System Management Support; Flash Rom Write Protect; User Security - Compaq Deskpro EP 6233 Technical Reference Manual

Chapter 4 System Support
4.8

SYSTEM MANAGEMENT SUPPORT

This section describes the hardware support of functions involving security, safety, identification,
and power consumption of the system. The following sections describe the system management
functions. Any BIOS interaction required of these functions is described in Chapter 7, "BIOS
ROM."
4.8.1

FLASH ROM WRITE PROTECT

The system BIOS firmware is contained in a flash ROM device that can be re-written with
updated code if necessary. During the boot sequence, the BIOS checks for the presence of the
ROMPAQ diskette. The system ROM is write-protected as follows:
Start Addr.
C0000h
F0000h
F8000h
FA000h
The write-protected portions of ROM are protected through GPO port 13.
4.8.2

USER SECURITY

When enabled, the user is prompted to enter the power-on password during POST. If an
incorrect entry is made, the system halts and does not boot. The Power-On password is stored in
eight bytes at configuration memory locations 37h-3Fh. These locations are physically located
within the 87309.
The power-on password function can be disabled by setting DIP SW1 position 1 to on (closed).
The administrator password is stored in eight bytes at configuration memory locations 78h-7Fh.
If the administrator password function is enabled, the user is prompted to enter the password
before running F10-Setup or before booting from a ROMPAQ diskette. If an incorrect entry is
made, the system halts and does not boot.
The QuickLock feature allows, if enabled in F10-Setup through CMOS location 13h bit <2>, the
user to lock the keyboard and mouse by invoking the Ctrl-Alt-L keystrokes. This initiates an SMI
and the SMI handler then takes the action required to lock the keyboard. If the QuickBlank
feature is enabled at that time then the screen will be blanked as well. The user then must enter
the power-on password to re-activate the keyboard and/or display .
NOTE: Although the SMI is used for initiating QuickLock/QuickBlank functions, these
functions are not considered power management features.
4-50 Compaq Deskpro EP Series of Personal Computers
End Addr. Data Type
EFFFFh Option ROM
F7FFFh System BIOS
F9FFFh ESCD
FFFFFh Boot Block
First Edition - April 1998
Protection
Write-protected
Write-protected
Never write-protected
Always write-protected