AMIDebug

[UDPATE: comment from a smart reader:
AMIDebug technology is not useful for end users and researchers because it’s support should be specifically compiled in in a special DEBUG build. The AMI DebugRX hardware part is OK to get port 80h codes via USB, mediocre source-level debugging. Intel XDP or Arium-ITP are similar to AMIDebug, both nice products, and don’t require any firmware changes or special build modes.
BTW, I don’t know why Comments don’t show up on blog web site, working on trying to fix that… ]

Earlier this week AMI announced USB3 support for their AMIDebug for UEFI product.

Apparently AMI has 3 versions of this: 1) AMIDebug for UEFI software for Aptio V, 2) the AMIDebug Rx handheld USB debug device, and 3) Aptio V UEFI Firmware from AMI.

Press release excerpts:

American Megatrends, Inc. (AMI), a global leader in BIOS, remote management, network data storage products and solutions for the Android(TM) operating system, is pleased to announce support for USB 3.0 controllers in the latest release of its AMIDebug(TM) for UEFI debugging solution for Aptio(R) V UEFI Firmware.

AMIDebug for UEFI from American Megatrends is a powerful software-based solution for debugging UEFI projects based on Aptio or the UEFI Shell, offering source-level symbolic (C and Assembler) debugging without the need for expensive JTAG hardware debug tools.

The latest AMIDebug for UEFI release, developed specifically for the company’s flagship Aptio V UEFI Firmware, adds support for USB 3.0 debug among other important features. These newly-added features signify a key development in the evolution of this debug software, since many chipsets now only support USB 3.0 (XHCI) and in many cases no longer incorporate older USB standards (EHCI) in their hardware designs, such as the Intel(R) Atom(TM) x5-Z8300 series processors.

What remains unchanged in AMIDebug for UEFI is its ability to facilitate firmware development for AMI OEM and ODM customers in unprecedented ways thanks to its deep integration into the entire UEFI development ecosystem. AMIDebug for UEFI continues to offer standard debugging features like Break, Step, Step Over, Step Into, Step, run to cursor and set next statement, in addition to UEFI-specific debugging features like Stop at Driver Name Entry, Stop at PEIM Name Entry, Stop at CheckPoint, Stop at beginning of PEI/DXE, SMM Debugging and disassembly view. Moreover, many different firmware development viewers are supported including memory, CPU registers, PCI Bus, call stack, I/O and Indirect I/O.

Sigh, I wish these were available for UEFI ISVs and UEFI Security Researchers, not just restricted to AMI’s UEFI OEM/ODMs! I want one. 😦

More Information:

http://www.ami.com/news/press-releases/?PressReleaseID=322&/American%20Megatrends%20Announces%20Support%20for%20USB%203.0%20Controllers%20in%20Aptio%20V%20AMIDebug%20for%20UEFI/
http://www.ami.com/products/bios-uefi-tools-and-utilities/amidebug-rx/
http://www.ami.com/resources/resource-library/?documentationSearch=amidebug