Comment 23 for bug 1755627

Hello.

I just wanto to confirm: everything seems to be okay after updating Linux kernel to v4.4.0-123-generic. However, I would like to ask a question about 'intel-microcode' and 'amd64-microcode' packages. During system updating process via apt(8), there was an information that "The following NEW packages will be installed" etc. and it was about two mentioned 'microcode' packages.

I did not have these packages installed, until then. It's an Intel processor, but it seems, that Intel Corporation will not publish any microcode updates for some processor. Intel reveals (on Apr. 3., 2018) list of processors that won't receive Meltdown and Spectre patches. It seems, that some of older processors won't receive microcode updates designed to mitigate the vulnerabilities: Bloomfield, Bloomfield Xeon, Clarksfield, Gulftown etc.

So, I would like to ask if it was normal, that apt(8) installed such a packages? And why both since it's an Intel processor? Can I remove both packages (since there is no changes related to the microcode and "Spectre & Meltdown" mitigation; just 'revision' change in '/proc/cpuinfo' virtual file or/and dmesg(1) etc.)?

In sum two questions:

✗ why apt(8) installed two 'microcode' packages during Linux kernel v4.4.0-123-generic updates?
✗ can 'intel/amd64-microcode' packages be removed (since there is no difference with "Spectre & Meltdown" mitigations)?

I apologize for asking such a questions here, but this bug is about 'ibrs/ibpb' (a method to "Spectre & Meltdown" mitigation etc.) and Linux kernel update (v4.4.0-123-generic) during which, two 'microcode' packages were installed.

Thanks, best regards.