fwupdtool

Display all devices detected by fwupd

$ fwupdtool get-devices

$ fwupdtool install [path/to/firmware]

$ fwupdtool [[-h|--help]]

fwupdtool [OPTION...] COMMAND [ARG...]

--help, -h
    Display a help message and exit.

--verbose, -v
    Show more detailed debug information during execution.

--version
    Print the program's version information and exit.

--offline
    Perform operations using only locally cached data, without network access to LVFS.

--allow-reinstall
    Permit reinstalling the firmware version that is already present on the device.

--force
    Force the requested operation, overriding certain safety checks or user confirmations.

--no-confirm
    Do not prompt for user confirmation before executing potentially destructive operations.

--interactive
    Force interactive mode, prompting for user input even if a non-interactive mode is default.

--json
    Output results in a machine-readable JSON format, suitable for scripting.

--disable-metadata-validation
    Disable the validation of metadata signatures. Use with extreme caution as it compromises security.

--allow-downgrade
    Allow installing an older firmware version than currently installed.

fwupdtool is a command-line utility designed for managing firmware updates on Linux systems. It interacts with the fwupd daemon, which connects to the Linux Vendor Firmware Service (LVFS) to securely download, verify, and install firmware updates for a wide range of hardware components.

Users can leverage fwupdtool to list supported devices, check for available updates, apply new firmware versions, and manage firmware revisions. It supports both online updates via LVFS and offline installations using pre-downloaded firmware archives. The tool aims to provide a reliable and secure method for keeping device firmware up-to-date, enhancing system stability, security, and performance across various hardware vendors and Linux distributions.

Most fwupdtool operations require root privileges.
Firmware updates carry inherent risks; ensure stable power supply during updates.
Many updates require a system reboot to apply changes.
The tool relies on the fwupd daemon being active and functional.

Check for and apply updates:
fwupdtool refresh && fwupdtool update

List all devices known to fwupd:
fwupdtool get-devices

Download updates for offline installation:
fwupdtool download --no-confirm

fwupdtool's primary source for firmware updates is the Linux Vendor Firmware Service (LVFS). LVFS acts as a secure, centralized repository where hardware vendors can upload signed firmware. This integration ensures the authenticity, integrity, and timely availability of firmware updates for a wide range of Linux-compatible hardware, enhancing security and compatibility.

fwupdtool is an integral part of the fwupd project, which was initiated to address the lack of a standardized and reliable firmware update mechanism on Linux. Developed primarily by Richard Hughes (Red Hat), it emerged from the Linux Vendor Firmware Service (LVFS) initiative. Its development aimed to simplify and secure firmware updates by providing a consistent interface for hardware vendors to distribute updates and for users to install them, significantly improving the Linux hardware ecosystem.

fwupd(1), systemctl(1), gnome-software(1)