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Using the System Setup Program: Dell PowerEdge 6400 Systems User's Guide
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Using the System Setup Program: Dell™ PowerEdge™ 6400 Systems User's Guide
Each time you turn on or reboot your computer system, the system compares the hardware
installed in the system to the hardware listed in the system configuration information
stored in nonvolatile random-access memory (NVRAM) on the system board. If the system
detects a discrepancy, it generates error messages that identify the incorrect
configuration settings. The system then prompts you to enter the System Setup program to
correct the setting.
You can use the System Setup program as follows:
- To change the system configuration information after you add, change, or remove any
hardware in your system
- To set or change user-selectable options—for example, the time or date on your
system
- To enable or disable all integrated devices in your system.
NOTICE: Whenever you make changes to the System Setup program or change
settings for integrated devices, you must run the Resource Configuration Utility (RCU),
make any necessary changes, and save the system configuration information. Failure to do
so may cause resource conflicts between Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) devices
(such as PCI expansion cards, the integrated video controller, or the integrated small
computer system interface [SCSI] host adapter). See "Configuring PCI Expansion Cards"
for more information about how PCI devices are configured based on settings in the
Resource Configuration Utility.
You can view the current settings any time you run the System Setup program. When you
change a setting, the system reboots automatically so that the change can take effect.
After you set up your system, run the System Setup program to familiarize yourself with
your system configuration information and optional settings. Dell recommends that you
print the System Setup screens (by pressing the <Print Screen> key) or record the
information for future reference.
Before you use the System Setup program, you need to know the kind of diskette drive(s)
and hard-disk drive(s) installed in your computer. If you are unsure of any of this
information, see the Manufacturing Test Report that was shipped with your system. You can
access the Manufacturing Test Report in the Dell Accessories folder.
To enter the System Setup program, perform the following steps:
- Turn on your system.
If your system is already on, shut it down and then turn it on again.
- Press <F2> immediately after you see F2 = Setup appear
on the upper right corner of the Dell logo screen.
If you wait too long and your operating system begins to load into memory, let the system
complete the load operation; then shut down the system and try again.
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NOTE: To ensure an orderly system
shutdown, consult the documentation that came with your operating system. |
You can also enter the System Setup program by responding
to certain error messages.
The two System Setup screens, Page 1 and Page 2, display the current setup and
configuration information and optional settings for your system. Typical examples are
illustrated in Figure 1. Information on the two System Setup
screens is organized in five boxed areas:
- Title box — The box at the top of both screens lists the system name, page number
(Page 1 or Page 2), and the revision number of the basic input/output system (BIOS).
- Configuration options — The box on the left half of both screens lists the
categories that define the installed hardware in your computer.
Fields beside the categories contain options or values; those that appear bright on the
screen can be changed. Options or values that you cannot change because they are
determined by the system appear less bright.
Some categories have multiple fields, which may show options or values as bright or less
bright depending upon what options or values you entered in other fields.
- Help — The box on the upper-right half of both screens displays help information
for the category with a currently highlighted field.
- System data — The box in the lower-right corner of both screens displays
information about your system.
- Key functions — The line of boxes across the bottom of both screens lists keys and
their functions within the System Setup program.
Table 1 lists the keys you use to view or change information on the System Setup
screens and to exit the program.
| Table 1. System-Setup Navigation
Keys |
| Keys |
Action |
 |
Moves
to the next field. |
 |
Moves
to the previous field. |
 |
Cycles
through the options in a field. In many fields, you can also type the appropriate value. |
 |
Scrolls
through help information. |
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Switches
between Pages 1 and 2. |
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Exits
the System Setup program and reboots the system if any changes were made.
