[gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Alan Mackenzie]

Hello, Gentoo.

I've just treated myself to a new machine based on a Ryzen 9 7900
processor.  I chose the second newest generation so as not to get caught
out with not quite debugged systems like I did the last time round.

Anyhow, I'm up to the stage of configuring the kernel, and I'm stuck at
the bit where I need to specify the firmware to be incorporated into the
kernel for the integrated graphics processor.

The Gentoo documentation is unhelpful to put it mildly.  In the AMDGPU
document in the Gentoo Wiki, they talk about _cards_, not integrated
graphics units, and it is not clear whether the authors are even aware of
such graphics units, despite the fact they've existed for many years.
The methods they give for divining the necessary firmware files fail
hopelessly on my 7900 system.

I'm not even sure whether I need to put any firmware into the kernel at
all; maybe it's already fully contained in the processor.  That's how
good the doc is, after ~3 hours searching the web.

So, rant mode off!  Would a Gentoo expert please tell me where I can
discover whether I need such firmware, and if so what.

Many thanks in advance!

-- 
Alan Mackenzie (Nuremberg, Germany).

Re: [gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Peter Böhm]

Hello Alan,

> Anyhow, I'm up to the stage of configuring the kernel, and I'm stuck at
> the bit where I need to specify the firmware to be incorporated into the
> kernel for the integrated graphics processor.

Yes, you surely will need some firmware files for your GPU of your AMD CPU. The
easiest way to find out what you need is:

Boot with our GentooLiveCD (*) and ask:

"dmesg | grep firmware"

You will see every loaded firmware file ... notice it and build it into your
kernel.  ;-)

*) It must be our GentooCD because we have a kernel patch for logging the
loading of firmware files.


Many Greetings,
Peter

P.S.: Maybe you know this already ? ->

https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pietinger/Tutorials/
Manual_kernel_configuration

[gentoo-user] Re: Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Grant Edwards]

On 2024-08-20, Alan Mackenzie <acm@muc.de> wrote:

> I've just treated myself to a new machine based on a Ryzen 9 7900
> processor.  I chose the second newest generation so as not to get caught
> out with not quite debugged systems like I did the last time round.
>
> Anyhow, I'm up to the stage of configuring the kernel, and I'm stuck at
> the bit where I need to specify the firmware to be incorporated into the
> kernel for the integrated graphics processor.

I'm running a Ryzen 5 3400G with Radeon Vega graphics:

$ lspci | grep -i vga
2a:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Picasso/Raven 2 [Radeon Vega Series / Radeon Vega Mobile Series] (rev c8)

$ dmesg | grep -i firmware
[    0.091814] Spectre V2 : Enabling Speculation Barrier for firmware calls
[    0.244487] ACPI: [Firmware Bug]: BIOS _OSI(Linux) query ignored
[    0.261256] acpi PNP0A08:00: [Firmware Info]: MMCONFIG for domain 0000 [bus 00-3f] only partially covers this bridge
[    3.021472] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_gpu_info.bin
[    3.045180] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_sdma.bin
[    3.046559] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_asd.bin
[    3.047121] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_ta.bin
[    3.047408] Loading firmware: amdgpu/raven_dmcu.bin
[    3.048027] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_pfp.bin
[    3.048163] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_me.bin
[    3.048380] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_ce.bin
[    3.048491] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_rlc_am4.bin
[    3.048624] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_mec.bin
[    3.048891] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_mec2.bin
[    3.049687] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_vcn.bin
[    3.050007] [drm] Found VCN firmware Version ENC: 1.15 DEC: 3 VEP: 0 Revision: 0
[    3.050015] amdgpu 0000:2a:00.0: amdgpu: Will use PSP to load VCN firmware
[    5.407436] Loading firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8168h-2.fw


$ zcat /proc/config.gz  | grep -i firmware
CONFIG_PREVENT_FIRMWARE_BUILD=y
# Firmware loader
CONFIG_EXTRA_FIRMWARE=""
# end of Firmware loader
# Firmware Drivers
CONFIG_FIRMWARE_MEMMAP=y
# CONFIG_GOOGLE_FIRMWARE is not set
# Tegra firmware driver
# end of Tegra firmware driver
# end of Firmware Drivers
# CONFIG_DRM_LOAD_EDID_FIRMWARE is not set
# CONFIG_FIRMWARE_EDID is not set
# CONFIG_TEST_FIRMWARE is not set
CONFIG_GENTOO_PRINT_FIRMWARE_INFO=y


$ equery files linux-firmware | egrep 'picasso_|raven_'
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/picasso_asd.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/picasso_ce.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/picasso_gpu_info.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/picasso_me.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/picasso_mec.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/picasso_mec2.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/picasso_pfp.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/picasso_rlc.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/picasso_rlc_am4.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/picasso_sdma.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/picasso_ta.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/picasso_vcn.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/raven_asd.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/raven_ce.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/raven_dmcu.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/raven_gpu_info.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/raven_kicker_rlc.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/raven_me.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/raven_mec.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/raven_mec2.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/raven_pfp.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/raven_rlc.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/raven_sdma.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/raven_ta.bin
/lib/firmware/amdgpu/raven_vcn.bin

Re: [gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Wol]

On 20/08/2024 22:16, Peter Böhm wrote:
> Hello Alan,
> 
>> Anyhow, I'm up to the stage of configuring the kernel, and I'm stuck at
>> the bit where I need to specify the firmware to be incorporated into the
>> kernel for the integrated graphics processor.

