Linking embedded controller with memory reference code and system bios shadowing
An information handling system may include at least one processor, a memory, and an embedded controller (EC). The information handling system may be configured to, prior to initialization of an operating system of the information handling system: execute memory reference code configured to test selected regions of the memory; transmit results of the memory reference code to the EC; store, at the EC, information indicative of respective likelihoods that particular regions of the memory are bad; and upon a subsequent boot, select a region of the memory having a low likelihood of being bad for loading a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) of the information handling system.
1. An information handling system comprising:
at least one processor;
a memory; and
an embedded controller (EC);
wherein the information handling system is configured to, prior to initialization of an operating system of the information handling system:
execute memory reference code configured to test selected regions of the memory;
transmit results of the memory reference code to the EC;
store, at the EC, information indicative of respective likelihoods that particular regions of the memory are bad, wherein the respective likelihoods are based on a length of time that has passed since a passing test was performed on each respective particular region; and
upon a subsequent boot, select a region of the memory having a low likelihood of being bad for loading a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) of the information handling system.
2. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the BIOS is a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) BIOS.
3. The information handling system of claim 1 , further configured to:
in response to an indication from the EC that insufficient good memory is available to load a standard host operating system, load a service operating system having a reduced memory requirement.
4. The information handling system of claim 3 , further configured to apply a selected notification policy.
5. The information handling system of claim 4 , wherein the selected notification policy includes sending a notification to an administrator regarding bad memory regions.
6. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the region of memory selected for loading the BIOS is selected for loading shadowed BIOS code, a stack, and a heap.
7. A method comprising:
an information handling system that comprises a memory and an embedded controller (EC) executing memory reference code configured to test selected regions of the memory;
the information handling system transmitting results of the memory reference code to the EC;
the information handling system storing, at the EC, information indicative of respective likelihoods that particular regions of the memory are bad, wherein the respective likelihoods are based on a length of time that has passed since a passing test was performed on each respective particular region; and
upon a subsequent boot, the information handling system selecting a region of the memory having a low likelihood of being bad for loading a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) of the information handling system.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the BIOS is a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) BIOS.
9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising: in response to an indication from the EC that insufficient good memory is available to load a standard host operating system, loading a service operating system having a reduced memory requirement.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: applying a selected notification policy.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the selected notification policy includes sending a notification to an administrator regarding bad memory regions.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the region of memory selected for loading the BIOS is selected for loading shadowed BIOS code, a stack, and a heap.
13. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory, computer-readable medium having computer-executable code thereon that is executable by a processor of an information handling system for:
executing memory reference code configured to test selected regions of a memory of the information handling system;
transmitting results of the memory reference code to an embedded controller (EC) of the information handling system;
storing, at the EC, information indicative of respective likelihoods that particular regions of the memory are bad, wherein the respective likelihoods are based on a length of time that has passed since a passing test was performed on each respective particular region; and
upon a subsequent boot, selecting a region of the memory having a low likelihood of being bad for loading a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) of the information handling system.
14. The article of claim 13 , wherein the BIOS is a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) BIOS.
15. The article of claim 13 , wherein the code is further executable for: in response to an indication from the EC that insufficient good memory is available to load a standard host operating system, loading a service operating system having a reduced memory requirement.
16. The article of claim 15 , wherein the code is further executable for applying a selected notification policy.
17. The article of claim 16 , wherein the selected notification policy includes sending a notification to an administrator regarding bad memory regions.
18. The article of claim 13 , wherein the region of memory selected for loading the BIOS is selected for loading shadowed BIOS code, a stack, and a heap.