While the Linux kernel uses the BIOS for next to nothing (not even for
hard disk configuration; I can access my 45GB hard disk in Linux even
though my AWARD BIOS freezes when it tries to auto-detect it and
therefore I have to make it think there is only my smaller hard disk).
But the BIOS does something important: it configures all of the chipsets
on the motherboard to their default settings, and typically those
settings get adjusted to make things run as fast as possible provided
there are no problems.
I think there's a free BIOS project that only provides enough to get
Linux to boot. Some major motherboard manufacturers are helping that
team out by sending them sample motherboards to test on, and pseudocode.
They'd probably prefer not to need to license any special BIOS and in
any case if Linux becomes popular, they don't want to be left in the
dark.
I think there's another free BIOS project that motherboard and chipset
companies are contributing too; it's a full BIOS project, however, and
as it is done by hobbiests, there's the chance that reverse engineering
might be done. I wonder, is it legal to reverse engineer your BIOS and
then make a competing BIOS? Did we ever sign a license agreement, when
we bought our computers, about the BIOS? I didn't. Did any of you?
There's a program called Sourcer that I'm trying to save up for that
reverse engineers your BIOS and gives you source code. It does the same
thing for Windows, but as they note, there is no practical value in
reassembling the source (you can't sell it under your name).
Later....
Willow
John Summerfield wrote:
>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] said:
> >
> > Hm... does the Linux kernel actually need the PC BIOS? I was
> > under
>
> Can't boot without it.
>
> True you CAN use lilo (it's not essential), but lilo doesn't eliminate the
> need for the BIOS.
>
> I do think the kernel uses the BIOS for some (maybe optional) functions. It
> certainly REPORTS information about the BIOS and this implies it needs it for
> other purposes.
>
> It also won't work without the microcode in the various CPUs.
>
> --
> Cheers
> John Summerfield
> http://www2.ami.com.au/ for OS/2 & linux information.
> Configuration, networking, combined IBM ftpsites index.
>
> Microsoft's most solid OS: http://www.geocities.com/rcwoolley/
>
> Note: mail delivered to me is deemed to be intended for me, for my disposition.