> Yes, you surely will need some firmware files for your GPU of your AMD CPU. The
> easiest way to find out what you need is:

The other thing I'll throw in is do you actually want to load the 
firmware into the kernel? Or do you want to build the video driver as a 
module, and let it choose what it wants.

I had great grief trying to build the correct firmware into the kernel, 
gave up and went down the module route (no I don't like having drivers 
for base hardware as modules), and the relief when it "just worked".

So think about that ...

Cheers,
Wol

Re: [gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Alan Mackenzie]

Hello, Wol.

On Wed, Aug 21, 2024 at 11:32:18 +0100, Wol wrote:
> On 20/08/2024 22:16, Peter Böhm wrote:
> > Hello Alan,

> >> Anyhow, I'm up to the stage of configuring the kernel, and I'm stuck at
> >> the bit where I need to specify the firmware to be incorporated into the
> >> kernel for the integrated graphics processor.

> > Yes, you surely will need some firmware files for your GPU of your AMD CPU. The
> > easiest way to find out what you need is:

> The other thing I'll throw in is do you actually want to load the 
> firmware into the kernel?

Yes, I do.

> Or do you want to build the video driver as a module, and let it
> choose what it wants.

I've never built a modular kernel in my life.  Such is a workaround for
binary distributions, which couldn't otherwise include drivers for all
the possible bits of hardware in users' machines.

> I had great grief trying to build the correct firmware into the kernel, 
> gave up and went down the module route (no I don't like having drivers 
> for base hardware as modules), and the relief when it "just worked".

We'll see how I get on.  :-)

> So think about that ...

Thanks!

> Cheers,
> Wol

-- 
Alan Mackenzie (Nuremberg, Germany).

Re: [gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Alan Mackenzie]

Hello, Peter.

On Tue, Aug 20, 2024 at 23:16:39 +0200, Peter Böhm wrote:
> Hello Alan,

> > Anyhow, I'm up to the stage of configuring the kernel, and I'm stuck at
> > the bit where I need to specify the firmware to be incorporated into the
> > kernel for the integrated graphics processor.

> Yes, you surely will need some firmware files for your GPU of your AMD CPU. The
> easiest way to find out what you need is:

> Boot with our GentooLiveCD (*) and ask:

> "dmesg | grep firmware"

I've done that, and see just three firmware files:

regulatory.db
regulatory.db.p7s
rtl_nic/rtl8125b-2.fw

..  The first, according to file, is a wireless regulatory database file.
The second is some variant of this, I think a signed version or
something.  The third is surely firmware for my Realtek 8125 Ethernet
chip.

That's not yet got me very far.

> You will see every loaded firmware file ... notice it and build it into your
> kernel.  ;-)

Might it be that my installation environment is running under VGA (it's
37 lines to the screen) rather than on a framebuffer?  These 37 lines
would fit just nicely into an 800x600 screen assuming characters were
8x16 pixels.

Maybe there's some parameter I could give the kernel at booting time to
use a framebuffer.

> *) It must be our GentooCD because we have a kernel patch for logging the
> loading of firmware files.


> Many Greetings,
> Peter

> P.S.: Maybe you know this already ? ->

> https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pietinger/Tutorials/
> Manual_kernel_configuration

I'll go and have a look at that file, thanks!

-- 
Alan Mackenzie (Nuremberg, Germany).

Re: [gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Michael]

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On Wednesday, 21 August 2024 12:15:22 BST Alan Mackenzie wrote:
> Hello, Peter.
> 
> On Tue, Aug 20, 2024 at 23:16:39 +0200, Peter Böhm wrote:
> > Hello Alan,
> > 
> > > Anyhow, I'm up to the stage of configuring the kernel, and I'm stuck at
> > > the bit where I need to specify the firmware to be incorporated into the
> > > kernel for the integrated graphics processor.
> > 
> > Yes, you surely will need some firmware files for your GPU of your AMD
> > CPU. The easiest way to find out what you need is:
> > 
> > Boot with our GentooLiveCD (*) and ask:
> > 
> > "dmesg | grep firmware"
> 
> I've done that, and see just three firmware files:
> 
> regulatory.db
> regulatory.db.p7s
> rtl_nic/rtl8125b-2.fw
> 
> ..  The first, according to file, is a wireless regulatory database file.
> The second is some variant of this, I think a signed version or
> something.  The third is surely firmware for my Realtek 8125 Ethernet
> chip.
> 
> That's not yet got me very far.

You'll need the above if you using WiFi, but for your graphics can you please 
take a look/share the output of:

lspci | grep -i VGA

and

lshw -C cpu

lshw -C display

The above will show which APU you are using and its GPU cores.  Then it is a 
matter of looking here for the corresponding GPU chipset and microarchitecture 
you need to enable in the kernel:

https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/AMDGPU#Feature_support

before you check what firmware blobs you also need to include, from this 
table:

https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/AMDGPU#Firmware_blobs_for_a_known_card_model

Alternatively, as Wol mentioned, you can set up your kernel graphics drivers 
as modules (temporarily) and inspect dmesg to find out what firmware is being 
loaded.  Then use this information to add the firmware file names to be built 
in the kernel and also configure to be built-in any kernel graphics drivers.

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Alan Mackenzie]

Hello, Grant.

On Wed, Aug 21, 2024 at 00:30:25 -0000, Grant Edwards wrote:
> On 2024-08-20, Alan Mackenzie <acm@muc.de> wrote:

> > I've just treated myself to a new machine based on a Ryzen 9 7900
> > processor.  I chose the second newest generation so as not to get caught
> > out with not quite debugged systems like I did the last time round.

