OpenBSD laptops and vendor firmware updates?

[fvgit]

Although this might be considered more of a general hardware question I still think it pertains to OpenBSD.

I've recently been reading on slashdot and reddit about the current problems with Thunderbolt ports on Lenovo Thinkpads and there was quite some talk about software driver and firmware updates from Lenovo.

One would expect that special vendor firmware updaters will usually be Windows only. Thinkpad or not, how do you all handle firmware updates as OpenBSD users? Do you dualboot keeping a Win 10 install on your disk?

[jggimi]

Applicable firmware for hardware components such as network chipsets and Intel CPUs is packaged by the Project and installed through fw_update(1).

BIOS updates are a different matter. For Lenovo Thinkpads, BIOS updates are available from the vendor in bootable CD images, so a Windows OS is not required.

[fvgit]

Originally Posted by jggimi

BIOS updates are a different matter. For Lenovo Thinkpads, BIOS updates are available from the vendor in bootable CD images, so a Windows OS is not required.

Nice, I didn't know that. The discussions regarding the Thunderbolt firmware problems sometimes made it seem as if a Windows installer might be necessary.

[e1-531g]

Originally Posted by jggimi

Applicable firmware for hardware components such as network chipsets and Intel CPUs is packaged by the Project and installed through fw_update(1).

BIOS updates are a different matter. For Lenovo Thinkpads, BIOS updates are available from the vendor in bootable CD images, so a Windows OS is not required.

What about UEFI updates?

In Gnu/Linux world there exist Linux Vendor Firmware Service. This allows to use UEFI Capsule Update found on some desktop motherboards and laptops, but I don't have supported hardware therefore I don't have experience with it. Yes, I know it will require different OS, but this OS may be free and only needed for short period of time.

There were recently article with links to presentation about it on Phoronix. https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pa...-Meteoric-Rise

[jggimi]

Originally Posted by e1-531g

What about UEFI updates?

Not in scope, just like a BIOS.