Intel releases Software Defined Silicon updated driver and sample code
A few months ago, there were media reports that Intel will add more optional additional hardware functions to the processor in the future, which will be activated in a specific way. The reason is that Intel released a Linux patch called the “Intel Software Defined Silicon (SDSi)” driver, which may allow activation of certain functions in the chip in the future, but it can only be provided as an upgrade option.
The relevant code itself does not have specific information about Intel’s plan, but Intel’s actions seem to indicate that it will choose to do so sooner or later. According to Phoronix reports, Intel recently released the Software Defined Silicon “V2” patch, providing sample code and sysfs ABI test support.
The new “sdsi-sample” code is a basic userspace program used to interact with the SDSi kernel driver through the sysfs interface. The sample program allows the specified processor socket to read license data, SDSi register data, and use a specific AKC (provide verification key certificate)/CAP (provide activation payload capability) file configuration. However, the SDSi kernel driver only passes the certificate from the operating system to the processor to process and activate the corresponding function, and cannot display more information.
Obviously, this technology means that without changing the hardware, if you purchase a license upgrade, you can activate other additional hardware functions in the Intel chip. At the same time, this approach focuses more on the enterprise-level Xeon series processors, rather than the consumer-level Core series processors. Intel may provide related services at an appropriate time, and may not wait too long. I don’t know if I can see the in-chip purchase function on the next Sapphire Rapids processor.