> > Anyhow, I'm up to the stage of configuring the kernel, and I'm stuck at
> > the bit where I need to specify the firmware to be incorporated into the
> > kernel for the integrated graphics processor.

> I'm running a Ryzen 5 3400G with Radeon Vega graphics:

That's a separate graphics card, isn't it?  I'm trying to use the
integrated graphics processor on my Ryzen 7900.

> $ lspci | grep -i vga
> 2a:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Picasso/Raven 2 [Radeon Vega Series / Radeon Vega Mobile Series] (rev c8)

When I do lspci | grep -i vga, I just get:

    VGA compatible controller, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc [AMD/ATI] Raphael (rev c4),

(well, something very similar, I'm copying it by hand).  The "Raphael",
I believe, is the codename for the entire 7900 processor, not just the
graphics controller.


> $ dmesg | grep -i firmware
> [    0.091814] Spectre V2 : Enabling Speculation Barrier for firmware calls
> [    0.244487] ACPI: [Firmware Bug]: BIOS _OSI(Linux) query ignored
> [    0.261256] acpi PNP0A08:00: [Firmware Info]: MMCONFIG for domain 0000 [bus 00-3f] only partially covers this bridge
> [    3.021472] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_gpu_info.bin
> [    3.045180] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_sdma.bin
> [    3.046559] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_asd.bin
> [    3.047121] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_ta.bin
> [    3.047408] Loading firmware: amdgpu/raven_dmcu.bin
> [    3.048027] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_pfp.bin
> [    3.048163] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_me.bin
> [    3.048380] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_ce.bin
> [    3.048491] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_rlc_am4.bin
> [    3.048624] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_mec.bin
> [    3.048891] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_mec2.bin
> [    3.049687] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_vcn.bin
> [    3.050007] [drm] Found VCN firmware Version ENC: 1.15 DEC: 3 VEP: 0 Revision: 0
> [    3.050015] amdgpu 0000:2a:00.0: amdgpu: Will use PSP to load VCN firmware
> [    5.407436] Loading firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8168h-2.fw

As I reported in another post, dmesg | grep firmware just gives me three
files, none of them to do with graphics.

> $ zcat /proc/config.gz  | grep -i firmware
> CONFIG_PREVENT_FIRMWARE_BUILD=y
> # Firmware loader
> CONFIG_EXTRA_FIRMWARE=""
> # end of Firmware loader
> # Firmware Drivers
> CONFIG_FIRMWARE_MEMMAP=y
> # CONFIG_GOOGLE_FIRMWARE is not set
> # Tegra firmware driver
> # end of Tegra firmware driver
> # end of Firmware Drivers
> # CONFIG_DRM_LOAD_EDID_FIRMWARE is not set
> # CONFIG_FIRMWARE_EDID is not set
> # CONFIG_TEST_FIRMWARE is not set
> CONFIG_GENTOO_PRINT_FIRMWARE_INFO=y

Yes, I get something like that on the installation system.

[ .... ]

-- 
Alan Mackenzie (Nuremberg, Germany).

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Michael]

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On Wednesday, 21 August 2024 12:39:58 BST Alan Mackenzie wrote:
> Hello, Grant.
> 
> On Wed, Aug 21, 2024 at 00:30:25 -0000, Grant Edwards wrote:
> > On 2024-08-20, Alan Mackenzie <acm@muc.de> wrote:
> > > I've just treated myself to a new machine based on a Ryzen 9 7900
> > > processor.  I chose the second newest generation so as not to get caught
> > > out with not quite debugged systems like I did the last time round.
> > > 
> > > Anyhow, I'm up to the stage of configuring the kernel, and I'm stuck at
> > > the bit where I need to specify the firmware to be incorporated into the
> > > kernel for the integrated graphics processor.
> > 
> > I'm running a Ryzen 5 3400G with Radeon Vega graphics:
> That's a separate graphics card, isn't it?  I'm trying to use the
> integrated graphics processor on my Ryzen 7900.
> 
> > $ lspci | grep -i vga
> > 2a:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]
> > Picasso/Raven 2 [Radeon Vega Series / Radeon Vega Mobile Series] (rev c8)
> When I do lspci | grep -i vga, I just get:
> 
>     VGA compatible controller, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc [AMD/ATI] Raphael
> (rev c4),
> 
> (well, something very similar, I'm copying it by hand).  The "Raphael",
> I believe, is the codename for the entire 7900 processor, not just the
> graphics controller.

The codename was Raphael AM5, this uses a RDNA2 Raphael graphics as far as I 
can tell.


> > $ dmesg | grep -i firmware
> > [    0.091814] Spectre V2 : Enabling Speculation Barrier for firmware
> > calls
> > [    0.244487] ACPI: [Firmware Bug]: BIOS _OSI(Linux) query ignored
> > [    0.261256] acpi PNP0A08:00: [Firmware Info]: MMCONFIG for domain 0000
> > [bus 00-3f] only partially covers this bridge [    3.021472] Loading
> > firmware: amdgpu/picasso_gpu_info.bin
> > [    3.045180] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_sdma.bin
> > [    3.046559] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_asd.bin
> > [    3.047121] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_ta.bin
> > [    3.047408] Loading firmware: amdgpu/raven_dmcu.bin
> > [    3.048027] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_pfp.bin
> > [    3.048163] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_me.bin
> > [    3.048380] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_ce.bin
> > [    3.048491] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_rlc_am4.bin
> > [    3.048624] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_mec.bin
> > [    3.048891] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_mec2.bin
> > [    3.049687] Loading firmware: amdgpu/picasso_vcn.bin
> > [    3.050007] [drm] Found VCN firmware Version ENC: 1.15 DEC: 3 VEP: 0
> > Revision: 0 [    3.050015] amdgpu 0000:2a:00.0: amdgpu: Will use PSP to
> > load VCN firmware [    5.407436] Loading firmware: rtl_nic/rtl8168h-2.fw
> 
> As I reported in another post, dmesg | grep firmware just gives me three
> files, none of them to do with graphics.

