How To Run The Eisa Configuration Utility; When To Run The Eisa Configuration Utility - Dell 4100 User Manual

both utilities, you can set the options through either
utility.
NOTE: In most cases, your system operates according to
the most recent changes, regardless of which utility you
use to make the changes. However, some software written
for EISA systems may require that the change be saved to
the EISA configuration memory to operate properly.
H
ow to Run the EISA Configura-
tion Utility
The EISA Configuration Utility is included on the Dell
Server Assistant CD shipped with your system. This CD
includes an EISA Configuration Utility directory that
contains the main program plus a directory of .cfg files
for many—but not all—ISA expansion cards.
You can run the EISA Configuration Utility directly from
the CD or from a diskette that you create using the CD's
main menu. Dell recommends that you run the EISA
Configuration Utility from a diskette because it is not
compatible with all operating systems. Also, using a dis-
kette to run the utility allows you to copy any system
configuration changes to the diskette for safekeeping. See
Chapter 2, "Using the Dell Server Assistant CD," for
instructions on creating an EISA Configuration Utility
diskette.
When you buy an EISA expansion card, you receive a
configuration diskette containing the card's configuration
file with the filename extension .cfg. Copy this .cfg file to
your EISA Configuration Utility diskette. The EISA
Configuration Utility uses the information in this file to
configure the new card.
When you buy an ISA expansion card, copy the appropri-
ate configuration file (contained in the .cfg directory on the
diskette) to your EISA Configuration Utility diskette. If
the .cfg directory does not contain a configuration file for
your ISA expansion card, use the generic ISA card config-
uration file, which is included in the .cfg directory on the
CD. Instructions for using the generic .cfg file are included
in "Adding an Expansion Card" found later in this chapter.
PCI expansion cards do not require a configuration file.
The PCI configuration utility in ROM automatically uses
5-2 Dell PowerEdge 4100/180 and 4100/200 Systems User's Guide
the information maintained by the EISA to assign
resources for PCI expansion cards.
CAUTION: You must use the EISA Configuration
Utility when a trained service technician adds
EISA or ISA expansion cards to your computer.
For an ISA card, use the specific configuration file
for your expansion card, if one is available, rather
than the generic ISA card configuration file. The
generic ISA card configuration file cannot be used
to identify potential resource conflicts or proper
jumper and switch settings.
W
hen to Run the EISA Configu-
ration Utility
Whenever a trained service technician adds, removes, or
repositions ISA or EISA expansion cards, you must run the
EISA Configuration Utility to specify which expansion
slot the card is installed in and to ensure that no two cards
attempt to use the same resources (such as IRQ lines).
When you use the utility with ISA expansion cards, run
the program before adding, removing, or repositioning
any cards. The EISA Configuration Utility can identify
and resolve any resource conflicts, as well as indicate the
proper jumper and switch settings for each expansion
card to avoid such conflicts. Running the program first
helps you determine how to configure the expansion card
before it is installed in your computer.
When you use the utility with EISA expansion cards, you
should normally run the program after adding, removing,
or repositioning the card. However, some cards have
ROM or a device driver that examines the configuration
information stored in NVRAM; these cards require that
you run the program before the card is installed. Each
configuration file for an EISA expansion card has an
identification number the utility reads before configuring
the card. EISA expansion cards have no jumpers or
switches that must be set before the card is installed.
When you use the utility with PCI expansion cards, you
should run the program after adding a PCI expansion card
so the EISA Configuration Utility will have a current
record of assigned resources.