BIOS

In computing, BIOS (/ˈbaɪɒs, -oʊs/, BY-oss, -⁠ohss; an acronym for Basic Input/Output System and also known as the System BIOS, ROM BIOS or PC BIOS) is firmware used to perform hardware initialization during the booting process (power-on startup), and to provide runtime services for operating systems and programs. The BIOS firmware comes pre-installed on a personal computer's system board, and it is the first software to run when powered on. The name originates from the Basic Input/Output System used in the CP/M operating system in 1975. The BIOS originally proprietary to the IBM PC has been reverse engineered by some companies (such as Phoenix Technologies) looking to create compatible systems. The interface of that original system serves as a de facto standard.

The BIOS in modern PCs initializes and tests the system hardware components, and loads a boot loader from a mass memory device which then initializes an operating system. In the era of DOS, the BIOS provided BIOS interrupt calls for the keyboard, display, and other input/output (I/O) devices that standardized an interface to application programs and the operating system. More recent operating systems do not use the BIOS interrupt calls after startup.

Most BIOS implementations are specifically designed to work with a particular computer or motherboard model, by interfacing with various devices that make up the complementary system chipset. Originally, BIOS firmware was stored in a ROM chip on the PC motherboard. In modern computer systems, the BIOS contents are stored on flash memory so it can be rewritten without removing the chip from the motherboard. This allows easy, end-user updates to the BIOS firmware so new features can be added or bugs can be fixed, but it also creates a possibility for the computer to become infected with BIOS rootkits. Furthermore, a BIOS upgrade that fails may brick the motherboard.

Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) is a successor to the legacy PC BIOS, aiming to address its technical limitations.

SMBIOS DMI Entry and Pull methods

Within Linux you will use these commands for getting information.

Displays the system manufacturer

   dmidecode -s system-manufacturer

Displays the chassis manufacturer

   dmidecode -s chassis-manufacturer

Displays the systems product name

   dmidecode -s system-product-name

Displays the system version

   dmidecode -s system-version

Displays the chassis version

   dmidecode -s chassis version

Displays the system UUID number

   dmidecode -s system-uuid

Displays the system serial number

   dmidecode -s system-serial-number

Displays the chassis serial number (Printed on Bottom)

   dmidecode -s chassis-serial-number

Displays the chassis asset tag assigned to it.

   dmidecode -s chassis-asset-tag

Displays the chassis SKU assigned

   dmidecode -s chassis-sku

Within Windows you will use these commands for getting information

Run these commands using powershell or cmd

Displays the Manufacturer set in the DMI Table

   wmic baseboard get manufacturer

Displays the Model set in the DMI Table

   wmic baseboard get model

Displays the Name set in the DMI Table

   wmic baseboard get name

Displays the Product Name set in the DMI Table

   wmic baseboard get product

Displays the SKU number set in the DMI Table

   wmic baseboard get SKU

Displays the serial number set in the DMI Table

   wmic baseboard get serialnumber

Displays the Asset Tag set in the DMI Table

   wmic baseboard get tag

Displays the version set in the DMI Table

   wmic bios get version

Display all information at once for the baseboard is “wmic baseboard” Display all information at once for BIOS is “wmic bios” Can display extra information with “wmic csproduct” SMI BIOS export for Computer System