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"Could not Initialize USB Interface" Error When Updating System’s Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) with the Flashupdt Utility

Content Type: Troubleshooting   |   Article ID: 000090360   |   Last Reviewed: 09/03/2026

Environment

Linux* OS distribution

Description

When running a Linux* distribution and updating a system's BMC with the flashupdt utility, you may see the following error:

One Boot Flash Update Utility Version 14.1 Build 28
Copyright (c) 2021 Intel Corporation

 

Update file Configuration: XXX S2600WF0:S2600WFC:S2600WFD:S2600WFQ:S2600WFS:S2600WFT:S2600WFV,1.0
Entering BMC Update Mode...
Using USB Interface...
Could not Initialize USB Interface...
Using KCS Interface...
Transferring BMC Firmware Image:
4%

Resolution

Look in /etc/modprobe.d/  for any .conf file containing install vfat /bin/true and comment out that line to allow the BMC to create its vfat for updating purposes.

Additional information

To resolve the "Could not Initialize USB Interface" error, follow these steps:

1. Search /etc/modprobe.d/ for any .conf file containing the install vfat /bin/true directive:
grep -r "install vfat" /etc/modprobe.d/

2. Open the identified .conf file in a text editor and comment out the line by adding a # character at the beginning:
# install vfat /bin/true

3. Save the file.

4. Reload the modprobe configuration or restart the system:
sudo depmod -a

5. Re-run the flashupdt utility and verify that the USB interface initializes successfully without the error.

6. After completing the BMC firmware update, you may re-enable the vfat restriction by removing the # comment character if required by your system's security hardening policy.

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This article applies to 79 products.

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