Defining the Interface Between the Operating System and Platform Firmware
Background
The Unified EFI (UEFI) Specification (previously known as the EFI Specification) defines an interface between an operating system and platform firmware.
The interface consists of data tables that contain platform-related information, boot service calls, and runtime service calls that are available to the operating system and its loader. These provide a standard environment for booting an operating system and running pre-boot applications.
The UEFI 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.
Intel's original version of this specification was publicly named EFI, ending with the EFI 1.10 version.
In 2005, The Unified EFI Forum was formed as an industry-wide organization to promote adoption and continue the development of the EFI Specification. Using the EFI 1.10 Specification as the starting point, this industry group released the following specifications, renamed Unified EFI.
The current version of the UEFI Specification can be found at the UEFI web site.
Intel® Platform Innovation Framework for EFI and UEFI specifications
Helpful Resources
Independent Hardware Vendor UEFI Enabling Center
Find the latest tools resources and training to get started developing drivers and applications.
UEFI and framework history
For information on the history of UEFI and the framework, please contact us.
UEFI industry group
The Unified EFI Forum
Latest UEFI and foundation code for EFI implementations
TianoCore.org
Intel® UEFI Community Resource Center
Your gateway for developing UEFI firmware, drivers, and applications for use on Intel® architecture platforms
Linux* ELILO* Sources
Source for new ELILO requires gcc3.x and binutils 2.11.90 or higher binaries already compiled Linux* kernel with EFI support for IA-32 is available at www.kernel.org in any of the kernels starting from 2.6.1 or higher.
EGRUB—Available upon request, send e-mail to EFI general feedback
Novell*—UEFI SLES/SLED 11 partitioning recommendations for installing X64
Training
Contact your UEFI Firmware provider for local training in your geography. To set up your own training, contact us for material.