[Bug 1943906] [NEW] warning about missing firmware is mostly just noise

[Timo Aaltonen]

Public bug reported:

Every time an LTS release gets a new backport kernel, we see reports
from concerned users when they see something like this:

W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/skl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/bxt_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/glk_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/cml_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/icl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/ehl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/ehl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/dg1_dmc_ver2_02.bin for module i915

and since we don't do full backports of linux-firmware this is just
noise for the users. Could there be a way to warn only during the
development phase? That way the missing firmware would more likely get
added for the primary kernel prior to release, but not warn when using a
newer backport/mainline kernel.

(in this case the guc firmware would be pointless to add to l-f, since
while they would be loaded, the feature they add is not enabled by
default)

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 21.10
Package: initramfs-tools 0.140ubuntu6
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.13.0-14.14-generic 5.13.1
Uname: Linux 5.13.0-14-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu68
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: unknown
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Fri Sep 17 08:47:46 2021
InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-02-06 (1318 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 18.04 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Alpha amd64 (20180206)
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: initramfs-tools
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to impish on 2020-09-02 (379 days ago)

** Affects: initramfs-tools (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New


** Tags: amd64 apport-bug impish

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1943906

Title:
  warning about missing firmware is mostly just noise

Status in initramfs-tools package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  Every time an LTS release gets a new backport kernel, we see reports
  from concerned users when they see something like this:

  W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/skl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
  W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/bxt_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
  W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
  W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/glk_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
  W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
  W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
  W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/cml_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
  W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/icl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
  W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/ehl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
  W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/ehl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
  W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
  W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
  W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/dg1_dmc_ver2_02.bin for module i915

  and since we don't do full backports of linux-firmware this is just
  noise for the users. Could there be a way to warn only during the
  development phase? That way the missing firmware would more likely get
  added for the primary kernel prior to release, but not warn when using
  a newer backport/mainline kernel.

  (in this case the guc firmware would be pointless to add to l-f, since
  while they would be loaded, the feature they add is not enabled by
  default)

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 21.10
  Package: initramfs-tools 0.140ubuntu6
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.13.0-14.14-generic 5.13.1
  Uname: Linux 5.13.0-14-generic x86_64
  ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu68
  Architecture: amd64
  CasperMD5CheckResult: unknown
  CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
  Date: Fri Sep 17 08:47:46 2021
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-02-06 (1318 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 18.04 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Alpha amd64 (20180206)
  PackageArchitecture: all
  SourcePackage: initramfs-tools
  UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to impish on 2020-09-02 (379 days ago)

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