Possible missing firmware while upgrading

General Help
1

Hello here are the logs of my pc upgrade. I am in zorin os lite and I upgraded it today. I saw some missing firmware of amdgpu. My prime graphics driver(amdgpu) don't work properly. I am using integrated graphics driver. Could this be the problem?

The following packages will be upgraded:
chromium-codecs-ffmpeg-extra gir1.2-javascriptcoregtk-4.0 gir1.2-webkit2-4.0
google-chrome-stable libexiv2-14 libjavascriptcoregtk-4.0-18
libwebkit2gtk-4.0-37 linux-generic-hwe-18.04 linux-headers-generic-hwe-18.04
linux-image-generic-hwe-18.04
10 upgraded, 5 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 83.3 MB/179 MB of archives.
After this operation, 369 MB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] y
Get:1 http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb stable/main amd64 google-chrome-stable amd64 90.0.4430.212-1 [83.3 MB]
Fetched 46.7 MB in 28s (1,694 kB/s)
(Reading database ... 287341 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../00-chromium-codecs-ffmpeg-extra_90.0.4430.93-0ubuntu0.18.04.1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking chromium-codecs-ffmpeg-extra (90.0.4430.93-0ubuntu0.18.04.1) over (90.0.4430.72-0ubuntu0.18.04.1) ...
Preparing to unpack .../01-google-chrome-stable_90.0.4430.212-1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking google-chrome-stable (90.0.4430.212-1) over (90.0.4430.93-1) ...
Preparing to unpack .../02-libwebkit2gtk-4.0-37_2.32.0-0ubuntu0.18.04.1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libwebkit2gtk-4.0-37:amd64 (2.32.0-0ubuntu0.18.04.1) over (2.30.6-0ubuntu0.18.04.1) ...
Preparing to unpack .../03-libjavascriptcoregtk-4.0-18_2.32.0-0ubuntu0.18.04.1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libjavascriptcoregtk-4.0-18:amd64 (2.32.0-0ubuntu0.18.04.1) over (2.30.6-0ubuntu0.18.04.1) ...
Preparing to unpack .../04-gir1.2-webkit2-4.0_2.32.0-0ubuntu0.18.04.1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking gir1.2-webkit2-4.0:amd64 (2.32.0-0ubuntu0.18.04.1) over (2.30.6-0ubuntu0.18.04.1) ...
Preparing to unpack .../05-gir1.2-javascriptcoregtk-4.0_2.32.0-0ubuntu0.18.04.1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking gir1.2-javascriptcoregtk-4.0:amd64 (2.32.0-0ubuntu0.18.04.1) over (2.30.6-0ubuntu0.18.04.1) ...
Preparing to unpack .../06-libexiv2-14_0.25-3.1ubuntu0.18.04.7_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libexiv2-14:amd64 (0.25-3.1ubuntu0.18.04.7) over (0.25-3.1ubuntu0.18.04.5) ...
Selecting previously unselected package linux-modules-5.4.0-73-generic.
Preparing to unpack .../07-linux-modules-5.4.0-73-generic_5.4.0-73.82~18.04.1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking linux-modules-5.4.0-73-generic (5.4.0-73.82~18.04.1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package linux-image-5.4.0-73-generic.
Preparing to unpack .../08-linux-image-5.4.0-73-generic_5.4.0-73.82~18.04.1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking linux-image-5.4.0-73-generic (5.4.0-73.82~18.04.1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package linux-modules-extra-5.4.0-73-generic.
Preparing to unpack .../09-linux-modules-extra-5.4.0-73-generic_5.4.0-73.82~18.04.1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking linux-modules-extra-5.4.0-73-generic (5.4.0-73.82~18.04.1) ...
Preparing to unpack .../10-linux-generic-hwe-18.04_5.4.0.73.82~18.04.66_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking linux-generic-hwe-18.04 (5.4.0.73.82~18.04.66) over (5.4.0.72.80~18.04.65) ...
Preparing to unpack .../11-linux-image-generic-hwe-18.04_5.4.0.73.82~18.04.66_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking linux-image-generic-hwe-18.04 (5.4.0.73.82~18.04.66) over (5.4.0.72.80~18.04.65) ...
Selecting previously unselected package linux-hwe-5.4-headers-5.4.0-73.
Preparing to unpack .../12-linux-hwe-5.4-headers-5.4.0-73_5.4.0-73.82~18.04.1_all.deb ...
Unpacking linux-hwe-5.4-headers-5.4.0-73 (5.4.0-73.82~18.04.1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package linux-headers-5.4.0-73-generic.
Preparing to unpack .../13-linux-headers-5.4.0-73-generic_5.4.0-73.82~18.04.1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking linux-headers-5.4.0-73-generic (5.4.0-73.82~18.04.1) ...