Perhaps you can try a different LiveUSB, e.g. Ubuntu to see if it provides 
more info.


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Re: [gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Peter Böhm]

Hello Alan,

Am Mittwoch, 21. August 2024, 13:15:22 CEST schrieben Sie:

> > Boot with our GentooLiveCD (*) and ask:
> >
> > "dmesg | grep firmware"
>
> I've done that, and see just three firmware files:

Have you used the GentooMinimalInstallationCD ?

Please try again with our GentoLIVE-CD.

Re: [gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Alan Mackenzie]

Hello, Michael.

On Wed, Aug 21, 2024 at 12:37:53 +0100, Michael wrote:
> On Wednesday, 21 August 2024 12:15:22 BST Alan Mackenzie wrote:
> > Hello, Peter.

> > On Tue, Aug 20, 2024 at 23:16:39 +0200, Peter Böhm wrote:
> > > Hello Alan,

> > > > Anyhow, I'm up to the stage of configuring the kernel, and I'm stuck at
> > > > the bit where I need to specify the firmware to be incorporated into the
> > > > kernel for the integrated graphics processor.

> > > Yes, you surely will need some firmware files for your GPU of your AMD
> > > CPU. The easiest way to find out what you need is:

> > > Boot with our GentooLiveCD (*) and ask:

> > > "dmesg | grep firmware"

> > I've done that, and see just three firmware files:

> > regulatory.db
> > regulatory.db.p7s
> > rtl_nic/rtl8125b-2.fw

> > ..  The first, according to file, is a wireless regulatory database file.
> > The second is some variant of this, I think a signed version or
> > something.  The third is surely firmware for my Realtek 8125 Ethernet
> > chip.

> > That's not yet got me very far.

> You'll need the above if you using WiFi, but for your graphics can you please 
> take a look/share the output of:

> lspci | grep -i VGA

I've tried that already.  I get

    VGA compatible controller, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc [AMD/ATI] Raphael (rev c4)

, which fails to identify the GPU cores.  Raphael, I believe, is just the
code name for the entire processor.

> and

> lshw -C cpu

> lshw -C display

They don't give me any more information, either.

> The above will show which APU you are using and its GPU cores.  Then it is a 
> matter of looking here for the corresponding GPU chipset and microarchitecture 
> you need to enable in the kernel:

> https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/AMDGPU#Feature_support

I've tried that already.  "Raphael" does not appear in that document.

> before you check what firmware blobs you also need to include, from this 
> table:

> https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/AMDGPU#Firmware_blobs_for_a_known_card_model

That is my problem - discovering the "known card model" for my Ryzen
7900.  The Gentoo documentation doesn't appear to deal with this case,
and my three hour web search yesterday turned up nothing useful.

> Alternatively, as Wol mentioned, you can set up your kernel graphics drivers 
> as modules (temporarily) and inspect dmesg to find out what firmware is being 
> loaded.  Then use this information to add the firmware file names to be built 
> in the kernel and also configure to be built-in any kernel graphics drivers.

That would involve me learning how to make and handle a modular kernel,
something I'd really rather not have to do.  Why is the identity of the
necessary firmware for Ryzen APUs such a closely guarded secret?

-- 
Alan Mackenzie (Nuremberg, Germany).

[gentoo-user] Re: Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Grant Edwards]

On 2024-08-21, Alan Mackenzie <acm@muc.de> wrote:
> Hello, Grant.
>
> On Wed, Aug 21, 2024 at 00:30:25 -0000, Grant Edwards wrote:
>> On 2024-08-20, Alan Mackenzie <acm@muc.de> wrote:
>
>> > I've just treated myself to a new machine based on a Ryzen 9 7900
>> > processor.  I chose the second newest generation so as not to get caught
>> > out with not quite debugged systems like I did the last time round.
>
>> > Anyhow, I'm up to the stage of configuring the kernel, and I'm stuck at
>> > the bit where I need to specify the firmware to be incorporated into the
>> > kernel for the integrated graphics processor.
>
>> I'm running a Ryzen 5 3400G with Radeon Vega graphics:
>
> That's a separate graphics card, isn't it?  I'm trying to use the
> integrated graphics processor on my Ryzen 7900.

No, it's integrated into the Ryzen 5 3400G.

[gentoo-user] Re: Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Grant Edwards]

On 2024-08-21, Alan Mackenzie <acm@muc.de> wrote:
> Hello, Wol.
>
> On Wed, Aug 21, 2024 at 11:32:18 +0100, Wol wrote:
>> On 20/08/2024 22:16, Peter Böhm wrote:
>> > Hello Alan,
>
>> >> Anyhow, I'm up to the stage of configuring the kernel, and I'm stuck at
>> >> the bit where I need to specify the firmware to be incorporated into the
>> >> kernel for the integrated graphics processor.
>
>> > Yes, you surely will need some firmware files for your GPU of your AMD CPU. The
>> > easiest way to find out what you need is:
>
>> The other thing I'll throw in is do you actually want to load the 
>> firmware into the kernel?
>
> Yes, I do.

