Term of the Moment
Auro-3D
Definition: firmware
(FIRM softWARE) A non-volatile storage chip that holds instructions without power. Firmware is found on computer motherboards to hold hardware settings and boot data (see BIOS). It also resides in printers, smart TVs and myriad consumer electronics devices to hold instructions for the built-in processor.
Not So Firm Today
Today's firmware chips are often flash memory, which can be updated in place (see firmware update and flash memory). Although still used, the first firmware chips (ROMs, PROMs, EPROMs) cannot be updated and must be replaced to make a change in operation; hence the "firm" moniker (see ROM, PROM and EPROM).
NOR and NAND Flash Memory
NOR is the type of flash memory typically used for software because individual instructions can be executed in place. NAND flash, which is mainly used for storage, may also be used. However, a program in NAND must be copied to RAM for execution (see NAND flash). See non-volatile memory, flash BIOS, FOTA and wares.
The Beauty of Firmware
Not So Firm Today
Today's firmware chips are often flash memory, which can be updated in place (see firmware update and flash memory). Although still used, the first firmware chips (ROMs, PROMs, EPROMs) cannot be updated and must be replaced to make a change in operation; hence the "firm" moniker (see ROM, PROM and EPROM).
NOR and NAND Flash Memory
NOR is the type of flash memory typically used for software because individual instructions can be executed in place. NAND flash, which is mainly used for storage, may also be used. However, a program in NAND must be copied to RAM for execution (see NAND flash). See non-volatile memory, flash BIOS, FOTA and wares.
Firmware is easily updated in most products by just answering "yes" when prompted. This message came from a firmware update to a QNAP server, which is a network storage device (see NAS). See firmware update.