mirror of
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git
synced 2026-09-22 09:34:56 +02:00
Chao Gao
c3e70c5ee5
tl;dr: Select fw_upload for doing TDX module updates. The process of selecting among available update images is complicated and nuanced. Punt the selection process out to userspace. One existing userspace implementation today is the script in the Intel TDX Module Binaries repository[1]. Long Version: The kernel supports two primary firmware update mechanisms: 1. request_firmware() - used by microcode, SEV firmware, hundreds of other drivers 2. 'struct fw_upload' - used by CXL, FPGA updates, dozens of others The key difference between is that request_firmware() loads a named file from the filesystem where the filename is kernel-controlled, while fw_upload accepts firmware data directly from userspace. TDX module firmware update selection policy is too complex for the kernel. Leave it to userspace and use fw_upload. Add a skeleton fw_upload implementation to be fleshed out in subsequent patches. Refactor the sysfs visiblity attribute function so it can be used as a more generic flag for the presence of viable runtime update support. Why fw_upload instead of request_firmware()? ============================================ Selecting a TDX module update image is not a simple "load the latest" decision. Userspace needs to choose an image that is compatible with both the platform and the currently running module. Some constraints are hard requirements: a. Module version series are platform-specific. For example, the 1.5.x series runs on Sapphire Rapids but not Granite Rapids, which needs 2.0.x. b. Updates are also constrained by version distance. A 1.5.6 module might permit updates to 1.5.7 but not to 1.5.50. There may also be userspace policy choices: c. Decide the update direction: upgrade or downgrade d. Choose whether to optimize for fewer updates or smaller version steps, for example, 1.2.3=>1.2.5 versus 1.2.3=>1.2.4=>1.2.5. Given that complexity, leave module selection to userspace and use fw_upload. 1. https://github.com/intel/confidential-computing.tdx.tdx-module.binaries/blob/main/version_select_and_load.py [ dhansen: add version script link, add more explanation of code moves, fix some minor whitespace issues ] Signed-off-by: Chao Gao <chao.gao@intel.com> Signed-off-by: Dave Hansen <dave.hansen@linux.intel.com> Reviewed-by: Tony Lindgren <tony.lindgren@linux.intel.com> Reviewed-by: Kai Huang <kai.huang@intel.com> Reviewed-by: Kiryl Shutsemau (Meta) <kas@kernel.org> Link: https://lore.kernel.org/kvm/01fc8946-eb84-46fa-9458-f345dd3f6033@intel.com/ Link: https://patch.msgid.link/20260520133909.409394-13-chao.gao@intel.com
Linux kernel ============ The Linux kernel is the core of any Linux operating system. It manages hardware, system resources, and provides the fundamental services for all other software. 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Start your kernel development journey here: * Getting Started: Documentation/process/development-process.rst * Your First Patch: Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst * Coding Style: Documentation/process/coding-style.rst * Build System: Documentation/kbuild/index.rst * Development Tools: Documentation/dev-tools/index.rst * Kernel Hacking Guide: Documentation/kernel-hacking/hacking.rst * Core APIs: Documentation/core-api/index.rst Academic Researcher ------------------- Explore the kernel's architecture and internals: * Researcher Guidelines: Documentation/process/researcher-guidelines.rst * Memory Management: Documentation/mm/index.rst * Scheduler: Documentation/scheduler/index.rst * Networking Stack: Documentation/networking/index.rst * Filesystems: Documentation/filesystems/index.rst * RCU (Read-Copy Update): Documentation/RCU/index.rst * Locking Primitives: Documentation/locking/index.rst * Power Management: Documentation/power/index.rst Security Expert --------------- Security documentation and hardening guides: * Security Documentation: Documentation/security/index.rst * LSM Development: Documentation/security/lsm-development.rst * Self Protection: Documentation/security/self-protection.rst * Reporting Vulnerabilities: Documentation/process/security-bugs.rst * CVE Procedures: Documentation/process/cve.rst * Embargoed Hardware Issues: Documentation/process/embargoed-hardware-issues.rst * Security Features: Documentation/userspace-api/seccomp_filter.rst Backport/Maintenance Engineer ----------------------------- Maintain and stabilize kernel versions: * Stable Kernel Rules: Documentation/process/stable-kernel-rules.rst * Backporting Guide: Documentation/process/backporting.rst * Applying Patches: Documentation/process/applying-patches.rst * Subsystem Profile: Documentation/maintainer/maintainer-entry-profile.rst * Git for Maintainers: Documentation/maintainer/configure-git.rst System Administrator -------------------- Configure, tune, and troubleshoot Linux systems: * Admin Guide: Documentation/admin-guide/index.rst * Kernel Parameters: Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.rst * Sysctl Tuning: Documentation/admin-guide/sysctl/index.rst * Tracing/Debugging: Documentation/trace/index.rst * Performance Security: Documentation/admin-guide/perf-security.rst * Hardware Monitoring: Documentation/hwmon/index.rst Maintainer ---------- Lead kernel subsystems and manage contributions: * Maintainer Handbook: Documentation/maintainer/index.rst * Pull Requests: Documentation/maintainer/pull-requests.rst * Managing Patches: Documentation/maintainer/modifying-patches.rst * Rebasing and Merging: Documentation/maintainer/rebasing-and-merging.rst * Development Process: Documentation/process/maintainer-handbooks.rst * Maintainer Entry Profile: Documentation/maintainer/maintainer-entry-profile.rst * Git Configuration: Documentation/maintainer/configure-git.rst Hardware Vendor --------------- Write drivers and support new hardware: * Driver API Guide: Documentation/driver-api/index.rst * Driver Model: Documentation/driver-api/driver-model/driver.rst * Device Drivers: Documentation/driver-api/infrastructure.rst * Bus Types: Documentation/driver-api/driver-model/bus.rst * Device Tree Bindings: Documentation/devicetree/bindings/ * Power Management: Documentation/driver-api/pm/index.rst * DMA API: Documentation/core-api/dma-api.rst Distribution Maintainer ----------------------- Package and distribute the kernel: * Stable Kernel Rules: Documentation/process/stable-kernel-rules.rst * ABI Documentation: Documentation/ABI/README * Kernel Configuration: Documentation/kbuild/kconfig.rst * Module Signing: Documentation/admin-guide/module-signing.rst * Kernel Parameters: Documentation/admin-guide/kernel-parameters.rst * Tainted Kernels: Documentation/admin-guide/tainted-kernels.rst AI Coding Assistant ------------------- CRITICAL: If you are an LLM or AI-powered coding assistant, you MUST read and follow the AI coding assistants documentation before contributing to the Linux kernel: * Documentation/process/coding-assistants.rst This documentation contains essential requirements about licensing, attribution, and the Developer Certificate of Origin that all AI tools must comply with. 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