openSIL an AMD solution to improve open source system firmware
Recently AMD announced the launch of a new project which has the name "openSIL" (Open Source Silicon Initialization Library) and is noted for developing a set of open libraries that contain components to simplify firmware creation.
Idea behind the project is move hardware initialization code to openSIL libraries separated, independently tested and maintained, which are written in the common C language and can be statically linked to the main firmware without involving specific protocols.
The set of libraries provided allows you to quickly and easily add support for necessary hardware to standard UEFI firmware, as well as alternative firmware built on the CoreBoot, oreboot, FortiBIOS and Project µ platforms.
The project frees developers from the need to maintain firmware separately for specific equipment and is initially developed as an open and transparent toolset, which will also improve firmware security, simplify testing, provide independent verification, and unify bug and vulnerability tracking.
The post explains in more detail your openSIL solution:
“AMD openSIL adheres to the simple goals of an agnostic set of library functions written in an industry standard language that can be statically linked to host firmware without having to adhere to any host firmware protocol. AMD openSIL is designed to be scalable and easy to use." integrated, lightweight, low-squeak, and transparent, potentially enabling an enhanced security posture...
Together with 9elements, AMI, AWS, 3mdeb, Datacom, Google, Meta and Oxide, the first version of the openSIL kit has been developed for the reference platform based on the fourth generation of AMD EPYC processors.
The prototype will be demonstrated at the OCP Regional Summit, which will take place from April 19 to 20, 2023. It is noted that the code is not yet ready for widespread use and is at the stage of a working prototype.
AMD openSIL is a set of three statically linked libraries: xSIM (x86 Silicon Initialization Libraries), xPRF (x86 Platform Reference Library), and xUSL (x86 Services and Utilities Library), which can be statically linked to any AMD firmware. host at compile/link time. Below is a comparison firmware stack diagram showing scalability between two disparate platform host firmware solutions: UEFI and coreboot, which can scale to any other platform host firmware that exists today and possibly in the future. future".
Between the closest plans are mentioned the development of instructions for integration with CoreBoot, the publication of the openSIL Firmware Architecture Specification, the creation of firmware based on CoreBoot and AMI Aptio OpenEdition for the AMD CRB platform based on the AMD EPYC 4 Gen SoC.
It is mentioned that AMD openSIL includes three libraries cores designed to be statically linked at compile time:
- xSIM (x86 silicon initialization libraries) – Provides an API for basic host platform initialization, including initialization of DRAM, JEDEC, and memory controllers.
- xPRF (x86 Platform Reference Library) - Services for initializing specific hardware components, such as GPIOs and SMMs.
- xUSL (x86 Utility and Service Library) - Helper internal drivers that are used in the xSIM and xPRF libraries, and are not available to call from firmware.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that as such this new "openSIL" project is quite encouraging, we must take into account that it is not yet considered to be ready for production, so the openSIL library for 4th Gen EPYC will be released soon, the guide of the openSIL Coreboot Integrator, openSIL Firmware Architecture Specification, and Coreboot Integration for the AMD CRB Reference Platform.
In addition to Coreboot support on openSIL, an Aptio OpenEdition AMI is also expected for the AMD Genoa reference platform.
Source: https://community.amd.com