Ubuntu
linux-firmware package

Missing firmware files, in Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, for initramfs, when it loads i915

Bug #1939986 reported by ChrisC
158
This bug affects 54 people
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
linux-firmware (Ubuntu)
Invalid
Undecided
Unassigned
Ubuntu focal-updates
Bionic
Confirmed
Undecided
Unassigned
Focal
Fix Released
Undecided
Juerg Haefliger

Bug Description

[ Impact ]

The i915 driver in Focal HWE kernels (currently 5.11 and 5.13) needs new firmware blobs. Without them, some users reported display/audio issues when installing said kernel.

[ Test Case ]

1) Install linux-generic-hwe-20.04
2) echo 'i915' >> /etc/initramfs-tools/modules
3) update-initramfs -u

Which leads to multiple warnings:
W: Possible missing firmware <foo> for module i915

[Fix ]

Add missing firmware blobs from upstream linux-firmware.

[ Where Problems Could Occur ]

New closed-source firmware binaries, would could possibly go wrong? No display with i915, kernel crashes.

[ Original Description ]
Dear all,

I can see that the linux-firmware is missing firmware files, in Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS, for initramfs, when it loads i915.

Package: linux-firmware 1.187.15
It contains the following files, for the module i915:
i915/tgl_dmc_ver2_04.bin 2019-09-13 installed
i915/tgl_dmc_ver2_06.bin 2020-03-04 installed
i915/tgl_dmc_ver2_08.bin 2020-08-13 installed
i915/tgl_guc_35.2.0.bin 2019-11-06 installed
i915/tgl_huc_7.0.12.bin 2020-03-04 installed
i915/tgl_huc_7.0.3.bin 2019-11-06 installed

Package: linux-firmware
MUST at least contain the following files, for the module i915:
i915/tgl_huc_7.5.0.bin 2020-08-13 i915: Add HuC firwmare v7.5.0 for TGL
as the module asks for it, during 'update-initramfs', to avoid:
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_huc_7.5.0.bin for module i915

But it COULD also contain :
i915/tgl_dmc_ver2_12.bin 2021-07-28 i915: Add v2.12 DMC for TGL
i915/tgl_guc_49.0.1.bin 2020-11-24 i915: Add GuC firmware v49.0.1 for all platforms
i915/tgl_guc_62.0.0.bin 2021-06-29 firmware/i915/guc: Add GuC v62.0.0 for all platforms
i915/tgl_huc_7.9.3.bin 2021-06-29 firmware/i915/guc: Add HuC v7.9.3 for TGL & DG1

Source:
$ modprobe --show-depends --ignore-install i915
...
insmod /lib/modules/5.10.0-1038-oem/kernel/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915.ko

$ modinfo -F firmware /lib/modules/5.10.0-1038-oem/kernel/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915.ko
...
i915/tgl_dmc_ver2_08.bin
i915/tgl_guc_35.2.0.bin
i915/tgl_huc_7.5.0.bin

Actual result:
$ sudo update-initramfs -u
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_huc_7.5.0.bin for module i915

Expected result:
No Warning. and the firmware "i915/tgl_huc_7.5.0.bin" loaded for module i915

Info : INTEL Repository of firmware:
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/tree/i915

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
Package: linux-firmware 1.187.15
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.10.0-1038.40-oem 5.10.46
Uname: Linux 5.10.0-1038-oem x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.18
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: chris 1699 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/pcmC0D0p: chris 1699 F...m pulseaudio
CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
CurrentDesktop: XFCE
Date: Sun Aug 15 14:46:47 2021
Dependencies:

DistributionChannelDescriptor:
 # This is the distribution channel descriptor for the OEM CDs
 # For more information see http://wiki.ubuntu.com/DistributionChannelDescriptor
 canonical-oem-somerville-focal-amd64-20200502-85+fossa-bulbasaur+X54
InstallationDate: Installed on 2021-08-12 (2 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 20.04 "Focal" - Build amd64 LIVE Binary 20200502-05:58
MachineType: Dell Inc. XPS 13 9310
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcFB: 0 i915drmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.10.0-1038-oem root=UUID=3dae0247-a884-48d8-83b7-fea7c803faa3 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-5.10.0-1038-oem N/A
 linux-backports-modules-5.10.0-1038-oem N/A
 linux-firmware 1.187.15
SourcePackage: linux-firmware
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
WifiSyslog:

dmi.bios.date: 07/16/2021
dmi.bios.release: 3.0
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 3.0.4
dmi.board.name: 08607K
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A00
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvr3.0.4:bd07/16/2021:br3.0:svnDellInc.:pnXPS139310:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn08607K:rvrA00:cvnDellInc.:ct10:cvr:
dmi.product.family: XPS
dmi.product.name: XPS 13 9310
dmi.product.sku: 0991
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

See original description
Revision history for this message
ChrisC (chris-ct) wrote :
Revision history for this message
ChrisC (chris-ct) wrote :

I just tagged the bug as affecting : initramfs-tools

As I found this bug when doing:
$ sudo update-initramfs -u
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_huc_7.5.0.bin for module i915

Revision history for this message
ChrisC (chris-ct) wrote :

Updating lib/firmware with the ones over https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/tree/i915 makes all the warning go away.

