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

What is the functionality of remote login, What is the functionality of Rem...

What is the functionality of Remote Login? Remote Login gives similar functionality of telnet, along with the added functionality of not involving a password from trusted cli

Describe the external users of system, Q. Describe the External Users of sy...

Q. Describe the External Users of system? External Users: Modern information systems are now reaching beyond the boundaries of traditional business to involve customers and o

What is turnaround time, What is turnaround time? Turnaround time is th...

What is turnaround time? Turnaround time is the interval from the time of submission to the time of completion of a process. It is the sum of the periods spent waiting to get i

Targeting for new business, Assume you own your own small party supply and ...

Assume you own your own small party supply and rental business. You keep an Excel list of potential customers and clients who have rented or purchased from you in the past 2 years.

How are devices represented in unix, How are devices represented in UNIX? ...

How are devices represented in UNIX? All devices are shown by files called special files that are located in /dev directory. Therefore, device files and other files are named a

Mutation - canonical genetic algorithm, Mutation: However it may appea...

Mutation: However it may appear that the above recombinations are a little arbitrary that especially as points defining whether crossover and inversion occur are chosen random

What is memory controller, What is memory controller? A memory controll...

What is memory controller? A memory controller is a circuit which is interposed among the processor and the dynamic memory. It is used for performing multiplexing of address bi

What are the components of i-way infrastructure, What are the components of...

What are the components of I-way Infrastructure? There are three components of the I-way infrastructure: • Consumer access equipment • Local on-Ramps • Global informat

What is hit and hit rate , What is hit? A successful access to data in ...

What is hit? A successful access to data in cache memory is known as hit. Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X-NONE X-NONE

What is meant by context switch, What is meant by context switch?  Swit...

What is meant by context switch?  Switching the CPU to another process requires saving the state of the old process and loading the saved state for the new process. This task i

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