For most of the options, any changes you make are recorded but do not take effect until
the next time you boot the system. For a few options (as noted in the help area), the
changes take effect immediately. |
 |
Exits
the System Setup program and reboots the system, implementing any changes you have made. |
Figure 1. System Setup Screens
 
|
| 1 |
Configuration options |
| 2 |
Title box |
| 3 |
Help |
| 4 |
Key functions |
| 5 |
System data |
|
The following subsections explain in detail each of the options on the System Setup
screens:
Time resets the time on the computer's internal clock.
Time is kept in a 24-hour format (hours:minutes:seconds). To change the time,
press the right-arrow key to increase the number in the highlighted field or press the
left-arrow key to decrease the number. If you prefer, you can type numbers in each of the
appropriate fields.
Date resets the date on the computer's internal calendar.
Your system automatically displays the day of the week corresponding to the settings in
the three fields that follow (month, day-of-month, and year).
To change the date, press the right-arrow key to increase the number in the highlighted
field or press the left-arrow key to decrease the number. If you prefer, you can type
numbers in the month and day-of-month fields.
Diskette Drive A and Diskette Drive B identify the
type of diskette drive installed in your computer. With the standard cabling
configuration, diskette drive A (the boot diskette drive) is the 3.5-inch diskette drive
installed in the top externally accessible drive bay.
The settings always match the physical locations of the drives in your
computer—the first drive listed on Page 1 of the System Setup screens is the top
drive in your computer.
The settings are:
Num Lock determines whether your system boots with the Num Lock mode
activated on most keyboards (it does not apply to 84-key keyboards).
When Num Lock mode is activated, the rightmost bank of keys on your keyboard provides
the mathematical and numeric functions shown at the tops of the keys. When Num Lock mode
is turned off, these keys provide cursor-control functions according to the label on the
bottom of each key.
Speaker determines whether the integrated speaker is On
(the default) or Off. Rebooting the system is required for the changes to
take effect.
OS Install Mode
The OS Install Mode determines the maximum amount of memory available to the operating system. On sets the maximum
memory available to the the operating system to 256 megabytes (MB). Off
(default) makes all of the system memory available to the operating system.
Processor 1, Processor 2, Processor 3,
and Processor 4 display the version or stepping number of each processor
slot in the system. These options have no user-selectable settings.
Processor Speed displays the internal microprocessor speed.
Processor Serial Number enables or disables the processor serial
number feature. This option has the following settings:
- Disabled (default)
- Enabled
Keyboard Errors enables or disables reporting of keyboard errors
during the power-on self-test (POST), which is a series of tests that the system performs
on the hardware each time you turn on the system or press the reset button.
This option is useful when applied to self-starting servers or host systems that have
no permanently attached keyboard. In these situations, selecting Do Not Report suppresses
all error messages relating to the keyboard or to the keyboard controller during POST.
This option does not affect the operation of the keyboard itself if a keyboard is attached
to the computer.
Boot Sequence can be set to Diskette First
(default) or to Hard Disk Only.
The term boot refers to the system's start-up procedure. When turned on, the
system "bootstraps" itself into an operational state by loading into memory a
small program, which in turn loads the necessary operating system. Boot Sequence
tells the system where to look for the files that it needs to load.
System Password displays the current status of your system's password
security feature and allows you to assign and verify a new password. No one can assign a
new password unless the current status is Not Enabled, which is displayed
in bright characters.
The settings for System Password are:
- Not Enabled (the default)
- Disabled by Jumper (jumper removed)
When Setup Password is set to Enabled, Password
Status allows you to prevent the system password from being changed or disabled
at system start-up.
To lock the system password, you must first assign a password in Setup Password
and then change Password Status to Locked. In this
state, the system password cannot be changed through System Password
and cannot be disabled at system start-up by pressing <Ctrl><Enter>.
To unlock the system password, you must enter the setup password in Setup
Password and then change Password Status to Unlocked.
In this state, the system password can be disabled at system start-up by pressing
<Ctrl><Enter> and then changed through System Password.
