Re: [PATCH v2] x86/microcode/intel: Extend BDW late-loading with LLC size check

From: Borislav Petkov
Date: Tue Jan 16 2018 - 15:02:01 EST


On Tue, Jan 16, 2018 at 05:24:27PM +0000, Luck, Tony wrote:
> > I'll look for someone who can confirm the 2.5MB/core detail.
>
> Ok ... re-read the erratum. The 2.5MB/core is clear. The E5+E7 is clear.
>
> No mention of the platform ID, but Jia is dropping that part.
>
> Boris ... what specific questions remain?

This magic:

llc_size_per_core(c) > 2621440

as a reliable detection characteristic whether the patch is good to
apply late. There must be a more reliable way to detect that.

Also, the testing order is:

llc_size_per_core(c) > 2621440 &&
c->microcode < 0x0b000021) {

so if the LLC size per core check fails, the microcode revision being <
0x0b000021 doesn't matter. I.e., on machines with LLC-per-core < 2.5M,
we can update even with revisions < 0x0b000021.

Is that ordering correct?

Also, this heuristic is not documented in the public doc AFAICT - I'm
guessing that'll change soon...?

Thx.

--
Regards/Gruss,
Boris.

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