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What does SRM mean? What is PALcode?

April 26, 2017mean SRM

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What does SRM mean? What is PALcode?

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The abbreviation SRM is derived from the Alpha System Reference Manual, the specification of the Alpha architecture and the associated firmware. PALcode is a name assigned to a particular set of functions provided by the SRM firmware. PALcode is used to provide low-level functions required by higher-level operating system or application software, functions which may not be directly available in Alpha hardware. PALcode is implemented using available Alpha instructions and using the Alpha processor, though PALcode operates in a mode which simplifies programming. PALcode is also permitted access to processor-specific and otherwise internal features of a particular Alpha microprocessor implementation; microprocessor-specific features which are not easily accessable to operating system or application code.