Setup Password lets you restrict access to your computer's System
Setup program in the same way that you restrict access to your system with the system
password feature. The settings are:
- Not Enabled (the default)
- Disabled by Jumper (jumper removed)
Mouse enables or disables the system's integrated Personal System/2
(PS/2)-compatible mouse port. Disabling the mouse allows an expansion card to use
interrupt request (IRQ)12.
Serial Port 1 and Serial Port 2 configure the
system's integrated serial ports. These options can be set to Auto (the
default) to automatically configure a port, to a particular designation (COM1
or COM3 for Serial Port 1; COM2 or COM4
for Serial Port 2), or to Off to disable the port.
If you set a serial port to Auto and add an expansion card containing
a port configured to the same designation, the system automatically remaps the integrated
port to the next available port designation that shares the same IRQ setting as follows:
- COM1 (input/output [I/O] address 3F8h), which shares IRQ4 with COM3, is remapped to COM3
(I/O address 3E8h).
- COM2 (I/O address 2F8h), which shares IRQ3 with COM4, is remapped to COM4 (I/O address
2E8h).
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NOTE: When two COM ports share an IRQ
setting, you can use either port as necessary, but you may not be able to use them both at
the same time. If the second port (COM3 or COM4) is also in use, the integrated port is
turned off. |
Parallel Port configures the system's integrated parallel port. Parallel
Port can be set to 378h (the default), to alternate addresses 278h
or 3BCh, or to Off to disable the port.
|
NOTE: Do not set Parallel
Port to 278h if you have an Extended Capabilities Port (ECP)
device connected to the port. |
Parallel Mode controls whether the system's integrated parallel port
acts as an AT-compatible (unidirectional) or PS/2-compatible (bidirectional) port.
Set Parallel Mode according to the type of peripheral device connected
to the parallel port. To determine the correct mode to use, see the documentation that
came with the device.
Diskette controls the operation of the system's integrated diskette
drive controller.
With Auto (the default) selected, the system turns off the integrated
diskette drive controller when necessary to accommodate a controller card installed in an
expansion slot.
With Write Protect selected, nothing can be written to diskette drives
using the system's integrated diskette drive controller. (The system can still read from
the drives.) When this option is selected, the Auto option (whereby the
system turns off the integrated diskette drive controller as necessary) is also in effect.
Selecting Off turns off the integrated diskette controller; this
option is used primarily for troubleshooting purposes.
USB enables or disables the system's Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports.
Disabling the USB ports makes system resources available for
other devices.
Primary SCSI and Secondary SCSI turn the respective
SCSI controller on or off. Selecting On (the default option) enables the
integrated PCI SCSI controller and scans the associated ROM. For the system to boot from a
drive attached to the integrated SCSI controller, the drive must be enabled. Selecting Off
causes the BIOS to mask the presence of a device.
NIC
NIC determines whether the system's integrated network interface
controller (NIC) is Enabled or Disabled (the default).
Changes take effect after reboot.
NIC MAC Address
The MAC Address field displays the address of the
media access control (MAC) address used by the integrated NIC. This field has no
user-selectable settings.
The following fields, which are not selectable, display information about the system:
- The processor line displays the microprocessor type and speed.
- Level 2 Cache displays the size of the integrated cache (512 kilobytes
[KB]).
- System Memory indicates the entire amount of installed memory detected
in your system, except for memory on Expanded Memory Specification (EMS) expansion cards.
After adding memory, check System Memory to confirm that the new memory
is installed correctly and is recognized by the system.
- Video Memory displays the amount of video memory detected in your
system.
- Service Tag displays the system's five-character service tag number,
which was programmed into NVRAM by Dell during the manufacturing process. Refer to this
number during technical assistance or service calls. The service tag number is also
accessed by certain Dell support software, including the diagnostics software.
- Asset Tag displays the customer-programmable asset tag number for the
system if an asset tag number has been assigned. You can use the Asset Tag utility, which is included with your
software support utilities, to enter an asset tag number up to ten characters long into
NVRAM.
