On Fri, Dec 17, 2021 at 14:47:23 +0100, Jan Kiszka wrote:
> On 17.12.21 14:06, 'Kristian Klausen' via EFI Boot Guard wrote:
> > Hi
> > 
> > This project is what I have been looking for (secure boot + watchdog), 
> > but I have a hard time grasping why it works.
> > 
> > The UEFI spec states[1]:
> > "The watchdog timer is only used during boot services. On successful 
> > completion of EFI_BOOT_SERVICES.ExitBootServices() the watchdog timer is 
> > disabled."
> > 
> > So the boot looke something like this (AFAIU):
> > 1. efibootguard starts
> > 2. efibootguard initializes the watchdog
> > 3. LoadImage()
> > 4. StartImage()
> > 5. Linux starts and calls ExitBootServices()
> > 
> > Why isn't UEFI disabling the watchdog initialized by efibootguard when 
> > ExitBootServices() is called?
> > 
> > [1] UEFI Spec 2.6, EFI_BOOT_SERVICES.SetWatchdogTimer():
> > 
> 
> Actually, this limitation of the UEFI-specified watchdog is one of the
> reasons EFI Boot Guard exists. Here, we don't use the UEFI-provided
> watchdog but real ones (including those described via WDAT, but those
> are HW watchdogs as well). And those real watchdogs will not stop when
> the boot services are terminated. Rather, Linux will pick them up and
> continue to drive them.

Thanks for the explanation, is the "UEFI-specified watchdog" not using 
the hardware watchdog? or how is efibootguard preventing UEFI from 
messing with the watchdog?

According to the spec UEFI will disable the watchdog when 
ExitBootServices() is called. I assume that is still happening with 
efibootguard?

Best regards
Kristian Klausen

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "EFI 
Boot Guard" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email 
to [email protected].
To view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/efibootguard-dev/YbyfRow6BK4Q1ux%2B%40eve.

Reply via email to