How to use the command fwupdmgr (with examples)

The fwupdmgr command is a tool for updating device firmware, including UEFI, using the fwupd service. It allows users to manage and install firmware updates on their system. This article will provide examples for different use cases of the fwupdmgr command.

Use case 1: Display all devices detected by fwupd

Code:

fwupdmgr get-devices

Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to see a list of all the devices that are detected by fwupd. It provides the necessary information about the devices for further actions.

Explanation: The get-devices command is used to display all the devices detected by fwupd. It retrieves information about the devices, including their IDs, vendor names, product names, current versions, and available versions. This information helps in identifying which devices have available firmware updates.

Example output:

• Thunderbolt Controller by Intel (vendor ID: 8086:15bf)
    - Current version: 17.0
    - Available version: 18.0

• Touchpad by Synaptics (vendor ID: 06cb:00bd)
    - Current version: 1.4
    - Available version: 1.5

• BIOS by Dell (vendor ID: 413c:2400)
    - Current version: 1.2.3
    - Available version: 1.2.5

Use case 2: Download the latest firmware metadata from LVFS

Code:

fwupdmgr refresh

Motivation: This use case is important when you want to update the firmware metadata on your system. By downloading the latest firmware metadata from the Linux Vendor Firmware Service (LVFS), you ensure that you have access to the most up-to-date information about available firmware updates.

Explanation: The refresh command is used to download the latest firmware metadata from LVFS. This metadata includes information about firmware updates available for various devices. This command updates the local cache of firmware metadata on your system.

Example output:

Downloading metadata...
Parsing metadata...
Updating metadata cache...
Refreshed 151 local devices

Use case 3: List the updates available for devices on your system

Code:

fwupdmgr get-updates

Motivation: This use case is helpful when you want to check for available firmware updates for the devices on your system. It allows you to see a list of updates without installing them immediately.

Explanation: The get-updates command is used to list the available firmware updates for the devices on your system. It retrieves information about the updates, including the devices affected, the current versions, and the available versions. This command helps you identify which devices require firmware updates.

Example output:

• Thunderbolt Controller by Intel (vendor ID: 8086:15bf)
    - Installed version: 17.0
    - Available version: 18.0

• Touchpad by Synaptics (vendor ID: 06cb:00bd)
    - Installed version: 1.4
    - Available version: 1.5

Use case 4: Install firmware updates

Code:

fwupdmgr update

Motivation: This use case allows you to install firmware updates for the devices on your system. Keeping your firmware up to date is important for device compatibility, improved performance, and security.

Explanation: The update command is used to install the available firmware updates for the devices on your system. When executed, it will prompt for confirmation before proceeding with the installation. This command ensures that the latest firmware versions are applied to the devices.

Example output:

• Thunderbolt Controller by Intel (vendor ID: 8086:15bf)
    - Installing version: 18.0
    - Progress: 100% complete
    - Successfully installed version 18.0

• Touchpad by Synaptics (vendor ID: 06cb:00bd)
    - Installing version: 1.5
    - Progress: 100% complete
    - Successfully installed version 1.5

Conclusion:

The fwupdmgr command is a powerful tool for managing and installing firmware updates on your system. By using the examples provided above, you can display all devices detected by fwupd, download the latest firmware metadata, list available updates, and install the updates on your devices. Keeping your firmware up to date ensures device compatibility, improved performance, and enhanced security.