NOTICE: The password features provide a basic level of security for the data on
your system. However, they are not foolproof. If your data requires more security, it is
your responsibility to obtain and use additional forms of protection, such as data
encryption programs.
Your Dell system is shipped to you without the system password feature enabled. If
system security is a concern, you should operate your system only with system password
protection.
You can assign a system password whenever
you use the System Setup program. After a system password is assigned, only those who know
the password have full use of the system.
When System Password is set to Enabled, the computer
system prompts you for the system password just after the system boots.
To change an existing
system password, you must know the password. If you assign and later forget a system
password, you need to be able to remove the computer cover to change a jumper setting that
disables the system password feature. Note
that when you erase the system password, you erase the setup password at the same time.
NOTICE: If you leave your system running and unattended without having a system
password assigned, or if you leave your computer unlocked so that someone can disable the
password by changing a jumper setting, anyone can access the data stored on your hard-disk
drive.
Before you can assign a system password, you must enter the System Setup program and
check System Password.
When a system password is assigned, System Password is Enabled.
When the system password feature is disabled by a jumper setting on the system board, the
status shown is Disabled by Jumper. You cannot change or enter a new
system password if either of these options is displayed.
When no system password is assigned and the password jumper on the system board is in
the enabled position (its default), the status shown for System Password
is Not Enabled. Only when System Password is set to Not
Enabled can you assign a system password, by performing the following steps:
- Verify that Password Status is set to Unlocked.
- Highlight System Password, and then press the left- or right-arrow key.
The heading changes to Enter Password, followed by an empty
seven-character field in square brackets.
- Type your new system password.
You can use up to seven characters in your password.
As you press each character key (or the spacebar key for a blank space), a placeholder
appears in the field.
The password assignment operation recognizes keys by their location on the keyboard,
without distinguishing between lowercase and uppercase characters. For example, if you
have an M in your password, the system recognizes either M or m
as correct.
Certain key combinations are not valid. If you enter one of these combinations, the
speaker emits a beep.
To erase a character when entering your password, press the <Backspace> key or the
left-arrow key.
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NOTE: To escape from the field
without assigning a system password, press the <Tab> key or the
<Shift><Tab> key combination to move to another field, or press the
<Esc> key at any time prior to completing step 5. |
- Press <Enter>.
If the new system password contains fewer than seven characters, the whole field fills
with placeholders. Then the option heading changes to Verify Password,
followed by another empty seven-character field in square brackets.
- To confirm your password, type it a second time and press <Enter>.
The password setting changes to Enabled. Your system password is now set;
you can exit the System Setup program and begin using your system.
Note, however, that password protection does not take effect until you reboot the system
by turning the system off and then on again.
Whenever you turn on your system or reboot by pressing the
<Ctrl><Alt><Del> key combination, the following prompt appears when Password
Status is set to Unlocked:
Type in the password and...
-- press <ENTER> to leave password
security enabled.
-- press <CTRL><ENTER> to disable password security.
Enter password:
If Password Status is set to Locked, the following
prompt appears:
Type the password and press <Enter>.
After you type the correct system password and press <Enter>, your system boots
and you can use the keyboard and/or mouse to operate your system as usual.
If a wrong or incomplete system password is entered, the following message appears on
the screen:
** Incorrect password. **
Enter password:
If an incorrect or incomplete system password is entered again, the same message
appears on the screen.
The third and subsequent times an incorrect or incomplete system password is entered,
the system displays the following message:
** Incorrect password. **
Number of unsuccessful password
attempts: 3
System halted! Must power down.
The number of unsuccessful attempts made to enter the correct system password can alert
you to an unauthorized person attempting to use your system.
Even after your system is turned off and on, the previous message is displayed each
time an incorrect or incomplete system password is entered.
