Whether it's a short boot up time, tight software security or custom self-test that is required, engineers will be able to configure exactly what they need much more easily than before. BIOS developers can produce working prototypes in days, and finish deployments in weeks, thanks to the new core's configuration management that uses intuitive descriptive methods and procedures to build the BIOS image rather than assembly language directives that have been the standard approach to-date.
While assembly code is still used for fine detailed control over the configuration, objects like ACPI, MP, and PCI tables are automatically constructed, as are Setup screens and their fields, based on descriptions of the target entered by the developer. With much less assembly code to control, OEM customers can achieve results much earlier in the development process while at the same time reduce the amount of BIOS code that must be adapted manually. Being able to develop at the functional module level rather than at code level for individual components, it greatly simplifies and shortens the system validation stage of the project.
Embedded BIOS 2000 also has the right business model for embedded. Unlike desktop PC BIOSes, Embedded BIOS 2000 has been designed for embedded ODMs and OEMs, who have completely different volume, lifecycle, and support requirements than PC OEMs. Embedded BIOS 2000 is also the right choice from a business perspective .
Product Overview
Embedded BIOS 2000 is an OEM-configurable firmware layer that provides the essential functions needed by operating systems and applications for PC-compatible embedded systems, consumer electronics, telecommunications and data communications devices, Single Board Computers, point-of-sale terminals, kiosks, thin clients and pads, industrial automation devices, and other embedded devices.
Embedded BIOS 2000 offers the most comprehensive on-target features of any BIOS software in the world. Support for industry-standard initiatives like APM, ACPI, "El Torito" CDROM boot, PCI, Plug-n-Play, PXE, SMBIOS, SMM, SMP, and Legacy USB is included. In addition, you'll find embedded innovations like headless and remote console operation, burn-in diagnostics, a built-in debugger, remote access disk and Flash updating, on-target BIOS reflashing, solid-state disk emulators, and optional multimedia (graphical and/or audio) POST. Standard parts of the architecture provide for OEM-configurable POST, dynamic OEM-written policy at the board design level, chipset, Super I/O, and CPU configuration, and a comprehensive setup screen system. The ability to boot Windows NT, Windows CE, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows XP, Linux, and other industry-standard operating systems is provided.
From the OEM's perspective, Embedded BIOS 2000 offers an outstanding software development architecture that allows the OEM to support multiple ongoing software adaptations while leveraging existing libraries of chipset, CPU, and board-specific BIOS features. BIOS adaptation - the process of configuring the system firmware for a specific target - is project file-based and can be totally automated with BIOStart, the Windows-based configuration management tool.
Although it is most common to adapt the BIOS using the high-level tools provided, Embedded BIOS 2000 comes as a full source code kit. This complete solution allows the OEM the extra advantage of having no black boxes in the system. It also makes it possible for the adaptation process to only generate absolutely necessary code in the final BIOS image, minimizing the size of the BIOS.
As a licensed product, Embedded BIOS 2000 offers outstanding value. Each licensed copy includes all of the features that can be enabled in the adaptation process. Embedded BIOS 2000's rich feature set makes it possible to handle most of the system's low-level requirements without contacting several vendors for different pieces. This integrated approach makes the OEM-customized version of the BIOS the virtual nerve center of the entire embedded system, and a foundation for the 32-bit Firmbase environment.
Benefits
Embedded BIOS 2000 lowers the costs associated with developing, testing, and maintaining embedded devices by providing standard features that drive these costs down. For example, the Embedded BIOS 2000 project file architecture, and its package plug-ins, provide a way to segment project development and allow cooperative, concurrent development of firmware among team members, and across multiple projects. Embedded BIOS 2000 provides automated testing suites that can reduce the need to write diagnostic test software for Q/A. And, Embedded BIOS 2000 provides for in-field reflashing and remote target control.
Embedded BIOS 2000 also reduces the risks associated with developing new products. Firmware is often the leading cause of project slippage in designs using a desktop BIOS, because those firmware products are not designed to be adapted to support the kinds of customization that embedded developers need. Embedded BIOS's project file architecture, its modular Board, Chipset, and CPU Personality Modules, and its support for third-party package modules, makes it possible for the OEM to use and reuse larger building blocks, rather than customize core files for each new project.