Why?

It's a lot simpler letting it get loaded at boot time.

--
Grant

Re: [gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Michael]

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On Wednesday, 21 August 2024 13:04:44 BST Alan Mackenzie wrote:
> Hello, Michael.
> 
> On Wed, Aug 21, 2024 at 12:37:53 +0100, Michael wrote:
[snip ...]
> > lspci | grep -i VGA
> 
> I've tried that already.  I get
> 
>     VGA compatible controller, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc [AMD/ATI] Raphael
> (rev c4)
> 
> , which fails to identify the GPU cores.  Raphael, I believe, is just the
> code name for the entire processor.
> 
> > and
> > 
> > lshw -C cpu
> > 
> > lshw -C display
> 
> They don't give me any more information, either.

Try a different liveUSB, as already suggested.  It could come with the 
necessary modules/firmware and will load them, making it easy to identify 
firmware file names to copy over.


> > The above will show which APU you are using and its GPU cores.  Then it is
> > a matter of looking here for the corresponding GPU chipset and
> > microarchitecture you need to enable in the kernel:
> > 
> > https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/AMDGPU#Feature_support
> 
> I've tried that already.  "Raphael" does not appear in that document.

Yes, Raphael is not listed in the wiki page.  :-(

If you're happy to experiment, you could try configuring your kernel for 
RDNA2, or even RDNA3, before you boot with it and see what firmware the kernel 
complains is missing in dmesg.  The error message of missing firmware will 
point to the relevant chipset's firmware you should add to your kernel.


> > Alternatively, as Wol mentioned, you can set up your kernel graphics
> > drivers as modules (temporarily) and inspect dmesg to find out what
> > firmware is being loaded.  Then use this information to add the firmware
> > file names to be built in the kernel and also configure to be built-in
> > any kernel graphics drivers.
> That would involve me learning how to make and handle a modular kernel,
> something I'd really rather not have to do.

Well, there's nothing to it really.  Just configure your kernel with the 
drivers needed by your graphics card, but set them as modules.  Then boot with 
it and check dmesg.  The kernel will load the modules and try to fetch the 
requisite firmware.

Once you know what you need to configure in the kernel switch over the drivers 
to be built in-kernel and add your firmware files.


> Why is the identity of the
> necessary firmware for Ryzen APUs such a closely guarded secret?

I agree, you should not have to guess which driver and firmware you need for 
your graphics.  Perhaps the Wiki page has not caught up with the latest 
hardware - something to contribute to once you get yours running.  ;-)

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[gentoo-user] Re: Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Grant Edwards]

On 2024-08-21, Michael <confabulate@kintzios.com> wrote:

> Alternatively, as Wol mentioned, you can set up your kernel graphics drivers 
> as modules (temporarily) and inspect dmesg to find out what firmware is being 
> loaded.  Then use this information to add the firmware file names to be built 
> in the kernel and also configure to be built-in any kernel graphics drivers.

That's by far the simplest option.

Re: [gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Wol]

On 21/08/2024 14:49, Michael wrote:
>> That would involve me learning how to make and handle a modular kernel,
>> something I'd really rather not have to do.

> Well, there's nothing to it really.  Just configure your kernel with the
> drivers needed by your graphics card, but set them as modules.  Then boot with
> it and check dmesg.  The kernel will load the modules and try to fetch the
> requisite firmware.

Just don't forget to "make modules" and "make modules_install". Then you 
need to make sure it's included in any initramfs, so no it's not quite 
as simple as "but set them as modules" if you don't have any other modules.

That said, I've always had a modular kernel and there really isn't 
anything much to it - I just do my best (provided I can find them) to 
configure all the *required* drivers into the kernel, so if the module 
system fails the system still boots, or if only sometimes need them, 
modules aren't loaded until necessary to save ram.

Knowing how to boot a modular kernel is a sensible skill to have. And 
booting the modular way (even if you don't actually have any modules) is 
an easy and sensible thing to do.

Cheers,
Wol

Re: [gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Peter Humphrey]

On Wednesday, 21 August 2024 16:22:18 BST Wol wrote:
> On 21/08/2024 14:49, Michael wrote:
> >> That would involve me learning how to make and handle a modular kernel,
> >> something I'd really rather not have to do.
> > 
> > Well, there's nothing to it really.  Just configure your kernel with the
> > drivers needed by your graphics card, but set them as modules.  Then boot
> > with it and check dmesg.  The kernel will load the modules and try to
> > fetch the requisite firmware.
> 
> Just don't forget to "make modules" and "make modules_install". Then you
> need to make sure it's included in any initramfs, so no it's not quite
> as simple as "but set them as modules" if you don't have any other modules.
> 
> That said, I've always had a modular kernel and there really isn't
> anything much to it - I just do my best (provided I can find them) to
> configure all the *required* drivers into the kernel, so if the module
> system fails the system still boots, or if only sometimes need them,
> modules aren't loaded until necessary to save ram.
> 
> Knowing how to boot a modular kernel is a sensible skill to have. And
> booting the modular way (even if you don't actually have any modules) is
> an easy and sensible thing to do.

Someone said once that he builds-in everything necessary to start the system, 
and all the less essential things as modules. That seems to make sense, and I 
followed that advice for some years. I haven't been too particular more 
recently, though.

-- 
Regards,
Peter.