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NOTE: You can use Password
Status in conjunction with System Password and Setup
Password to further protect your system from unauthorized changes. For more
information, see "Password Status." |
To delete or change an existing system password, perform the following steps:
- Enter the System Setup program, and verify that the Password
Status option is set to Unlocked.
Enter the System Setup
program by pressing the <Ctrl><Alt><Enter> key combination. Press the
<Alt><p> key combination to move to Page 2 of the System Setup screens.
- Reboot your system to force it to prompt you for a system password.
- When prompted, type the system password.
- Press the <Ctrl><Enter> key combination to disable the existing system
password, instead of pressing <Enter> to continue with the normal operation of your
system.
- Confirm that Not Enabled is displayed for the System Password
option of the System Setup program.
If Not Enabled appears in the System Password option,
the system password has been deleted.
If you want to assign a new password, continue to step 6.
If Not Enabled is not displayed for the System Password
category, press the <Alt><b> key combination to reboot the system, and then
repeat steps 3 through 5.
- To assign a new password, follow the procedure in "Assigning a System Password."
Your Dell system is shipped to you without the setup password feature enabled. If
system security is a concern, you should operate your system with setup password
protection.
You can assign a setup password whenever you
use the System Setup program. After a setup password is assigned, only those who know the
password have full use of the System Setup program.
To change an existing setup
password, you must know the setup password. If you assign and later forget a setup
password, you need to remove the computer cover to change a jumper setting that disables the setup password feature. Note that
you erase the system password at the same time.
A setup password can be assigned (or changed) only when Setup Password
is set to Not Enabled. To assign a setup password, highlight Setup
Password and press the left- or right-arrow key. The system prompts you to enter
and verify the password. If a character is illegal for password use, the system emits a
beep.
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NOTES: The setup password can be the
same as the system password.
If the two passwords are different, the setup password can be used as an alternate system
password. However, the system password cannot be used in place of the setup password. |
After you verify the password, Setup Password changes to Enabled.
The next time you enter the System Setup program, the system prompts you for the setup
password.
A change to Setup Password becomes effective immediately (rebooting
the system is not required).
If Setup Password is set to Enabled, you must enter
the correct setup password before you can modify the majority of the System Setup options.
When you start the System Setup program, Page 2 of the System Setup screens appears
with Setup Password highlighted, prompting you to type the password.
If you do not enter the correct password in three attempts, the system lets you view,
but not modify, the System Setup screens—with the following exceptions:
- You can still modify Date, Time, CPU Speed,
Num Lock, and Speaker.
- If System Password is not enabled and is not locked via Password
Status, you can assign a system password (however, you cannot disable or change
an existing system password).
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NOTE: You can use Password
Status in conjunction with Setup Password to protect the system
password from unauthorized changes. For more information, see "Password Status." |
To delete or change an existing setup password, perform the following steps:
- Enter the System Setup program.
- Highlight Setup Password, and press the left- or right-arrow key to
delete the existing setup password.
The setting changes to Not Enabled.
- If you want to assign a new setup password, follow the procedure in "Assigning a Setup Password."
If you forget your system or setup password, you cannot operate your system or change
settings in the System Setup program, respectively, until a trained service technician
opens the computer chassis, changes the password jumper setting to disable the passwords,
and erases the existing passwords. This procedure is described in "Disabling a
Forgotten Password" in the Installation and Troubleshooting Guide.
If an error message appears on your monitor screen while the system is booting, make a
note of the message. Then, before entering the System Setup program, see "Messages
and Codes" in the Installation and Troubleshooting Guide for
an explanation of the message and suggestions for correcting any errors. (An exception to
this routine: It is normal to receive an error message the first time you boot your system
after installing a memory upgrade. In that situation, follow the instructions in
"Performing a Memory Upgrade" in "Installing System Board Options" of
the Installation and Troubleshooting Guide.)
If you are given an option of pressing either <F1> to continue or <F2> to
run the System Setup program, press the <F2> key.
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