Small suggestion/question about The Handbook (Sec 2.3.1)

[Warren Block]

On Thu, 31 Mar 2016, Ronald F. Guilmette wrote:

>
> I only look at the docs (e.g. the Handbook) infrequently, e.g.
> when I need to refresh my memory about what image(s) I should
> be downloading for a new build.
>
> Doing that, just the other day, and then looking at the sets
> of images actually available from the FTP sites, I realized that
> I've never fully understiood when one should be using one of the
> *-uefi-* release images.  (So far, I've never had to use one
> myself.)
>
> So anyway, might it be a Good Idea to include some brief verbage
> explaining why and when one should be using one of the *-ueui-*
> images on this page in the handbook?
>
>   https://www.freebsd.org/doc/handbook/bsdinstall-pre.html

There are several issues that make this potentially complicated to 
explain to the end user.

First, how can the user tell if they need UEFI?  For a standard, it is 
remarkably loose.  The vendors won't tell the users, there are no 
tell-tale identification marks shown during boot.  The setup screens 
aren't standardized.

At present, only 64-bit UEFI computers (the great majority) will work 
with FreeBSD uefi images.  And they will only boot into a 64-bit version 
of FreeBSD.  As far as I know, the uefi images will actually also boot 
on a BIOS computer, so that eases a restriction.

And there is the issue of disabling secure boot.

And most (but not all) UEFI computers are capable of legacy booting a 
normal BIOS-type disk.  Provided you figure out how to enable that. 
"CSM" (compatibility support mode) is a standard term, but it is not 
always used.

The short version:

   Normal images are used to install FreeBSD on a BIOS computer or a
   computer with UEFI "CSM" enabled.

   Installing in UEFI mode requires a uefi image.

That's not hard to include, but will it help the user to decide which 
image to download?