Re: git: d12bc36e7698 - main - cpu-microcode-intel: Add knobs for RC RUN_DEPENDS and split files

On Thu, 2023-11-09 at 20:25, Marius Strobl <marius@FreeBSD.org> wrote:

> The branch main has been updated by marius:

> URL: https://cgit.FreeBSD.org/ports/commit/?id=d12bc36e7698f3737de1ac228bd49eab10cf1bb0

> commit d12bc36e7698f3737de1ac228bd49eab10cf1bb0
> Author:     Marius Strobl <marius@FreeBSD.org>
> AuthorDate: 2023-11-09 20:20:53 +0000
> Commit:     Marius Strobl <marius@FreeBSD.org>
> CommitDate: 2023-11-09 20:20:53 +0000

>     cpu-microcode-intel: Add knobs for RC RUN_DEPENDS and split files

>     Split UCODE files as well as dependency on sysutils/cpu-microcode-rc
>     are only required for use with cpucontrol(8) and update method two
>     respectively. The first method needs neither so we can spare a few
>     MiB and a superfluous port.
>     Given that the automatic update method one is superior, the RC knob
>     should be deprecated and removed eventually. At that point, split
>     UCODE files still will be useful for developers and if users want
>     to update the microcode without a reboot (but otherwise rely on the
>     loader for automatic updates, i. e. method one).

For the reasons you described, I proposed removing the RC script for the
Intel CPU microcode updates [1].  However, there was a reasonable
argument for keeping it.  As you say, users may still want to update
their Intel CPU microcode this way because updates can be applied on a
running system without requiring downtime for a reboot.

With your commit, I think we have a good compromise.  Users who really
want to save a bit of space and have one fewer port installed can turn
off these two knobs.  Maybe we could make that the default.

Joe

[1] See the comments in https://reviews.freebsd.org/D32349 for details.