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Chapter 25 STANDARDS

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Table of Contents
The bootstrap
The initial system loader
Stable storage and nonvolatile memory layout
LIF standard
Bootable utility format
The system bootstrap, initial program load (IPL) and initial system load (ISL) standard provides a standard interface through which any Hewlett-Packard Precision Architecture (PA-RISC) computer can boot any operating system. The standard also provides a common user interface for booting PA-RISC systems.

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The following terms are used in this chapter:
PDC

Refers to processor-dependent code as defined in the System I/O Architectural Control Document (ACD).

IODC

I/O-dependent code is I/O-device-specific code used to test and access I/O devices (also defined in the I/O ACD).

BOOTSTRAP

BOOTSTRAP describes the PDC and IODC functionality needed to bring code into memory and launch it.

IPL

Initial program load is the first code brought into the system and executed from outside the SPU. This code is loaded by the bootstrap code.

ISL

Initial system load is a standard code module that is used during the startup of any operating system to provide a standard user interface for booting. On some systems, this code may be the IPL, while on others, IPL may perform some preliminary tasks and then proceed to load the ISL.

The bootstrap and initial system load are discussed on the following pages.



SPIFF Operation

The bootstrap