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RX2600 consoles
Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI)
console
• EFI is the standard console for all IA64 systems,
regardless of hardware vendor
• Each vendor can provide unique customizations
• Used to boot the system
• Interfaces with the operation system via PAL, SAL and
EFI runtime services
• Provides both a menu and command line interface
• Code is stored in flash ROM and optional FAT partition
• EFI console is an open programming environment
– Intel publishes the source code and tool kit
– Intel transitioning EFI to SIG group, similar to PCI
SIG
• EFI will eventfully replace BIOS on IA32 systems
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RX2600 consoles
VMS_LOADER.EFI
• EFI application, built using MS Visual Studio with:
– IA-64 cross compilers
– EFI tool kit provided my Intel
– MS linker produces P/COFF image format
• Runs in Physical Address mode as a console command
• Implements functionality of SRM BOOT command:
– Initializes HWRPB structure
– Creates bootstrap Virtual Address using translation
registers
– Loads IPB.EXE (ELF-format image)
– Shuts down the EFI console with ExitBootServices()
– Transfers to IPB in Virtual Address mode, via RFI
instruction
