Dell® PowerEdge® 2100/180 and 2100/200 Systems USER’S GUIDE ®
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. 1996 Dell Computer Corporation. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Computer Corporation is strictly forbidden.
Safety Instructions When Using Your Computer System As you use your computer system, observe the following safety guidelines: • To help avoid damaging your computer, be sure the voltage selection switch on the power supply is set to match the alternating current (AC) power available at your location: — 115 volts (V)/60 hertz (Hz) in most of North and South America and some Far Eastern countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan • Do not push any objects into the openings of your computer.
• Keep your forearms horizontal with your wrists in a neutral, comfortable position while using the keyboard or mouse. • Always leave space to rest your hands while using the keyboard or mouse. • • Let your upper arms hang naturally at your sides. Sit erect, with your feet resting on the floor and your thighs level. • When sitting, make sure the weight of your legs is on your feet and not on the front of your chair seat.
When Working Inside Your Computer Before you remove the computer cover, perform the following steps in the sequence indicated: 1. Turn off your computer and any peripherals. 2. Disconnect your computer and peripherals from their power sources. Also disconnect any telephone or telecommunications lines from the computer. 3. Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge Static electricity can harm delicate components inside your computer.
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Preface About This Guide This guide is intended for anyone who uses the Dell PowerEdge 2100/180 or 2100/200 computer systems. The guide can be used by both first-time and experienced computer users who want to learn about the features and operation of the systems or who want to upgrade their computers.
• The Glossary provides definitions of terms, acronyms, and abbreviations used in this guide. Warranty and Return Policy Information Dell Computer Corporation (“Dell”) manufactures its hardware products from parts and components that are new or equivalent to new in accordance with industrystandard practices. For information about the Dell warranty for your system, see Appendix E, “Warranties and Return Policy.
Typographical Conventions The following list defines (where appropriate) and illustrates typographical conventions used as visual cues for specific elements of text throughout this document: lowercase bold; variable parameters (those for which you substitute a value) are displayed in lowercase italics; constant parameters are displayed in lowercase bold. The brackets indicate items that are optional.
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Chapter 1 Introduction D ell PowerEdge 2100/180 and 2100/200 systems are high-speed, upgradable server systems designed ® ® Pentium Pro microprocessor features Dynamic Execution, which combines three processing techniques: around the Intel® Pentium® Pro family of microprocessors. The PowerEdge 2100 systems provide both Extended Industry-Standard Architecture (EISA) and high-performance Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) expansion slots to allow for future expansion of your system.
• • Integrated system board support for the Upgrade Server Management Card which provides improved local and remote server management. The system board includes the following built-in features: • A PS/2-style keyboard port and a PS/2-compatible mouse port. • Three EISA and three PCI expansion-card connectors, located on the system board. A separate expansion-card slot is available for each EISA and PCI expansion-card connector; there are no shared expansion slots.
Supported Operating Systems drive access indicators Dell supports the following network operating systems for use on PowerEdge 2100 systems: • • Microsoft® Windows NT® Server 3.51 and 4.x power button Novell® NetWare® 3.12, 4.x (and later versions) power indicator (inside power button) Operating system software is not included with PowerEdge 2100 systems. If you purchase the operating system software from Dell, installation instructions are included on the CD-ROM with the operating system software.
• Always attach external devices while your computer is turned off. Then turn on any external devices before turning on the computer unless the documentation for the device specifies otherwise. (If the computer does not seem to recognize the device, try turning on the computer before turning on the device.) For information about enabling, disabling, or configuring I/O ports and connectors, see Chapter 4, “Using the System Setup Program,” or Chapter 5, “Using the EISA Configuration Utility.
Chapter 2 Using the Dell Server Assistant CD T his chapter describes the bootable Dell Server Assistant CD and tells you how to use the utilities, diagnostics, documentation, drivers, and other items included on the CD. This chapter also describes how to install the video drivers for supported operating systems and how to use the asset tag utility provided on the CD. Booting the CD The system must be running to insert the CD.
Choose Language When the system boots, you are given the option of choosing one of the following languages for the menus, help screens, messages, and online documentation: • • • • German English Spanish French After you choose a language, the main menu appears in the chosen language. Configure the System The options within the Configure the System category are used for configuring your system. The following subsections describe the options available in this category.
Create EISA Configuration Utility Diskette Create Windows NT Server 3.51 Diskettes This option allows you to create a bootable EISA Configuration Utility diskette (or diskettes). Dell recommends running the EISA Configuration Utility from a diskette so you can copy your configuration information to the diskette any time you change system configuration parameters. This option allows you to create a driver diskette for use with Windows NT Server 3.51.
Create Driver Diskette 4. This option allows you to create a diskette that contains SCSI and NIC drivers for the Novell NetWare 3.12 operating system. Select Change from the display options; then select Other. 5. When prompted for the correct path, type a:\ATI and press . NOTE: Be sure to use the SCSI Driver diskettes created from the Dell Server Assistant CD rather than the SCSI drivers provided with the operating system.
Using the Asset Tag Utility Use the following procedure to create a system utility diskette and boot the system: 1. If you have not already done so, create a bootable system utility diskette from the CD. 2. Insert the diskette in drive A, and reboot the system. After you boot the system with the system utility diskette, you can use the Asset Tag utility to enter an asset tag number that you or your organization assign to the computer.
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Chapter 3 Installing and Configuring SCSI Drivers T his chapter describes how to install and configure the Dell small computer system interface (SCSI) device driv- The readme.txt File ers included with your Dell PowerEdge 2100 computer system. These device drivers are designed to work with the Adaptec AIC-7880 Ultra/Wide SCSI controller chip on the system board. The readme.
Table 3-1. Default SCSI Controller Settings Setting Default SCSI Bus Interface Definitions: Host Adapter SCSI ID 7 SCSI Parity Checking Enabled Host Adapter SCSI Termination Low On/High On Boot Device Options: Boot Target ID 0 Boot LUN Number 0 Basic Host Adapter Settings The basic host adapter settings are the SCSISelect settings most likely to require modification. • Host Adapter SCSI ID. This option sets the host adapter’s SCSI ID.
