AMIBIOS Enables Secure and Trusted Computing With A TCPA-Compliant Module.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2003 American Megatrends American Megatrends Incorporated (AMI) is a Georgia, USA based hardware company that creates PC hardware and firmware. It was founded in 1985 by the current chairman and president, S. Shankar. Inc. (AMI), a leading developer of computing and storage solutions, today announced its AMIBIOS AMIBIOS American Megatrends, Incorporated, Basic Input/Output System 8(R) system software enables secure and trusted computer transactions by introducing an eModule supporting the TCPA (Trusted Computer Platform Alliance, TCPA Program Office, Intel Corporation, Hillsboro, OR, www.trustedcomputing.org) A membership organization founded in 1999 by Microsoft, HP, Intel, Compaq and IBM. It was superseded by the Trusted Computing Group (see TCG). specification. A new AMIBIOS8 eModule supporting the TCPA 1.0 specification (Trusted Computing Trusted Computing (also abbreviated TC) is a technology developed and promoted by the Trusted Computing Group. The term is taken from the field of trusted systems and has a specialized meaning. Platform Alliance) is now available for AMIBIOS customers. The TCPA, an industry association sponsored by major technology companies like IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) , Intel and Hewlett-Packard, has developed a model to reinforce computer security at the hardware level. The alliance promotes the adoption of a standardized subsystem on every PC that, guaranteeing the trustworthiness and integrity of the system, facilitates widespread adoption of Internet-based transactions. Internet transactions are presently secured at the software level, mainly by cryptographic techniques. TCPA provides a way to store critical information on a specialized chip aside the main platform processors. The trust subsystem intervenes even at boot up to verify the system authenticity, integrity and privacy. The TCPA subsystem consists of two elements: -- The Trusted Platform Module (TPM), a specialized chip or flash part. -- Software containing the integrity metrics that ensures the computer's integrity and trustworthiness. The key system info, protected by cryptographic hashing, is passed on from TPM to BIOS to the operating system (OS). As soon as the PC powers on, AMIBIOS starts a fairly long and complex process. The BIOS boot block addresses the TPM (1) See TP monitor. (2) (Transactions Per Minute) The number of transactions processed within one minute. See TPS. (3) (Trusted Platform M chip that verifies the BIOS authenticity itself. Then BIOS proceeds to verify the authenticity and integrity of the OS loader and OS kernel. Finally BIOS passes the integrity tokens, that identify that PC as a trusted entity, to the OS. AMIBIOS8 supports TPM devices from ATMEL, Infineon and National Semiconductor. About AMI Founded in 1985, American Megatrends Inc. (AMI) has dedicated its resources to providing OEMs, resellers and systems integrators with leading edge computer technologies. Privately held, AMI is best known for its BIOS, but it also supplies state-of-the-art hardware, software and utilities to over 55 percent of today's high-tech manufacturers. AMI offers high-density motherboards, disk subsystems and innovative storage solutions and is a voting member of the Storage Networking Industry Association An association of producers and consumers of storage networking products, whose goal is to further storage networking technology and applications. The Storage Networking Industry Association, or SNIA (SNIA (Storage Networking Industry Association, San Francisco, CA, www.snia.org) An organization devoted to the advancement of mission critical storage systems. Founded in 1997, its goal is to determine the standards that must be developed to allow hosts and storage systems to interact via ). Headquartered in Atlanta, AMI has locations in the U.S. and throughout the world including Chennai, Munich, Seoul, Taipei and Tokyo to better serve its customers. For more information on AMI products and services, call 1-800-U-BUY-AMI or visit www.ami.com. |
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