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Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI)

History

Extensible Firmware Interface

The EFI specification defines a model for the interface between operating systems and platform firmware. The interface consists of data tables that contain platform-related information, plus boot and runtime service calls that are available to the operating system and its loader. Together, these provide a standard environment for booting an operating system and running pre-boot applications.

The EFI specification was primarily intended for the next generation of IA architecture-based computers, and is an outgrowth of the "Intel® Boot Initiative" (IBI) program that began in 1998.

In 2005 the Unified EFI Forum was formed. Using the EFI 1.10 specification as the starting point, this industry group is now responsible for developing, managing and promoting the ongoing evolution of the UEFI specification.

Present

Currently, the UEFI Specification is becoming accepted throughout the industry to replace the EFI Specifications that were previously maintained by this Intel web site. Please refer to the UEFI web site for more information on UEFI and for accessing UEFI specifications.

More information

Specifications

The latest specification for EFI has been merged with the UEFI specification and members can download these specifications from the UEFI web site.

EFI 1.10 and EFI 1.02 Specifications are available for download here.

Design guides

Future updates and specification updates can be found on the members pages of the UEFI web site. The EFI 1.10 Driver Writer's Guide (Draft 0.9) is available here.

Tools

Presentations

Recent presentations from the Intel Developer Forum provide updates on EFI.

Training

Please contact your EFI provider (BIOS vendor) for local training in your geography. If you need to setup your own training, contact us for material.

Mailing list

To help us keep people informed of specification updates and other important news, we've set up an EFI Mailing List.

Related information

Platform innovation framework

The Intel® Platform Innovation Framework for EFI (referred to as "the Framework") is a product-strength implementation of EFI and UEFI.

Industry group

Latest EFI and Foundation Code for EFI Implementations

BIOS vendors

Third party EFI hardware debuggers

Microsoft*

Linux* ELILO sources

The EFI Specification and all other information on this web site are provided "as is" with no warranties of any kind, including without limitation the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement, and are subject to change without notice.

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