As of 2023, I and many open source advocates are very eager to see AMD’s openSIL project provide open source CPU silicon initialization as a replacement for traditional AGESA code. With Zen 5, we benefited from proof of concept support that we enjoyed with Coreboot on an MSI Ryzen motherboard and a Gigabyte EPYC server motherboard thanks to 3mdeb’s Coreboot-based Dasharo ports. The production readiness goal was for Zen 6, but with this week’s EPYC 9006 SP7 announcement, the openSIL topic was not addressed. So I asked around.
With the release of AMD EPYC 9006 SP7 processors, the incredible Zen 6 server performance with processors like the EPYC 9686F and EPYC 9996 processors made headlines. In the press briefings and slides, openSIL was not discussed, which piqued my curiosity as to whether everything was still on track with their previous goals, what was happening in terms of CPU silicon initialization for Venice, etc.
I followed up with AMD and luckily all is well with openSIL. OpenSIL achieved its previously stated production goals with the 6th generation EPYC “Venice”. I was wondering if the openSIL path was optional and maybe the classic AGESA path was also still supported/used, I was relayed as part of the messaging: “no Venice platform has started anything without openSIL“.
It was also reaffirmed that they would release the open source code of openSIL for Venice within a quarter of the official product launch. The openSIL Venice code should therefore be released in about three months, in line with their previous openSIL presentations.
It seems that all their openSIL objectives defined in 2024 are all in good condition and achieved with Venice as planned:
It’s great to see everything lined up and a relief after the absence of any openSIL messaging around the EPYC 9006 SP7 shipment.
As with all Coreboot-based EPYC 9006 servers, AMD continues to monitor support and customer interest. At least once the openSIL Venice code becomes available in a quarter it will open up the possibility, like what we saw with 3mdeb’s work on them, independently bringing their Coreboot based Dasharo to retail motherboards.
Finally, for those wondering, AMD EPYC 9006 reference motherboards continue to use OpenBMC. AMD started using OpenBMC on its reference boards with Genoa and is always heartwarming to see it used over proprietary BMC software alternatives.
Gn tech
