Bug 24979 - ASUS UX333FA freezes at boot (dis_ucode_ldr as kernel option fixes it)
Summary: ASUS UX333FA freezes at boot (dis_ucode_ldr as kernel option fixes it)
Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX
Alias: None
Product: Mageia
Classification: Unclassified
Component: RPM Packages (show other bugs)
Version: Cauldron
Hardware: All Linux
Priority: High critical
Target Milestone: Mageia 7
Assignee: Kernel and Drivers maintainers
QA Contact:
URL:
Whiteboard:
Keywords: IN_ERRATA7
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2019-06-20 15:00 CEST by papoteur
Modified: 2020-09-27 01:12 CEST (History)
6 users (show)

See Also:
Source RPM: microcode
CVE:
Status comment:


Attachments

Description papoteur 2019-06-20 15:00:05 CEST
Description of problem:
ASUS UX333FA freezes at boot just after selecting the line to boot and starting the system, leavinf a black square on the Grub background.
This is linked to https://github.com/intel/Intel-Linux-Processor-Microcode-Data-Files/issues/1

Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):
microcode-0.20190514-1.mga6.nonfree.noarch.rpm
microcode-0.20190514-1.mga7.nonfree.noarch.rpm

How reproducible:
Always
This seems specific to some recent Asus hardware.

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Install Mageia 6.1
2. Reboot. It's fine
3. Update the system
4. Rebbot : the system halts after Grub step

1. Try to boot Mageia-7-rc-Live-Plasma
2. The system halts after Grub step

Workaround:
Add dis_ucode_lbr as kernel option.
papoteur 2019-06-20 15:07:20 CEST

Priority: Normal => release_blocker
Severity: normal => critical

Comment 1 Marja Van Waes 2019-06-20 15:09:31 CEST
(In reply to papoteur from comment #0)
> Description of problem:
> ASUS UX333FA freezes at boot just after selecting the line to boot and
> starting the system, leavinf a black square on the Grub background.
> This is linked to
> https://github.com/intel/Intel-Linux-Processor-Microcode-Data-Files/issues/1
> 
> Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):
> microcode-0.20190514-1.mga6.nonfree.noarch.rpm
> microcode-0.20190514-1.mga7.nonfree.noarch.rpm
> 
> How reproducible:
> Always
> This seems specific to some recent Asus hardware.
> 
> Steps to Reproduce:
> 1. Install Mageia 6.1
> 2. Reboot. It's fine
> 3. Update the system
> 4. Rebbot : the system halts after Grub step
> 
> 1. Try to boot Mageia-7-rc-Live-Plasma
> 2. The system halts after Grub step
> 
> Workaround:
> Add dis_ucode_lbr as kernel option.

We can't fix released ISOs, so it would be nice if this could get fixed before Mga7 release

Assignee: bugsquad => kernel
Summary: ASUS UX333FA freezes at boot => ASUS UX333FA freezes at boot (dis_ucode_lbr as kernel option fixes it)
CC: (none) => isobuild, marja11

Jybz 2019-06-20 16:45:43 CEST

CC: (none) => j.biernacki

Comment 2 papoteur 2019-06-20 18:17:59 CEST
Sorry, workaround is dis_ucode_ldr
Found the report for Ubuntu:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1829620
Marja Van Waes 2019-06-20 23:02:07 CEST

See Also: (none) => https://launchpad.net/bugs/1829620
Summary: ASUS UX333FA freezes at boot (dis_ucode_lbr as kernel option fixes it) => ASUS UX333FA freezes at boot (dis_ucode_ldr as kernel option fixes it)

Comment 3 Thomas Backlund 2019-06-20 23:22:13 CEST
Yeah, we cant really fix something that apparently needs an bios / efi firmware update according to the threads... unless Intel guys find out how to work around it...

I'd say best thing for now is to add it to errata

CC: (none) => tmb

Comment 4 Jybz 2019-06-20 23:57:20 CEST
instead of errata, is there a mean for the installer do adapt itself to the environment ?
I mean, we know that for this hardware, things go wrong. Is it possible to add somewhere in the installer a kind of " if(getHardwareVersion() == BUGGY_INTEL_HARDWARE){ add_grub_option("dis_ucode_ldr");} " ?
Comment 5 Martin Whitaker 2019-06-21 09:36:00 CEST
(In reply to Jybz from comment #4)
> instead of errata, is there a mean for the installer do adapt itself to the
> environment ?

IIUC, disabling the firmware loading will as a result disable many of the Spectre/Meltdown mitigations. I don't think that's something we should do automatically.

The Ubuntu bug report indicates that there is now a BIOS update that fixes this.

CC: (none) => mageia

Comment 6 Jybz 2019-06-21 09:51:03 CEST
(In reply to Martin Whitaker from comment #5)
> (In reply to Jybz from comment #4)
> > instead of errata, is there a mean for the installer do adapt itself to the
> > environment ?
> 
> IIUC, disabling the firmware loading will as a result disable many of the
> Spectre/Meltdown mitigations. I don't think that's something we should do
> automatically.
> 
Yes, but is there an easy way, for the installer, to detect the configuration (bios version + intel processor product) and in this case, install the previous microcode ? The previous microcode embed the vulnerabilities mitigation but doesn't freeze the system.

> The Ubuntu bug report indicates that there is now a BIOS update that fixes this.
> 
We have a mageian who confirm that a BIOS update fixed the up to date microcode package.

https://www.mageialinux-online.org/forum/topic-26264-5+echec-d-installation-de-mageia-live-dvd-7-release-candidate-sur-asus-zenbook.php#m254053
papoteur 2019-06-21 17:20:03 CEST

Keywords: (none) => IN_ERRATA7

Comment 7 papoteur 2020-05-25 09:35:39 CEST
What to do with this report?
There is no other action expected here.
A Dell 7400 has been reported to have the same problem this days.
Aurelien Oudelet 2020-09-19 17:53:03 CEST

Target Milestone: --- => Mageia 8
CC: (none) => ouaurelien

Comment 8 Aurelien Oudelet 2020-09-19 18:03:35 CEST
Hi,

This is release_blocker for a reason.
Making Mageia even better than ever is best direction.
In order to do right thing, this bug should be examined and fixed as soon as possible.

Packagers, please change the status to "Assigned" when you are working on this.


We will make a decision on the relevance of the release_blocker tag on 1st October 2020 QA meeting.
Comment 9 papoteur 2020-09-21 08:52:06 CEST
Hello,
On my side, this report can be closed.
The only reason to keep it open is that if someone has the same problem, he can find the report. There is no action that will be taken on our side.
Comment 10 Aurelien Oudelet 2020-09-27 01:12:50 CEST
This seems need a BIOS update.
Closing this and as it is already in errata 7 +

(In reply to papoteur from comment #9)
> Hello,
> On my side, this report can be closed.
> The only reason to keep it open is that if someone has the same problem, he
> can find the report. There is no action that will be taken on our side.

Target Milestone: Mageia 8 => Mageia 7
Priority: release_blocker => High
Status: NEW => RESOLVED
Resolution: (none) => WONTFIX


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