Over a month after its previous 2.0.3 release, Fwupd, an open-source utility designed to make updating firmware on Linux-based systems easier and more automatic, rolled out its new 2.0.4 version.
Among the new capabilities is the ability to record the entire USB descriptor in the emulation data, ensuring that all relevant information is captured accurately and consistently.
Another important addition is a defined return code when network metadata refresh fails, which provides clearer guidance for automated update processes. In other words, if the refresh process encounters any issues, the system can reliably detect and respond to them, thereby boosting overall stability and predictability.
Beyond these improvements, fwupd 2.0.4 also addresses many bugs, enhancing performance and reliability in several key areas.
One particularly interesting fix is the introduction of a new private flag called “delayed-removal” to mitigate what developers jokingly refer to as a “footgun.” This measure helps prevent scenarios where devices could be removed too soon, causing disruptions or partial updates.
Additionally, a more specific instance ID has been added for qc-s5gen2 USB devices, improving device recognition and compatibility. For users with Logitech hardware, an updated method for identifying Unifying bootloader VID/PID as a full instance ID is included, and support for recovering Bolt receivers in bootloader mode is now available.
Other fixes address CSV stream parsing, ensuring incomplete or non-standard CSV content no longer causes unexpected behavior. Furthermore, fwupd now detects if the network is reachable before downloading metadata, avoiding the frustration of failed updates due to connectivity issues.
The development team has also introduced improved system handling for certain modem-manager devices, including disabling zero-length packets when necessary. Beyond that, the UEFI capsule update process has been refined for systems using 4096-byte NVME blocksize, contributing to a more robust update experience in specialized configurations.
Fwupd 2.0.4 is now available for download, and users are encouraged to upgrade to take full advantage of the new features and improvements. The changelog provides more details on all novelties.
