CPU microcode loading support
modulename: microcode.ko
configname: CONFIG_MICROCODE
Linux Kernel Configuration
└─>Processor type and features
└─>CPU microcode loading support
In linux kernel since version 2.6.12
If you say Y here, you will be able to update the microcode on
Intel and AMD processors. The Intel support is for the IA32 family,
e.g. Pentium Pro, Pentium II, Pentium III, Pentium 4, Xeon etc. The
AMD support is for families 0x10 and later. You will obviously need
the actual microcode binary data itself which is not shipped with
the Linux kernel.
The preferred method to load microcode from a detached initrd is described
in Documentation/x86/microcode.rst. For that you need to enable
CONFIG_BLK_DEV_INITRD in order for the loader to be able to scan the
initrd for microcode blobs.
In addition, you can build the microcode into the kernel. For that you
need to add the vendor-supplied microcode to the CONFIG_EXTRA_FIRMWARE
config option.
Intel and AMD processors. The Intel support is for the IA32 family,
e.g. Pentium Pro, Pentium II, Pentium III, Pentium 4, Xeon etc. The
AMD support is for families 0x10 and later. You will obviously need
the actual microcode binary data itself which is not shipped with
the Linux kernel.
The preferred method to load microcode from a detached initrd is described
in Documentation/x86/microcode.rst. For that you need to enable
CONFIG_BLK_DEV_INITRD in order for the loader to be able to scan the
initrd for microcode blobs.
In addition, you can build the microcode into the kernel. For that you
need to add the vendor-supplied microcode to the CONFIG_EXTRA_FIRMWARE
config option.