UEFI Firmware upgrade failing constantly

Accelerated Computing DGX Spark / GB10 User Forum DGX Spark / GB10
1

Hi!

I constantly get to see “Update available!” but it simply doesn’t work.

$ fwupdmgr get-history
NVIDIA NVIDIA_DGX_Spark
│
├─Embedded Controller:
│ │   Device ID:          8c948e1db381648c8893897e4d09b7b153309991
│ │   Previous version:   0x00000001
│ │   Update State:       Success
│ │   Last modified:      2026-05-05 19:21
│ │   GUID:               3d13c989-e6a8-4ead-95ee-921f09868f65
│ │   Device Flags:       • Internal device
│ │                       • Updatable
│ │                       • System requires external power source
│ │                       • Supported on remote server
│ │                       • Needs a reboot after installation
│ │                       • Reported to remote server
│ │                       • Device is usable for the duration of the update
│ │                       • Signed Payload
│ │
│ └─DGX Spark EC FW Embedded Controller Update:
│       New version:      0x03000302
│       Remote ID:        lvfs
│       Release ID:       139394
│       Summary:          DGX Spark Embedded Controller Firmware Update
│       License:          Proprietary
│       Size:             519,3 KB
│       Created:          2026-04-02
│       Urgency:          High
│       Tested by NVIDIA:
│         Tested:         2026-04-10
│         Distribution:   ubuntu 24.04
│         Old version:    0x02004b03
│         Version[fwupd]: 1.9.34
│       Vendor:           NVIDIA
│       Duration:         30 seconds
│       Release Flags:    • Trusted metadata
│                         • Tested by trusted vendor
│       Description:
│       This update improves the performance and stability of the Embedded Controller in DGX Spark
│       Checksum:         49331b349e0605909a4d3ef63c188e595fd923340fb79dfbd8495921848c0106
│
├─UEFI Device Firmware:
│ │   Device ID:          0681fd3882fb4fdca996e412ec249365f6e85838
│ │   Previous version:   0x00000001
│ │   Update State:       Success
│ │   Last modified:      2026-05-05 19:21
│ │   GUID:               b488217b-3895-4fc0-b1bf-ab7005a2d45a
│ │   Device Flags:       • Internal device
│ │                       • Updatable
│ │                       • System requires external power source
│ │                       • Supported on remote server
│ │                       • Needs a reboot after installation
│ │                       • Reported to remote server
│ │                       • Device is usable for the duration of the update
│ │                       • Signed Payload
│ │
│ └─DGX Spark SoC FW System Update:
│       New version:      0x0200980f
│       Remote ID:        lvfs
│       Release ID:       139396
│       Summary:          DGX Spark SoC Firmware Update
│       License:          Proprietary
│       Size:             30,4 MB
│       Created:          2026-04-02
│       Urgency:          High
│       Tested by NVIDIA:
│         Tested:         2026-04-28
│         Distribution:   ubuntu 24.04
│         Old version:    0x0200941b
│         Version[fwupd]: 1.9.33
│       Tested by NVIDIA:
│         Tested:         2026-04-15
│         Distribution:   ubuntu 24.04
│         Old version:    0x0200941a
│         Version[fwupd]: 1.9.34
│       Tested by NVIDIA:
│         Tested:         2026-04-10
│         Distribution:   ubuntu 24.04
│         Old version:    0x02009009
│         Version[fwupd]: 1.9.34
│       Vendor:           NVIDIA
│       Duration:         30 seconds
│       Release Flags:    • Trusted metadata
│                         • Tested by trusted vendor
│       Description:
│       This update improves the performance and stability of the System-on-Chip Firmware including UEFI and GPU in DGX Spark
│       Checksum:         6ee8bd62c9c6b96a3d45fe8d3ba4ef8e98eb577427d00eb486bf7293b2ef75cc
│
└─UEFI Device Firmware:
│   Device ID:          a6c6b7f79c96a1cc84d9612d804675e0c3d879c4
│   Previous version:   0x00000507
│   Update State:       Failed
│   Update Error:       failed to run update on reboot: expected 0x00000516 and got 0x00000507
│   Last modified:      2026-05-09 23:21
│   GUID:               dd1a238a-5f8e-46bd-9401-a88da99c5a96
│   Device Flags:       • Internal device
│                       • Updatable
│                       • System requires external power source
│                       • Supported on remote server
│                       • Needs a reboot after installation
│                       • Device is usable for the duration of the update
│                       • Signed Payload
│
└─DGX Spark USB-C PD FW Controller Update:
New version:      0x00000516
Remote ID:        lvfs
Release ID:       136899
Summary:          DGX Spark USB-C Power Delivery Controller Firmware Update
License:          Proprietary
Size:             1,1 MB
Created:          2026-02-19
Urgency:          High
Tested by NVIDIA:
Tested:         2026-04-28
Distribution:   ubuntu 24.04
Old version:    0x00000507
Version[fwupd]: 1.9.33
Tested by NVIDIA:
Tested:         2026-04-15
Distribution:   ubuntu 24.04
Old version:    0x00000507
Version[fwupd]: 1.9.34
Tested by NVIDIA:
Tested:         2026-04-10
Distribution:   ubuntu 24.04
Old version:    0x00000500
Version[fwupd]: 1.9.34
Vendor:           NVIDIA
Duration:         30 seconds
Release Flags:    • Trusted metadata
• Is upgrade
• Tested by trusted vendor
Description:
This update improves the performance and stability of the USB Power Delivery Controller in DGX Spark for USB-C Ports
Checksum:         67b78ec42481411977b8f90eb1e8dc29ba5e536da87bce54113f736f9b17b9ca




