SMBIOS

In the computer field, the System Management BIOS (SMBIOS) specification defines a data structure (access method) in the BIOS that allows a user or application to save and retrieve information specific to a given computer . Around 1999, the specification became part of the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF). Before integration, the SMBIOS functionality was called DMIBIOS, as it was aimed at interacting with the Desktop Management Interface (DMI). Around the same time, Microsoft began to require OEMs and BIOS vendors to support this interface for successful Microsoft certification .

DMTF released the current version 3.1.0 of the specification on November 21, 2016 .

The data structures themselves are located in the memory area between the addresses F0000 and 100000. The dmidecode program, for example, searches for data by the signature _SM_ or _DMI_.

Examples of information that can be obtained through SMBIOS are BIOS information, serial numbers, motherboard manufacturer and model, case information, processor information, and various devices on the board.

Physically, this information is in the BIOS of the motherboard and is updated with the current values ​​at startup (“Verifying DMI pool data”). However, the motherboard manufacturer cannot have all the information (such as the serial number of the case) and leaves the fields blank (“To be filled by OEM”).