How to read BIOS ?

[Bob Goodwin <bobgoodwin att net>]

Is there a means of reading the data from the BIOS chip. primarily the 
i.d. string
showing the version, etc. other than relying on the initial "CMOS" 
set-up function?
[Something like the belarc.com Windows app.]  Google, etc. have not 
found anything ...

Thank you.

Bob Goodwin    Zuni, Virginia