$ sudo dmidecode -t 45 | egrep -A4 “EC|PD|UEFI|FLASH”
Firmware Component Name: FLASH
Firmware Version: SBP:R:2.152.15
Firmware ID: Not Specified
Release Date: Not Specified
Manufacturer: Not Specified

    Firmware Component Name: UEFI
    Firmware Version: R:1.108.20
    Firmware ID: Not Specified
    Release Date: Not Specified
    Manufacturer: Not Specified

–
Firmware Component Name: EC Firmware
Firmware Version: 3.3.2
Firmware ID: Not Specified
Release Date: Not Specified
Manufacturer: Not Specified

    Firmware Component Name: PD Firmware
    Firmware Version: PD0 FW1: 5.22, FW2: 5.22
    Firmware ID: Not Specified
    Release Date: Not Specified
    Manufacturer: Not Specified
    Lowest Supported Firmware Version: Not Specified

–
Firmware Component Name: PD Firmware
Firmware Version: PD1 FW1: 5.22, FW2: 5.22
Firmware ID: Not Specified
Release Date: Not Specified
Manufacturer: Not Specified
Lowest Supported Firmware Version: Not Specified

Does anybody now how to fix this?

Regards,

Holger

3

Did you try the GUI app just in case? Should be just a couple of clicks and a reboot (might take a while, last one took like 12 mins for me)

5

I open NVIDIA sync on spark desktop and click Updates. My PD Firmware is 5.7

Have you tried the obvious thing – ‘turn it off and on again’? ;)

For comparison

whpthomas@dgx-spark:~$ sudo dmidecode -t 45 | egrep -A4 "EC|PD|UEFI|FLASH"
	Firmware Component Name: FLASH
	Firmware Version: SBP:R:2.152.15
	Firmware ID: Not Specified
	Release Date: Not Specified
	Manufacturer: Not Specified
--
	Firmware Component Name: UEFI
	Firmware Version: R:1.108.20
	Firmware ID: Not Specified
	Release Date: Not Specified
	Manufacturer: Not Specified
--
	Firmware Component Name: EC Firmware
	Firmware Version: 3.3.2
	Firmware ID: Not Specified
	Release Date: Not Specified
	Manufacturer: Not Specified
--
	Firmware Component Name: PD Firmware
	Firmware Version: PD0 FW1: 5.7, FW2: 5.22
	Firmware ID: Not Specified
	Release Date: Not Specified
	Manufacturer: Not Specified
	Lowest Supported Firmware Version: Not Specified
--
	Firmware Component Name: PD Firmware
	Firmware Version: PD1 FW1: 5.7, FW2: 5.22
	Firmware ID: Not Specified
	Release Date: Not Specified
	Manufacturer: Not Specified
	Lowest Supported Firmware Version: Not Specified

