Intel has opened source firmware for the PSE (Programmable Services Engine) block, which has begun shipping in Elkhart Lake processors such as the Atom x6000E, optimized for use in IoT devices. The code is open under the Apache 2.0 license.
PSE is an additional ARM Cortex-M7 processor core operating in low power mode. PSE can be used to perform the functionality of an embedded controller, process data from sensors, organize remote control, carry out network operations and separately perform specialized tasks.
Initially, this core was controlled using closed firmware, which prevented the implementation of support for chips with PSE in open projects such as CoreBoot. In particular, the lack of information about the low-level management of the PSE caused dissatisfaction and security concerns due to the inability to control the actions of the firmware. At the end of last year, the developers of the CoreBoot project published an open letter to Intel urging them to open the PSE firmware code, and, ultimately, the company listened to the needs of the community.
The PSE firmware repository also contains source tests for developer utilities and sample applications that can run on the PSE side, components for running RTOS Zephyr, ECLite firmware with embedded controller functionality, and a reference implementation of the OOB (Out-of-Band) control interface. and framework for application development.
Source: opennet.ru