SCSI Device Settings The SCSI device settings allow you to configure certain parameters for each device on the SCSI bus. To configure a specific device, you must know the SCSI ID assigned to that device. If you are not sure of the SCSI ID, see “Using the SCSI Disk Utilities” found later in this section. • SCSI device is connected to the host adapter, set Enable Disconnection to No to achieve slightly better performance. • Initiate Sync Negotiation.
large as 8 GB under the MS-DOS operating system with a maximum partition size of 2 GB. You should disable the host adapter BIOS if the peripherals on the SCSI bus (for example, CD-ROM drives) are all controlled by device drivers and do not need the BIOS. • Extended BIOS translation is used only with MS-DOS 5.0 or later. It is not necessary to enable this if you are using another operating system such as Novell NetWare. Support Removable Disks Under BIOS as Fixed Disks.
Using SCSISelect Menus key to reboot the computer. Any changes you made in SCSISelect take effect after the computer boots. (You can select No at the prompt if you are not ready to exit SCSISelect.) SCSISelect uses menus to list options you can select. To select an option, use the up- and down-arrow keys to move the cursor to the option; then press . Installation for Microsoft Win- The first menu displays the Configure/View Host Adapter Settings and SCSI Disk Utilities options.
Installing Windows NT 3.51 and the Driver This section describes how to install the aic78xx.sys driver at the same time you install Windows NT 3.51. If Windows NT 3.51 is already installed and you wish to install or update the aic78xx.sys driver, see “Using Windows NT to Install or Update the Driver,” found later in this section. displays none. Type SCSI controllers. 7. NOTE: An older version of the aic78xx.sys driver is included in the Windows NT installation diskettes (or on the CD-ROM).
Installing or Updating the Driver With Windows NT 3.51 Follow these instructions only if Windows NT 3.51 is already installed: 1. 2. Select and start the Windows NT Setup program. (Its icon is usually found in the Main program group.) There is a brief pause while Windows NT Setup scans your hardware configuration. Select the Options pull-down menu, and then select Add/Remove SCSI Adapters. The SCSI Adapter setup program displays a list of all host adapters currently installed.
15. When you see the following message, click OK to exit: 5. Return to step 3 if you want to remove driver support for other types of host adapters, or click Close to exit the SCSI adapters portion of Windows NT Setup. 6. Close the Windows NT Setup program. When the following message appears, click OK to exit: The changes you have made will not take effect until the computer is restarted. If this message does not appear, no changes have been made to the Windows NT system configuration.
Troubleshooting for Windows NT Installation Overview The boot manager for Windows NT contains recovery logic to allow you to return to the last known good configuration. If you have changed your host adapter configuration and Windows NT no longer boots, follow these steps to recover: This section provides the information needed to install and use the Dell SCSI drivers for NetWare 3.12 and 4.x.
To begin driver installation, first load the EZ-SCSI utility as described in the following subsection “Installing EZ-SCSI,” and then calculate the slot number as described in “Calculating the Slot Number” found later in this section. Then if you are performing a first-time NetWare installation, see “Installing NetWare and the Driver” found later in this section. If NetWare is already installed in your system, see “Using NetWare to Update or Install the Driver” found later in this section.
In order to calculate the slot number, you must first obtain the bus:device xx:xxh values identified when running the SCSISelect utility for your host adapter. This calculation is done manually, as described in the following steps: Follow these steps only if you are installing or upgrading NetWare 4.x for the first time: 1. Make backup copies of all Novell diskettes, and use those backup copies as your working diskettes. Run the SCSISelect utility for your host adapter. 2. Boot MS-DOS on your computer.
12. When the screen displays Loading driver aic7870.dsk, Please Wait, switch to the System Console screen. 2. Boot MS-DOS on your computer. 3. Change to the directory where the installation files are found. For a CD-ROM, the subdirectory is similar to d:\netware.312\english\. 4. Type install and press . Press to switch screens. 13. The driver prompts you for the slot number. Enter the slot number you calculated for your host adapter, and press .
Using NetWare to Install or Update the Driver 3. This section describes how to update or install the aic7870.dsk driver if NetWare 3.12 or 4.x is already installed. If you are installing NetWare 3.12 or 4.x for the first time, see “Installing NetWare and the Driver” found earlier in this section. The correct syntax to load the Adaptec 78xx driver follows: :load [pathname] aic7870.dsk [options] slot=x The instructions for updating or installing the driver are similar for both NetWare 3.12 and 4.x.
Table 3-2. load Command Line Options (continued) Option Values Default Description dev_enable= 00-FF* FF Allows you to enable the driver’s registration of SCSI devices on a per-target basis. This enable bit mask is entered in hexadecimal format. (See the following subsection, “Bit Mask Options.”) lun_enable= 00-FF* 01 Enables scanning for specific LUNs on all targets. (See the following subsection, “Bit Mask Options,” for details on creating bit masks.
Bit Mask Options Use this example to aid in calculating bit-mask option hexadecimal values. Each SCSI device is enabled by a “1” in its corresponding bit position. As illustrated in Figure 3-1, dev_enable=05 enables driver registration of the devices at SCSI IDs 0 and 2. bit position SCSI ID 0, 2 15141312 0 0 0 0 111098 0 000 7654 0000 3210 0101 converted binary-to-hex = 05h To automatically load the aic7870.dsk at server start-up, the startup.
Booting From a SCSI Device Formatting Media Follow these steps to set your system to boot from a SCSI device: NetWare’s install.nlm program lets you optionally format a hard-disk drive for use with NetWare. If you are using SCSI drives, it allows you to low-level format several SCSI drives simultaneously. The NetWare format procedure is not the same as using fdisk or format under MS-DOS. 1.
