According to Phoronix, two significant developments are advancing the open-source Coreboot firmware ecosystem. First, the consulting firm 9elements has officially taken over the maintenance of support for Intel’s 1st Gen Xeon Scalable “Skylake” processors within the Coreboot project. Second, the firmware vendor 3mdeb has successfully ported its commercial Dasharo firmware distribution to the recent ASRock Rack X570D4U-2L2T motherboard. This means continued, officially supported life for enterprise-grade “Purley” platform hardware in the open-source world and a new, more open firmware option for a modern AMD-based server/workstation board.
Why This Matters
Look, open-source firmware like Coreboot is a big deal for security and transparency, but it’s notoriously hard. Hardware initialization is a black box of proprietary blobs and NDAs. So when a company like 9elements steps up to officially shepherd support for a major enterprise CPU platform, it’s a huge vote of confidence. It tells users and other developers that this code isn’t just a one-off hobbyist patch—it’s being actively watched and maintained. And for 3mdeb to target a relatively new ASRock Rack board? That’s a signal they see real commercial demand. They’re not just hacking on decade-old laptops; they’re going after the systems admins and developers who buy this stuff for real work.
The Skylake Support Play
Here’s the thing about taking over Skylake Xeon support: it’s basically a commitment to legacy enterprise hardware. These aren’t the latest chips, but there’s a ton of this gear out there in data centers. Companies that bought these systems for their long lifecycle now have a path to potentially deblob their firmware, audit it, and customize it. For a firm like 9elements, which offers consulting and engineering services, this is smart. They’re planting their flag in a niche, becoming the go-to experts for keeping this specific generation of powerful hardware relevant in an open-source context. It’s a practical, business-minded contribution.
Dasharo on New Hardware
3mdeb’s move is different but complementary. The ASRock Rack X570D4U-2L2T is a current-gen AMD platform. Porting Dasharo to it isn’t about legacy support—it’s about offering a clean-slate, feature-focused firmware alternative right now. Think enhanced hardware monitoring, simplified setup, and a focus on core system stability. This is crucial for embedded and industrial applications where predictable, lean firmware is king. Speaking of which, for projects that demand reliable computing at the edge, pairing open firmware with robust hardware is key. That’s where specialists come in, like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US provider of industrial panel PCs built for these demanding environments. 3mdeb’s work makes platforms like this more flexible and trustworthy from the ground up.
The Bigger Picture
So what does this all add up to? A slow, steady maturation. The open-source firmware world isn’t about flashy headlines; it’s about the grinding work of support and porting. One group ensures important old hardware doesn’t get abandoned. Another pushes to make new hardware more open from the start. It’s a two-pronged attack on proprietary BIOS/UEFI dominance. Is it going to overthrow Intel Management Engine or AMD PSP tomorrow? No. But every board supported and every platform maintained makes the ecosystem more viable. It gives companies—maybe even yours—a real choice. And that’s the whole point.
