Firmware; User Interface; Event Ids For Errors And Events - HP Integrity Superdome SX1000 User Manual

Firmware

New firmware consists of many components loosely coupled by a single framework. These components are
individually linked binary images that are bound together at run time. Internally, the firmware employs a
software database called a device tree to represent the structure of the hardware platform and to provide a
means of associating software elements with hardware functionality.
The firmware incorporates the following main interfaces:
• Processor Abstraction Layer (PAL)—Provides a seamless firmware abstraction between the processor and
system software and platform firmware.
• System Abstraction Layer (SAL)—Provides a uniform firmware interface and initializes and configures
the platform.
• Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI)—Provides an interface between the operating system and the
platform firmware.
It uses data tables that contain platform-related information; and boot and runtime service calls that are
available to the operating system and its loader to provide a standard environment for booting.
• The Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)—Provides a new standard environment for
configuring and managing server systems.
It moves system configuration and management from the BIOS to the operating system and abstracts the
interface between the platform hardware and the operating system software, thereby allowing each to
evolve independently of the other.
The firmware supports HP-UX 11i v2, Linux, and Windows through the Itanium® Processor Family
standards and extensions and has no operating systems specific functionality included. All operating systems
are presented the same interface to system firmware, and all features are available to the operating system.
One exception to this is that Windows Server 2003, Datacenter does not support the latest ACPI specification
(2.0). The firmware must provide legacy (1.0b) ACPI tables for that operating system. Using the acpiconfig
command, the ACPI tables presented to the operating system are different.
The firmware implements the standard Itanium® Processor Family interfaces with some
implementation-specific enhancements that the operating system can use but is not required to use, such as
Page Deallocation Table reporting, through enhanced SAL_GET_STATE_INFO behavior.

User Interface

Itanium® Processor Family Firmware employs a user interfaces called Pre-OS System Startup Environment
(POSSE). The POSSE shell is based on the EFI standard shell. Several commands have been added to the
standard EFI shell to support Hewlett-Packard value-added functionality. The new commands encompass
functionality similar to BCH commands on PA-RISC machines. However, the POSSE shell is not designed to
encompass all BCH functionality. They are separate and distinct interfaces. Please see the POSSE
specifications for further details.

Event IDs for Errors and Events

The new system firmware generates event IDs, similar to chassis codes, for errors, events, and forward
progress to the MP through common shared memory. The MP interprets, stores, and reflects these event IDs
back to running partitions. This helps in the troubleshooting process.
Chapter 1
Overview
Firmware
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