[gentoo-user] Re: Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Grant Edwards]

On 2024-08-21, Wol <antlists@youngman.org.uk> wrote:
> On 21/08/2024 14:49, Michael wrote:
>>> That would involve me learning how to make and handle a modular kernel,
>>> something I'd really rather not have to do.
>
>> Well, there's nothing to it really.  Just configure your kernel with the
>> drivers needed by your graphics card, but set them as modules.  Then boot with
>> it and check dmesg.  The kernel will load the modules and try to fetch the
>> requisite firmware.
>
> Just don't forget to "make modules" and "make modules_install". Then you 
> need to make sure it's included in any initramfs, so no it's not quite 
> as simple as "but set them as modules" if you don't have any other modules.

Ah, I forgot about initramfs [I never use one]. Do the amdgpu firmware
files really need to part of the initramfs or can the modules wait
until the real /usr is mounted to load the firmware?

Re: [gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Alan Mackenzie]

Hello, Peter.

On Wed, Aug 21, 2024 at 14:03:10 +0200, Peter Böhm wrote:
> Hello Alan,

> Am Mittwoch, 21. August 2024, 13:15:22 CEST schrieben Sie:

> > > Boot with our GentooLiveCD (*) and ask:

> > > "dmesg | grep firmware"

> > I've done that, and see just three firmware files:

> Have you used the GentooMinimalInstallationCD ?

> Please try again with our GentoLIVE-CD.

Yes, I'd misunderstood that.  I downloaded the Gentoo live CD, burnt it
onto a DVD and booted from it.

It looks like it was trying to boot into a KDE system, but nothing
stayed on my screen for more than ½ second.  However I was able to type
Ctrl-Alt-F1 to get to a console, and perform # dmesg | grep firmware.
This showed a LOT of files from amdgpu being loaded.

I copied all these files into my kernel config, and built the kernel.  I
carried on with the rest of the stuff in the installation handbook, and
got to the stage of rebooting into the new system.

Nothing.  No trace of anything on my blank screen.  I hate it when
people say that configuring a kernel is easy.  It isn't, never has been,
and never will be.

So I've got my evening to try and debug it.  Yes, I'm aware that having
the firmware loaded into a modular kernel would have helped here, but
that's just not the way I want to go.

Thanks everybody for the help!

-- 
Alan Mackenzie (Nuremberg, Germany).

Re: [gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Peter Böhm]

Hello Alan,

Am Mittwoch, 21. August 2024, 19:26:11 CEST schrieb Alan Mackenzie:

> Nothing.  No trace of anything on my blank screen.  I hate it when
> people say that configuring a kernel is easy.  It isn't, never has been,
> and never will be.

A black screen could be a missing FB device or FB console support.

Please see:

https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pietinger/Tutorials/
Manual_Configuring_Kernel_Version_6.6#Part_3_-_Must_Haves

If this does not help, I would need your .config file.

Many Greetings,
Peter (aka pietinger)

.

Re: [gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[corbin bird]

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I have kernels configured for three different video cards.

AMD : sienna_chiclid, polaris10, navi31 --- all with firmware

The good thing about this is if you add firmware not needed, it is ignored.

If the added bin is older, it is also ignored.

Try a build with the firmware suggested by Grant Edwards.

set the pathing to :
/lib/firmware/

This is how my kernel(s) are configured : 6.6.38-gentoo

NOTE :
The firmware drivers are NOT listed on the Gentoo Wiki.
You need all shown below to get console output.
---------
Under "Device Drivers  ---> Firmware Drivers  --->"
	[*] Mark VGA/VBE/EFI FB as generic system framebuffer

Under "Device Drivers  ---> Graphics support  ---> Frame buffer Devices  --->"
	<*> Support for frame buffer device drivers  --->
	[*] Provide legacy /dev/fb* device

Under "Device Drivers  ---> Graphics support  ---> Frame buffer Devices  ---> <*> Support for frame buffer device drivers  --->"
	[*]   VESA VGA graphics support
	[*]   EFI-based Framebuffer Support
	<*>   Simple framebuffer support

---------

If you want to build-in the firmware :
Under "Device Drivers  ---> Generic Driver Options  --->"
	[ ] Select only drivers that don't need compile-time external firmware
	[ ] Disable drivers features which enable custom firmware building
If you don't want the firmware built-in, this package will prep a loadable firmware image for the kernel ( Just toggle support for you chosen loader ) :

sys-kernel/installkernel USE="-grub -dracut -refind -systemd -systemd-boot -uki -ukify


Hope this helps.


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Re: [gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Michael]

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On Thursday, 22 August 2024 01:34:28 BST corbin bird wrote:

[Snip ...]
> You need all shown below to get console output.

With EFI MoBos in most cases you no longer need any other than the EFI 
framebuffer, although legacy framebuffers won't hurt beyond bloating the size 
of the kernel image.  Kernel image size could be an issue for embedded 
devices, but not for a desktop.

> ---------
> Under "Device Drivers  ---> Firmware Drivers  --->"
> 	[*] Mark VGA/VBE/EFI FB as generic system framebuffer
> 
> Under "Device Drivers  ---> Graphics support  ---> Frame buffer Devices 
> --->" <*> Support for frame buffer device drivers  --->
> 	[*] Provide legacy /dev/fb* device

The legacy /dev/fb* device above is only needed if you have some particular 
application or code which may use fbdev to provide graphics output - e.g. 

https://github.com/reiver/go-fbdev


> Under "Device Drivers  ---> Graphics support  ---> Frame buffer Devices 
> ---> <*> Support for frame buffer device drivers  --->" 
> 	[*]   VESA VGA graphics support
> 	[*]   EFI-based Framebuffer Support
> 	<*>   Simple framebuffer support

Just building the "EFI-based Framebuffer Support" should be enough for EFI 
MoBos.  Note, to have a console coming up and not just a black screen you will 
also need DRM_FBDEV_EMULATION for the KMS to be able to set your display mode:

 -> Device Drivers
   -> Graphics support
     -> Enable legacy fbdev support for your modesetting driver 
(DRM_FBDEV_EMULATION [=y])               │   
Selects: FRAMEBUFFER_CONSOLE_DETECT_PRIMARY [=y]                                              

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Re: [gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Alan Mackenzie]

Hello, Peter.

