- July 10, 2023
- Posted by: clakaf
- Category: Uncategorized
How to Download and Install iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode on Linux
If you have a Linux system with an Intel Wireless-AC 9461, 9462, or 9560 device, you may need to download and install a firmware file called iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode. This file is required by the iwlwifi driver to operate your wireless device properly. In this article, we will explain what this file is, why you need it, and how to download and install it on your Linux system.
What is iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode?
iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode is a binary firmware file for Intel Wireless-AC 9461/9462/9560 devices, which are wireless network adapters that support the 802.11ac standard and offer high-speed wireless connectivity. The firmware file contains the code that controls the behavior and functionality of the wireless device, such as how to scan for networks, how to connect to them, how to transmit and receive data, and how to handle errors and interruptions.
The iwlwifi driver is a Linux kernel module that provides the interface between the wireless device and the operating system. The driver relies on the firmware file to communicate with the device and perform various operations. Without the firmware file, the driver cannot operate the device and you will not have wireless connectivity on your Linux system.
The iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode file is available from two sources: the official Intel website or the Debian firmware-iwlwifi package. The Intel website provides the latest version of the firmware file, while the Debian package provides a stable version that is compatible with Debian-based Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu, Mint, or Kali. You can choose either source depending on your preference and needs.
Why do you need iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode?
You need iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode for three main reasons:
- To enable wireless connectivity on Linux systems with Intel Wireless-AC 9461/9462/9560 devices. Without the firmware file, your wireless device will not work and you will not be able to connect to any wireless network.
- To avoid missing firmware errors during Linux installation or booting. If you are installing Linux on a computer with an Intel Wireless-AC 9461/9462/9560 device, you may encounter a message that says “Some of your hardware needs non-free firmware files to operate” and asks you to load missing firmware from removable media. This means that the installer or the kernel cannot find the firmware file for your wireless device and needs you to provide it manually. If you do not have the firmware file, you may not be able to complete the installation or boot into Linux.
- To benefit from the latest features and bug fixes of the firmware. The firmware file is updated periodically by Intel to improve the performance and stability of the wireless device. By downloading and installing the latest version of the firmware file, you can ensure that your wireless device works optimally and securely.
How to download iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode?
There are two options to download iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode: from the Intel website or from the Debian firmware-iwlwifi package. Here are the steps for each option:
Option 1: Download from the Intel website
- Visit the Linux Support for Intel Wireless Adapters page. This page provides links to download various firmware files for different Intel wireless devices.
- Find the firmware file under the Intel Wireless-AC 9461/9462/9560 section. The name of the file is iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-34.618819.0.tgz. This is a compressed archive that contains several versions of the firmware file, including iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode.
- Download the archive by clicking on it or by right-clicking and choosing Save Link As. Save it to a location of your choice, such as your Downloads folder or your Desktop.
- Extract the archive by using a tool like tar or gzip. For example, you can use the following command in a terminal:
tar xvf iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-34.618819.0.tgz
. This will create a folder called iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-34.618819.0 that contains several files. - Locate the iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode file inside the folder. This is the firmware file that you need to install on your Linux system.
Option 2: Download from the Debian firmware-iwlwifi package
- Visit the Debian firmware-iwlwifi page. This page provides links to download various versions of the firmware-iwlwifi package, which contains firmware files for various Intel wireless devices.
- Download the latest version of the package, which is firmware-iwlwifi_20210315-3_all.deb. This is a Debian package that can be installed on Debian-based Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu, Mint, or Kali.
- Extract the package by using a tool like dpkg or ar. For example, you can use the following command in a terminal:
ar x firmware-iwlwifi_20210315-3_all.deb
. This will create three files: debian-binary, control.tar.gz, and data.tar.xz. - Extract the data.tar.xz file by using a tool like tar or xz. For example, you can use the following command in a terminal:
tar xvf data.tar.xz
. This will create a folder called lib that contains another folder called firmware. - Locate the iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode file inside the /lib/firmware/ folder. This is the firmware file that you need to install on your Linux system.
How to install iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode?
There are two options to install iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode: from a USB flash drive during Linux installation or from a USB flash drive after Linux installation. Here are the steps for each option:
Option 1: Install from a USB flash drive during Linux installation
- Copy the iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode file to the root of a FAT32-formatted USB flash drive. You can use any USB flash drive that has enough space to store the file, which is about 2 MB.
- Plug the USB flash drive into the computer you are installing Linux on. Make sure that the computer can boot from the USB flash drive.
