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Using the System Setup Utility: Dell™ PowerEdge™ 8450 Systems User's Guide

About the System Setup Utility • When to Run the System Setup Utility • Running the System Setup Utility • Resource Configuration Add-In • Multiboot Options Add-In • Security Add-In  • System Event Log Viewer Add-In • Sensor Data Record Manager Add-In •  Field-Replaceable Unit Manager Add-In • Exiting the System Setup Utility

About the System Setup Utility

The System Setup utility (SSU) supports the following functions and capabilities:

• Assigns resources to devices and expansion cards before loading the operating system
• Lets you specify boot device order and system security options
• Permits viewing and clearing of the system event log
• Permits viewing of the system field-replaceable units (FRUs) and sensor data records (SDRs)
• Allows troubleshooting of the server when the operating system is not functioning
• Provides a system-level view of the server’s input/output (I/O) devices

The SSU is an MS-DOS^®–based utility that supports extended system configuration operations for onboard resources and expansion cards. Use the SSU to do the following:

• Add and remove expansion cards affecting the assignment of resources (ports, memory, and so forth)
• Modify the server’s boot device order or security settings
• Change the server configuration settings
• Save the server configuration
• View or clear the system event log
• View FRU information
• View the SDR table

The SSU works with any Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)-compliant configuration (.cfg) files supplied by the peripheral device manufacturer. The I/O carrier comes with a .cfg file that describes the characteristics of the carrier and the system resources it requires.

The SSU uses the information provided by .cfg files, configuration registers, and flash memory, plus the information that you enter, to specify a system configuration. The SSU then writes the configuration information to flash memory. Information entered by using the SSU overrides any entered using the system setup program.

The SSU stores configuration values in flash memory. These values take effect when you boot the server. The power-on self-test (POST) checks the values against the actual hardware configuration; if the values do not agree, the POST generates an error message. You must then run the SSU to specify the correct configuration before the server boots. The SSU always includes a checksum with the configuration data so the basic input/output system (BIOS) can detect any potential data corruption before the actual hardware configuration takes place.

You can run the SSU directly from the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD or from a set of MS-DOS diskettes. If you choose to run the SSU from MS-DOS diskettes, you must copy the SSU from the CD to the diskettes and follow the instructions in the included readme.txt file to prepare the diskettes. 

The SSU is a collection of task-oriented modules plugged into a common framework called the application framework (AF). The AF provides a launching point for individual tasks. To run the SSU, perform the following steps:

1. Turn on your video monitor and your system.
2. Start the SSU:

• If you have created a set of SSU diskettes from the SSU CD, insert the first SSU diskette in drive A, then press <Ctrl><Alt><Delete> to reboot your server from the diskette.

• If you wish to run the SSU directly from the SSU CD, reboot the system from the CD.

3. When the SSU title appears on the screen, press <Enter> to continue.
4. The mouse driver loads if it is available; press <Enter> to continue. The following message appears:

Please wait while the Application Framework loads....

Launching an Add-In

It is possible to have several add-ins open at the same time; however, some might require complete control to avoid possible conflicts. You can launch an add-in in one of the following ways:

• In the SSU main window, double-click the add-in name under Available Tasks to display the main window for that add-in.

• Highlight the add-in name and click OK.

• Use the tab and arrow keys to highlight the desired button and press the Spacebar or click Enter.

The following subsections describe the various add-ins available through the SSU.

Resource Configuration Add-In

The Resource Configuration add-in (RCA) provides three major functions:

• Creates representations of devices that cannot be discovered by the system
• Modifies the contents of the system by adding and removing devices
• Modifies the resources used by devices

To launch the RCA, perform the following steps:

1. From the SSU main window, select Resources under the RCA heading in the dialog box.
   The RCA window appears, displaying messages similar to the following:

2. Configure the desired device by clicking on it or by selecting its name in the Devices section of the RCA window and pressing the Spacebar or <Enter>.
3. You can exit the RCA or one of the following ways:

• To save current changes temporarily, click Close. Any changes made will be kept in memory for use by the RCA when it is rerun.
• Click Save to write your current configuration to nonvolatile storage, where it will be available to the system after every reboot.
• To discard all changes, close the window by clicking on the system menu (the dash in the upper-left corner).

Modifying Resources

It may be necessary to modify the resources of a device to accommodate certain operating systems, applications, and drivers. It may also be necessary to modify resources to resolve a conflict.

