Upgrading microcode: Is it a common/recommended practice?

[kimminss0]

I've rarely seen posts that introduce how to upgrade CPU microcodes with sysutils/cpu-microcode. Maybe I've just missed those articles, but I'm wondering if it's either a common or recommended practice. If so, it would be nice to introduce that into the FreeBSD handbook, too.

 

[T-Aoki]

Read messages from sysutils/cpu-microcode-rc.
Messages from sysutils/cpu-microcode-amd and sysutils/cpu-microcode-intel refer to it.

Unfortunately, FreshPorts fails to render messages of sysutils/cpu-microcode-rc, but if you have it installed, you can read it with pkg info --pkg-message sysutils/cpu-microcode-rc. No root priviledge required.
If not installed, (a bit harder to read, though, as it has install-time replacements) you can read its source via cgit.

 

[kimminss0]

Read messages from sysutils/cpu-microcode-rc.
Messages from sysutils/cpu-microcode-amd and sysutils/cpu-microcode-intel refer to it.

Unfortunately, FreshPorts fails to render messages of sysutils/cpu-microcode-rc, but if you have it installed, you can read it with pkg info --pkg-message sysutils/cpu-microcode-rc. No root priviledge required.
If not installed, (a bit harder to read, though, as it has install-time replacements) you can read its source via cgit.

Yes, I followed that messages and I could install microcodes successfully

I'm just wondering if it's a common or recommended practice to follow, as I have rarely(maybe never) seen beginner guides, such as the FreeBSD handbook, that recommend it. Is it beneficial for everyone to upgrade microcodes?

 

[fmc000]

Updates are released either too fix bugs or to address vulnerabilities so to me applying them is a no brainer.

 

[T-Aoki]

Updating microcodes are recommended regardless what OS is in use.

So even if manuals/guidebooks/handbooks of the OS (including but not at all limited with FreeBSD), it SHALL be recommended by HARDWARE MANUFACTURERS/VENDORS. NOT AT ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OS DEVELOPERS/VENDORS. It's just the same level of thing like "how to power it on" and "how to connect it to AC power line".

Yes, it SHALL be provided by firmware upgrades JUST IN TIME CPU MANUFACTURER RELEASED TO THEM, even if no other fixes are needed.
But unfortunately, it quite often delays (for older hardwares, not at all provided to end users).

So something like sysutils/cpu-microcode-[amd|intel] is quite important in such unfortunate cases. But I consider it SHALL be quite limited corner cases, unfortunately not, though.