UEFI boot loader for loading non-UEFI compliant operating systems
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for loading a non-Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (“
- UEFI”
) compliant operating system, the method comprising performing computer-implemented operations for;
loading an operating system kernel into a high memory region utilizing direct memory access;
enabling interrupt handling for the non-UEFI compliant operating system once the operating system kernel has been loaded;
relocating a real mode kernel setup code from the high memory region to a low memory region;
switching a central processing unit to a real mode of operation; and
causing the real mode kernel setup code to be executed on the central processing unit from the low memory region.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A UEFI compliant firmware is disclosed that includes a UEFI legacy boot loader. The UEFI legacy boot loader provides functionality for loading operating systems that are non-UEFI compliant in a performant manner. In particular, the UEFI legacy boot loader provided in one embodiment disclosed herein is configured to utilize UEFI disk services to load an O/S kernel and other O/S components. Once the UEFI legacy boot loader has completed loading the O/S components, the UEFI legacy boot loader enables interrupt handling by the O/S, relocates O/S real mode kernel setup code to a low memory region (below 1 MB), and switches a processor to a real mode of operation. The UEFI legacy boot loader then causes the real mode kernel setup code to be executed on the processor, to thereby complete the loading of the operating system.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for loading a non-Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (“
- UEFI”
) compliant operating system, the method comprising performing computer-implemented operations for;loading an operating system kernel into a high memory region utilizing direct memory access; enabling interrupt handling for the non-UEFI compliant operating system once the operating system kernel has been loaded; relocating a real mode kernel setup code from the high memory region to a low memory region; switching a central processing unit to a real mode of operation; and causing the real mode kernel setup code to be executed on the central processing unit from the low memory region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- UEFI”
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9. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
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load an operating system kernel into a high memory region utilizing direct memory access; enable interrupt handling for the operating system kernel once the operating system kernel has been loaded; relocate a real mode kernel setup code from the high memory region to a low memory region; switch a central processing unit to a real mode of operation; and
tocause the real mode kernel setup code to be executed on the central processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
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a central processing unit (CPU); a random access memory (RAM); and a non-volatile memory storing a UEFI-compliant firmware which, when executed by the CPU, will cause the CPU to load an operating system kernel into a high memory region of the RAM utilizing direct memory access, to enable interrupt handling for the operating system kernel once the operating system kernel has been loaded, to relocate a real mode kernel setup code from the high memory region of the RAM to a low memory region of the RAM, to switch the CPU to a real mode of operation, and to cause the real mode kernel setup code to be executed on the CPU in the low memory region of the RAM. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification