IBM 6648 - NetVista A40 - 128 MB RAM User Manual page 46

If Enhanced Security is enabled and you have not set an administrator
password, your computer will operate as though enhanced security is disabled.
If Enhanced Security is enabled and you have set an administrator password,
your computer will operate as follows:
v The contents of the security EEPROM (your administrator password and
startup sequence) will be protected from failure of the battery and CMOS
memory.
v The security EEPROM will be protected from unauthorized access because it
locks after your computer is turned on and the system programs have
completed their startup routine. Once it is locked, the security EEPROM
cannot be read from or written to by any software application or system
software until the computer is turned off and back on again. On a network,
this might prevent certain functions from being performed remotely on your
computer.
Enhanced Security adds a hard lock for an extra measure of protection for the
system programs in your computer. Normally, the entire contents of the
system programs EEPROM is write protected with a soft lock. A soft lock
enables the Remote Administration program to function in a network
environment. With a hard lock, when your computer is turned on and the
system programs startup routine is completed, Remote Administration is
locked and cannot be unlocked until the computer is restarted and the
administrator password is entered. Note that, in a networking environment,
this prevents the system programs in your computer from being updated
remotely. Someone must be present at your computer to turn it on and off
and enter the administrator password.
v Some models have a chassis-intrusion feature that will alert you if the cover
of your computer has been opened. This feature will work if your computer
is on or off. If the cover has been opened, a prompt for your administrator
password will appear on your screen, and your computer will remain in a
suspended state until your administrator password is entered.
v Configuration settings cannot be changed in the Configuration/Setup Utility
program until you enter the administrator password. This means that any
changes to the computer hardware that the system programs detect will
generate a configuration error until you enter the administrator password.
To enable or disable Enhanced Security:
1. Update the system programs. See "Updating system programs" on page 20.
2. During the run of the system program update, you are given the option of
enabling or disabling Enhanced Security. Your choice is automatically
recorded in the System Security menu of the Configuration/Setup Utility
program.
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User Guide