MIC: Installing and Setting up MIC Platform Software Stack
Supported versions of Linux host operating system
- Red Hat* Enterprise Linux* 64-bit 6.0 kernel 2.6.32-71
- Red Hat* Enterprise Linux* 64-bit 6.1 kernel 2.6.32-131
- Red Hat* Enterprise Linux* 64-bit 6.2 kernel 2.6.32-220
- Red Hat* Enterprise Linux* 64-bit 6.3 kernel 2.6.32-279
- SUSE* Linux* Enterprise Server SLES 11 SP1 kernel 2.6.32.12-0.7-default
- SUSE* Linux* Enterprise Server SLES 11 SP2 kernel 3.0.13-0.27-default
Download MPSS from Intel Software Download
Installing the MPSS (MIC Platform Software Stack)
Step - 1: Disable SELinux before installing Intel(R) MPSS software, to avoid SELinux overriding standard Linux permissions settings.
> vi /etc/sysconfig/selinux
SELINUX=disabled
Step - 2: Check for previous installed version of Intel(R) MPSS package. If present, stop the service and uninstall the package.
> sudo rpm -qa | grep intel-mic
Step - 3: Uninstall previous version of Intel(R) MPSS driver if present. Red Hat* Enterprise Linux*
> sudo yum remove --noplugins --disablerepo=* intel-mic\*
Step - 4: Untar and install the Intel(R) MPSS package.
> tar xvzf KNC_gold_update_1-2.1.4982-15-rhel-6.0.tgz > cd KNC_gold_update_1-2.1.4982-15-rhel-6.0 > sudo yum install --nogpgcheck --noplugins --disablerepo=* *.rpm
Step - 5: Reset the driver.
> sudo micctrl -r
Step - 6: If required by the MPSS release Update the Intel(R) Xeon Phi(TM) Coprocessor SMC Bootloader
Step - 7: If required by the MPSS release Update the Intel(R) Xeon Phi(TM) Coprocessor Flash
Starting Intel(R) MPSS Services
Start Intel(R) MPSS by using the Linux* service command, reset the system, and check coprocessor status.
> sudo service mpss start > sudo micctrl -r > sudo micctrl -w
Stopping Intel(R) MPSS Services
> sudo service mpss stop > sudo service mpss unload
Intel(R) MPSS Configuration
Configuration files are located at /etc/sysconfig/mic/default.conf and /etc/sysconfig/mic/micN.conf, where N is an integer number (0, 1, 2, 3, etc.) that identifies each coprocessor installed in the system. The Intel(R) MPSS device driver installs default.conf. This file serves as the centralized configuration file for all installed coprocessors.
Intel(R) Xeon Phi(TM) Coprocessor SMC Bootloader Update
To identify the SMC firmware version installed on the card. Execute
> /opt/intel/mic/bin/micinfo
Step - 1: Set the coprocessor to a 'ready' state
> sudo micctrl -r > sudo micctrl -w
Step - 2: Update the SMC firmware
> micflash -Update <SMC.Bootloader> -device all
Where <SMC.Bootloader> represents an SMC firmware file usually named EXT_HP2_SMC_Bootloader_1_8_4326.css_ab. The "ab" postfix means that the image applies to A and B steppings of the coprocessor. The file is present in the /opt/intel/mic/flash directory.
The bootloader update is limited in functionality. The flash update must be run after the bootloader update for full card management availability.
Intel(R) Xeon Phi(TM) Coprocessor Flash Update
NOTE: Flash image files that ends with .smc contains both the flash and smc firmware
Step - 1: Determine the flash image to install Determine the stepping of the coprocessor using micinfo.
Stepping (ES#) | Flash ROM Name ----------+---------------------------------- A0 (ES0, ES1) | EXT_HP2_A0_0375-05.rom.smc B0 (ES2) | EXT_HP2_B0_0375-05.rom.smc B1 (QS) | EXT_HP2_B1_0375-05.rom.smc
Step - 2: Set the coprocessor to a 'ready' state
> sudo micctrl -r > sudo micctrl -w
Step - 3: Install the flash image.
> sudo /opt/intel/mic/bin/micflash -Update /opt/intel/mic/flash/EXT_HP2_B0_0375-05.rom.smc -device 0
The following dialog will appear after the flash is successfully installed:
Intel(R) Xeon Phi(TM) Coprocessor - 0
Flash update : Successful
SMC FW update : Successful
Device status : HW ready
Step - 4 Reboot the host system At the end of the installation the system will prompt you for a reboot. Reply y for yes. A reboot of the host system is required to load the new flash image.
Do you want to reboot now? [y/N]:y