These removable media options are supported by NetWare’s monitor.nlm program. Lock Status 1. Load monitor.nlm to display the various options. If your removable-media device supports the lock/unlock feature, you can lock the media (menu option 6). The media must be in the Not Locked state before you can eject it. 2. Select Disk Information. All system hard-disk drives appear. Verify Status 3. Select the removable-media device. Drive status items appear as shown in Table 3-4.
Adaptec 78xx Family host adapters and their drivers are fully NetWare-tested and -approved. This means that you can purchase a NetWare drive (certified as “Yes, Tested and Approved”) from a vendor, connect it to your computer system or host adapter, partition it, and create a volume without any compatibility concerns. Adaptec’s aic7870.dsk driver module is flexible enough to allow you to connect NetWare-tested and -approved SCSI drives as well as standard SCSI drives to a single host adapter.
Troubleshooting for NetWare Any error that occurs while the driver is initializing prevents it from loading. If an error does occur, the driver causes the computer to beep and then display a numbered error message: 003 Invalid command line option entered > option An invalid option was entered on the command line. The invalid option that was entered is also displayed.
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Chapter 4 Using the System Setup Program E ach time you turn on your computer system or press the reset button, 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 between the two, it generates error messages that identify the incorrect configuration settings.
• Table 4-1. System Setup Keys (continued) Help The box on the upper-right side of each screen displays help information for the category whose field is currently highlighted. • Keys Key Functions The area at the bottom of each screen lists the keys and their specific functions, which are also listed in Table 4-1. Table 4-1. System Setup Keys Keys Action or Displays the general help window. Action Increments the value of the field. or or Sets default configuration values for the current menu.
Entering the System Setup Program NOTE: To ensure an orderly system shutdown, consult the documentation that accompanied your operating system. You can enter the System Setup program by pressing the key when prompted while the computer is starting up. You can also enter the System Setup program by responding to certain error messages. (See “Responding to Error Messages” at the end of this chapter.) If you wait too long, your operating system begins to load into memory.
Main Menu Categories To access the Main menu (see Figure 4-1), use the arrow keys to highlight Main. This section explains in detail each of the System Setup categories in the Main menu and the Boot Sequence submenu. Time 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, use the plus and minus keys. If you prefer, you can type numbers in each of the appropriate fields.
Selecting C: Only causes the system to boot only from the hard-disk drive, even if there is a bootable diskette in drive A. You might select the C: Only option to prevent an unauthorized person from accessing the system by booting from a diskette. configuration options and system data Boot Options Submenu Categories To access the Boot Options submenu (see Figure 4-2), highlight the Boot Sequence category in the Main menu and press . title box help key functions Figure 4-2.
Setup Prompt Setting this category to Enabled (the default) causes the message Press to enter Setup to appear while the system is starting up. POST Errors Setting this category to Enabled (the default) causes the message Press to resume, to enter Setup to appear and the system to pause if an error occurs while the system is starting up. Diskette Drive Check Setting this category to Enabled (the default) causes the system to seek diskette drives during system start-up.
Advanced Menu Categories To access the Advanced menu (see Figure 4-3), use the arrow keys to highlight Advanced. This section explains in detail each of the System Setup categories in the Advanced menu. The Advanced menu allows you to set the COM and LPT addresses, set the LPT mode, enable or disable the on-board diskette controller, enable the PS/2 mouse, and enable or disable the built-in SCSI controller. The Advanced menu also lets you control the PCI scan sequence.
Serial Port 1 Parallel Mode Use this category to select a unique address and interrupt request for the listed COM ports. The options are as follows: This category allows you to select from the following options: Output Only (AT-compatible) (the default), Bidirectional (Personal System/2 [PS/2]-compatible), and ECP (extended capabilities port). • • • • Disabled 3F8, IRQ4 (the default) 3E8, IRQ4 Auto Diskette Controller Selecting Enabled (the default) enables the on-board diskette drive controller.
Security Menu Categories To access the Security menu (see Figure 4-4), use the arrow keys to highlight Security. This section explains in detail each of the System Setup categories in the Security menu. configuration options and system data title box help key functions Figure 4-4.
Supervisor Password Is Set User Password This category displays whether the supervisor password is disabled or enabled. When Enabled is displayed, the supervisor password has already been set and is required in order to have full access (see Table 4-2) to the System Setup program. The default is Disabled. NOTE: You cannot set the user password until a supervisor password is set.
Virus Check Reminder This category lets you display a message during start-up at selected intervals to remind you to check your system for viruses. The options are as follows: • • • Disabled (default) • Monthly Exit Menu Categories To access the Exit menu (see Figure 4-5), use the arrow keys to highlight Exit. The following section explains in detail each of the System Setup categories in the Exit Daily Weekly configuration options and system data title box help key functions Figure 4-5.
Save Changes & Exit When you choose this option, the BIOS stores the changes you have made in a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS), exits the System Setup program, and reboots the system. When your system reboots, the BIOS configures the system according to the selections stored in CMOS. Exit Without Saving Changes Exits the System Setup program without saving any of the changes you have made. Get Default Values Loads the default values for each menu in the System Setup program.
Keep the following tips in mind when setting your password: • You can use up to seven alphanumeric characters in your password (passwords are not case sensitive). • As you press each character key (or the for a blank space), a placeholder appears in the field. • To erase a character when entering your password, press the key or the left-arrow key.
unlocking the computer’s keylock) and change a jumper setting to temporarily disable the user password feature (see “Disabling a Forgotten Password” found later in this section). Note that you erase the supervisor password at the same time. CAUTION: If you leave your system running and unattended, anyone can access the data stored in your system even with a user password assigned.
You must reboot the system before you can attempt to enter a password again. Deleting or Changing an Existing User Password To disable the user password, press to display the Set Password dialog box, and then press two more times. 2. Refer to “Jumpers” and Table B-1 in Appendix B for jumper information, and to Figure B-1 for the location of the password jumper (labeled “PASSWD”) on the system board. 3. Remove the jumper plug from the PASSWD jumper (the disabled setting). 4.
