System Management BIOS (SMBIOS)
SMBIOS is how software reads hardware inventory: CPU model, RAM config, system UUID, and BIOS version. Cloud hypervisors inject SMBIOS tables to identify instance type; asset management tools harvest them for CMDB population.
What It Defines
Defines a table-based data format for describing computer hardware to the OS and management software. Tables (Type 0–45) encode BIOS version, processor type and speed, memory module geometry, system UUID, chassis type, OEM strings, cache topology, port connectors, and power supply info. Exposed via the EFI_SMBIOS_PROTOCOL in UEFI or a fixed memory region in legacy BIOS. Consumed by dmidecode, WMI, cloud instance metadata services, and BMC management stacks.
Canonical (Normative)
Industry standards organization for IT management interoperability. Maintains SMBIOS (hardware inventory tables), the Redfish API (RESTful out-of-band server management replacing IPMI), CIM (Common Information Model), and the OVF (Open Virtualization Format) for VM packaging. Members include HPE, Dell, Intel, Microsoft, IBM, and VMware.
Related Specs
Every modern x86-64 and AArch64 server, workstation, and PC uses UEFI. Required for OS development, bootloader work (GRUB, systemd-boot, shim), Secure Boot policy, and firmware engineering.
ACPI is how every OS discovers hardware topology, manages CPU power states, handles thermal throttling, and receives platform events. Required for kernel, power management, and firmware development on all modern x86/Arm platforms.