Common Layers; Raid Firmware - Intel SRCS14L - RAID Controller User Manual

Intel® Integrated RAID Controller SRCS14L
3.1.3

Common Layers

3.1.3.1 PCI BIOS
The PCI BIOS is the Expansion ROM software as defined in the PCI specification. It performs
IIR initialization from host system memory during POST.
3.1.3.2 IIR API
The IIR API is a C++ class library consisting of OS-independent classes and methods. This layer
encapsulates sequences of lower level C library API functions and builds OS independent data
structures used for communicating with the HBA. This API relies on an OS dependent layer that
communicates with the local driver (if one is present) or a remote driver via the TCP/IP or IPX/
SPX network protocol.
3.1.3.3 Operating System Driver
The IIR device driver is the OS specific driver that communicates between the host resident
application and the IIR HBA using the IIR communications protocol.
3.1.3.4 RAID Configuration Service
The IIR Service / IIRD allows remote access to the IIR HBA. It runs as a service on Windows-
based systems and as a daemon on Unix-based systems. In order to use the remote access
capability, an administrator has to create user accounts. The passwords for these accounts are
encrypted for security.
3.1.4

RAID Firmware

The IIR firmware is composed of multiple software layers allowing for maximum flexibility, re-
use and maintainability. At the highest level is a host interface abstraction layer in the common
firmware that is also composed of multiple internal layers of service and library modules.
The I/O Device pictured next to the firmware
Diagram) also communicates over an abstraction layer allowing for elegant integration of multiple
I/O device types from different vendors.
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(Figure 4: RAID Software Stack Architecture Block
Technical Product Specification