Password Options Table 4-2 lists several ways the supervisor and user password and the Password On Boot category can be used to provide security for your system. Table 4-2. Password Options Supervisor Password User Password1 Password on Boot Boot Prompt Setup Prompt Enabled Disabled Enabled Yes Yes2 You are prompted for a password at boot and for access to System Setup. Supervisor password must be entered for system to boot.
Responding to Error Messages 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, refer to the chapter titled “Messages and Codes” in your Diagnostics 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.
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Chapter 5 Using the EISA Configuration Utility T he EISA Configuration Utility is used to tell the system what expansion cards are installed and which expansion slots they occupy. With this information, the system automatically configures Extended IndustryStandard Architecture (EISA) cards and can tell you how to configure Industry-Standard Architecture (ISA) cards manually by setting jumpers or switches.
for EISA systems may require that the change be saved to the EISA configuration memory to operate properly. How to Run the EISA Configuration 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.
Making Selections in the EISA Configuration Utility that accompanied these programs for instructions on removing them from memory. The EISA Configuration Utility uses menus to guide you through the configuration process. The menus and their options are accessed through keyboard commands. If you start the utility and there is not enough memory to run it, a message is displayed. If you receive such a message, run the utility from a diskette.
2. When the Welcome screen appears, read the information on the screen and press .
To review the information screens at any time while you are in the EISA Configuration Utility, press and select EISA Configuration from the Help menu. Step 2: Add or Remove Boards 2. If the EISA Configuration Utility prompts you for a supervisor password, type the password and press . 3. When you select the Step 2: Add or Remove Boards option, the EISA Configuration Utility lists all the expansion slots in your computer. (You may have to press to view the entire list.
6. Press , select Step 5: Save and Exit, and follow the online instructions to save the current system configuration information. Remember to save a printout or written copy of your new configuration. The utility may prompt you to check the jumper and switch settings on the new card. Follow the online instructions to see an illustration of the new card’s settings. Utility” found earlier in this chapter for more detailed information. 1.
NOTES: Most system board options available through the EISA Configuration Utility are also available through the System Setup program as described in Chapter 4, “Using the System Setup Program.” Although the EISA Configuration Utility is separate from the System Setup program, the EISA utility forwards changes to, and reads changes from, corresponding categories in the System Setup program.
• • • • • Reset Button PCI Bus SCSI The Drive A and Drive B Categories work the same as Diskette Drive A and Diskette Drive B in the System Setup program. The Drive Access category allows access to the diskette drive to be controlled by the supervisor or user password to prevent unauthorized access.
System - Dell PowerEdge 4100/180 Figure 5-1.
Step 4: Examine Switches or Print Report Maintain System Configuration Diskette The Step 4: Examine Switches or Print Report option lists the required switch and jumper settings for each expansion card in your computer. To view the settings, highlight the card and press . For ISA expansion cards, it is important to compare the jumper and switch settings listed on the screen to the actual settings on the card.
View Additional System Information Menu The EISA Configuration Utility contains detailed information about the system board, the EISA and ISA expansion cards installed in your computer, and the used and available resources.
Removing a Card That Conflicts With the Card You Just Installed change will affect system performance. Some of these categories may not apply to your system. If there is a resource conflict between two ISA expansion cards and you want to remove the card that conflicts with the one you just installed, use the following procedure: NOTE: To access the advanced options in modeling mode, type at the operating system prompt and press .
To use the EISA Configuration Utility in modeling mode, start the utility from your hard-disk drive by typing at the operating system prompt and pressing . (To use the advanced options in modeling mode, type at the operating system prompt and press .) A dialog box appears with two options—Open As. . . (to load an existing system configuration file) and New (to create a new file). Highlight the option you want, and press . The screen shows a list of Dell EISA systems.
You can use up to seven characters; character keys or blank spaces are acceptable. CAUTION: With the password features disabled, your system operates as if it did not contain password features. If you leave your system running and unattended without having a supervisor and/ or user password assigned or with the password features disabled, anyone can assign a supervisor and/or user password that will be unknown to you. To erase a character in your password, press the key.
5. Press . NOTES: The user password feature recognizes keys without distinguishing between shifted and unshifted characters or uppercase and lowercase letters. For example, if you have an M in your password, the system recognizes either M or m as correct. A new dialog box with a prompt and an empty seven-character field appears on the screen. 6. Press . Certain key combinations are not valid. If you enter one of these combinations, the computer’s speaker beeps.
6. Press . 3. You are returned to the Main menu, where the User Password category now indicates Not Enabled. Remove the jumper plug from the PASSWD jumper. 4. Replace the computer cover according to the instructions in “Replacing the Computer Cover” in Chapter 6. Then reconnect the computer and peripherals to their power sources, and turn them on.
Chapter 6 Working Inside Your Computer Y our Dell computer system supports a variety of internal options that expand system capabilities. This chapter tells you how to remove the computer cover and familiarizes you with the internal components you may handle if you install Dell hardware options. Before You Begin To make working inside your computer easier, make sure you have adequate lighting and a clean work space.
System Orientation handle All directions presented in the procedures in this chapter are as viewed from a position facing the front of the computer. Removing the Computer Cover Use the following procedure to remove the computer cover: 1. Observe the Warning for Your Personal Safety and Protection of Your Equipment in the previous section. Also observe the safety instructions at the front of this guide. 2. Remove the four cover-mounting screws that secure the cover to the chassis (Figure 6-1). 3.
2. Check to see that no tools or extra parts (including screws) are left inside the computer. 3. Fit the cover over the chassis about 1 inch back of the closed position; then lower the cover straight down and slide it closed. retaining holes (6) retaining clips (6) The tabs located at the bottom, sides, and top of the front of the cover must slide inside the forms of the chassis to ensure a good electromagnetic interference (EMI) seal. 4.
Unpacking Your Hardware Option When you remove an option from its shipping carton, you may find it wrapped in antistatic packing material designed to protect it from electrostatic damage. Do not remove the packing material until you are ready to install the option. CAUTION: See “Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge” in the safety instructions at the front of this guide. Inside Your Computer In Figures 6-3 and 6-4, the computer cover is removed to provide interior views.
The flat ribbon cables are the interface cables for internal drives. These interface cables are described in more detail in Chapter 8, “Installing Drives in the External Bays,” and Chapter 9, “Installing Drives in the Internal Bays.” The system board—the large, vertical printed circuit board at the right side of the chassis—holds the computer’s control circuitry and other electronic components.
diskette drive interface cable system power supply power cables control panel control panel cable SCSI cable diskette drive cooling fan CD-ROM drive system board mounting plate bay for third drive internal hard-disk drive cage Figure 6-3.
SCSI cable power supply voltage selector switch external drive bays AC power input connector I/O panel connectors hard-disk drive cage hard-disk drive power cables system board Figure 6-4.
Removing and Replacing the System Board Assembly mounting screws (4) system board/mounting plate assembly When installing some hardware options, it may be more convenient to remove the system board assembly and place it on a horizontal surface before performing the upgrade. The system board assembly in your computer has been designed to be easily removable.
• • • • 7. FAN (for the fan cable) tabs (2) AUXFAN (for the cable to an auxiliary fan) POWER (for the power supply cable) POWER3V (for the 3-volt power cable) system board mounting plate To work on the system board, place the system board assembly on a flat surface, with the system board facing up. Replacing the System Board Assembly To replace the system board assembly in the chassis, perform the following steps: 1. Reconnect the cables to the system board.
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Chapter 7 Installing System Board Options T his chapter describes installation of the following options: • Extended Industry-Standard Architecture (EISA), Industry-Standard Architecture (ISA), and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) expansion cards • • Dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs) Microprocessor upgrade This chapter also includes instructions for replacing the system battery, if necessary. Use Figure 7-1 to locate the system board features.
System Orientation All directions presented in the procedures in this chapter are as viewed from a position facing the front of the computer. Use Figure 7-1 to locate items on the system board. Expansion Cards 8-bit ISA expansion card Your computer can hold up to six expansion cards. The three EISA expansion-card connectors will accept a mix of 8- and 16-bit ISA cards, 32-bit EISA master or slave cards. The three PCI expansion-card connectors accept 32-bit PCI cards.
Expansion Slots 3. The system board contains a total of six expansion-card connectors, three for EISA or ISA expansion cards and three for PCI expansion cards. An opening is available in the back panel of the computer for each expansion card connector, thus providing six usable expansion slots. With the cover removed, lay the computer (left side up) on a flat work surface so that you have access to the expansion card slots. 4.
mounting screw expansion card Removing an Expansion Card Follow this general procedure to remove an expansion card: 1. If you are relocating or permanently removing an ISA expansion card, enter the change into the EISA Configuration Utility. See Chapter 5, “Using the EISA Configuration Utility,” for instructions. 2. card-edge connector card-guide slots (inside front of computer) CAUTION: See “Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge” in the safety instructions at the front of this guide. 3.
9. If you relocated or permanently removed an EISA expansion card, enter the change into the EISA Configuration Utility. See Chapter 5, “Using the EISA Configuration Utility,” for instructions. NOTE: If you removed a PCI expansion card, your system automatically performs any required reconfiguration tasks during the boot routine. Adding Memory The four DIMM sockets (shown in Figure 7-5) on the system board can accommodate 16 to 512 megabytes (MB) of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM).
Memory Upgrade Kits Your system is upgradable to 512 MB by installing combinations of 16-, 32-, and 128-MB DIMMs in the DIMM sockets. The DIMMs should be rated at 60 nanoseconds (ns) or faster. Memory upgrade kits can be purchased from Dell as needed. DIMM Installation Guidelines Starting with the socket nearest the system board’s PCI expansion-card connectors and working toward the center of the system board, the sockets are labeled “DIMM_A” through “DIMM_D” (Figure 7-5).
Installing System Board Options 7-91
Table 7-1.
4. Follow the instructions in “Installing a DIMM” or “Removing a DIMM,” as appropriate, later in this section. 5. 6. “Using the EISA Configuration Utility,” for instructions on running the utility and saving the configuration. Install or replace the DIMMs as necessary to reach the desired memory total. 9. Replace the system board according to the instructions in “Replacing the System Board Assembly” in Chapter 6.
Installing a Microprocessor Upgrade The microprocessor is installed in a zero insertion force (ZIF) socket on the system board to allow you to easily upgrade your system with a more powerful microprocessor as your computing needs increase. Use the following procedure to remove the old microprocessor and install the upgrade. 2. cutout 1. Figure 7-6. Installing a DIMM 4. Continue with step 5 of the previous subsection, “Performing a Memory Upgrade.
Press down on the folded part of the clip with a small screwdriver to release the clip (Figure 7-8). microprocessor chip press here to release clip microprocessor socket microprocessor securing clip hooks over tabs on front and back of socket release lever Figure 7-8. Microprocessor Securing Clip 4. Remove the heat sink. The thermal interface pad is bonded to the heat sink and will remain with the old heat sink. 5. Figure 7-9. Removing the Microprocessor 6.
When the chip is fully seated in the socket, rotate the socket release lever back down until it snaps into place, securing the chip. pin-1 corner (gold finger and square pad) Figure 7-10. Pin-1 Identification Pin 1 is located in the lower right corner of the socket as you face the “Socket 8” label (Figure 7-11). 8. pin-1 corners of chip and socket aligned Install the microprocessor chip in the socket (Figure 7-11).
clip on the jumper labeled “200MHZ.” (See Appendix B, “Hardware Configuration Features,” for more information on the jumpers.) 12. Replace the system board according to the instructions in “Replacing the System Board Assembly” in Chapter 6. heat sink 13. Replace the computer cover according to the instructions in “Replacing the Computer Cover” in Chapter 6. 14. Remove the front bezel according to the instructions in “Removing the Front Bezel” in Chapter 6. 15.