Preparing to unpack .../14-linux-headers-generic-hwe-18.04_5.4.0.73.82~18.04.66_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking linux-headers-generic-hwe-18.04 (5.4.0.73.82~18.04.66) over (5.4.0.72.80~18.04.65) ...
Setting up libexiv2-14:amd64 (0.25-3.1ubuntu0.18.04.7) ...
Setting up linux-modules-5.4.0-73-generic (5.4.0-73.82~18.04.1) ...
Setting up linux-hwe-5.4-headers-5.4.0-73 (5.4.0-73.82~18.04.1) ...
Setting up linux-image-5.4.0-73-generic (5.4.0-73.82~18.04.1) ...
I: /vmlinuz.old is now a symlink to boot/vmlinuz-5.4.0-72-generic
I: /initrd.img.old is now a symlink to boot/initrd.img-5.4.0-72-generic
I: /vmlinuz is now a symlink to boot/vmlinuz-5.4.0-73-generic
I: /initrd.img is now a symlink to boot/initrd.img-5.4.0-73-generic
Setting up chromium-codecs-ffmpeg-extra (90.0.4430.93-0ubuntu0.18.04.1) ...
Setting up libjavascriptcoregtk-4.0-18:amd64 (2.32.0-0ubuntu0.18.04.1) ...
Setting up google-chrome-stable (90.0.4430.212-1) ...
Setting up linux-headers-5.4.0-73-generic (5.4.0-73.82~18.04.1) ...
Setting up linux-headers-generic-hwe-18.04 (5.4.0.73.82~18.04.66) ...
Setting up libwebkit2gtk-4.0-37:amd64 (2.32.0-0ubuntu0.18.04.1) ...
Setting up linux-modules-extra-5.4.0-73-generic (5.4.0-73.82~18.04.1) ...
Setting up gir1.2-javascriptcoregtk-4.0:amd64 (2.32.0-0ubuntu0.18.04.1) ...
Setting up linux-image-generic-hwe-18.04 (5.4.0.73.82~18.04.66) ...
Setting up gir1.2-webkit2-4.0:amd64 (2.32.0-0ubuntu0.18.04.1) ...
Setting up linux-generic-hwe-18.04 (5.4.0.73.82~18.04.66) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.8.3-2ubuntu0.1) ...
Processing triggers for gnome-menus (3.13.3-11ubuntu1.1) ...
Processing triggers for mime-support (3.60ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.23-1ubuntu3.18.04.2+zorin1) ...
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.28-0ubuntu1+zorin4) ...
Processing triggers for linux-image-5.4.0-73-generic (5.4.0-73.82~18.04.1) ...
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/initramfs-tools:
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-5.4.0-73-generic
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/rtl_nic/rtl8125a-3.fw for module r8169
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/rtl_nic/rtl8168fp-3.fw for module r8169
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/renoir_gpu_info.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/renoir_asd.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/renoir_rlc.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/renoir_mec2.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/renoir_mec.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/renoir_me.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/renoir_pfp.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/renoir_ce.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/renoir_sdma.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/renoir_vcn.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_dmc_ver2_04.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/skl_guc_33.0.0.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/bxt_guc_33.0.0.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_33.0.0.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/glk_guc_33.0.0.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_33.0.0.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/icl_guc_33.0.0.bin for module i915
I: The initramfs will attempt to resume from /dev/dm-1
I: (/dev/mapper/zorin--vg-swap_1)
I: Set the RESUME variable to override this.
/etc/kernel/postinst.d/zz-update-grub:
Sourcing file `/etc/default/grub'
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found theme: /usr/share/grub/themes/zorin/theme.txt
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-5.4.0-73-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-5.4.0-73-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-5.4.0-72-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-5.4.0-72-generic
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-5.4.0-47-generic
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-5.4.0-47-generic
Adding boot menu entry for EFI firmware configuration
done

2

Firmware is available here:
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git/

You can also try installing from terminal

sudo apt install firmware-misc-nonfree

sudo apt install firmware-linux-nonfree

sudo apt install firmware-linux

3

I have similar "Possible missing firmware ... " messages.