As per Bug 1847786:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux-firmware/+bug/1847786

Revision history for this message
Launchpad Janitor (janitor) wrote :

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

Changed in initramfs-tools (Ubuntu):
status: New → Confirmed
Changed in linux-firmware (Ubuntu):
status: New → Confirmed
Brian Murray (brian-murray)
Changed in linux-firmware (Ubuntu):
milestone: none → focal-updates
tags: added: rls-ff-incoming
Revision history for this message
Ortbauer Martin Leopold (mortbauer) wrote :

I can confirm this bug, I'm also on 20.04. Manually replacing the i915 binaries at /lib/firmware/i915 with the binaries from https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/tree/i915 seems and running update-initramfs -u seems to fix it for me as well.

Brian Murray (brian-murray)
Changed in initramfs-tools (Ubuntu):
status: Confirmed → Invalid
Revision history for this message
Bartosz Woronicz (mastier1) wrote :

I confirm on focal.
WORKAROUND, install linux-firmware package from Impish (1.201) instead of one from focal (1.187)
The many kernel errors about PCI devices dissapear during the boot time. Not sure about the real impact on the system itself.

 sudo update-initramfs -u
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-27-generic
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/skl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/bxt_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/glk_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/cml_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/icl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/ehl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/ehl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_huc_7.5.0.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_huc_7.5.0.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/dg1_dmc_ver2_02.bin for module i915
I: The initramfs will attempt to resume from /dev/dm-2
I: (/dev/mapper/vgubuntu-swap_1)
I: Set the RESUME variable to override this.

Revision history for this message
jtlpa (jtlpa) wrote :

Can also confirm this bug, I'm on Ubuntu Mate 20.04.3.

Manually replaced missing /lib/firmware/i915 files with binaries from

https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/tree/i915

Then ran update-initramfs -u w/o any errors.

Installing the the missing i915 files also made my sound card produce music like it should.

The bottom line is if you are missing firmware files, don't expect you computer work the way the manufacture expected.

Revision history for this message
Juerg Haefliger (juergh) wrote (last edit ):

Missing firmware warnings are not errors per se unless you need the blobs for your specific environment. For LTS, we don't blindly add FWs just to silence update-initramfs. If you have a need for specific FW blobs please open a ticket with the details and we'll add them.

Juerg Haefliger (juergh)
Changed in linux-firmware (Ubuntu):
assignee: nobody → Juerg Haefliger (juergh)
Juerg Haefliger (juergh)
Changed in linux-firmware (Ubuntu Focal):
assignee: nobody → Juerg Haefliger (juergh)
status: New → Confirmed
Changed in linux-firmware (Ubuntu):
status: Confirmed → Invalid
assignee: Juerg Haefliger (juergh) → nobody
Changed in initramfs-tools (Ubuntu Focal):
status: New → Invalid
no longer affects: initramfs-tools (Ubuntu Focal)
no longer affects: initramfs-tools (Ubuntu)
Revision history for this message
Jeremie (jerem.) wrote :

For those who are interested to discover driver improvements provided for Linux 5.11.

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Linux-5.11-DRM-Pull
https://kernelnewbies.org/Linux_5.11

I am surprised that there are not more problems without news Intel drivers update with the change to Linux 5.11.

Juerg Haefliger (juergh)
description: updated
Revision history for this message
Timo Aaltonen (tjaalton) wrote :

Are you all enabling GuC manually? It's not used by default on any currently shipping GPU.

Having them around is harmless though, because while they get loaded (fixing the warning), they are not actually used.

Revision history for this message
Jeremie (jerem.) wrote (last edit ):

In my case, GuC isn’t enabled.

You’re right, before Gen 11 GuC and HuC firmware aren’t loading by default, a kernel parameter need to be added.

https://01.org/linuxgraphics/downloads/firmware
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Intel#Feature_support

Maybe news GuC/HuC firmware blobs aren’t useful for the majority?

And for new dg1_dmc firmware blobs?

