Bug#684569: microcode module loaded on Celeron CPU

[Jonathan Nieder <jrnieder@gmail.com>]

Andi Kleen wrote:
> On Mon, Aug 13, 2012 at 09:44:48AM +0200, Paul Menzel wrote:

>> Looking into this some more, this seems unlikely in Debian because the
>> microcode packages are in non-free [1] and therefore not available for
>> Debian users not having enabled non-free repositories
>>
>> Because of that the microcode packages are also non-essential, that
>> means not installed by default even when non-free packages are allowed.
>> And normal users will never install them by themselves.
>
> Sounds like a problem. They actually fix bugs so it's recommended.
> BIOSes are not normally updated regularly, so the microcode update
> gives you a faster path to that.

You can see why an OS distributor would be stuck in this situation,
though.  If the microcode updates are installed by default, Debian is
taking responsibility for their effect (in the sense of receiving bug
reports and providing updates when appropriate to address them).  And
that is very hard to do without the corresponding source code.

At least when updates come through the BIOS the OS distributor does
not have to be involved.  The non-free packages also allow users to
use the updates from Intel without too much fuss when they want them.

Hoping that clarifies,
Jonathan