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OVMF Boot Overview

Jordan Justen edited this page Feb 8, 2016 · 1 revision

This page provides a high-level overview of the boot process for OVMF.

SEC

  • UefiCpuPkg/ResetVector/Vtf0
    • Ia16/ResetVectorVtf0.asm: Starts at resetVector
    • Ia16/Real16ToFlat32.asm: Mode Switch: Real => 32-bit Flat
    • Ia32/SearchForBfvBase.asm: Locates the Boot FirmwareVolume (BFV)
    • Ia32/SearchForSecEntry.asm: Locates the SEC Core with BFV
    • Ia32/Flat32ToFlat64.asm: If 64-bit PEI, then Mode Switch: 32-bit Flat to 64-bit Long
  • SEC Core: OvmfPkg/Sec
    • OvmfPkg/Sec/SecMain.c: Finds PEI Core

PEI

Pre-EFI Initialization

  • PEI Core: MdeModulePkg/Core/Pei
    • Various PEI drivers now run
  • DXE IPL (Loader for the DXE Core)
    • Finds DXE Core
    • If PEI is 32-bit and DXE is 64-bit, then Mode Switch: 32-bit Flat to 64-bit Long
    • Jumps to DXE Core

DXE

Driver Execution Environment

  • DXE Core: MdeModulePkg/Core/Dxe
    • Various DXE/UEFI drivers now run
    • BDS is run after all DXE architectural protocols are available

BDS

Boot Device Selection

  • BDS: IntelFrameworkModulePkg/Universal/BdsDxe + IntelFrameworkModulePkg/Library/GenericBdsLib
    • OvmfPkg/Library/PlatformBdsLib guides BDS in a platform specific manner
  • BDS figures out what to boot, and starts devices to enable the boot
    • BDS may be able to load the EFI shell if it is present in the system firmware file system
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