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p6update(HW)


p6update -- update microcode for Intel Pentium processors

Syntax

/etc/p6update [ -nsv ] [ processor_id [ ... ] ]

Description

The p6update utility modifies Intel® Pentium® processor microcode, based on microcode updates provided by Intel Corporation. This command can also be used to disable the Pentium Processor Serial Number (PSN) for an Intel Pentium III family processor.

Computer processors may contain design defects or errors, known as ``errata'', which can cause the processor to deviate from published specifications. Some ``errata'' can be corrected by updating the processor's microcode. The SCO OpenServer p6update utility can correct ``errata'' in the following models of Intel processors: Pentium Pro, Pentium II, Pentium II Xeon, Pentium III, Pentium III Xeon, Pentium 4, Intel Xeon(TM), and Intel Celeron® processors.

The p6update utility updates a processor based on the the /etc/p6updata file, which contains processor microcode updates provided by Intel. By default, p6update is configured in /etc/inittab to run during system initialization.

An Intel Pentium III family processor has a Processor Serial Number (PSN), which can be accessed by software using the ``cpuid 3'' instruction. However, some administrators prefer that their systems not be identifiable in this way. p6update can also be used to disable the Processor Serial Number, both immediately and whenever the system reboots.

p6update accepts the following options:

Exit values

p6update returns the following exit values:

0
All processors are already updated to the latest available microcode.

non-zero value
A processor needs to be updated, or required files are missing.

Files


/etc/p6updata
Intel microcode update file. More recent versions of this file may be available from SCO.

/etc/inittab
instructions for the init process

See also

cpu(HW), inittab(F)
© 2003 Caldera International, Inc. All rights reserved.
SCO OpenServer Release 5.0.7 -- 29 October 2003