Target Features
Embedded BIOS 2000 leads the industry with all the on-target features that ODMs and OEMs need for modern embedded development:
Embedded Features (all OEM-configurable):
- Quick boot with sub-second POST
- Integrated BIOS-aware debugger
- Resident Flash disk emulator
- ROM disk and RAM disk emulators
- Remote access Flash programming
- Remote access disk redirection
- System Management Mode (SMM)
- Traditional, headless, or multimedia POST
- Console redirection (ANSI)
- HTML browser front-end
- CE Ready, the Windows CE launcher
- Native RTOS loader
- Legacy USB keyboard and mouse
- Booting from USB mass storage devices (sold seperately):
- Floppy Disk Drive (optional)
- Hard Drive (optional)
- CD-ROM (optional)
- USB Hub Support
- Support for up to 8 USB Keyboards and 8 USB Mice
- Matrix keyboards
- LCD panels
- Watchdog timer
- Burn-in Diagnostics
- Installable disk servers
- OEM-configurable setup screens
- Compatibility with operating systems and networks
- Supports embedded chipsets with add-on Chipset Personality Modules
- Supports embedded CPUs with add-on CPU Personality Modules
- Supports embedded reference designs with add-on Board Personality Modules
- Up to 64 Gigabytes of RAM with quick, standard, or exhaustive testing
- Embedded PCI option ROMs
- Embedded ROM extensions
- Legacy-free configuration -- supports elimination of legacy PC/AT hardware
- Automatic (on-the-fly) IDE detection
- ATA 133 (UDMA6) compatibility for advanced PIO/UDMA
- Hard drives over 138GB
- Full multiprocessing support
- APIC and IOAPIC support
- PCI with up to 256 interrupt lines, arbitrary topologies
- Six-stage boot sequencing, including command line interpreter, and debugger
- CMOS or CMOS-less designs
- Packages support third-party, add-on modules
- Message-passing driver architecture supports dynamically-configurable POST
Industry Standards (all OEM-configurable):
- Advanced Power Management (APM) Specification 1.2
- Advanced Control and Power Interface (ACPI) Specification 2.0
- POST Memory Manager (PMM) Specification 1.01
- Plug-n-Play Specification 1.0A
- Multiprocessor Specification SMP 1.4
- SMBIOS Specification 2.3.1 (formerly DMI)
- CD-ROM Boot "El Torito" Specification 1.0
- PCI Specification 2.2
- PXE Specification
- BIOS32 Specification
- Enhanced Disk Drive Specification 1.1
- Firmbase Specification 1.3
Standard BIOS Features (all OEM-configurable):
- DRAM detection & configuration
- ROM shadowing
- Option ROM calls
- Cache control
- CPU speed control
- Microcode update
- PC/AT glue logic supported natively (8259, 8237A, 8254, 8042, etc.)
- Standard FDC, ATA drivers
- PC/XT, PC/AT keyboard drivers
- 6845 video driver
- ROM footprint from 32KB-512KB, OEM-configurable
Silicon Support
The leading x86 silicon vendors have deployed Embedded BIOS 2000 as the standard firmware on their embedded evaluation platforms for years, and Embedded BIOS 2000 is their standard bring-up BIOS of choice when developing their new embedded reference designs. Working closely with its silicon vendor partners, General Software is able to provide Embedded BIOS 2000 support modules for all major embedded processors and chipsets, including:
- Acer Labs
- AMD
- Intel
- National
- RadiSys
- ServerWorks
- STMicroelectronics
- Transmeta
- VIA
Operating System Support
General Software works with all the leading operating system vendors to ensure Embedded BIOS 2000 includes the latest industry standards that can drive the industry's embedded and general-purpose operating systems into embedded markets. Embedded BIOS 2000 is compatible with:
- DOS
- Windows 95
- Windows 98
- Windows ME
- Windows NT
- Windows NT 4.0 Server
- Windows NT Embedded
- Windows CE
- Windows 2000
- Windows XP
- Windows XP SP1
- Windows XP SP2
- Windows XP Embedded
- Windows 2003 Server
- Linux
- QNX and other Real Time Operating Systems
|
