update-pciids

update-pciids [-v] [-q] [-n] [-u ]

-v
    Verbose mode: Show more detailed information about the update process.

-q
    Quiet mode: Suppress most output.

-n
    No download: Only print where the current database is stored.

-u
    Specify a URL to download the database from.

The update-pciids command is a crucial utility used in Linux systems to download and update the PCI ID database. This database maps PCI vendor and device IDs to human-readable names. The system utilizes these mappings when displaying information about PCI devices connected to the computer.

Without an updated database, tools like lspci might only show cryptic numerical identifiers for PCI devices. The command retrieves the latest version of the database from the pci.ids.gz file hosted online (usually at pciids.sourceforge.net).

It is often executed automatically as part of scheduled tasks or during system startup/shutdown processes by systemd or other init systems to keep the PCI ID information current. Maintaining an updated database allows for accurate identification of hardware components, which is essential for troubleshooting, driver management, and system administration.

The command requires network connectivity to download the updated database. If the network is unavailable or the download server is down, the update will fail. Elevated privileges (root or sudo) are usually required to update the system-wide PCI ID database.

The location of the pci.ids file is often defined in a configuration file or hardcoded within the update-pciids script itself. Common locations include /usr/share/hwdata/pci.ids, /usr/share/pci.ids or /usr/local/share/pci.ids. Some distributions may also use /var/lib/pciutils/pci.ids.

If lspci is not showing the correct names for your PCI devices, ensure that the PCI ID database is up-to-date. Run update-pciids with sudo and then run lspci again. If the issue persists, check your network connection and ensure that the download server is accessible.

The update-pciids command has evolved alongside the PCI standard itself. As new PCI devices are developed, their IDs need to be added to the database. The command automates the process of downloading and updating this database, ensuring that systems can accurately identify newer hardware. Early versions were often scripts that manually downloaded and processed the pci.ids file, while modern implementations are usually more robust and integrated into the system maintenance processes.

lspci(8), setpci(8)