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 model, What is model?  A universe together with an assignment o...

What is model?  A universe together with an assignment of relations to relation symbol is known as a model.  A model M is a tuple (U, P1, P2..Pk), where U is the universe and P

Explain multithreading in a programming language, Multithreading is the pro...

Multithreading is the process in which more than single thread run independent of each other within the process in any programming language such as C, C++, etc.

What is graceful degradation, What is graceful degradation? In multipro...

What is graceful degradation? In multiprocessor systems, failure of one processor will not halt the system, but only slow it down by sharing the work of failure system by other

Illustrate about compact disk rewritable, Q. Illustrate about Compact Disk ...

Q. Illustrate about Compact Disk Rewritable? CD-RW optical disk can be repeatedly written and overwritten same as with a magnetic disk. Even though a number of techniques have

What is the necessity of an interface, What is the necessity of an interfac...

What is the necessity of an interface?  Any device that has to be linked to a CPU requires an interface. This takes care of the mismatch in speed, data and electrical character

Returns information about present virtual machine, Q. Returns information a...

Q. Returns information about present virtual machine? int pvm_parent( void ) Returns the tid of process which spawned the calling process.  int pvm_tidtohost(

Write examples of declarations of external variables, Examples of declarati...

Examples of declarations of external variables  that  are  not definitions: extern char stack[10]; extern int stkptr; These declarations tell the compiler that the variab

Show the divide and conquer approach, Q. Show the Divide and Conquer approa...

Q. Show the Divide and Conquer approach? Divide and Conquer approach is the way of making a complicated problem easier.  In this approach larger problem (System) is divided int

What is the meaining of action implementing instruction, Action implementin...

Action implementing instruction's meaning are a actually carried out by ? Ans. By instruction execution, the meaning of action implementing instruction is actually carried out.

Explain compiler, What is compiler? A system software program known as ...

What is compiler? A system software program known as a compiler translates the high-level language program into a suitable machine language program having instruction such as t

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