NVIDIA backs Linux firmware update service
© MicroCenter NVIDIA has become a top-tier sponsor of the Linux Vendor Firmware Service, joining Dell, HP and Lenovo. Richard Hughes, the lead developer of LVFS and fwupd, confirmed that the fourth OEM sponsorship allowed the project to reach the funding target set last year.
LVFS is a distribution service for firmware updates on Linux. Hardware manufacturers upload firmware packages and device metadata, while the fwupd daemon detects supported hardware and installs the appropriate update. Users can access these updates through tools such as GNOME Software or the fwupdmgr command instead of downloading separate vendor utilities.
We previously covered Dell and Lenovo joining the highest sponsorship tier in May. HP joined later that month, followed by NVIDIA in August. Dell and Lenovo were already distributing updates through LVFS, which had delivered more than 145 million firmware updates from over 100 vendors when their sponsorship was announced.
DGX Spark firmware drives NVIDIA involvement
NVIDIA already uses fwupd and LVFS to distribute firmware for the DGX Spark. Hughes said the rollout is progressing well and that the number of downloads continues to increase. NVIDIA previously distributed DGX Spark updates that added ConnectX-7 power management, display compatibility improvements and Bluetooth audio support.
I’m pleased to announce that NVIDIA is now supporting the LVFS as a premier sponsor.
The rollout of the NVIDIA DGX Spark firmware using fwupd is going very well indeed, with downloads continuing to increase every day.
— Richard Hughes, Lead Dev of LVFS/FWUPD
The sponsorship therefore supports infrastructure NVIDIA is already using for its Linux-based hardware. LVFS introduced its funding plan because larger vendors can generate millions of firmware downloads, while the project requires more staff to maintain the service and provide backup for its lead developer.
It remains to be seen how well the consumer-focused RTX Spark systems will support Linux. However, since they use the same underlying platform as DGX Spark (same if not very silicon), NVIDIA could also distribute their firmware through LVFS. That would depend on users replacing Windows on Arm with Linux on these laptops and mini-PCs.
Source: Fwupd , Gnome Blog , Phoronix