Replacing the System Battery The 3-V lithium backup battery (see Figure 7-13), mounted in the BATTERY socket on the system board (Figure 7-1), maintains system configuration, date, and time information in a special section of memory when the system is turned off and disconnected from alternating current (AC) power. battery BATTERY socket If you leave your system disconnected from AC power for long periods of time (for weeks or months), the NVRAM may lose its system configuration information.
6. Install the new battery with the side labeled “+” facing up. Place the new battery in the socket, and press down on it until the battery snaps into the socket. 7. If you removed any PCI expansion cards, replace them according to the instructions in “Installing an Expansion Card,” earlier in this chapter. 8. Replace the computer cover according to the instructions in “Replacing the Computer Cover” in Chapter 6, reconnect your computer and peripherals to their power sources, and turn them on. 9.
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Chapter 8 Installing Drives in the External Bays T he external drive bays at the front of the computer (Figure 8-1) hold up to three user-accessible, half-height Configuring a Drive 5.25- or 3.5-inch devices—typically diskette, tape, CD-ROM, or digital audio tape (DAT) drives. Standard PowerEdge 2100 systems include a diskette drive in the top bay and a CD-ROM drive in the middle bay. A drive of your choice can be installed in the lower bay.
See Figure 8-1 for an internal view that shows the drives, control cables, and power cables in the external bays. power input connectors diskette drive interface cable diskette drive CD-ROM drive DC power cables SCSI interface cable Figure 8-1.
Before You Begin In order to remove or install drives in the external bays, you must remove the computer cover and front bezel according to the instructions in “Removing the Computer Cover” and “Removing the Front Bezel” in Chapter 6. Removing and Replacing FrontPanel Inserts To protect the inside of the computer from foreign particles, a plastic front-panel insert covers each empty external drive bay.
power input connector on the drive metal insert DC power cable (from the power supply) Figure 8-4. Power Connectors retaining screw A ribbon cable (Figure 8-5) functions as the interface cable for most types of drives. pull tab key (blocked hole) colored strip on ribbon cable Figure 8-3. Removing a Metal Insert Connecting the Drive interface connector This section describes the power input connectors and interface connectors on the back of most drives.
A header connector is usually keyed by the omission of one of its pins with the corresponding hole filled in on the cable connector, as shown in Figure 8-5. CAUTION: When connecting an interface cable, match the colored strip to the pin-1 end of the connector. Reversing the cable prevents the drive from operating and could damage the controller, the drive, or both. Figure 8-6 identifies the types of DC power cables coming from the computer’s power supply.
The diskette drive interface cable (Figure 8-8) provides an interface between the standard diskette drive in the top bay and the computer’s built-in diskette controller. The connectors on the cable are identical; however, the ends of the cable are labeled CNTL for the diskette controller connector (FLOPPY) and DRIVE for the diskette drive connector. (To identify the FLOPPY connector, see Figure 7-1.) third slot mounting screws (4) first slot rails (2) controller connector drive connector Figure 8-8.
Refer to Figure 8-8 to determine the appropriate connector to use on the diskette drive interface cable. CAUTION: Check the cable orientation— match the colored strip to the pin-1 end of the connector. Installing SCSI Drives in the External Bays 1. Ground yourself by touching an unpainted metal surface on the back of the computer, unpack the drive, and compare the jumper and switch settings with those in the drive documentation.
NOTE: You will need a 68-pin to 50-pin adapter to connect the SCSI cable to the narrow (50-pin) connector on the CD-ROM or tape drive (Figure 8-10). Press the interface cable connector firmly onto the adapter and the adapter firmly onto the drive’s connector. If you moved other drives at the beginning of this step, snap them back into place.
SCSI drives in the external bays (2) SCSI cable SCSI controller card Figure 8-11. Connecting an Optional SCSI Controller Card 5. 6. Connect the other end of the interface cable to the SCSI drives in the external bays. 7. Reconnect your computer and peripherals to their power sources, and turn them on. If you have more than one SCSI device in the external bays, you should connect the end connector on the interface cable to the CD-ROM drive and enable termination for the CD-ROM drive.
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Chapter 9 Installing Drives in the Internal Bays T his chapter describes how to install and configure small computer system interface (SCSI) hard-disk drives in the internal drive bays. Up to three 1.6-inch SCSI hard-disk drives can be installed in the internal hard-disk drive bays. NOTE: You should install only SCSI hard-disk drives in the internal drive bays; install SCSI CD-ROM and tape drives in the external drive bays.
Device Termination termination jumper Before installing SCSI devices, you must configure the termination on the device(s) and for the built-in SCSI controller according to the guidelines listed in the following text. SCSI logic requires that termination be enabled for the two devices at opposite ends of the SCSI chain and disabled for all devices in between.
Configuring the Boot Device If you plan to boot your system from a hard-disk drive, the drive must be attached to the primary (or boot) controller or built-in SCSI controller. You can select as the primary controller either the built-in SCSI controller or an optional controller installed in an expansion slot through the Advanced menu in System Setup.
SCSI cable connectors SCSI hard-disk drives power input connectors Figure 9-3.
Installing SCSI Hard-Disk Drives hard-disk drive in the Internal Bays hard-disk drive cage mounting screws (4) Configure and install SCSI hard-disk drives in your computer’s internal drive bays as follows: 1. Determine where your SCSI drive(s) will be installed and which connector on the SCSI cable you will attach to each of them. hard-disk drive cage See “SCSI Cable” found earlier in this chapter. 2. alignment tabs alignment rails Unpack each SCSI drive, and prepare it for installation.
9. Install the SCSI drive(s) in the hard-disk drive cage. Slide the drive into the cage, align the drive’s mounting-screw holes with the holes in the drive cage, and secure the drive with four screws (Figure 9-5). NOTE: The screws provided with drives purchased from Dell include special screws with shallow heads. Screws with larger heads may make it difficult to reinstall the hard-disk drive cage. hard-disk drive cage mounting tabs (2) 12. Attach the SCSI cable to each SCSI drive.