On Wed, Aug 21, 2024 at 20:10:51 +0200, Peter Böhm wrote:
> Hello Alan,

> Am Mittwoch, 21. August 2024, 19:26:11 CEST schrieb Alan Mackenzie:

> > Nothing.  No trace of anything on my blank screen.  I hate it when
> > people say that configuring a kernel is easy.  It isn't, never has been,
> > and never will be.

> A black screen could be a missing FB device or FB console support.

> Please see:

> https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pietinger/Tutorials/
> Manual_Configuring_Kernel_Version_6.6#Part_3_-_Must_Haves

> If this does not help, I would need your .config file.

I've now managed to get a framebuffer up on my screen whilst booting.
So my boot manager is working, and my video also.

Sadly the kernel can't mount my root partition and panics.  The said
partition is /dev/md126, a RAID1 assembly of two identical partitions on
two nvme drives.  It's looking like the md driver is not being
associated with its major device number (9) soon enough.  Or something
like that.  The same setup works just fine on my current machine.

For some reason emerge --sync downloaded the ebuild for gentoo-sources
6.6.47 rather than 6.6.38 which is the current unmasked version.  Maybe
this newer version is broken.  Maybe.  More likely, I've just made a
mistake, somewhere.

Is there an easy way to persuade portage to download the ebuild for
gentoo-sources 6.6.38?  Why have I got 6.6.47 instead?

> Many Greetings,
> Peter (aka pietinger)

> .

-- 
Alan Mackenzie (Nuremberg, Germany).

Re: [gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Peter Humphrey]

On Thursday, 22 August 2024 12:57:21 BST Alan Mackenzie wrote:

> Is there an easy way to persuade portage to download the ebuild for
> gentoo-sources 6.6.38?  Why have I got 6.6.47 instead?

6.6.47 is the current stable version.

Can't help with your more immediate problem, I'm afraid, because I don't use 
RAID.

-- 
Regards,
Peter.

Re: [gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Michael]

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On Thursday, 22 August 2024 15:46:41 BST Peter Humphrey wrote:
> On Thursday, 22 August 2024 12:57:21 BST Alan Mackenzie wrote:
> > Is there an easy way to persuade portage to download the ebuild for
> > gentoo-sources 6.6.38?  Why have I got 6.6.47 instead?
> 
> 6.6.47 is the current stable version.
> 
> Can't help with your more immediate problem, I'm afraid, because I don't use
> RAID.

Running a diff between my kernel .config files for gentoo-sources 6.6.38 and 
6.6.47 I don't see anything relevant to RAID, although I don't have 
CONFIG_DM_RAID enabled on this system.

May be worth rechecking your raid configuration and how you ran mdadm, the 
NVMe UUIDs you've entered in fstab, etc.

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Re: [gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Alan Mackenzie]

Hello, Michael.

On Thu, Aug 22, 2024 at 16:05:38 +0100, Michael wrote:
> On Thursday, 22 August 2024 15:46:41 BST Peter Humphrey wrote:
> > On Thursday, 22 August 2024 12:57:21 BST Alan Mackenzie wrote:
> > > Is there an easy way to persuade portage to download the ebuild for
> > > gentoo-sources 6.6.38?  Why have I got 6.6.47 instead?

> > 6.6.47 is the current stable version.

> > Can't help with your more immediate problem, I'm afraid, because I don't use
> > RAID.

My new machine had a kernel panic last night, being unable to mount the
RAID1 root partition.  I "didn't change anything" and it booted just
fine today.  I wish I understood why.  These things normally work the
other way around, and I don't wish to appear ungrateful, but I would
really like to understand what went into "didn't change anything".

> Running a diff between my kernel .config files for gentoo-sources 6.6.38 and 
> 6.6.47 I don't see anything relevant to RAID, although I don't have 
> CONFIG_DM_RAID enabled on this system.

Yes, 6.6.47 has become the new stable Gentoo kernel, and I've now
updated my old machine, and this worked without problem.  This was
mainly to test that nothing RAID-wise had gone missing in the kernel.
It hadn't

> May be worth rechecking your raid configuration and how you ran mdadm, the 
> NVMe UUIDs you've entered in fstab, etc.

It all seems to be working now, thanks!

-- 
Alan Mackenzie (Nuremberg, Germany).

Re: [gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Peter Humphrey]

On Thursday, 22 August 2024 17:37:22 BST Alan Mackenzie wrote:

> It all seems to be working now, thanks!

You'd think that, software being nothing but 0s an 1s, not a trace of anything 
in between or outside, and given stable hardware to keep it that way, there 
would be not the faintest chance of any difference between one run and the 
next.

Why, then, do things persist in going 'bump' in the night?

-- 
Regards,
Peter.

Re: [gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Wol]

On 22/08/2024 17:37, Alan Mackenzie wrote:
> Yes, 6.6.47 has become the new stable Gentoo kernel, and I've now
> updated my old machine, and this worked without problem.  This was
> mainly to test that nothing RAID-wise had gone missing in the kernel.
> It hadn't

What version of mdraid? 0.97? or 1.x?

