from you.

 

 

If you need more assistance do not hesitate to reply.

 

 

 

Regards,

 

David V
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JSome3
Beginner
1,389 Views

"it's basically the same as the Xeon E5 2699 v4, which does have the latest microcode update"

I see that the 2699 v4 does NOT have the latest microcode update included in the March 12 tarball.

According to the document here https://newsroom.intel.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2018/04/microcode-update-guidance.pdf https://newsroom.intel.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2018/04/microcode-update-guidance.pdf , the Broadwells which include 2699 v4, are cpuid 406F1 and the *production* released microcode version for it is B000002A . But if you look in the released March 12 u-code tarball , you see the stale version B0000021 in there:

intel-ucode$ od -hx 06-4f-01 |head

0000000 0001 0000 0021 0b00 2017 0301 06f1 0004

0001 0000 0021 0b00 2017 0301 06f1 0004

What gives, Intel? Please don't give the canned response of "see your motherboard vendor for the latest bios upgrade".

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KDemt
Beginner
1,389 Views

I think the update for this cpu was posted with the latest microcode Update but it was marked as "Special release with caveats" - for linux the update needs kernel patches

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