accessing hardware configuration stored in BIOS

Tafta · 07-15-2004, 09:50 PM

Hi there,

I'm planning to make a utility to detect hardware configuration. I need more than just hardwares specification but i also need their brand (creative, AMD, asus, elsa, etc.).
I've read the /proc content but it doesn't display hardware brand.
My 2nd option is to read directly from BIOS. Can somebody tell me how to read BIOS information? Or is there anyother way to do it?

Thank you

infamous41md · 07-16-2004, 01:14 PM

open up /dev/mem, lseek to the physical address, read.

Code:

[root@localho.outernet] cat read_devmem.c 
#include <sys/types.h>
#include <fcntl.h>
#include <unistd.h>

int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
    size_t  foo;
    int fd;

    fd = open("/dev/mem", O_RDONLY);
    lseek(fd, 0x400, SEEK_SET);
    read(fd, &foo, sizeof(foo));
    printf("foo = %x\n", foo);
    return 0;
}
[root@localho.outernet] gcc read_devmem.c 
[root@localho.outernet] ./a.out 
foo = 3f8

0x3f8 corresponds with base i/o address for serial port 1.

laceupboots · 07-16-2004, 03:46 PM

You can also use the dmesg command from a terminal and it will give you the hardware information.

Tafta · 08-13-2004, 01:46 PM

Thank you infamous41md
i'll try to use the /dev/mem

What i need now is the map of bios content within the memory. Where can i get such information and does each bios has it's own unique content or there is a standard?

thanks in advance

infamous41md · 08-13-2004, 02:29 PM

i dont really know, i just happened to know where the serial port info and pararell is stored. google.

laceupboots · 08-13-2004, 03:02 PM

Try using the dmeg command it shold give you your BIOS settings.