- Start the Linux installation process by following the instructions on your screen. You may need to choose your language, keyboard layout, time zone, and other settings.
- When prompted to load missing firmware from removable media, select Yes and continue. This will allow the installer to search for the firmware file on your USB flash drive and load it into memory.
- The installer should find and load the firmware file automatically and proceed with the installation. You should see a message that says “Firmware loaded successfully” or something similar.
- Complete the installation process by following the instructions on your screen. You may need to create a user account, choose a partition scheme, install a bootloader, and other steps.
- Reboot your computer and enjoy your wireless connectivity.
Option 2: Install from a USB flash drive after Linux installation
- Copy the iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode file to the root of a FAT32-formatted USB flash drive. You can use any USB flash drive that has enough space to store the file, which is about 2 MB.
- Plug the USB flash drive into the computer you have installed Linux on. Make sure that the computer can recognize and mount the USB flash drive.
- Mount the USB flash drive and copy the iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode file to /lib/firmware/ on your Linux system. You may need to use sudo or root privileges to do this. For example, you can use the following command in a terminal:
sudo cp /media/usb/iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode /lib/firmware/
. This will copy the file from your USB flash drive to your system’s firmware directory. - Reboot your computer or reload the iwlwifi module with sudo modprobe -r iwlwifi && sudo modprobe iwlwifi. This will make sure that your wireless device uses the new firmware file.
- Enjoy your wireless connectivity.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained how to download and install iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode on Linux systems with Intel Wireless-AC 9461/9462/9560 devices. This firmware file is required by the iwlwifi driver to operate your wireless device properly and enable wireless connectivity on your Linux system. You can download the firmware file from the official Intel website or the Debian firmware-iwlwifi package, and install it from a USB flash drive during or after Linux installation. By following the steps in this article, you can avoid missing firmware errors and benefit from the latest features and bug fixes of the firmware.
We hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. We would love to hear from you and help you with any issues you may have. Thank you for reading and have a great day!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode:
- How do I know if I have an Intel Wireless-AC 9461/9462/9560 device?
- How do I know if I need to update my firmware file?
- What are the advantages of updating my firmware file?
- Fixed an issue where the wireless device may hang or crash under heavy traffic load.
- Fixed an issue where the wireless device may fail to connect to some 5 GHz networks.
- Fixed an issue where the wireless device may lose connectivity after resuming from suspend or hibernate.
- Improved compatibility with some routers and access points.
- Improved power management and battery life.
- What are the risks of updating my firmware file?
- How do I revert to my previous firmware file?
- Copy your previous firmware file to a USB flash drive or another location that is accessible from your Linux system.
- Delete or rename your new firmware file from /lib/firmware/ on your Linux system.
- Copy your previous firmware file to /lib/firmware/ on your Linux system.
- Reboot your computer or reload the iwlwifi module with sudo modprobe -r iwlwifi && sudo modprobe iwlwifi.
You can check the model of your wireless device by using the lspci or lshw commands in a terminal. For example, you can use the following command: lspci -nnk | grep -iA3 net
. This will show you the network devices on your system and their vendor and product IDs. If you see something like 02:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Intel Corporation Wireless-AC 9462 [8086:02f0]
, then you have an Intel Wireless-AC 9462 device.
You can check the version of your firmware file by using the dmesg or modinfo commands in a terminal. For example, you can use the following command: dmesg | grep iwlwifi
. This will show you the messages related to the iwlwifi driver and the firmware file. If you see something like iwlwifi 0000:02:00.0: loaded firmware version 46.618819.0 op_mode iwlmvm
, then you have the iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode file loaded. You can compare this version with the latest version available from the Intel website or the Debian package and decide if you need to update your firmware file.
Updating your firmware file can improve the performance and stability of your wireless device, as well as fix some bugs and security issues. For example, according to the Intel website, the latest version of the iwlwifi-9000-pu-b0-jf-b0-46.ucode file (34.618819.0) provides the following improvements:
Updating your firmware file is generally safe and easy, but there are some risks involved. For example, if you download a corrupted or incompatible firmware file, or if you interrupt the installation process, you may damage your wireless device or cause it to malfunction. Therefore, it is important to follow the instructions carefully and make sure that you have a backup of your current firmware file in case something goes wrong.
If you encounter any problems with your new firmware file, or if you simply want to go back to your previous firmware file, you can do so by following these steps:
bc1a9a207d