UEFI and boot firmware solutions
coreboot
coreboot is an extended firmware platform that delivers a lightning fast and secure boot experience on modern computers and embedded systems. As an Open Source project it provides auditability and maximum control over technology. coreboot supports x86 chipsets and processors from Intel and AMD along with advanced ARM processors from Qualcomm and others.
coreboot performs a minimal amount of hardware initialisation and then executes its payload. These payloads can include FILO and GRUB2 for loading Linux from a storage device, SeaBIOS which provides a legacy BIOS bootstrap process or tianocore the EDK2 based UEFI solution.
SDC Systems have experience of porting coreboot to a range of hardware platforms both x86 and ARM based replacing the existing proprietary boot firmware.
U-Boot
U-Boot is a monitor program (bootloader) that supports PowerPC, ARM, MIPS, x86 and other processor architectures. It is maintained by the U-Boot custodians led by Wolfgang Denk and Tom Rini and is available with full source code licensed under GPLv2. It is the default bootloader used by a number of board vendors including NXP for the i.MX processors and TI for OMAP, DaVinci and Sitara processors.
UEFI Firmware
Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) defines a replacement specification for the interface between operating systems and platform firmware to replace the legacy system BIOS which evolved from the initial implementation for the IBM PC.
The UEFI specification was originally defined by Intel for the first Itanium systems and is now managed by the UEFI Forum.
The specification defines a new model for the interface between personal-computer operating systems and platform firmware. The interface consists of data tables that contain platform-related information, plus boot and runtime service calls that are available to the operating system and its loader. Together, these provide a standard environment for booting an operating system and running pre-boot applications.
Through our partnership with Insyde Software we are able to provide a supported, high quality UEFI solutions tailored directly to your systems needs. More details…
Insyde Software’s InsydeH2O, based on the tianocore EDK2, is a fully functional BIOS equivalent that is easier to use and more extensible than the decades-old PC BIOS it replaces.
InsydeH2O enables PC manufacturers to achieve greater product differentiation, lower development costs and accelerate product roll out. More details…
Boot time optimisation
One of the tasks common to all device development is to reduce the time taken from applying power to the system being ready for operation. This has typically been a manual process starting with the removal of redundant or unused features and then optimising what remains.
This iterative process eventually gets to a point where the fractions of a second being saved from the boot time no longer justifies the days or weeks of effort required to achieve them.
With Ubiquitous QuickBoot, from Tuxera, manufacturers using Linux or Android based systems can develop automotive In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) systems, mobile devices, digital home electronics and much more that can be instantly launched from zero standby power.
This is accomplished by preferentially restoring the memory areas necessary for booting the system.
This technology helps device manufacturers produce unforgettable user experiences and distinguish themselves from the competition.
Find out more…
For more information on Insyde Software UEFI BIOS or other boot firmware solutions and the porting services available then please complete the form below.