Common Flash Memory Interface

The Common Flash Memory Interface (CFI) is an open standard jointly developed by AMD, Intel, Sharp and Fujitsu. It is implementable by all flash memory vendors, and has been approved by the non-volatile-memory subcommittee of JEDEC.¹² The goal of the specification is the interchangeability of flash memory devices offered by different vendors. The developer is able to use one driver for different flash products by reading identifying information from the flash chip.

Each flash memory device contains the following information: memory size, byte and word configuration, block configuration, and voltage and timing data.

The specification provides several benefits. No or very little information about flash devices has to be stored in tables within system software. It is possible to use lower cost flash memory devices as they become available without rewriting system software. Adapting current software systems shall be done more easily and quickly than previously.

Support for CFI is implemented in many different operating systems, including FreeBSD³ and the Linux Kernel through its Memory Technology Device (MTD) subsystem, which can automatically detect compatible flash chips using CFI identification data.⁴