0.97 is in-kernel, and deprecated - as in "if it ain't broke, don't fix 
it. If it is broke, it's not supported". I think there are a fair few 
people who depend on it, though, so it tends to get fixed if something 
goes wrong.

1.x is assembled in user space, so there are probably races with other 
stuff in user space for completion. I run a somewhat messy boot stack, 
but iirc my root space is just "rust, mdraid, lvm, root partition", and 
it works just fine. But I do run systemd, and I might have had to make 
sure there's something in the boot stack waiting for each bit to 
complete in order.

My /home stack has dm-integrity between rust and raid, and boy did that 
really cause some grief getting that to behave. But that makes sure that 
my raid-5 never sees a corrupt read, so I can recover from a damaged 
disk as well as a lost disk.

I - allegedly - know about raid :-) , so if you give me a bit more info 
I might be able to help. Or I might not ...

Cheers,
Wol

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Alan Mackenzie]

Hello, Grant.

On Wed, Aug 21, 2024 at 13:02:43 -0000, Grant Edwards wrote:
> On 2024-08-21, Alan Mackenzie <acm@muc.de> wrote:
> > On Wed, Aug 21, 2024 at 00:30:25 -0000, Grant Edwards wrote:
> >> On 2024-08-20, Alan Mackenzie <acm@muc.de> wrote:

> >> > I've just treated myself to a new machine based on a Ryzen 9 7900
> >> > processor.  I chose the second newest generation so as not to get caught
> >> > out with not quite debugged systems like I did the last time round.

> >> > Anyhow, I'm up to the stage of configuring the kernel, and I'm stuck at
> >> > the bit where I need to specify the firmware to be incorporated into the
> >> > kernel for the integrated graphics processor.

> >> I'm running a Ryzen 5 3400G with Radeon Vega graphics:

> > That's a separate graphics card, isn't it?  I'm trying to use the
> > integrated graphics processor on my Ryzen 7900.

> No, it's integrated into the Ryzen 5 3400G.

Sorry, I didn't recognise the chip number.  Is it a laptop chip rather
than a desktop one?

Anyhow, in the last couple of days, I've managed to get my new system to
boot, and I'm currently busy trying to bring X and XFCE4 up.  So I'm
getting there, slowly.

-- 
Alan Mackenzie (Nuremberg, Germany).

Re: [gentoo-user] Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Alan Mackenzie]

Hello, Wol.

On Fri, Aug 23, 2024 at 10:42:54 +0100, Wol wrote:
> On 22/08/2024 17:37, Alan Mackenzie wrote:
> > Yes, 6.6.47 has become the new stable Gentoo kernel, and I've now
> > updated my old machine, and this worked without problem.  This was
> > mainly to test that nothing RAID-wise had gone missing in the kernel.
> > It hadn't

> What version of mdraid? 0.97? or 1.x?

The 0.97, I think.  The one with the version 0.90 metadata, so that the
kernel can assemble the MD things at boot time without an initramfs.

> 0.97 is in-kernel, and deprecated - as in "if it ain't broke, don't fix 
> it. If it is broke, it's not supported". I think there are a fair few 
> people who depend on it, though, so it tends to get fixed if something 
> goes wrong.

Well, I've been using it for nearly 15 years now, so it seems like
somebody is looking after it.

> 1.x is assembled in user space, so there are probably races with other 
> stuff in user space for completion. I run a somewhat messy boot stack, 
> but iirc my root space is just "rust, mdraid, lvm, root partition", and 
> it works just fine. But I do run systemd, and I might have had to make 
> sure there's something in the boot stack waiting for each bit to 
> complete in order.

We've got different ideas on what a boot system should look like.  ;-)

> My /home stack has dm-integrity between rust and raid, and boy did that 
> really cause some grief getting that to behave. But that makes sure that 
> my raid-5 never sees a corrupt read, so I can recover from a damaged 
> disk as well as a lost disk.

Yes, these things always cause grief when they're being installed.  And
then they run trouble free for many years.

> I - allegedly - know about raid :-) , so if you give me a bit more info 
> I might be able to help. Or I might not ...

My root partition is on /dev/md126, in an ext4 file system.  Most of my
other partitions are in /dev/md127, which I've configured as a volume
group containing several partitions.

But it's booting now, and I can carry on installing Gentoo, though I'm a
bit fed up with the video bug I've mentioned in the other thread.  We'll
see what comes of that.

Have a good weekend!

> Cheers,
> Wol

-- 
Alan Mackenzie (Nuremberg, Germany).

[gentoo-user] Re: Do I need firmware for an integrated graphics unit?

[Grant Edwards]

On 2024-08-23, Alan Mackenzie <acm@muc.de> wrote:
>>> That's a separate graphics card, isn't it?  I'm trying to use the
>>> integrated graphics processor on my Ryzen 7900.
>
>> No, it's integrated into the Ryzen 5 3400G.
>
> Sorry, I didn't recognise the chip number.  Is it a laptop chip rather
> than a desktop one?

No it's a desktop Zen+ (Picasso) socket AM4 processor with a Radeon RX
Vega-11 GPU.  It's about 5 years old.

https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/ryzen-5-3400g.c2204

> Anyhow, in the last couple of days, I've managed to get my new system to
> boot, and I'm currently busy trying to bring X and XFCE4 up.  So I'm
> getting there, slowly.

Hang in there...