fwupdmgr get-history
NVIDIA NVIDIA_DGX_Spark
│
├─Embedded Controller:
│ │   Device ID:          8c948e1db381648c8893897e4d09b7b153309991
│ │   Previous version:   0x02004e18
│ │   Update State:       Success
│ │   Last modified:      2026-04-29 15:28
│ │   GUID:               3d13c989-e6a8-4ead-95ee-921f09868f65
│ │   Device Flags:       • Internal device
│ │                       • Updatable
│ │                       • System requires external power source
│ │                       • Supported on remote server
│ │                       • Needs a reboot after installation
│ │                       • Device is usable for the duration of the update
│ │                       • Signed Payload
│ │ 
│ └─DGX Spark EC FW Embedded Controller Update:
│       New version:      0x03000302
│       Remote ID:        lvfs
│       Release ID:       139394
│       Summary:          DGX Spark Embedded Controller Firmware Update
│       License:          Proprietary
│       Size:             519.3 kB
│       Created:          2026-04-02
│       Urgency:          High
│       Tested by NVIDIA:
│         Tested:         2026-04-10
│         Distribution:   ubuntu 24.04
│         Old version:    0x02004b03
│         Version[fwupd]: 1.9.34
│       Vendor:           NVIDIA
│       Duration:         30 seconds
│       Release Flags:    • Trusted metadata
│                         • Tested by trusted vendor
│       Description:      
│       This update improves the performance and stability of the Embedded Controller in DGX Spark
│       Checksum:         49331b349e0605909a4d3ef63c188e595fd923340fb79dfbd8495921848c0106
│     
├─UEFI Device Firmware:
│ │   Device ID:          0681fd3882fb4fdca996e412ec249365f6e85838
│ │   Previous version:   0x0200941a
│ │   Update State:       Success
│ │   Last modified:      2026-04-29 15:29
│ │   GUID:               b488217b-3895-4fc0-b1bf-ab7005a2d45a
│ │   Device Flags:       • Internal device
│ │                       • Updatable
│ │                       • System requires external power source
│ │                       • Supported on remote server
│ │                       • Needs a reboot after installation
│ │                       • Device is usable for the duration of the update
│ │                       • Signed Payload
│ │ 
│ └─DGX Spark SoC FW System Update:
│       New version:      0x0200980f
│       Remote ID:        lvfs
│       Release ID:       139396
│       Summary:          DGX Spark SoC Firmware Update
│       License:          Proprietary
│       Size:             30.4 MB
│       Created:          2026-04-02
│       Urgency:          High
│       Tested by NVIDIA:
│         Tested:         2026-04-28
│         Distribution:   ubuntu 24.04
│         Old version:    0x0200941b
│         Version[fwupd]: 1.9.33
│       Tested by NVIDIA:
│         Tested:         2026-04-15
│         Distribution:   ubuntu 24.04
│         Old version:    0x0200941a
│         Version[fwupd]: 1.9.34
│       Tested by NVIDIA:
│         Tested:         2026-04-10
│         Distribution:   ubuntu 24.04
│         Old version:    0x02009009
│         Version[fwupd]: 1.9.34
│       Vendor:           NVIDIA
│       Duration:         30 seconds
│       Release Flags:    • Trusted metadata
│                         • Tested by trusted vendor
│       Description:      
│       This update improves the performance and stability of the System-on-Chip Firmware including UEFI and GPU in DGX Spark
│       Checksum:         6ee8bd62c9c6b96a3d45fe8d3ba4ef8e98eb577427d00eb486bf7293b2ef75cc
│     
└─UEFI Device Firmware:
  │   Device ID:          a6c6b7f79c96a1cc84d9612d804675e0c3d879c4
  │   Previous version:   0x00000507
  │   Update State:       Success
  │   Last modified:      2026-04-29 15:29
  │   GUID:               dd1a238a-5f8e-46bd-9401-a88da99c5a96
  │   Device Flags:       • Internal device
  │                       • Updatable
  │                       • System requires external power source
  │                       • Supported on remote server
  │                       • Needs a reboot after installation
  │                       • Device is usable for the duration of the update
  │                       • Signed Payload
  │ 
  └─DGX Spark USB-C PD FW Controller Update:
        New version:      0x00000516
        Remote ID:        lvfs
        Release ID:       136899
        Summary:          DGX Spark USB-C Power Delivery Controller Firmware Update
        License:          Proprietary
        Size:             1.1 MB
        Created:          2026-02-19
        Urgency:          High
        Tested by NVIDIA:
          Tested:         2026-04-28
          Distribution:   ubuntu 24.04
          Old version:    0x00000507
          Version[fwupd]: 1.9.33
        Tested by NVIDIA:
          Tested:         2026-04-15
          Distribution:   ubuntu 24.04
          Old version:    0x00000507
          Version[fwupd]: 1.9.34
        Tested by NVIDIA:
          Tested:         2026-04-10
          Distribution:   ubuntu 24.04
          Old version:    0x00000500
          Version[fwupd]: 1.9.34
        Vendor:           NVIDIA
        Duration:         30 seconds
        Release Flags:    • Trusted metadata
                          • Tested by trusted vendor
        Description:      
        This update improves the performance and stability of the USB Power Delivery Controller in DGX Spark for USB-C Ports
        Checksum:         67b78ec42481411977b8f90eb1e8dc29ba5e536da87bce54113f736f9b17b9ca
6

I had to use the command line and specify the device I wanted upgraded

sudo fwupdmgr install

7

Do you mean “reboot” or real power off? Reboot for sure, no poweroff. I’ll try that.