I tried sudo apt install firmware-misc-nonfree and get "E: Package 'firmware-misc-nonfree' has no installation candidate"

I tried sudo apt install firmware-linux-nonfree and get "E: Unable to locate package firmware-linux-nonfree"

I tried sudo apt install firmware-linux and get "E: Package 'firmware-linux' has no installation candidate"

4

In Software & Updates app, on the other software tab - are you set to Main Server?

5

Yes.
All the "... bionic main" are ticked on.
All the "... bionic main (Source Code)" are ticked off.

6

Ok, sometimes this is caused by the file being placed in the wrong /lib directory. But first, can you check in the tips posted here?

7

Specifically, the update process reports the following (via /var/log/apt/term.log):

W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/renoir_gpu_info.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/renoir_asd.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/renoir_rlc.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/renoir_mec2.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/renoir_mec.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/renoir_me.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/renoir_pfp.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/renoir_ce.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/renoir_sdma.bin for module amdgpu
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/amdgpu/renoir_vcn.bin for module amdgpu

I went to the Stack Exchange posting you recommended.
That lead me to help! W: Possible missing firmware ...
That lead me to linux-firmware.git
I cloned the repository, looked into it, and found the files that were being complained about.

So here are my questions ...

  1. Do I just blindly copy the "missing files" to my local system?
  2. If a file isn't needed by my system, will it be ignored?
  3. Will these changes survive the next apt-get dist-upgrade process?
  4. I'm assuming the .bin files I got from the git repository are the latest and greatest; if I do a "blind copy" of the missing files, how can I be sure they're even compatible with my OS release?
8

I usually use

sudo apt full-upgrade

to avoid those kinds of problems.
Dist-upgrade will only upgrade programs as long as no deletion of files is necessary. Full-upgrade will upgrade all programs, even if deletion of files is necessary to upgrade the software.

If a file is not needed, yes, it will probably be ignored. But I agree with your POV about Blindly Downloading files. That said... That is what most people do - even experts - as no one person will know all there is to know about every file or package that they need.

9

Tangent: I thought apt-get dist-upgrade and apt full-upgrade were the same?

Grr. I just ran sudo apt update and sudo apt full-upgrade and got this:

0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
10

No, they are not the same. dist-upgrade only upgrades as long as files would not need to be deleted to be replaced.

11

Ok. Then I'm guessing since apt full-upgrade reported that nothing needs to be updated, the "missing firmware" won't come down via that method.

If I do copy the newly-downloaded renoir*_.bin files to /lib/firmware/amdgpu, do you know if they will survive the next ... full-upgrade process?

12

I do not know... And could not try to predict that. As a user (I am not a developer), I couldn't begin to tell ya what comes through on all updates.
Generally, everything should survive an update without problems. But on occasion, that does not work out that way.
It really is better to run your updates and cross that bridge when you come to it, than it is to fear updates. More often than not, the updates are fine.

And even in the case that an update causes an issue- there usually is an update that follows it fixing that issue pretty quickly after bugs are reported and resolved.

1 Like
13

I forgot to mention (though I suspect you know this already): The Possible Missing Firmware warning is generally harmless.

I have gotten that warning on Zorin OS before and ... I ignored it. The next update fixed it.

14

I figured as much. The system seems to be running fine as-is. My sensibilities just hate warnings. I suppose my main concern has been that without those pieces, I'm somehow missing out on something.

1 Like
15

Well, I copied over the amdgpu/renoir_*.bin files and rebooted. Nothing smoked. I'm hesitant to run update-initramfs -u only bc. I'm unfamiliar with the tool and I don't want to break anything. I'll keep an eye on the newly-copied files and see if they persist across updates. Thanks for your help!