Despite trying its best to clear the damage done by Meltdown and Spectre as efficiently as possible, Intel’s actual patching process is going anything but smoothly. According to latest reports, courtesy of Intel, users of older processors are reporting higher system reboots after installing the update.
The update is specifically affecting older Broadwell and Haswell versions of Intel chips, both for client and data centers. Intel is working with users to diagnose and fix problems related to the reboot issue. The company had previously promised to patch almost all of the recent processors by last week.
Intel’s Statement
Intel’s Navin Shinoy says,
We have received reports from a few customers of higher system reboots after applying firmware updates. Specifically, these systems are running Intel Broadwell and Haswell CPUs for both client and data center. We are working quickly with these customers to understand, diagnose and address this reboot issue. If this requires a revised firmware update from Intel, we will distribute that update through the normal channels. We are also working directly with data center customers to discuss the issue.
Intel is far from the only one facing issues with Meltdown and Spectre updates. Last week, Microsoft pulled its own patches from AMD processors, after they bricked the systems.
Known Since June
Intel, along with other industry parties, have known about the vulnerability since June. However, the amount of time taken to have fix CPU firmware was longer than initially anticipated.
According to a recent WSJ report, Intel had reportedly asked some of its major enterprise and cloud partners to hold off on updates, citing buggy patches. By comparison, the latest Intel press release cited earlier asks the users to do that as well, which doesn’t do any favours to Intel’s deteriorating image.
In Pakistan, when you refer to the term OLDER system, then you meant P-4 which are still in use by plenty, Broadwell and Haswell are still very new to masses in Pakistan, so far CPU’s older than i series haven’t been tested to know of vulnerability, so please update/post when P4’s started showing effects.
Intel looks so desperate to make money that have only pointed at any CPU older than 3 year old to be vulnerable, Imagine people would instead spend money on AMD for their upgrades for they aren’t as badly effected as Intel are.