Glossary
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RTC is typically receives power from a small battery to retain the current time of day
when the computer is powered down.
Reflashing
The process of replacing a BIOS image, in binary format, in the flash boot device.
Register
An area typically inside the microprocessor where data, addresses, instruction codes,
and information on the status on various microprocessor operations are stored.
Different types of registers store different types of information.
Reset
A signal delivered to the microprocessor by the control bus, which causes a halt to
internal processing and resets most CPU registers to 0. The CPU then jumps to a
starting address vector to begin the boot process.
RFA
(Resident Flash Array) The RFA represents flash memory that is resident on the
hardware platform that is utilized for OS or application purposes.
RS-232
A popular asynchronous bi-directional serial communication protocol. Among other
things, the RS-232 standard defines the interface cabling and electrical
characteristics, and the pin arrangement for cable connectors.
RAS
(Row Address Strobe) An input signal to an internal DRAM latch register specifying
the row at which to read or write data. The DRAM requires a row address and a
column address to define a memory address. Since both parts of the address are
applied at the same DRAM inputs, use of row addresses and column addresses in a
multiplexed array allows use of half as many pins to define an address location in a
DRAM device as would otherwise be required.
Segment
A section or portion of addressable memory serving to hold code, data, stack, or
other information allowing more efficient memory usage in a computer system. A
segment is the portion of a real mode address which specifies the fixed base address
to which the offset is applied.
Serial Port
A physical connection with a computer for the purpose of serial data exchange with
a peripheral device. The port requires an I/O address, a dedicated IRQ line, and a
name to identify the physical connection and establish serial communication between
the computer and a connected hardware device. A serial port is often referred to as
a COM port.
Shadow
Memory
RAM in the address range 0xC000h through 0xFFFFFh used for shadowing.
Shadowing is the process of copying BIOS extensions from ROM into DRAM for the
purpose of faster CPU access to the extensions when the system requires frequent
BIOS calls. Typically, system and video BIOS extensions are shadowed in DRAM to
increase system performance.
SIMM
(Single In-Line Memory Module) A small, rectangular circuit board on which is
mounted semiconductor memory ICs.
SO DIMM
(Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Module) A new form factor for memory
modules that is smaller and denser than SIMMs.
Standoff
A mechanical device, typically constructed of an electrically non-conductive
material, used to fasten a circuit board to the bottom, top, or side of a
protective enclosure.
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