Specifications

Arm SystemReady is a set of standards and a compliance certification program that ensures software just works. Systems that are designed to just work should install and run generic or specified, off-the-shelf operating systems straight out of the box.

To do this, the system design must follow a set of minimum hardware and firmware requirements. Arm SystemReady builds on and replaces the former successful Arm ServerReady program, originally aimed at servers. Arm SystemReady applies the  standards framework to a broader set of devices, initially applying across the server,  embedded server and high-performance IoT ecosystems,  extending from the cloud to the infrastructure and IoT edge.

This page describes and provides links to the following specifications:

• Arm SystemReady Requirements (SRS) specification
• Arm Base System Architecture (BSA) specification
• Arm Server Base System Architecture (SBSA) supplement specification
• Arm Base Boot Requirements (BBR) specification
• Arm Embedded Base Boot Requirements (EBBR) supplement specification
• Arm Base Boot Security Requirements (BBSR) specification
• Architectural Compliance Suite (ACS)

The SystemReady Requirements specification (SRS) describes the technical requirements for a system to become Arm SystemReady. The specification outlines the program and provides guidance on hardware and firmware conditions for certification of the individual SystemReady bands – SR, ES, IR, and LS.

Download SRS

The Base System Architecture (BSA) specification describes the minimum requirements for the hardware, based on Arm 64-bit architecture, that system software such as operating systems, hypervisors, and firmware, can rely on. The specification addresses processing element features and important aspects of system architecture.

Download BSA

The Server Base System Architecture (SBSA) specification is a supplement to the Base System Architecture specification, for servers. The SBSA describes the additional server hardware requirements and features required for a server OS. The specification contains a set of levels that describe an increasing set of hardware features, following the progression of the CPU architecture.

Note: The BSA generic specification plus the SBSA supplement have now replaced the SBSA v6.0 specification that was used in the former ServerReady program.

Download SBSA

The Base Boot Requirements (BBR) specification specifies requirements for systems that are based on Arm architecture and that operating systems and hypervisors can rely on. This specification establishes the firmware interface requirements, like PSCI, SMCCC, UEFI, ACPI, and SMBIOS.

Download BBR

This Embedded Base Boot Requirements (EBBR) specification is intended for developers of Arm embedded devices wanting to take advantage of the UEFI technology to separate the firmware and OS development. For example, class-A embedded devices like networking platforms can benefit from a standard interface that supports features such as secure boot and firmware update.

This specification is intended to be OS-neutral. It leverages the prevalent industry standard firmware specifications of UEFI.

Download EBBR

The Base Boot Security Requirements (BBSR) specification specifies security interface requirements and guidance for systems that are compliant with the Base Boot Requirements (BBR) specification.

Download BBSR