Firmware; Processor Abstraction Layer (Pal); System Abstraction Layer (Sal); Extensible Firmware Interface (Efi) - Fujitsu PRIMEQUEST 480 System Design Manual

CHAPTER 3 General Software Configuration
3.1

Firmware

This section describes the different types of PRIMEQUEST firmware.
3.1.1

Processor Abstraction Layer (PAL)

PAL is part of the Itanium architecture, and it abstracts the functions unique to IPF
CPU hardware to higher layers.
PAL encapsulates processor functions that may vary from one IPF CPU to another. It
gives a consistent view of the hardware to SAL and the OS, which are located on a
higher layer.
The PAL functions include diagnosis, initialization, and error processing of the CPU
hardware.
3.1.2

System Abstraction Layer (SAL)

SAL is firmware that abstracts the platform and provides the OS with the specified
interface.
The SAL functions include diagnosis and initialization of the PRIMEQUEST
platform including ASIC and memory configuration control.
3.1.3

Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI)

EFI is PRIMEQUEST boot firmware.
EFI provides a boot environment that is not dependent on any platform for an OS such
as Linux and Windows Server.
The EFI functions include loading EFI drivers, diagnosis and initialization of the OS
memory area, write/read diagnosis of I/O registers, boot device selection, and setting
the order of boot devices.
3.1.4

BMC firmware

BMC firmware is incorporated in each IO_Unit. BMC firmware manages the
IO_Unit configuration, and monitors and controls hardware in mounted units.
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