BIOS Extension Kit (BEK)

The BIOS Extension Kit allows Intel users to upgrade or modify an x86 BIOS without the cost and development time involved in creating a full custom BIOS. The BEK comes with all the source code necessary to modify or create BIOS extensions for custom keyboards, network cards, print services, etc. A program template to create custom BIOS extensions is included in the Manual.
For the example BIOS extensions, the BEK features a top down build hierarchy of configuration files to build and change the example driver's characteristics. These files contain configuration switches to make simple changes to a driver. Once the BIOS extension is built, you can test the new driver in a memory card such as Sealevel's EMC board.
By running from the ROM-scan area of an x86 computer¦s memory, the BEK saves conventional memory. Using ROM-scan drivers allows the placement of multiple BIOS extensions in the ROM scan area of memory, using only 4K of conventional memory.
With the BEK you can also build a Terminate Stay Resident (TSR) to run from AUTOEXEC.BAT. This TSR can be used to test the driver when a memory board is not available.
The BEK comes ready to work with SSi¦s SoftProbe Debugger for debugging modifications and custom BIOS extensions. When a developer makes modifications to a BIOS extension or creates a custom driver, the debugger can be invoked to view the driver module as it sets up the critical address values and interrupts. The debugger option saves developers time when designing custom applications. The SoftProbe Debugger is available separately from AnnaSoft.