Pre-os and runtime sub-os functionality, Computer Engineering

Assignment Help:

In a raw Itanium, a "Processor Abstraction Layer" (PAL) is integrated into the system. When it is booted the PAL is loaded into the CPU and gives a low-level interface that abstracts some instructions and gives a mechanism for processor updates distributed via a BIOS update.

During BIOS initialization an additional layer of code, the "System Abstraction Layer" (SAL) is loaded that gives a uniform API for execution-specific platform functions.

On top of the PAL/SAL interface sits the "Extensible Firmware Interface" (EFI). EFI is not part of the IA-64 architecture but by convention it is needed on all IA-64 systems. It is a easy API for access to logical aspects of the system (display, storage, keyboard, etc) combined with a lightweight runtime environment (same to DOS) that allows basic system administration tasks such as configuring storage adapters, flashing BIOS and running an OS boot-loader.

Once the OS has been booted, some aspects of the PAL/SAL/EFI stack remain resident in memory and can be accessed by the OS to perform low-level tasks that are implementation-dependent on the underlying hardware.


Related Discussions:- Pre-os and runtime sub-os functionality

C++, What are virtual Functions

What are virtual Functions

4bit counter using JK flip flop and unique sequence, Need to build a 4bit J...

Need to build a 4bit JK flip flop counter with a unique patter. 6 4 2 5 3 1 F C B A

Illustrate working of magnetic bubble memories, Q. Illustrate working of Ma...

Q. Illustrate working of Magnetic Bubble Memories? In many materials like garnets on applying magnetic fields certain cylindrical areas whose direction of magnetization is oppo

Instruction set architecture, Question (a) A 500 MHz Pentium III proce...

Question (a) A 500 MHz Pentium III processor takes 2 ms to run a program with 200,000 instructions. A 300 MHz UltraSparc processor takes 1.8 ms to run the same program with 23

What is hashing, What is Hashing? Hashing: Hashing gives the direct acc...

What is Hashing? Hashing: Hashing gives the direct access of record from the file no matter where the record is in the file. This is possible with the help of a hashing functio

Illustrate about the problem statement, Illustrate about the Problem statem...

Illustrate about the Problem statement Problem statement would not be incomplete, inconsistent and ambiguous. Try to state the requirements precisely and point to point. Do no

Describe about data warehouse development life cycle, Data Warehousing 1....

Data Warehousing 1.  With necessary diagram, Describe about Data Warehouse Development Life Cycle. 2. Elucidate Metadata and what is its use in Data Warehouse Architecture?

Explain traditional computer clusters, Q. Explain traditional computer clus...

Q. Explain traditional computer clusters? Grid computing employs resources of a lot of separate computers linked by a network (generally internet) to resolve large-scale comput

Explain COMS inverter, Explain CMOS Inverter with the help of a neat circui...

Explain CMOS Inverter with the help of a neat circuit diagram. Ans: CMOS Inverter: The fundamental CMOS logic circuit is an inverter demonstrated in Fig.(a). For above

First-order logic - artificial intelligence, First-Order Logic We, as h...

First-Order Logic We, as humans, have always prided ourselves on our ability to think things through for this reason things are out and come to the only conclusion possible in

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd