Dell 6100 User Manual

Also see for 6100: Rack installation Supplemental guide Hardware guide Service manual Installation and troubleshooting guide

Contents

Dell 6100 User Manual Manual pdf 65 page image

Using the System Configuration Utility 5-1Chapter 5Using the System Configuration UtilityThe system configuration utility is used to tell the sys-tem what expansion cards are installed and whichexpansion slots they occupy. With this information, thesystem automatically configures Extended Industry-Standard Architecture (EISA) cards and can tell you howto configure Industry-Standard Architecture (ISA) cardsmanually by setting jumpers or switches. Before yoursystem was shipped from Dell, a technician used the sys-tem configuration utility to enter the correct informationfor the expansion cards initially installed in your com-puter.The system configuration utility also monitors theresources required by any installed Peripheral Compo-nent Interconnect (PCI) expansion card. After installingor moving a PCI expansion card, you should run the sys-tem configuration utility to update the system’s databaseof available system resources stored in nonvolatilerandom-access memory (NVRAM).C onfiguring EISA, ISA, and PCIExpansion CardsWhenever a trained service technician adds, removes, orrepositions an EISA or ISA expansion card, use the sys-tem configuration utility to reconfigure your system. Theutility reads the card’s corresponding configuration file(.cfg file), which describes the card’s characteristics andrequired system resources, and then uses this informationto create a conflict-free configuration. (You can also usethe system configuration utility to set certain systemoperating parameters known as system board options, aswell as to correct the system configuration information.)The system configuration utility is PCI and Plug and Playaware and can also be used to configure PCI expansioncards. Configuration information for PCI and Plug andPlay expansion cards is contained within the card, so noadditional configuration (.cfg) file is required. Youshould run the system configuration utility after install-ing or moving a PCI expansion card to keep the system’sdatabase of available resources accurate.If the system configuration utility is not aware of aninstalled ISA or EISA expansion card, resource conflictscan arise. For this reason, it is extremely important toenter information about ISA expansion cards, as well asEISA expansion cards, into the system configuration util-ity. In addition, certain ISA graphics adapter cards andmultiport serial cards require some memory or cachingreconfiguration provided by the system configurationutility.System Board OptionsIn addition to configuring expansion cards, you can usethe system configuration utility to change certain systemboard options, as described in “Step 3: View or EditDetails” later in this chapter.NOTES: Many system board options available through thesystem configuration utility are also available through thesystem setup program as described in Chapter 4, “Using theSystem Setup Program.” Although the system configurationutility is separate from the system setup program, the systemconfiguration utility forwards changes to, and reads changesfrom, corresponding categories in the system setup program.However, when the system configuration utility reads achange from the system setup program, that change is notstored in EISA configuration memory until you start thesystem configuration utility, let it read the changes fromthe system setup program, and then save the configura-tion. To avoid possible resource conflicts, run the systemconfiguration utility and save the configuration after