Providing selectable processor abstraction layer components within one BIOS program
A system abstraction layer enables selection from among at least two different processor abstraction layer components. By allowing the selection from a plurality of compressed components, better system adaptability may be achieved. For example, updates may be provided so that it is not necessary to update the entire basic input/output system each time a component of the processor abstraction layer needs to be updated. In addition, a variety of different platforms may be supported by one basic input/output system having a plurality of selectable processor abstraction layer component images.
1. A system comprising:
a processor;
a storage coupled to said processor, said storage storing instructions that enable the selection of one of at least two selectable processor abstraction layer B components within one basic input/output system program.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said storage also stores a basic input/output system.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said storage is a hard disk drive.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein said storage stores a catalog of selectable processor abstraction layer components.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein said selectable processor abstraction layer components are part of a file system partition.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein said file system partition is an accessible firmware interface partition.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein said storage stores instructions that enable an authentication service to be invoked to authenticate a selected one of said processor abstraction layer components.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein said storage stores instructions to shadow a selected one of said at least two processor abstraction layer components.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein said storage stores instructions to shadow a firmware interface table stored in said storage.