Appendix A Technical Specifications Table A-1. Technical Specifications Microprocessor Microprocessor types . . . . . . . . . . . . single Pentium Pro microprocessor with an internal operating frequency of 180 or 200 MHz and an external operating frequency of 60 MHz or 66 MHz (respectively) Internal cache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256-KB L2 cache, 8-KB instructions and 8-KB data L1 cache internal to the microprocessor module Math coprocessor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table A-1. Technical Specifications (continued) Drives Diskette drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . one 3.5-inch, 1.44-MB diskette drive included with standard system Tape drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . capacities ranging from 4 GB to 24 GB (when available) SCSI hard-disk drives . . . . . . . . . . . formatted capacities ranging from 2 GB to 9 GB (when available) SCSI devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table A-1. Technical Specifications (continued) Power DC power supply: Wattage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 W Voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 V at 60 Hz/230 V at 50 Hz System battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.0-V lithium coin cell Physical Height (with support feet). . . . . . . . . 44.45 cm (17.50 inches) Width. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24.13 cm (9.50 inches) Depth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41.91 cm (16.
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Appendix B Hardware Configuration Features T his appendix provides specific information about the jumpers on the system board, the connectors and sockets Jumpers on the system board, and the input/output (I/O) ports and connectors on the back panel of the computer. It also provides some basic information on jumpers. A jumper is a small block on the system board with two or more pins emerging from it. Jumpers—A General Explanation A plastic plug containing a wire fits down over the pins.
200 MHZ 180 MHZ PASSWD EISA VGA CARDBIOS jumpered unjumpered Figure B-1.
Table B-1. System Board Jumpers Jumper CARDBIOS Setting Default Description Default System boots normally. System boots from a BIOS expansion card. Used for troubleshooting. VGA Default The built-in video subsystem is enabled. The built-in video subsystem is disabled. EISA Default The EISA Configuration Utility settings are retained at system boot. The EISA Configuration Utility settings are cleared at next system boot.
Connectors and Sockets Table B-2 lists the connectors and sockets located on the system board and gives a brief description of their functions. Table B-2.
I/O Ports and Connectors The I/O ports and connectors on the back panel of the computer are the gateways through which the computer system communicates with external devices, such as a keyboard, mouse, printer, and monitor. Figure B-2 identifies the I/O ports and connectors for your system. Serial and Parallel Ports The two built-in serial ports use 9-pin D-subminiature connectors on the back panel.
Both the new and the remapped COM ports share the same interrupt request (IRQ) setting, as follows: COM1, COM3: IRQ4 (shared setting) COM2, COM4: IRQ3 (shared setting) These COM ports have the following I/O address settings: COM1: COM2: COM3: COM4: 3F8h 2F8h 3E8h 2E8h For example, if you add an internal modem card with a port configured as COM1, the computer then sees logical COM1 as the address on the modem card.
Table B-3. Pin Assignments for the Serial Port Connectors Pin Signal I/O Definition 1 DCD I 2 SIN 3 Table B-4.
mouse detects the movement of a small ball and relays the direction to the computer. Mouse driver software can give the mouse priority with the microprocessor by issuing IRQ12 whenever a new mouse movement is made. The driver software also passes along the mouse data to the application program that is in control. Mouse Connector If you reconfigure your hardware, you may need pin number and signal information for the mouse connector.
10 1—5 11 — 15 6 If you reconfigure your hardware, you may need pin number and signal information for the video connector. Figure B-7 illustrates the pin numbers for the video connector, and Table B-7 lists and defines the pin assignments and interface signals for the video connector. Figure B-7. Pin Numbers for the Video Connector Table B-7.
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Appendix C Maintaining the System P roper use of preventive maintenance procedures can keep your system in top operating condition and minimize the need for costly, time-consuming service procedures. This appendix contains maintenance procedures that you should perform regularly. Data Preservation Everyone inadvertently deletes files at one time or another. Also, hard-disk drives can fail after extended use, so it is not a question of whether you will eventually lose data, but when.
For a complete description of data recovery procedures and the software needed to perform them, see The Paul Mace Guide to Data Recovery, published by Brady. • A nonabrasive diskette-drive head-cleaning kit — Dell recommends that you use a kit that contains pretreated diskettes in individually sealed packages. These kits ensure that the cleaning solution is applied evenly over the entire diskette-drive head surface, and they prevent contamination of the heads by exposure to foreign substances.
If the kit does not contain instructions, insert one of the pretreated diskettes into a diskette drive and turn on the system. After 20 or 30 seconds, remove the diskette from the drive. Repeat this procedure for each diskette drive in the computer. CAUTION: Do not attempt to clean drive heads with a swab. You may accidentally misalign the heads, rendering the drive inoperable.
Dust and Particles A clean operating environment can greatly reduce the negative effects of dust and other particles, which act as insulators and interfere with the operation of a system’s mechanical components. Also, in addition to regular cleaning, you should follow these guidelines to deter contamination of the computer equipment: • • • • Do not permit smoking anywhere near the system. • Close windows and outside doors to keep out airborne particles. Do not permit food or drink near the system.
• Ensure that all expansion slots are covered either by a card-mounting bracket or by a metal filler bracket and that each drive bay has a drive and/or a metal insert installed. These brackets and metal inserts are available from Dell. • Ensure that the screws on all peripheral cable connectors are securely fastened to their corresponding connectors on the back of the computer. • Always use shielded cables with metal connector shells for attaching peripherals to the computer.
Besides these appliances, the greatest threat to a system’s supply of power are surges or blackouts caused by electrical storms. Whenever possible, turn off the computer and any peripherals and unplug them from their power sources during thunderstorms. If a blackout occurs—even a temporary one—while the system is turned on, turn off the system immediately and disconnect it from its power source.