To modify the resources associated with a particular device, perform the following steps:

1. Highlight the device in the Devices area of the RCA window.
2. Press the Spacebar or click  Enter or double-click the entry.
   This displays the functions of the selected device along with possible choices and the resources associated with those choices.
3. Highlight the function in the Configuration window.
4. Press the Spacebar or click Enter or double-click the entry.
   This updates the choice and resource lists.
5. Press <Tab> to get to the choice list and click Enter.
6. Use the arrow keys to make a proper choice and click Enter.
7. If the choice allows multiple possible values for a particular resource, use the hot key to select a resource and press the Spacebar or double-click the resource.
8. Select the desired resource, and click OK.

System Resource Usage

Click Resource Use in the Configuration window to display the System Resource Usage window, which shows the resources allocated to each device. This information is useful if a conflict occurs. Devices can be organized according to the resources you want to examine using the options in the Resource area of the screen. The resource information can also be written to a plain text file through this window.

Multiboot Options Add-In

To change the boot priority of a device, perform the following steps:

1. From the SSU main window, select the Multiboot Options add-in.
2. Select a device.
3. Use the plus or minus keys to change the relative priority of the boot devices.

Security Add-In

This window allows you to set the user and administrator passwords and security options.

To set the user password, perform the following steps:

1. Click User Password.
2. Enter the password in the first field.
3. Confirm the password by entering it in the second field.

To change or disable the user password, perform the following steps:

1. Click User Password.
2. Enter the old password in the first field.
3. Enter the new password in the second field (or leave blank to disable the user password).
4. Confirm the password by entering it in the second field (or leave blank to disable the user password).

To set the administrator password, perform the following steps:

1. Click Administrator Password.
2. Enter the password in the first field.
3. Confirm the password by entering it in the second field.

To change or disable the administrator password, perform the following steps:

1. Click Administrator Password.
2. Enter the old password in the first field.
3. Enter the new password in the second field (or leave blank to disable the administrator password).
4. Confirm the password by entering it again in the second field (or leave blank to disable the administrator password).

Security Options

In this window, you can set the following security options:

• Hot Key—sets a key sequence that puts the server into secure mode when the key is pressed
• Lock-Out Timer—sets an interval that puts the server into secure mode when no activity occurs during the interval
• Secure Boot Mode—forces the server to boot directly into secure mode
• Video Blanking—turns off the video when the server is in secure mode
• Floppy Write—controls access to the diskette drive when the server is in secure mode
• Reset/Power Switch Locking—controls the power and reset buttons when the server is in secure mode

System Event Log (SEL) Viewer Add-In

The SEL Viewer add-in allows you to perform the following tasks:

• Examine SEL records via the baseboard management controller (BMC) in hex or verbose mode
• Examine SEL records by sensor or event type in hex or verbose mode
• Examine SEL records from a previously stored binary file in hex or verbose mode
• Save SEL records to a file in either text or binary form
• Clear SEL entries from the nonvolatile storage area

The SEL Viewer window provides access to features of the add-in. The main window includes support to display the following information for each SEL entry: record identifier, event type, time stamp information, generator identifier, EMV revision, sensor type, sensor number, and event description. Table 1 lists the window menus and options.

Sensor Data Record Manager Add-In

The SDR Manager add-in allows you to perform the following tasks:

• Examine all SDR records through the BMC
• Examine SDR records by record type
• Examine SDR records from a previously stored binary file
• Save the SDR records to a file

The SDR Manager add-in can display SDR records in either raw form (hexadecimal) or in an interpreted, easy-to-understand textual form (verbose). The SDR Manager main window provides access to features of the add-in through menus. Each option included on the main menu supports an accelerator key. Accelerator keys are indicated by an underlined letter in the text listing the option. Table 2 lists the window’s menus and options.

Table 2. SDR Manager Add-In Menus and Options

Field Replaceable Unit Manager Add-In

The FRU Manager add-in allows you to perform the following tasks:

• Examine all FRU inventory areas on the server
• Examine individual FRU inventory areas
• Examine FRU inventory areas from a previously stored binary file
• Save the FRU inventory areas to a file

The FRU Manager add-in displays the FRU Inventory areas in either raw form (hexadecimal) or in an interpreted, easy-to-understand textual form (verbose). The FRU Manager window provides access to features of the add-in through menus. Table 3 lists the window menus and options.

Exiting the System Setup Utility

Exiting the SSU causes all windows to close. To exit the SSU, perform the following steps:

1. Click File in the SSU Main window.
2. Click Exit.
   OR
3. Highlight Exit and press Enter.

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