BIOS AND ITS

FUNCTIONS
BIOS
Basic Input Output System
A special program code or software that is
permanently encapsulated in ROM chips, Flash
memory.
FUNCTIONS
BIOS of a computer has routines that test
the computer, blocks of data that give the
machine its personality, special program
routines that allow software to take control
of computers hardware.
Each function is a separate module, and BIOS
refers to the entire group of modules.
Three Types of Functions
Initialization Functions
Interface Functions
Storage Functions
Initialization Functions
BIOS starts to work as soon as the system is
switched on.
All modern Intel microprocessors when start
to work, set themselves up in real mode, and
look at a memory location 0FFF00(hex) [16
bytes short of the top of 1MB real mode
addressing range]

FUNCTIONS
INITIALISATION FUNCTIONS
This location holds a jump instruction that
points to another address where BIOS code
actually begins.
Cold boot - Process of starting the computer
and loading its OS by turning the power on
Warm boot - Process of restarting the
computer and loading its OS anew after it has
already been running and has booted up at least
once. Ctrl+Alt+Del
Differences between Cold Boot and Warm boot
Cold boot automatically restores all the circuits in
the computer to their original default condition,
whether they are on the mother board or the
expansion board, because it cuts off their electrical
supply
Wipes away everything in its memory for a fresh
start.
Warm boot does not affect the supply of electricity
to your computers circuitry, so memory and the
boards installed in the computer are not wiped clean.
Some of the contents get over written as the
operating system reloads.
INITIALISATION FUNCTIONS
Differences between Cold Boot and Warm boot
Does not automatically restore all the expansion
boards in the computer to their initial conditions.
The modem do not release the telephone line hang
up at the end of the internet session.
During cold boot, computer runs through its Power
On Self Test (POST) procedure to test all its
circuitry.
During warm boot, the computer side steps POST-
POST diagnostics - each time the computer boots
up, it plants a special two byte signature in
memory. When the system boots, it looks for the
signature and side steps the POST.
INITIALISATION FUNCTIONS
POWER ON SELF TEST (POST)
When the computer switches on, BIOS run
through a series of diagnostic routines POST.
Checks the system board and memory, the
keyboard, disks, each expansion board.
If the system is operating properly, it
initializes the electronics so that they are
ready.
If there is a problem, it posts an error code on
the monitor screen.
If the display system is not working properly,
BIOS uses audible error codes (beep codes)
played though the system loud speaker.
BIOS EXTENSIONS
Computer BIOS was designed to be extendible.
The full extent of the BIOS is not forever cast
in the silicon of the firmware.
The extendible BIOS is capable of accepting
additional code as its own, creating one
integrated whole.
The routine to extend the BIOS works as
follows: Following the actual testing portion of
the POST, after basic system board functions
have been initialized, the resident BIOS code
instructs the computer to check through ROM
for the special preamble bytes that mark the
beginning of the add-in BIOS routines
BIOS EXTENSIONS
The preamble bytes take a specific form :
First two bytes beginning of an extension code
section.
Third byte quantifies the length of the
additional BIOS
Fourth byte instructions that tell the BIOS
how to install the extra code
When the instructions in the extension BIOS
have been completed, control returns to the
resident BIOS.
INITIAL PROGRAM LOAD
The process of getting the OS started is called
Initial Program Load
There is a short code routine at the end of the
BIOS test procedure that tells the BIOS to read
the first sector from the computer floppy disk,
hard disk or CDROM- this first sector is boot
sector
If the BIOS find executable code there, it loads
the code into memory and executes.
The code in the boot sector tells the computer how
to find the rest of the OS. Once it locates the
main operating system, boot sector code starts
loading that code into memory and yields control to
it.
PLUG AND PLAY
The Plug and Play system makes the computer
responsible for configuring itself.
Making Plug and Play work required changes in
every computers BIOS, expansion bus, expansion
boards and operating system.
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface
(ACPI) specification to embrace setting up all
computer accessories first published in
December, 1996
ACPI is neither a hardware nor software
specification. It details the interface between
the two.
PLUG AND PLAY
ACPI is not a BIOS in itself, but the specification
details how the computers BIOS must operate.
The basic Plug and Play system still take care of
configuring the system, but ACPI gives it new
commands and versatility
For automatic configuration to work properly, it
requires all three elements of the system written
to its standard the computer and its BIOS, the
operating system and the expansion boards and
peripherals attached to the computer.
The configuration process calls upon specific
hardware features of ACPI compliant expansion
boards.
PLUG AND PLAY
Each ACPI- board has several on board registers
that are reached through a standardized set of
three I/O port addresses, so that BIOS or
operating system can control the configuration of
the board.
