Using The System Configuration Utility; Configuring Eisa, Isa, And Pci Expansion Cards; System Board Options - Dell 6100 User Manual

Chapter 5

Using the System Configuration Utility

T
he system configuration utility is used to tell the sys-
tem what expansion cards are installed and which
expansion slots they occupy. With this information, the
system automatically configures Extended Industry-
Standard Architecture (EISA) cards and can tell you how
to configure Industry-Standard Architecture (ISA) cards
manually by setting jumpers or switches. Before your
system was shipped from Dell, a technician used the sys-
tem configuration utility to enter the correct information
for the expansion cards initially installed in your com-
puter.
The system configuration utility also monitors the
resources required by any installed Peripheral Compo-
nent Interconnect (PCI) expansion card. After installing
or moving a PCI expansion card, you should run the sys-
tem configuration utility to update the system's database
of available system resources stored in nonvolatile
random-access memory (NVRAM).
C
onfiguring EISA, ISA, and PCI
Expansion Cards
Whenever a trained service technician adds, removes, or
repositions an EISA or ISA expansion card, use the sys-
tem configuration utility to reconfigure your system. The
utility reads the card's corresponding configuration file
(.cfg file), which describes the card's characteristics and
required system resources, and then uses this information
to create a conflict-free configuration. (You can also use
the system configuration utility to set certain system
operating parameters known as system board options, as
well as to correct the system configuration information.)
The system configuration utility is PCI and Plug and Play
aware and can also be used to configure PCI expansion
cards. Configuration information for PCI and Plug and
Play expansion cards is contained within the card, so no
additional configuration (.cfg) file is required. You
should run the system configuration utility after install-
ing or moving a PCI expansion card to keep the system's
database of available resources accurate.
If the system configuration utility is not aware of an
installed ISA or EISA expansion card, resource conflicts
can arise. For this reason, it is extremely important to
enter information about ISA expansion cards, as well as
EISA expansion cards, into the system configuration util-
ity. In addition, certain ISA graphics adapter cards and
multiport serial cards require some memory or caching
reconfiguration provided by the system configuration
utility.
S
ystem Board Options
In addition to configuring expansion cards, you can use
the system configuration utility to change certain system
board options, as described in "Step 3: View or Edit
Details" later in this chapter.
NOTES: Many system board options available through the
system configuration utility are also available through the
system setup program as described in Chapter 4, "Using the
System Setup Program." Although the system configuration
utility is separate from the system setup program, the system
configuration utility forwards changes to, and reads changes
from, corresponding categories in the system setup program.
However, when the system configuration utility reads a
change from the system setup program, that change is not
stored in EISA configuration memory until you start the
system configuration utility, let it read the changes from
the system setup program, and then save the configura-
tion. To avoid possible resource conflicts, run the system
configuration utility and save the configuration after
Using the System Configuration Utility 5-1