A PGSD / GhostBSD / FreeBSD utility to optimize firmware installation by removing unused firmware packages and reinstalling only what your hardware actually requires.
pg-manage-firmware helps reduce system footprint by intelligently managing firmware packages. It uses FreeBSD's fwget utility to detect hardware requirements, removes unnecessary firmware from managed families, and reinstalls only what your system needs.
- PGSD or FreeBSD or GhostBSD system
- Root privileges (sudo)
pkgpackage managerfwgetfirmware installation tool
- Download the script:
curl -O https://github.com/pgsdf/pg-manage-firmware
# or
wget https://github.com/pgsdf/pg-manage-firmware- Make it executable:
chmod +x pg-manage-firmware- Move to system binary directory (optional):
sudo mv pg-manage-firmware /usr/local/sbin/# Preview what would be changed (recommended first step)
sudo pg-manage-firmware --dry-run
# Execute firmware optimization
sudo pg-manage-firmware
# Run with detailed logging
sudo pg-manage-firmware --verbose| Option | Description |
|---|---|
--dry-run |
Show what would be changed without modifying the system |
--verbose, -v |
Enable verbose output and detailed logging |
--help, -h |
Display help message and exit |
When executed, pg-manage-firmware performs the following steps:
- Hardware Analysis: Queries
fwgetto identify required firmware - Current State: Lists currently installed managed firmware packages
- User Confirmation: Prompts for confirmation before making changes
- Backup Creation: Creates timestamped backup of package list
- Package Removal: Removes managed firmware packages
- Database Check: Verifies package database integrity
- Firmware Installation: Runs
fwgetto install required firmware - Verification: Confirms installation success
- Summary: Displays before/after statistics
sudo pg-manage-firmware --dry-runOutput:
Step 1: Hardware Firmware Requirements (fwget analysis)
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
intel-firmware-kmod
wifi-firmware-iwlwifi-kmod
→ 2 firmware package(s) needed for current hardware
Step 2: Currently Installed Managed Firmware
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
gpu-firmware-amd-kmod-20240101
gpu-firmware-radeon-kmod-20240101
intel-firmware-kmod
wifi-firmware-iwlwifi-kmod
wifi-firmware-rtlwifi-kmod
→ 5 managed firmware package(s) currently installed
[DRY RUN MODE - No changes will be made]
Would execute:
1. Create backup of current package list
2. Remove 5 firmware package(s)
3. Verify package database integrity
4. Run 'fwget' to reinstall hardware-required firmware
5. Verify firmware installation
sudo pg-manage-firmwareThe script will:
- Show hardware requirements
- List current firmware packages
- Ask for confirmation
- Remove unnecessary firmware
- Reinstall required firmware
- Display summary
sudo pg-manage-firmware --verboseProvides detailed output including:
- Tool availability checks
- Package query operations
- Backup creation status
- Database verification results
- All operations logged to
/var/log/pg-manage-firmware.log
When running over SSH, the script:
- Detects SSH connections via
$SSH_TTYor$SSH_CONNECTION - Displays prominent warning about potential connectivity loss
- Prompts for explicit confirmation to continue
- Refuses to run non-interactively over SSH
- Creates timestamped backup of package list before removal
- Stores backups in
/var/tmp/pg-manage-firmware-backup-<timestamp>.txt - Displays backup location in error messages
- Allows manual recovery if needed
- Validates tool availability before execution
- Checks root privileges
- Verifies package database integrity
- Provides detailed error messages
- Logs all operations for troubleshooting
| Path | Description |
|---|---|
/var/log/pg-manage-firmware.log |
Operation log file |
/var/tmp/pg-manage-firmware-backup-*.txt |
Package list backups |
If fwget reports no firmware requirements:
# Run fwget manually with verbose output
sudo fwget -v- Check the backup file location in error message
- Verify package database:
sudo pkg check -dRun fwget manually for detailed diagnostics:
sudo fwget -vIf you need to restore the previous state:
# Find your backup
ls -lt /var/tmp/pg-manage-firmware-backup-*.txt | head -1
# Reinstall packages from backup
sudo xargs pkg install -y < /var/tmp/pg-manage-firmware-backup-<timestamp>.txtAll operations are logged to /var/log/pg-manage-firmware.log including:
- Execution start/completion timestamps
- Detected firmware requirements
- Package removal operations
- Installation results
- Error messages
View recent log entries:
sudo tail -50 /var/log/pg-manage-firmware.log- Always use --dry-run first to preview changes
- Run from local console when possible, especially on laptops
- Ensure alternative access (IPMI, physical access) before running over SSH
- Keep backups - don't delete backup files immediately after execution
- Review logs after execution to confirm success
- Reboot if needed - some firmware requires reboot to activate
BSD 2-Clause License
Copyright (c) 2025, Pacific Grove Software Distribution Foundation
Author: Vester (Vic) Thacker
All rights reserved.
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
-
Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
-
Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.