System Software Overview; System Bios - Penguin Computing Relion 1900e Technical Manual

Relion 1900e/2900e Manual
2.3

System Software Overview

The server board includes an embedded software stack to enable, configure, and support various system
functions. This software stack includes the System BIOS, Baseboard Management Controller (BMC)
Firmware, Management Engine (ME) Firmware, and management support data including Field Replaceable
Unit (FRU) data, and Sensor Data Record (SDR) data.
The system software is pre-programmed on the server board during factory assembly, making the server
board functional at first power on after system integration. Typically, as part of the initial system integration
process, FRU and SDR data will have to be installed onto the server board by the system integrator to ensure
the embedded platform management subsystem is able to provide best performance and cooling for the
final system configuration. It is also not uncommon for the system software stack to be updated to later
revisions to ensure the most reliable system operation.
System updates can be performed in a number of operating environments, including the uEFI Shell using the
uEFI only System Update Package (SUP), or under different operating systems using the Intel One Boot
®
Flash Update Utility (OFU).
2.3.1

System BIOS

The system BIOS is implemented as firmware that resides in flash memory on the server board. The BIOS
provides hardware-specific initialization algorithms and standard compatible basic input/output services,
and standard Intel® Server Board features. The flash memory also contains firmware for certain embedded
devices.
This BIOS implementation is based on the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI), according to the Intel®
Platform Innovation Framework for EFI architecture, as embodied in the industry standards for Unified
Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI).
The implementation is compliant with all Intel® Platform Innovation Framework for EFI architecture
specifications, as further specified in the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface Reference Specification,
Version 2.3.1.
In the UEFI BIOS design, there are three primary components: the BIOS itself, the Human Interface
Infrastructure (HII) that supports communication between the BIOS and external programs, and the Shell
which provides a limited OS-type command-line interface. This BIOS system implementation complies with
HII Version 2.3.1, and includes a Shell.
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