Contents: Dell Precision Mobile Workstation Information Update
Dell Precision™ Mobile
Workstation Information Update
The Dell Precision Mobile Workstation computer allows you to use OpenGL and other high-end application programs usually associated
with a desktop computer. There are, however, a few issues,
such as power management settings and license management, that may affect
the performance of these application programs. This document provides information on how
to adjust settings and license management options to help provide the
best performance for your application programs on your Mobile Workstation.
Some of the application programs
that may be used on your Dell Precision Mobile Workstation are:
- ProE (PTC Pro Engineer)
- ProCDRS
- SDRC Master Series
- Solid Edge
Dell recommends that you do not use the
suspend mode while using OpenGL application programs. You should also review your power
management settings before using any application programs. For more information about
power management settings, see your User's Guide.
The Dell Precision Mobile Workstation
uses Intel SpeedStep technology that allows you
to set the performance level of the processor according to whether the computer
is running on battery or AC power.
In situations where the graphics driver
or the application program depends heavily on the processor for performance, a change to a lower processor speed
by Intel SpeedStep
may appear as a graphics performance issue.
To avoid possible graphics performance
issues due to a change in processor speed, Dell recommends that you disable the
Intel SpeedStep utility. Disabling SpeedStep allows the processor to operate at
full speed at all times, but reduces the operating time of the battery when
running on battery power.
In the Microsoft® Windows® 2000 operating
system, click the checkered-flag
icon located on the task bar to open the Intel SpeedStep technology
window. In the Running on Batteries menu, select Maximum Performance.
Settings for Intel SpeedStep are:
Automatic The processor runs at its highest
possible speed (Maximum Performance mode) when the computer is running on AC
power. When the computer is running on battery power, the processor runs in
Battery Optimized mode.
Maximum Battery The processor speed is
optimized for battery power when the computer is not idle.
Maximum Performance The processor runs at its
highest possible speed even if the computer is running on battery power.
Battery Optimized Performance Processor speed
is optimized for battery power even if the computer is connected to an
electrical outlet.
To change additional Intel SpeedStep options:
- Click the Advanced button and then click
one of the following options:
- Disable Intel SpeedStep technology control
- Remove flag icon (from the task bar)
- Disable audio notification when performance changes
- Click OK to accept any changes, and then click OK
to close the Intel SpeedStep window.
You can also change the Intel SpeedStep settings by
right-clicking the flag icon in the task bar.
Intel SpeedStep Window
One of two licensing
methods is typically used on advanced application programs: FlexLM (software-based license
management) or a dongle (hardware-based license management). Some application programs
may use a combination of both.
FlexLM and Other Software-Based License
Management
Your Dell Precision Mobile Workstation can be configured with several different options to access the network;
however, some network configurations may cause problems for license management and may cause
an application program to not start, to fail, or to stop responding.
Additionally, the Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system may disable the network
interface if the computer is not connected to a network structure. To help avoid
these issues, see "Tips for Software-Based License
Management."
Tips for Software-Based License
Management
- When the computer is docked, disable
the docking device's network adapter and use the computer's integrated network adapter
(or the network adapter PC Card if the computer's network adapter is disabled).
To disable the network adapter on the docking device, enter system setup by
pressing <F2> during system startup. On the third page of
system setup,
select Disable for Docking Ethernet.
For information on
using the network adapter, see the online network adapter documentation
supplied with your computer. To access the documentation, double-click the Dell
Documents icon on the Windows desktop, click System
Information, and then click Communications.
- In Windows 2000, use a static IP address
instead of a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).
If you do use a DHCP with the network cable
connected and then later disconnect the cable, Windows 2000 disables the
network, which also disables FlexLM. You can avoid this problem with a
registry entry called DisableDHCPMediaSense. Information about this registry
entry is listed on the Microsoft support website at support.microsoft.com.
- Use a network adapter loopback
connector, which can be purhcased at most computer supply stores.
- For application programs that use FlexLM, the computer can be set up
in one of the following ways when loading the application program and FlexLM:
- Client the computer always
has to have network access to the license management server where the
software is loaded so that the server can validate the license and allow the
computer to run the application program.
- Server the computer never
actually runs the application program, but the server allows clients to receive
validation in order to run a specific application program.
- Both the computer is
the server and the client for the application program and therefore should always
be able to access the application program. This method allows full portability.
Hardware-Based License Management
The most common method of hardware-based
license management is the use of a dongle. A dongle is a device that is
attached to the parallel port of the computer to lock the use of the application program
to one specific computer. If the dongle is removed from the
computer, the application program fails to operate.
If the computer is attached to a docking
device, the dongle should be attached to the parallel port of the docking device.
If you intend to undock the computer and need to continue using the same application program, follow these steps:
- Save any projects you are working on
and shut down the application program.
- Undock the computer.
- Remove the dongle from the docking
device and attach it to the parallel port of the computer.
- Restart the application program.
For more information about using your
computer with a docking device, see your User's Guide and the documentation that
came with your docking device.
Information in this document is subject to change
without notice.
© 20012002 Dell Computer Corporation. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written
permission of Dell Computer Corporation is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell
Precision is a trademark of Dell Computer Corporation; Intel
is a registered trademark and SpeedStep is a trademark of
Intel Corporation; Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks
of Microsoft Corporation.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this
document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products.
Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its
own.
March 2002 6M335 A01
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