mlxarchive – Binary Files Compression Tool
mlxarchive is not installed by default, and requires installing MFT with the --oem option.
The mlxarchive tool allows the user to create a file with the MFA2 extension. The new file contains several binary files of a given firmware for different adapter cards.
mlxarchive accepts the following attributes as its input:
- --bins-dir - The path to a folder with the binary files that will be included in the MFA2 file 
- --version - The MFA2 file’s version 
- --out-file - The output of the mlxarchive file (MFA2 file) 
- -m|--mfa2-file mfa2_file - MFA2 file to parse 
Example:
            
            mlxarchive --bins-dir /full/path/to/bin/directory/ --version 1.1.1 --out-file out.mfa2 mlxarchive --mfa2-file out.mfa2
Creation Time  : 2019-09-18 08:35:43
Devices	2
PSID	: <…>
Num of Images	1
Index	0
Version : 10.16.1200
Date   : 2019-09-18 08:35:43 PSID	: <…>
Num of Images	1
Index	1
Version : 10.16.1200
Date	: 2019-09-18 08:35:43
    
            
            [--help] [--version version] [--out-file out_file] [--bins-dir bins_dir] [-m|--mfa2-file mfa2_file]
    
where:
| --help | Shows the help message and exit | 
| --version version | MFA2’s version in the following format: x.x.x | 
| --out-file out_file | The output file | 
| -bins-dir bins_dir | The directory with the binaries files | 
| -m|--mfa2-file mfa2_file | Mfa2 file to parse | 
The .mfa2 file can be used with ethtool to burn adapter cards firmware. The procedure is described in Updating Firmware Using ethtool/devlink and .mfa2 File section.