Within computing, there are certain terms with which most users are familiar. Such is the case of “hardware” or “software”, however, have you heard about the firmware? If you do not know what it is, we will give you a detailed explanation on the subject.
The term was implemented for the first time by Ascher Opler, in an article in Datamation magazine in 1967. It should be noted that his name it has expanded to many uses todayso it is no longer as strange as years ago.
As additional information, you should know that the firmware represents a middle ground between hardware and softwarehence its terminology which means “firm, solid or fixed software”. In this post, we will show you all the details about the firmware, what it is for, how it works, its types and much more.
What is a Firmware and what is this element of your devices for?
Firmware is also known by the name of Unalterable Logical Support and, in a simple way, it can be said that it is a computer program that allows a device to work as the creator has designed it. Even without the firmware, the different electronic equipment would not work.
Can be found in a wide variety of devices such as mobile phones, televisions, washing machines, and much more. It is said to be between software and hardware because it is part of the hardware because it is integrated into the electronics of a device, and linked to the software because it is developed under a programming language.
In simple words, it is a software that is responsible for physically managing the hardware. Even a PC program is a firmware because it is responsible for activating the different functions that make it possible for the computer to turn on, as well as execute the commands to start the operating system.
There are three main functions that firmware performs. These are:
- Provides the system of a given device with the fundamental operating and response routines required by the user.
- It establishes an interface to be able to proceed with the configuration of the system quickly.
- It controls and manages both the system boot of a device, as well as its initialization process.
Where is the Firmware stored?
Generally this program is stored within a specific type of memory, whose name is (Read Only Memory). It is usually a type of rewritable memory, to be able to install updates from the manufacturer or versions created by the user.
Nevertheless, it is essential to keep in mind that it is best not to opt for versions designed by a user because it may cause the device to malfunction. In addition, it must be known that the memory in which the firmware is stored must retain the information permanently.
What are the main types of firmware that we can find in modern hardware?
There is a high variety of firmware available on the market, proportional to the number of devices. This means that you can find them in DVD drives, network cards, hard drives, keyboards, washing machines and many others.
Next, we will explain about the firmware available on computer boards, which are the BIOS and EFI:
BIOS
The term “BIOS” comes from Basic Input/Output System. Technically, it is the firmware interface for those IBM PC compatible computers. The main purpose of this is start and test system hardware, as well as load the bootloader. Therefore, it is the first program that is executed when a person turns on a computer.
Apart from that, you should know that it is installed inside the PC and it is possible to update it. Nevertheless, Proceeding with an update has its risksbecause a bad installation may cause the motherboard not to boot.
For this reason, many manufacturers choose to use starter lock systems, which are a protected portion of the BIOS and are not upgradable. Thus, future problems are avoided.
EFI
EFI represents the initials of Extensible Firmware Interface, and is considered another available standard that aims to replace the well-known BIOS. This firmware incorporates your own bootloader and incorporates a series of interesting services. Within them, there is the possibility of including graphical interfaces for its configuration.
Manzana it is the most popular company that started using EFI in their different equipment. However, devices from other companies can make use of this standard. For example, they can be seen in Windows 2000, Windows XP 64-bit, etc.
Finally, you should know that this version has been evolving since its creation. Currently, there is talk of UEFI Forum as a replacement for the classic EFI.
What are the advantages of implementing firmware on hardware?
As we already mentioned, firmware brings great advantages to most electronic equipment, to the point that many devices could not function without it. For this reason, we decided to compile for you the main advantages of firmware on hardware:
- Offers energy efficiency.
- is subjected to very little wear during normal use, because it contains no moving mechanical parts.
- toast higher speed to devices.
- Have a reduced sizebecause it uses chips with a few millimeters in height and thickness.
- Allows you to carry out updates.
What devices are firmware used on and how do they work on them?
In today’s market, firmware is part of almost all the devices that the user uses every day. In case you don’t know them, We leave you a detailed list with the main equipment that incorporates a firmware and how they work in each case:
- Mobile: The firmware in these cases works as an intermediary between the hardware and the software, which is why it contains the instructions so that all the components of the mobile work in harmony.
- Computers: The firmware is incorporated into the motherboard of the computers so that they can execute their different tasks, such as starting the equipment.
- Routers: Firmware in routers help provide network services and improve the operation of this equipment.
- Cars: With the help of firmware in cars, it is possible to perform tasks such as managing music, climate control and other functions.
- Traffic lights: the firmware here is responsible for programming the ignition of all types of lights, at regular intervals.
- Washing machines: The firmware in the washing machines help them to execute their different functionalities correctly, that is, that the equipment follows the instructions that the user chooses.
These are just a few examples of devices that need firmware in order to function properly. For each of them you can get updates, but you must be very careful when doing them because if they are not executed wellyou can impair the operation of the device forever.
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