Abstract

At least one storage parameter table is initialized to reserve an area of permanent storage for saving a system image. The reserved area is not formatted by the operating system for general use storage. Additionally, a system management mode (SMM), a dedicated system management memory (SMRAM), a system management interrupt (SMI), an SMI service routine, a Resume instruction (RSM), various mechanism for triggering an SMI, and various mechanisms for triggering an RSM event are provided. Together, these elements allow system management functions to be performed in a manner that is transparent to the operating system and applications. Furthermore, a suspend mode, various suspend levels including a zero volt suspend, a suspend handler, various suspend request delay timers, various mechanisms for triggering a suspend request and various mechanisms for triggering a resume event while in suspend mode are also provided. The suspend handler is provided as part of the SMI service routine. In particular, the suspend handler saves a system image onto the reserved area before shutting off the power from all of the components, excluding the real time clock and the logic, for resuming execution when processing a zero volt suspend request. As a result, a system image may be saved onto permanent storage in a manner that is operating system independent.