this post was submitted on 26 Jul 2023
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Replacing the bootloader with a FOSS bootloader called LibreBoot
why would you even do that, forgive my ignorance
If you want to disable Intel Management Engine, the always-on backdoor built into every Intel CPU and/or want as much software as possible on your machine to be FOSS
Also it boots much faster than most stock bios.
Is there a similar issue with AMD?
Not that I know of, AMD is also soon going to make their own FOSS bios with OpenSIL so they're generally the better option if you're a privacy/libre software junkie.
As far as I know, OpenSIL stands for Open Silicon Initialization Library, and handles only the hardware initialisation part of the boot process. It may still require loading binary blobs like the Platform Security Processor (PSP), which is AMD's version of Intel Management Engine
PSP is not the same thing as IME. Not even close. PSP doesn't even have network access, much less remote computer control like the IME. Still proprietary, but if OpenSIL allows you to turn it off then we might actually be able to run a fully 100% libre modern desktop computer which is honestly pretty awesome.