EFIDistribution

EFIDistribution is a term sometimes used in the context of UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) bootloaders. UEFI is a modern standard for the software interface between an operating system and platform firmware. It replaces the older BIOS (Basic Input/Output System). When discussing EFIDistribution, it typically refers to the mechanisms by which UEFI firmware finds and loads boot applications, such as operating system loaders.

UEFI firmware searches for boot applications in specific locations on storage devices, often within a dedicated EFI System Partition (ESP). This partition is formatted with a FAT filesystem and contains directories where bootloaders and related files are stored. The firmware's boot manager is configured to point to these boot applications, allowing the user to select which operating system to boot if multiple are present. The process involves the firmware identifying the ESP, scanning its contents for valid EFI executables, and then presenting a boot menu if multiple options are found. The term EFIDistribution, therefore, encapsulates this organized method of distributing and locating bootable EFI applications within the firmware's boot process. It ensures that the system can locate and initiate the operating system's startup sequence effectively.