Fwupd 2.1.1 Released With Lots Of New Hardware Support

Richard Hughes of Red Hat has announced the release of Fwupd 2.1.1, the latest feature update to this essential Linux solution for deploying system firmware updates and device/peripheral firmware updates. Paired with the Linux Vendor Firmware Service (LVFS), Fwupd has revolutionized firmware updating on Linux, making it accessible for an increasing number of devices without the traditional Windows-only update processes.

With Fwupd 2.1.1, there's substantial expansion in hardware support, particularly for newer devices from major manufacturers. The update introduces firmware update capabilities for a wide range of new hardware including Blestech Touchpads, ELAN Haptic MCU devices, FocalTouch devices, Himax Touchscreens, and Novatek touchscreens. This broad touch and input device support ensures that more modern laptops and peripherals can receive critical firmware updates directly through Linux.

Enterprise and consumer hardware manufacturers are well-represented in this release. HP's Engage One G2 Advanced Hub now supports firmware updates through Fwupd, while Lenovo users gain support for various keyboard and mouse accessories, plus the new Sapphire Folio Keyboard. Gaming peripherals also see improvements with support for the KATAR PRO Wireless Gaming Dongle, and professional AV equipment like the Lightware Taurus HC40 and HC60 devices are now supported.

The update also addresses several technical improvements beyond hardware support. AMD Platform Secure Boot handling has been enhanced, and there's now support for changing the AMD GPU UMA carve-out size - a feature that could be particularly useful for users optimizing memory allocation for graphics workloads. Bluetooth device emulation support has been added, expanding the range of devices that can be updated through the system. For 32-bit x86 systems, UEFI plug-ins have been disabled, reflecting the decreasing relevance of 32-bit UEFI in modern computing.

Additional hardware support includes Rolling RW101-CAT12 modems and various Sunwinon HID devices, demonstrating Fwupd's continued expansion into both consumer and specialized hardware categories. The inclusion of PixArt Touchpads further broadens input device support.

This release continues Fwupd's trajectory of making Linux a first-class citizen for firmware management, eliminating the need for Windows-based update tools for an ever-growing list of devices. The combination of LVFS and Fwupd has fundamentally changed how Linux users maintain their hardware, providing a centralized, secure, and user-friendly approach to firmware updates that was previously unavailable on the platform.

For those interested in the technical details or wanting to contribute, the full release notes and source code are available on GitHub. The Fwupd team continues to work closely with hardware manufacturers to expand support and improve the firmware update experience across the Linux ecosystem.