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List:       openbios
Subject:    Draft FAQ
From:       M Carling <m () midgard ! net>
Date:       1998-11-23 3:21:12
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Frequently Asked Questions for the OpenBIOS project v0.1
written by M Carling <m@midgard.net>

Table of Contents

Section 1: What is OpenBIOS?
1.1 What is OpenBIOS?
1.2 What is a BIOS?
1.3 What is Open Source?
1.4 Why do we need an Open Source BIOS?
1.5 Which Open Source license applies to OpenBIOS? 

Section 2: What is the current state of OpenBIOS?
2.1 What is the current release of OpenBIOS?
2.2 What are the current capabilities of OpenBIOS?
2.3 On what chipsets does OpenBIOS run?
2.4 Where can I get the latest sources?

Section 3: Where can I get more information?
3.1 Is there a mailing list?
3.2 Is there an OpenBIOS homepage.
3.3 Is there an OpenBIOS USENIX group?

Section 4: What can I do to help?
4.1 Can I contribute code?
4.2 How does one write BIOS software?
4.3 Can I donate equipment?


Section 1: What is OpenBIOS?

1.1 What is OpenBIOS?
OpenBIOS is on Open Source software project to build a BIOS.

1.2 What is a BIOS?
BIOS stands for Basic Input/Output System. It is the first software that
runs when a computer is turned on. It's principal function is to load the
operating system. It is also used to configure peripheral devices, and to
choose which operating system to boot if more than one is installed.

1.3 What is Open Source?
Open Source refers to software for which the source code is published, and
freely available to all, for use as is or to modify.

1.4 Why do we need an Open Source BIOS?
Open Source software has several advantages over closed, proprietary software.
In addition to being free, mature Open Source software is typically far more
reliable than proprietary software because there are many more people looking
at the source code and therefore able to find and fix bugs.

Also, proprietary BIOSes have usually been written with one operating system
formost in mind. OpenBIOS will be written so as not to give an advantage to
any one operating system over others. This will benefit the Open Source
community as a whole.

1.5 Which Open Source license applies to OpenBIOS?
OpenBIOS is copyrighted under the GPL (GNU Public License). See
http://www.gnu.org/ for terms.

Section 2: What is the current state of OpenBIOS?

2.1 What is the current release of OpenBIOS?
The current release is 0.0.1. 

2.2 What are the current capabilities of OpenBIOS?
OpenBIOS 0.0.1 does not yet load an OS.

2.3 On what chipsets does OpenBIOS run?
OpenBIOS 0.0.1 runs on ALI M6117B (386SX) ACC Micro 1287 (486) chipsets.
Support for additional chipsets is in development.

2.4 Where can I get the latest sources?
http://www.freiburg.linux.de/OpenBIOS/bin/OpenBIOS-0.0.1.tar.gz

Section 3: Where can I get more information?

3.1 Is there a mailing list?
To subscribe to the mailing list, send "subscribe openbios" in the body
(not the subject) to majordomo@freiburg.linux.de.

3.2 Is there an OpenBIOS homepage.
See http://www.freiburg.linux.de/OpenBIOS and http://www.openbios.org/

3.3 Is there an OpenBIOS USENIX group?
At this time, there is not a USENIX group.

Section 4: What can I do to help?

4.1 Can I contribute code?
Of course. There is much coding to be done. Before undertaking a major
coding project, please join the mailing list (see above) and let it be
known what you intend to do. Others might already be working on the
same thing, and it may be more productive (and fun) to work together.

4.2 How does one write BIOS software?
See http://www.freiburg.linux.de//OpenBIOS for information on how to
write BIOS code.

4.3 Can I donate equipment?
Yes. If you have a motherboard with a chipset that is not currently 
supported by OpenBIOS (particularly a newer chipset) and would like
to donate it, please send an email to the mailing list (see above)
with as much information as possible. The most important information
to include is the chipset and the manufacturer and model of the MB.
Other equipment may also be of use, so don't hesitate sending a mail
to the mailing list if you have something you want to give away.

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