8

I am not as familiar as maybe you with this command, I tried and it did something, rebooted and everything was exactly like it was before. Sadly, I only have access via SSH atm, maybe I should get a real display and have a look.

9

Yeah, I have seperate screen (right), and second keyboard an mouse. I plan to get a kvm switch at some point, but for now this setup works fine and I had all this spare gear sitting around so I made use of it.

spark-setup
spark-setup1920×1440 722 KB

10

@whpthomas what is the mike for? Are you podcasting about LLMs on Sparks? If you do post a link to your podcasts please.

11

I have a studio for that. At my desk I run concurrent tasks and talk to them a lot of the time. I am pretty fast at typing, but talking seems to activate weights better in the models. They follow instructions better when the instructions use conversational language - in my expreience. My typing is more K&R in style.

Working on a video series on applied AI research right now.

12

I am having a similar issue.

image
image1122×400 33.6 KB

I am essentially “eternally” stuck on an install, reboot, faill → install, reboot, fail.

In my case, the hardware is the Acer Veriton GN100.

Here is the output of some commands.

01:

image
image681×765 86.9 KB



sudo dmidecode -t 45 | egrep -A4 "EC|PD|UEFI|FLASH"
Firmware Component Name: FLASH
Firmware Version: SBP:R:2.152.15
Firmware ID: Not Specified
Release Date: Not Specified
Manufacturer: Not Specified

Firmware Component Name: UEFI
Firmware Version: OEM_UEFI_0.0.7
Firmware ID: Not Specified
Release Date: Not Specified
Manufacturer: Not Specified
Lowest Supported Firmware Version: Not Specified

--
Firmware Component Name: EC Firmware
Firmware Version: 3.3.2
Firmware ID: Not Specified
Release Date: Not Specified
Manufacturer: Not Specified

Firmware Component Name: PD Firmware
Firmware Version: PD0 FW1: 0.0, FW2: 0.0
Firmware ID: Not Specified
Release Date: Not Specified
Manufacturer: Not Specified
Lowest Supported Firmware Version: Not Specified

--
Firmware Component Name: PD Firmware
Firmware Version: PD1 FW1: 0.0, FW2: 0.0
Firmware ID: Not Specified
Release Date: Not Specified
Manufacturer: Not Specified
Lowest Supported Firmware Version: Not Specified

Here is the second one.



fwupdmgr get-history
Acer Inc. Acer Veriton GN100
│
└─UEFI Device Firmware:
│   Device ID:          dcd45413520a4ca3b41f7eead7e5d374e2706838
│   Previous version:   0x00000500
│   Update State:       Needs reboot
│   Problems:           • An update is in progress
│   Last modified:      2026-06-12 00:29:09
│   GUID:               f176513a-2db2-4894-9975-5ef061e7ba4e
│   Device Flags:       • Internal device
│                       • System requires external power source
│                       • Supported on remote server
│                       • Needs a reboot after installation
│                       • Device is usable for the duration of the update
│                       • Updatable
│                       • Signed Payload
│
└─Veriton GN100 USB-C PD FW Controller Update:
New version:      0x00000516
Remote ID:        lvfs
Release ID:       141927
Summary:          Veriton GN100 USB-C PD FW Firmware Update
License:          Proprietary
Size:             1.1 MB
Created:          2026-05-18 00:00:00
Urgency:          High
Tested:         2026-06-08 00:00:00
Distribution:   ubuntu 24.04
Old version:    0x00000500
Version[fwupd]: 1.9.34
Vendor:           Acer
Duration:         30 seconds
Release Flags:    • Trusted payload
• Trusted metadata
Description:
This update improves the performance and stability of the USB Power Delivery Controller in Veriton GN100 for USB-C Ports.
Checksum:         1934597fd993e066669b27d8638f0a87d48720e218f28f779028d3760a995a61

Recommendation from gemini 3.5 flash:

The problem you are experiencing is a known issue on the NVIDIA DGX Spark (specifically the Acer Veriton GN100 variant) where firmware updates triggered through the DGX Dashboard GUI loop indefinitely or fail to properly stick after a reboot.

