VPD Messages Related to Firmware

Yes, these messages are related to the NVMe controller, specifically how it handles VPD (Vital Product Data) access over PCIe. Here’s what they mean and why you’re seeing them:

🔍 Message Explanation

nvme 0000:02:00.0: VPD access failed. This is likely a firmware bug on this device. Contact the card vendor for a firmware update
nvme 0000:02:00.0: failed VPD read at offset 1
  • VPD (Vital Product Data) is optional PCIe config space used to store static information like serial number, part number, and manufacturer info.
  • The kernel attempted to read VPD but failed — likely because the device does not implement it properly, or at all.
  • The Linux kernel logs this as a firmware bug on the device side, not a driver issue.

âś… Is this critical?

  • No, it’s not critical. NVMe devices are not required to support PCI VPD; most use NVMe Identify commands instead.
  • Linux will still detect and use the device normally — this only affects certain system utilities that try to fetch extra data from PCI config space.

🧠 Why is this happening with your device?

  • You’re using a controller from Innogrit (1bcd:0920), and this controller (IG5236) is known to:

    • Work well for high-performance NVMe use.
    • Sometimes lack full support for optional PCIe capabilities, including VPD.
    • Show these warnings on Linux unless the firmware explicitly suppresses the PCI VPD capability or implements it correctly.

âś… Recommended Actions

  1. Ignore if everything else works: If the SSD is functioning normally (I/O performance, SMART info, no disconnects), you can safely ignore this.

  2. Optional: Update SSD firmware:

    • Check the manufacturer’s site (not Innogrit directly — they’re the controller vendor, not the brand).
    • Use the model name (from nvme list) to identify the brand (e.g., Adata, Patriot).
    • Apply firmware updates if available — they sometimes disable broken VPD implementations to suppress this error.

  3. Suppress the warning (not recommended, but possible): You could patch the kernel to suppress VPD reads for specific PCI IDs, but this is rarely necessary.

Let me know your SSD model from nvme list, and I can check if a firmware update is available.

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