Intel® System Debugger User Guide

ID 648476
Date 06/13/2024
Confidential
Document Table of Contents

Debugging System Management Mode

System Management Mode (SMM) is a special-purpose operating mode provided for handling system-wide functions like power management, system hardware control, or proprietary OEM-designed code. It is intended for use only by system firmware, not by applications software or general-purpose systems software. The main benefit of SMM is that it offers a distinct and easily isolated processor environment that operates transparently to the operating system or executive and software applications.

For more information, see the Intel(R) 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software Developer Manuals.