Introduction
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Table 1-1. Organization of EFI Specification (continued)
Chapter/Appendix Description
15. Simple Network Protocol Defines the Simple Network Protocol, which provides a packet level
interface to a network device. Also defines the Network Interface
Identifier Protocol, which is an optional protocol used to describe details
about the software layer used to produce the Simple Network Protocol.
16. Fil e System Format Defines the EFI file system.
17. Boot Manager Describes the boot manager, which is used to load EFI drivers and EFI
applications.
18. PCI Expansion ROM Describes how to provide an EFI driver image within a PCI
expansion ROM.
A. GUID and Time Formats Explains format of EFI GUIDs (Guaranteed Unique Identifiers).
B. Console Describes the requirements for a basic text-based console required by
EFI-conformant systems to provide communicat ion capabilities.
C. Device Path Examples Examples of use of the data structures that defines various hardware
devices to the EFI boot services.
D. Status Codes Lists success, error, and warning codes returned by EFI interfaces.
E. Alphabetic Function List Lists all EFI interface functions alphabetically.
F. Glossary Briefly describes terms defined or referenced by this specification.
G. 32/64-Bit UNDI Specification This appendix defines the 32/64-bit H/W and S/W Universal Network
Driver Interfaces (UNDIs).
H. Index Provides an index to the key terms and concepts in the specification.
1.2 Goals
The “PC-AT” boot environment presents significant challenges to innovation within the industry.
Each new platform capability or hardware innovation requires firmware developers to craft
increasingly complex solutions, and often requires OS developers to make changes to their boot
code before customers can benefit from the innovation. This can be a time-consuming process
requiring a significant investment of resources.
The primary goal of the EFI specification is to define an alternative boot environment that can
alleviate some of these considerations. In this goal, the specification is similar to other existing
boot specifications. The main properties of this specification and similar solutions can be
summarized by these attributes:
• Coherent, scalable platform environment. The specification defines a complete solution for the
firmware to completely describe platform features and surface platform capabilities to the OS
during the boot process. The definitions are rich enough to cover the full range of
contemporary Intel® architecture-based system designs.