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+.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
+
+Introduction
+============
+
+The Intel Management Engine (Intel ME) is an isolated and protected computing
+resource (Co-processor) residing inside certain Intel chipsets. The Intel ME
+provides support for computer/IT management and security features.
+The actual feature set depends on the Intel chipset SKU.
+
+The Intel Management Engine Interface (Intel MEI, previously known as HECI)
+is the interface between the Host and Intel ME. This interface is exposed
+to the host as a PCI device, actually multiple PCI devices might be exposed.
+The Intel MEI Driver is in charge of the communication channel between
+a host application and the Intel ME features.
+
+Each Intel ME feature, or Intel ME Client is addressed by a unique GUID and
+each client has its own protocol. The protocol is message-based with a
+header and payload up to maximal number of bytes advertised by the client,
+upon connection.
+
+Intel MEI Driver
+================
+
+The driver exposes a character device with device nodes /dev/meiX.
+
+An application maintains communication with an Intel ME feature while
+/dev/meiX is open. The binding to a specific feature is performed by calling
+:c:macro:`MEI_CONNECT_CLIENT_IOCTL`, which passes the desired GUID.
+The number of instances of an Intel ME feature that can be opened
+at the same time depends on the Intel ME feature, but most of the
+features allow only a single instance.
+
+The driver is transparent to data that are passed between firmware feature
+and host application.
+
+Because some of the Intel ME features can change the system
+configuration, the driver by default allows only a privileged
+user to access it.
+
+The session is terminated calling :c:expr:`close(fd)`.
+
+A code snippet for an application communicating with Intel AMTHI client:
+
+In order to support virtualization or sandboxing a trusted supervisor
+can use :c:macro:`MEI_CONNECT_CLIENT_IOCTL_VTAG` to create
+virtual channels with an Intel ME feature. Not all features support
+virtual channels such client with answer EOPNOTSUPP.
+
+.. code-block:: C
+
+ struct mei_connect_client_data data;
+ fd = open(MEI_DEVICE);
+
+ data.d.in_client_uuid = AMTHI_GUID;
+
+ ioctl(fd, IOCTL_MEI_CONNECT_CLIENT, &data);
+
+ printf("Ver=%d, MaxLen=%ld\n",
+ data.d.in_client_uuid.protocol_version,
+ data.d.in_client_uuid.max_msg_length);
+
+ [...]
+
+ write(fd, amthi_req_data, amthi_req_data_len);
+
+ [...]
+
+ read(fd, &amthi_res_data, amthi_res_data_len);
+
+ [...]
+ close(fd);
+
+
+User space API
+
+IOCTLs:
+=======
+
+The Intel MEI Driver supports the following IOCTL commands:
+
+IOCTL_MEI_CONNECT_CLIENT
+-------------------------
+Connect to firmware Feature/Client.
+
+.. code-block:: none
+
+ Usage:
+
+ struct mei_connect_client_data client_data;
+
+ ioctl(fd, IOCTL_MEI_CONNECT_CLIENT, &client_data);
+
+ Inputs:
+
+ struct mei_connect_client_data - contain the following
+ Input field:
+
+ in_client_uuid - GUID of the FW Feature that needs
+ to connect to.
+ Outputs:
+ out_client_properties - Client Properties: MTU and Protocol Version.
+
+ Error returns:
+
+ ENOTTY No such client (i.e. wrong GUID) or connection is not allowed.
+ EINVAL Wrong IOCTL Number
+ ENODEV Device or Connection is not initialized or ready.
+ ENOMEM Unable to allocate memory to client internal data.
+ EFAULT Fatal Error (e.g. Unable to access user input data)
+ EBUSY Connection Already Open
+
+:Note:
+ max_msg_length (MTU) in client properties describes the maximum
+ data that can be sent or received. (e.g. if MTU=2K, can send
+ requests up to bytes 2k and received responses up to 2k bytes).
+
+IOCTL_MEI_CONNECT_CLIENT_VTAG:
+------------------------------
+
+.. code-block:: none
+
+ Usage:
+
+ struct mei_connect_client_data_vtag client_data_vtag;
+
+ ioctl(fd, IOCTL_MEI_CONNECT_CLIENT_VTAG, &client_data_vtag);
+
+ Inputs:
+
+ struct mei_connect_client_data_vtag - contain the following
+ Input field:
+
+ in_client_uuid - GUID of the FW Feature that needs
+ to connect to.
+ vtag - virtual tag [1, 255]
+
+ Outputs:
+ out_client_properties - Client Properties: MTU and Protocol Version.
+
+ Error returns:
+
+ ENOTTY No such client (i.e. wrong GUID) or connection is not allowed.
+ EINVAL Wrong IOCTL Number or tag == 0
+ ENODEV Device or Connection is not initialized or ready.
+ ENOMEM Unable to allocate memory to client internal data.
+ EFAULT Fatal Error (e.g. Unable to access user input data)
+ EBUSY Connection Already Open
+ EOPNOTSUPP Vtag is not supported
+
+IOCTL_MEI_NOTIFY_SET
+---------------------
+Enable or disable event notifications.
+
+
+.. code-block:: none
+
+ Usage:
+
+ uint32_t enable;
+
+ ioctl(fd, IOCTL_MEI_NOTIFY_SET, &enable);
+
+
+ uint32_t enable = 1;
+ or
+ uint32_t enable[disable] = 0;
+
+ Error returns:
+
+
+ EINVAL Wrong IOCTL Number
+ ENODEV Device is not initialized or the client not connected
+ ENOMEM Unable to allocate memory to client internal data.
+ EFAULT Fatal Error (e.g. Unable to access user input data)
+ EOPNOTSUPP if the device doesn't support the feature
+
+:Note:
+ The client must be connected in order to enable notification events
+
+
+IOCTL_MEI_NOTIFY_GET
+--------------------
+Retrieve event
+
+.. code-block:: none
+
+ Usage:
+ uint32_t event;
+ ioctl(fd, IOCTL_MEI_NOTIFY_GET, &event);
+
+ Outputs:
+ 1 - if an event is pending
+ 0 - if there is no even pending
+
+ Error returns:
+ EINVAL Wrong IOCTL Number
+ ENODEV Device is not initialized or the client not connected
+ ENOMEM Unable to allocate memory to client internal data.
+ EFAULT Fatal Error (e.g. Unable to access user input data)
+ EOPNOTSUPP if the device doesn't support the feature
+
+:Note:
+ The client must be connected and event notification has to be enabled
+ in order to receive an event
+
+
+
+Supported Chipsets
+==================
+82X38/X48 Express and newer
+
+linux-mei@linux.intel.com