Using Plug and Play technology, BIOS scan each
board in isolation, so conflicts between boards
are not a problem.
The current ACPI specification is version 2.0a
and it runs over 500 pages long. www.acpi.info.
INTERFACE FUNCTIONS
Software to hardware interface of the machine.
A control system that operates at the lowest
possible level at which the input and output of the
computer are designed to link to programs.
BIOS is a universal remote control.
The BIOS gives the software a link. The software
reaches into the BIOS for the hardware function
it wants. Then the BIOS dips down into the
hardware.
If the design of a computer system is changed
radically, only the BIOS needs to be changed to
reflect the new way of getting at the features of
the computer.
INTERFACE FUNCTIONS
Each program would call up a software routine in
the BIOS, which would have the addressing part
of the instruction permanently set in its code.
BIOS that 1BM developed for its 1984 PC AT,
still defines the minimum level of compatibility
for all computers.
Hardware interface By design, every BIOS is
created to match the specific hardware in the
computer in which it operates.
Every BIOS is customized for the computer it
controls BIOS are not inter changeable.
SOFTWARE INTERRUPTS
BIOS does its linking through a system of
software interrupts - causes the microprocessor
to stop what it is doing and start a new routine.
The various functions the BIOS carries out are
termed interrupt service routines or interrupt
handlers.
To call a given interrupt handler, a calling
program needs to be able to find the program
code that carries out the function.
These interrupt handlers are kept at convenient
addresses as a map called BIOS interrupt vector
table.
This map consists of a long list of 32 bit
addresses with one address corresponding to
each interrupt handler.
SOFTWARE INTERRUPTS
These address point to the first byte of the
program code for carrying out the interrupt and
are called interrupt vector.
A program or software driver may want to alter or
update a BIOS routine to take advantage of a
special feature of new hardware you install in your
computer.
Linking to Hardware BIOS routines may use
memory or I/O ports to pass the commands and
data to hardware devices.
When a device uses a block of memory to exchange
information, it is termed memory mapped. When it
uses I/O ports, it is termed I/O mapped.
SOFTWARE INTERRUPTS
Memory Mapping The BIOS routing and
hardware device share a common range of memory
addresses they use for passing bytes back and
forth. Programs use BIOS routines instead of
physical addresses to reach memory mapped
devices, giving the hardware designer the freedom
to move the memory window used by a given
device.
I/O mapping uses input/output port to exchange
data. An input/output port of a microprocessor is
a special range of addresses that is isolated from
main memory and has special access instructions.
Intel microprocessors have a range of 65,536
input/output ports.
STORAGE FUNCTIONS
BIOS code uses data for its operations and produces
data as its result. The BIOS stores some of this
data to be used as a reference by your programs.
By storing it all in one place, BIOS eliminates the
need for every program to waste its time looking up
common features.
BIOS Data Area During initialization process,
BIOS checks the number and kinds of ports
installed, the type of display adapter and other
options, equipment flags, base addresses of
input/output adapters, keyboard characters and
operating modes.
All these information about the system is stored in
BIOS data area.
STORAGE FUNCTION
A special part of RAM, 256 bytes of memory
starting form 000400 (hex) to 0004FF (hex).
The BIOS data area includes the following
(i) The revision date of the BIOS
(ii) System Identification Bytes
(iii) Disk parameter tables
(iv) DOS tables file handle identifications, drive
tables, system operating information etc.
(v) ACPI tables interfaces to the hardware
installed in the system, a programming
language called ACPI Source Language (ASL)
STORAGE FUNCTION
System Setup Memory To let the BIOS know what
options are installed in a system, all computers
record vital information that can be referenced
quickly.
CMOS Memory Vital System parameters would be
stored in a special, small block of batterybacked
CMOS memory, a total of 64 bytes, in the form of a
special chip, a Motorola MC 146818, which also held a
real-time clock
Lower 14 bytes used by the real time clock to hold
the current time and an alarm time.
40 bytes for storage of setup information
Latest computers these functions are carried over
into support chips.
Clock module from Dallas Semiconductor incorporate
all the functions of the Motorola chip.
ADVANCED SETUP
Cache Operation Some BIOSs allow the user to
switch on or off the cache. Some systems require
that the user set the size of secondary (external)
memory cache which can be installed.
Concurrent Refresh Newer systems are able to
refresh memory concurrently i.e. while they are
performing normal tasks)
The computer will deliver better performance with
concurrent (hidden refresh)
Virus Protection Some BIOS makers have added
their own form of protection, a warning message
that appears when software attempts to write to
the boot sector of the hard disk.
THANKYOU