Juerg Haefliger (juergh)
Changed in linux-firmware (Ubuntu Focal):
status: Confirmed → Fix Committed
Revision history for this message
Juerg Haefliger (juergh) wrote :

For Bionic with HWE kernel: bug 1889137.

Changed in linux-firmware (Ubuntu Bionic):
status: New → Confirmed
Revision history for this message
Timo Aaltonen (tjaalton) wrote : Please test proposed package

Hello ChrisC, or anyone else affected,

Accepted linux-firmware into focal-proposed. The package will build now and be available at https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux-firmware/1.187.23 in a few hours, and then in the -proposed repository.

Please help us by testing this new package. See https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Testing/EnableProposed for documentation on how to enable and use -proposed. Your feedback will aid us getting this update out to other Ubuntu users.

If this package fixes the bug for you, please add a comment to this bug, mentioning the version of the package you tested, what testing has been performed on the package and change the tag from verification-needed-focal to verification-done-focal. If it does not fix the bug for you, please add a comment stating that, and change the tag to verification-failed-focal. In either case, without details of your testing we will not be able to proceed.

Further information regarding the verification process can be found at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/QATeam/PerformingSRUVerification . Thank you in advance for helping!

N.B. The updated package will be released to -updates after the bug(s) fixed by this package have been verified and the package has been in -proposed for a minimum of 7 days.

Revision history for this message
Jeremie (jerem.) wrote :

Hi everyone,

I have removed my graphic card to test Intel integrated graphics.

Installation of linux-firmware_1.187.23 into focal-proposed it’s finished without any error, no warning on update initramfs. After reboot, I didn’t see any bug.

It would be interesting to see if this version solves the problems report by other users: kernel crashes, impossible boots with kernel 5.11, system freeze, …

Timo Aaltonen (tjaalton)
tags: added: verification-needed-focal
Revision history for this message
Juerg Haefliger (juergh) wrote :

Verification done on Focal per comment #15.

tags: added: verification-done-focal
removed: verification-needed-focal
Revision history for this message
Launchpad Janitor (janitor) wrote :

This bug was fixed in the package linux-firmware - 1.187.23

---------------
linux-firmware (1.187.23) focal; urgency=medium

  * i915: Add HuC firwmare v7.5.0 for TGL (LP: #1939986)
  * i915: Add DG1 DMC v2.02 (LP: #1939986)
  * i915: Add GuC firmware v49.0.1 for all platforms (LP: #1939986)
  * amdgpu: update yellow carp dmcub firmware (LP: #1953008)
  * linux-firmware: add firmware for adl machines from sof-firmware-v1.9.2 (LP: #1952011)
  * Miscellaneous Ubuntu packaging changes and cleanups (LP: #1953587)
    - SAUCE: check_whence.py: Add python3 shebang
    - SAUCE: check_whence.py: Also process WHENCE.ubuntu
    - SAUCE: check_whence.py: Ignore debian/ and fw_source/ directories
    - SAUCE: check_whence.py: Ignore ea/ directory
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete bnx2x from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete tr_smctr from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete ti-connectivity from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete tda7706 from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete sxg from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete myricom from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete mwl8k from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete libertas from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete Computone from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete dabusb from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete cxgb from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete bnx2x from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete ar9170 from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete ar7010 from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete ath3k from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete 3com from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete ath6k from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete slicoss from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete ath9k from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete ar3k from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete bnx2x from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete files from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete cxgb3 from WHENCE
    - SAUCE: Remove obsolete ueagle-atm from WHENCE
    - Add LICENCE.realtek-firmware.txt to WHENCE.ubuntu
    - Rename LICENCE.dib0700 to LICENSE.dib0700
    - Move Ubuntu check_firmware script to debian/scripts/
    - Remove unnecessary symbolic links
    - intel/sof: Remove symbolic links and add license to WHENCE.ubuntu
    - SAUCE: Remove missing firmwares from WHENCE
    - Fix ipu6 firmware license reference
    - [Packaging] Add check rule and call it in clean stage
    - [Packaging] close-release: Parse commit messages for Ignores and BugLinks

 -- Juerg Haefliger <email address hidden> Wed, 08 Dec 2021 08:11:55 +0100

Changed in linux-firmware (Ubuntu Focal):
status: Fix Committed → Fix Released
Revision history for this message
Timo Aaltonen (tjaalton) wrote : Update Released

The verification of the Stable Release Update for linux-firmware has completed successfully and the package is now being released to -updates. Subsequently, the Ubuntu Stable Release Updates Team is being unsubscribed and will not receive messages about this bug report. In the event that you encounter a regression using the package from -updates please report a new bug using ubuntu-bug and tag the bug report regression-update so we can easily find any regressions.

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