rtd cpuModule CMC6686GX, User Manual

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The RTD Enhanced Award BIOS
The RTD Enhanced Award BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is software that interfaces hardware-
specific features of the cpuModule to an operating system (OS). Physically, the BIOS software is
stored in a Flash EPROM on the cpuModule. Functions of the BIOS are divided into two parts:
The first part of the BIOS is known as POST (Power-On Self-Test) software, and it is active from
the time power is applied until an OS boots (begins execution). POST software performs a series of
hardware tests, sets up the machine as defined in Setup, and begins the boot of the OS;
The second part of the BIOS is known as the CORE BIOS. It is the normal interface between cpu-
Module hardware and the operating system which is in control. It is active from the time the OS
boots until the cpuModule is turned off. The CORE BIOS provides the system with a series of soft-
ware interrupts to control various hardware devices.
The following sections discuss the sections of the BIOS in more detail and describe features of the
BIOS which may be useful to you in developing applications.