Your fwupdmgr get-history log confirms exactly what is stuck: the Veriton GN100 USB-C PD (Power Delivery) FW Controller Update attempting to move from 0x00000500 to 0x00000516 is stuck in a pending "Update State: Needs reboot" loops. Because the GUI dashboard layer fails to handle the post-reboot orchestration for this specific component cleanly, it keeps prompting you to install it over and over.

The most effective way to break this loop and successfully flash the update is to bypass the GUI completely and apply the update directly via the command line using fwupdmgr with elevated privileges.

Step-by-Step Resolution

  1. Clear and Refresh the Update Metadata Open your terminal on the DGX Spark and force a fresh metadata synchronization to clear out any corrupted or incomplete cached package states:

    Bash

    sudo fwupdmgr refresh --force

  2. Trigger the Upgrade Manually Run the upgrade command directly from the command-line interface. This explicitly passes execution control to the system’s firmware update daemon rather than the dashboard wrapper:

    Bash

    sudo fwupdmgr upgrade

    During this process, the terminal will prompt you with a confirmation banner asking to apply the Veriton GN100 USB-C PD FW Controller Update. Press Y to confirm.

  3. Reboot the Hardware Correctly Once the terminal states that the update successfully staged and requires a reboot, initiate a clean restart:

    Bash

    sudo reboot

  4. Verify the Installation After the system boots back up, log back into your terminal and verify that the active Power Delivery (PD) bank has properly updated by running:

    Bash

    fwupdmgr get-devices

    Look for the UEFI Device Firmware entry or USB-C PD Controller. The current version should now reflect 0x00000516 (or read as up-to-date), and it should completely disappear from your available updates list inside the DGX Dashboard.

According to gemini this should be safe enough.

quote:

Yes, this approach is fully safe and is actually the standard, robust way to apply firmware updates on Linux-based workstations.

When you use the command line via fwupdmgr, you aren’t doing anything risky or unofficial. You are simply using the underlying system tool (fwupd) directly, instead of letting a graphical dashboard handle it for you.

Here is exactly why this method is safe and why the GUI loop happens:

Why the Command Line is Safer Here

  • It uses the same signed payloads: fwupdmgr pulls the exact same cryptographically signed, vendor-approved firmware binaries from the Linux Vendor Firmware Service (LVFS) that your GUI dashboard uses. There is no risk of installing the “wrong” or unverified code.

  • Safer error handling: When the GUI tells the system to update, it passes the task off to a background process. If a specific component (like this USB-C Power Delivery controller) requires a very precise state to flash upon reboot, the GUI wrapper often fails to track it properly, causing it to think the update never happened and prompting you again. The command line talks directly to the system daemon, ensuring the update sequence is registered correctly by the bootloader.

Important Safeguards to Keep in Mind

While the command-line method is completely standard, flashing firmware always carries a baseline requirement for stability. To guarantee a 100% safe execution, just ensure the following before running the commands:

  • Do not interrupt power: Ensure the workstation is securely plugged in and will not be turned off or unplugged while the update is staging or while the machine is rebooting.

  • Disconnect external USB-C devices: Because this specific update targets the USB-C Power Delivery Controller, it is highly recommended to unplug any external USB-C monitors, docks, or high-draw devices from the workstation’s Type-C ports before you reboot. Leaving them attached can sometimes prevent the PD controller from entering its flashing mode cleanly.

Once the reboot completes and the system updates the controller’s internal registers, the dashboard loop will resolve safely.

13

Created a support request for acer:
https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/738669/acer-inc-acer-veriton-gn100-uefi-device-firmware-0x00000516-eternal-loop/p1?new=1

14

i was about to buy an acer gb10 box but decided to check out if i’d be exposed to acer’s update schedule

Can I ask the acer owners if there has been a firmware update that has ever worked in the past? I don’t see any listed on acer website for firmware for veriton box

OR is it just the PD update firmware image referenced in this thread not working on acer?

concerning there’s no reply from acer on their forums about a firmware blockage that appears to affect all of their units over a week later- or am i wrong in saying its all?

Thank you and good luck

15

I was able to update the PD firmware on both of my Acer GN100 units. Interestingly one worked fine automatically while the other caused loops like those described in this thread.

For me, the fix was to do a complete poweroff of the system (including unplugging from USB power). After this step, the firmware applied successfully (matches my other unit that did not loop). Long story short, I’d definitely try going beyond rebooting and doing full power downs coupled with the fwupdmgr process.