5.5 KiB
This is a GM45/PM45 platform, so completely libre initialisation in coreboot is possible, provided by default in Canoeboot.
Management Engine (ME) firmware removed
This port in Canoeboot made use of ich9gen from ich9utils, which
you can read about in the ich9utils manual - this
creates a no-ME setup. The Intel Management Engine firmware (ME) is completely
removed, and the ME disabled, just like on ThinkPad X200, T400 and so on.
The E6400 laptops may come with the ME (and sometimes AMT in addition) before flashing canoeboot. Dell also sold configurations with the ME completely disabled, identifiable by a yellow sticker reading "3 ME Disabled" inside the bottom panel. This config sets the MeDisable bit in the IFD and sets the ME region almost entirely to 1's, with the occasional 32-bit value (likely not executable). Canoeboot disables and removes it by using a modified descriptor: see ../install/ich9utils.md (contains notes, plus instructions)