'\"macro stdmacro
.if n .pH g8.firmware @(#)firmware	40.9 of 10/10/89
.\" Copyright 1989 AT&T
'\"macro stdmacro
.nr X
.if \nX=0 .ds x} firmware 8 "" "\&"
.if \nX=1 .ds x} firmware 8 ""
.if \nX=2 .ds x} firmware 8 "" "\&"
.if \nX=3 .ds x} firmware "" "" "\&"
.TH \*(x}
.SH NAME
\f4firmware\f1 \- bootable firmware programs and firmware commands
.SH "DESCRIPTION"
Between the time most computers are turned on and the boot program is
loaded to bootstrap the machine, the computer is in an operating state known
as the firmware state.
In the firmware state, a small program in non-volatile memory
is running on the machine, and the user can perform certain system
operations usually unavailable from single- or multi-user operating states.
.P
There are two basic kinds of firmware operations:
.IP
Running firmware commands.
These commands might include commands for
displaying the Equipped Device Table, performing a system memory dump,
displaying the firmware version, creating a floppy key, etc.
These commands are executed by the firmware program.
.IP
Running bootable programs.
These include the operating system
(\f4unix\f1) and other bootable programs (such as a program to fill the
Equipped Device Table).
These programs are located in the \f4/stand\f1 file system.
When a bootable program is requested
from firmware, the firmware program loads and executes the program,
passing control of the system to the bootable program.
.P
Some firmware programs, including the program supplied on the AT&T 3B2 Computers,
allow you to request the configuration of a new bootable operating system
from firmware by specifying the name of a configuration file (usually
\f4/stand/system\f1) as the name of the program to boot; see \f4system\fP(4).
.P
See the hardware guide that accompanies your computer for descriptions
of the firmware commands and programs available with your machine.
.SH WARNINGS
The firmware program typically does not know if a requested program is
bootable or not;  requesting a program that is not bootable from firmware
can lead to unpredictable results.
.SH "SEE ALSO"
\f4editsa\fP(1M),
\f4edittbl\fP(1M), \f4.edt_swapp\fP(4), \f4system\fP(4)
.P
``Diagnostics'' and ``Machine'' chapters in
the \f2System Administrator's Guide\f1
.Ee
