Desktop Management Interface; Advanced Configuration And Power Interface - Toshiba 8100 User Manual

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Managing Your Tecra 8100 Computer
Industry standard architecture
configuration, off-hours maintenance, and constant PC health
monitoring. The specification defines the requirements for
interfaces and protocols to allow remote network access for
system management purposes and interoperability between
systems instrumentation and management applications. It also
describes the instrumentation required to ensure that hardware
devices can be monitored and acted on by software.

Desktop Management Interface

As more PC products become available, properly installing
software, configuring hardware, and managing system resources
becomes more difficult. These tasks typically require some
knowledge of existing drivers, port and hardware configurations,
and previously installed software. If this information is not easily
accessible, understanding a computer becomes increasingly
difficult for IT administrators. DMI creates a common,
manageable PC system that is easily understood. DMI is the
communications channel for examining and identifying system
resource requirements and providing real-time system diagnostics.

Advanced Configuration and Power Interface

ACPI provides controls and information so that an operating
system can transparently control Plug and Play devices. An ACPI
description table includes information on the hardware resources
each device needs and those that are currently in use. Plug and
Play uses this information to dynamically configure resources to
support each device. ACPI's event mechanism also monitors and
responds to system events, such as an overheated component,
changes in the power management, and device insertion or
removal. Additionally, using the features of the ACPI
specification, the operating system manages the power status of
the computer and all motherboard devices. It turns off devices that
are not being used. When the operating system determines from
applications and user settings that no part of the system is being
used, it puts the entire system into a low-power sleep state.
Part II: Technical Reference