Chapter 5 Firmware Vocabulary Flashcards
Chipset
electronic chips handling all of the low-level functions of a PC. Chipsets usually consisted of one, two, or three separate chips embedded into a motherboard.
Southbridge
a chip that handled all the inputs and outputs to the many devices in the PC.
Northbridge
a chip that connects a CPU to memory, the PCI bus, Level 2 cache, and high-speed graphics. Communicates witht the CPU through the frontside bus.
Platform Controller Hub (PCH)
Intel’s name for the chip that collects functions once performed by multiple chips known as chipset.
Scan code
one and zeros
Basic Input/Output Services (BIOS)
communicates to peripheral devices (keyboard, USB, etc)
Services
programs dedicated to enabling the CPU to communicate withn
Read-Only Memory (ROM)
code and data stored in ROM cannot be corrupted by accidental erasure. Makes it the perfect medium for storing BIOS data or information such as scientific constants.
Nonvolatile
describe storage that retains data even if power is removed
Flash ROM
ROM technology that can be electrically reprogrammed while still in the PC. Overwhelmingly the most common storage medium of BIOS in computers.
System ROM
Flash ROM chip that stores the system BIOS.
System BIOS
primary set of BIOS stored on a flash ROM chip on the motherboard. Defines the BIOS for all the assumed hardware on the motherboard, such as keyboard controller, basic video, and RAM.
Firmware
embedded programs or code stored on a ROM chip.
Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)
modern 32- or 64-bit firmware programming interface. Replaced the original 16-bit PC BIOS. UEFI supports large capacity storage drives, additional features, and a more direct booting process.
CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor)
Computer systems had a standalone CMOS chip - a tiny bit RAM hooked up to a small battery that enabled it to hold system settings for the BIOS firmware even with the computer off. CMOS is often informally used to refer to the CMOS setup program or system setup utility.
RTC (Real-Time Clock)
Device within the CMOS memory chip that provides data and time information to the computer and operating system.
System Setup Utility
Program enabling you to access and update CMOS data. Also referred to as the system setup utility, BIOS setup,and UEFI/BIOS setup.
Administrator password
Credentials for the system administrator account
User password
Credentials assigned to a login account that does not have administrative capabilities.
Secure boot
UEFI features that secures the boot process by requiring properly signed software. This includes boot software and software that supports specific, essential components.
Chassis Intrusion Detection
Features offered in some chassis that trips a switch when the chassis is opened.
LoJack
Security feature included in some BIOS/UEFI that enables a user to track the location of a stolen PC, install a keylogger, or remotely shut down the stolen computer.
TPM (Trusted Platform Module)
A hardware platform for the acceleration of cryptographic functions and the secure storage of associated information. BitLocker, for example, requires a TPM chip on the motherboard to validate on boot that the computer has not changed.
Option ROM
Alternative way of telling the system how to talk to a piece of hardware. Option ROM stores BIOS for the card in a chip on the card itself.
Device driver
Program used by the operating system to control communications between the computer and peripherals.
POST (Power-On Self Test)
Basic diagnostic routine completed by a system at the beginning of the boot process to make sure a display adapter and the system’s memory are installed; it then searches for an operating system.
Beep Codes
Series of audible tones produced by a motherboard during the POST. These tones identify whether the POST has completed successfully or
whether some piece of system hardware is not working properly. Consult the manual for your particular motherboard for a specific list of beep codes.
POST card
Device installed into a motherboard expansion slot that assists in troubleshooting boot problems by providing a two-digit code indicating the stop of the boot process where the problem is occurring.
Power Good Wire
Used to wake up the CPU after the power supply has tested for proper voltage.
Bootstrap Loader
Segment of code in a system’s BIOS that scans for an operating system, looks specifically for a valid boot sector, and, when one is found, hands control over to the boot sector; then the bootstrap loader removes itself from memory.
Boot sequence
List containing information telling the bootstrap loader in which order to check the available storage devices for an OS. Configurable in CMOS setup.
System disk
Any storage device with a self-starting operating system.
PXE (Preboot Executable Environment)
Technology that enables a PC to boot without any local storage by retrieving an OS from a server over a network.
CLRTC (Clear RTC)
Motherboard jumper to restart the real-time clock.
CMOS battery
A coin cell lithium-ion battery that maintains power to the CMOS memory chip when the computer is otherwise unpowered. The usual battery size is CR2032.
Firmware updates
Process by which the BIOS of a motherboard can be updated to reflect patched bugs and added features. Performed, usually, through CMOS, though some motherboard manufacturers provide a Windows program for performing a firmware update.
