intel-microcode not included 20.04 initrd

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If I boot off the ISO in a VM and use alt+Left I can get to a terminal. `uname -a` reports:

```
Linux (none) 4.15.0-112-generic #113-Ubuntu SMP Thu Jul 9 23:41:39 UTC 2020 x86_64 GNU/Linux
```

I couldn't find that specific kernel package with the search tool, so please feel free to change the package as necessary to something more specific than just "linux"

This is because the intel-microcode package is not included on the server iso for Ubuntu 18.04 but it is for the desktop iso. This also seems to be the case for Ubuntu 20.04.

Are there plans to modify the server ISO for 18.04 and 20.04 to address this limitation? Or will I need to modify the initrd file myself and create a customized image for these boards?

We are looking at updating the server iso for the 20.04.3 point release which is coming up in a couple of weeks. However, there are no further point releases of 18.04 (and subsequently new isos) scheduled so this is unlikely to be fixed for that release.

That's disappointing, but understandable. Is there any chance you could provide me with a link to a guide to explain how I could edit the ISO on my own to make a custom ISO for these boards? I've already got some customized preseed files anyway, so making further modifications to the base Ubuntu Server image isn't a big deal. I just don't know what the exact process for adding the microcode would be.

My previous efforts using the example script from https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/x86/microcode.html to add the microcode to initrd weren't successful. But I'm not even sure if that's the correct process, or if there's an easier/better way to do it.

Thanks!

inclusion of the package on the iso is one thing; it is a different thing to build the boot initrd with microcode included. I do not believe that d-i base installation media ever create d-i initrd with microcode included. Thus even if package is included on the ISO it will not be present in the d-i initrd.

Live based isos all should have microcode in the initrd they boot.

Given that the boards are buggy, it's best to download the firmware update from your motherboard manufacturer to update the firmware & cpu microcode of the board itself using like Freedos boot. Then from that point on, all/any boots and installs of anything will at least have working microcode.

Yeah, I knew I'd need to rebuild the initrd to include the microcode vs just including it in the ISO. It would be really nice if Ubuntu's non-live ISOs included the microcode in initrd like the Live ISOs do though.

I'm trying to get a hold of someone from the manufacturer and see if they can update their firmware to address the problem, but no luck so far, unfortunately.

In the meantime I'll give FreeDOS a shot and see if that works. I already know that doing a full Ubuntu Desktop installation fixes it too, but that obviously takes a long time. If FreeDOS works we can probably use that as a work-around for now until (hopefully) the manufacturer addresses their board problem.