Appendix D Regulatory Notices FCC Notices (U.S. Only) Most Dell computer systems are classified by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as Class B digital devices. However, the inclusion of certain options changes the rating of some configurations to Class A. To determine which classification applies to your computer system, examine all FCC registration labels located on the back panel of your computer, on card-mounting brackets, and on the cards themselves.
booklet helpful: FCC Interference Handbook, 1986, available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, Stock No. 004-000-00450-7. Computer Corporation could void your authority to operate this equipment. This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: This Class B (or Class A, if so indicated on the registration label) digital apparatus meets the requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.
• NOTE: EN 55022 emissions requirements provide for two classifications—Class A and Class B. If any one of the registration labels (located on the bottom or back panel of your computer, on card-mounting brackets, or on the cards themselves) carries an FCC Class A rating, the following warning applies to your system. back panel of your computer, on card-mounting brackets, and on the cards themselves.
Korean Regulatory Notice To determine which classification (Class A or B) applies to your computer system (or other Dell digital apparatus), examine all registration labels located on the bottom or back panel of your computer (or other Dell digital apparatus), on card-mounting brackets, and on the cards themselves. If any one of the labels carries a Class A rating, your entire system is considered to be a Class A digital device.
• Nie nale¿y wpychaæ ¿adnych przedmiotów do otworów systemu komputerowego, gdy¿ mo¿e to spowodowaæ po¿ar lub pora¿enie pr¹dem, poprzez zwarcie elementów wewnêtrznych. • System komputerowy powinien znajdowaæ siê z dala od grzejników i Ÿróde³ ciep³a. Ponadto, nie nale¿y blokowaæ otworów wentylacyjnych. Nale¿y unikaæ k³adzenia luŸnych papierów pod komputer oraz umieszczania komputera w ciasnym miejscu bez mo¿liwoœci cyrkulacji powietrza wokó³ niego.
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Appendix E Warranties and Return Policy Limited Three-Year Warranty (U.S. Only) Dell Computer Corporation (“Dell”) manufactures its hardware products from parts and components that are new or equivalent to new in accordance with industrystandard practices. Dell warrants that the hardware products it manufactures will be free from defects in materials and workmanship. The warranty term is three years beginning on the date of invoice, as described in the following text.
Coverage During Years Two and Three During the second and third years of this limited warranty, Dell will provide, on an exchange basis, replacement parts for the Dell hardware product(s) covered under this limited warranty when a part requires replacement. You must report each instance of hardware failure to Dell’s Customer Technical Support in advance to obtain Dell’s concurrence that a part should be replaced and to have Dell ship the replacement part.
This warranty does not cover any items that are in one or more of the following categories: software; sound cards; speakers; external devices; accessories or parts added to a Dell system after the system is shipped from Dell; accessories or parts added to a Dell system through Dell’s system integration department; accessories or parts that are not installed in the Dell factory; or DellWare products.
DELL’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR MALFUNCTIONS AND DEFECTS IN HARDWARE IS LIMITED TO REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT AS SET FORTH IN THIS WARRANTY STATEMENT. THESE WARRANTIES GIVE YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM ONE JURISDICTION TO ANOTHER.
Appendix F Technical Specifications Table F-1. Technical Specifications Microprocessor Microprocessor types . . . . . . . . . . . . single Pentium Pro microprocessor with an internal operating frequency of 180 or 200 MHz and an external operating frequency of 60 MHz or 66 MHz (respectively) Internal cache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256-KB L2 cache, 8-KB instructions and 8-KB data L1 cache internal to the microprocessor module Math coprocessor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table F-1. Technical Specifications (continued) Drives Diskette drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . one 3.5-inch, 1.44-MB diskette drive included with standard system Tape drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . capacities ranging from 4 GB to 24 GB (when available) SCSI hard-disk drives . . . . . . . . . . . formatted capacities ranging from 2 GB to 9 GB (when available) SCSI devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table F-1. Technical Specifications (continued) Power DC power supply: Wattage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 W Voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115 V at 60 Hz/230 V at 50 Hz System battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.0-V lithium coin cell Physical Height (with support feet). . . . . . . . . 44.45 cm (17.50 inches) Width. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24.13 cm (9.50 inches) Depth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41.91 cm (16.
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Glossary T he following list defines or identifies technical terms, abbreviations, and acronyms used in Dell user NOTE: Unless otherwise specified, these definitions may not apply to operating systems other than MS-DOS ® or Microsoft® Windows®. ASCII Acronym for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. A text file containing only characters from the ASCII character set (usually created with a text editor, such as MS-DOS Editor or Notepad in Windows), is called an ASCII file.
batch file An ASCII text file containing a list of commands that run in sequence. Batch files must have a filename extension of bat. baud rate Data transmission speed. For example, modems are designed to transmit data at one or more specified baud rate(s) through the COM (serial) port of a computer. BBS Abbreviation for bulletin board service. A computer system that serves as a central location for accessing data or relaying messages by modem.
CCFT Abbreviation for cold cathode fluorescent tube. CD-ROM Abbreviation for compact disc read-only memory. CD-ROM drives use optical technology to read data from compact discs. Compact discs are read-only storage devices; you cannot write new data to a compact disc with standard CD-ROM drives. CGA Abbreviation for color graphics adapter. cm Abbreviation for centimeter(s). CMOS Acronym for complementary metal-oxide semiconductor. In computers, CMOS memory chips are often used for NVRAM storage.
device= statement) or as memory-resident programs (usually, from the autoexec.bat file). Others—such as video drivers— must load when you start the program for which they were designed. diagnostics See diskette-based diagnostics and embedded diagnostics. DIMM Acronym for dual in-line memory module. DIN Acronym for Deutsche Industrie Norm. DIP Acronym for dual in-line package. A circuit board, such as a system board or expansion card, may contain DIP switches for configuring the circuit board.
DTE Abbreviation for data terminal equipment. Any device (such as a computer system) that can send data in digital form by means of a cable or communications line. The DTE is connected to the cable or communications line through a data communications equipment (DCE) device, such as a modem. ECC Abbreviation for error correction code. ECP Abbreviation for Extended Capabilities Port. EDO Abbreviation for extended-data output.
external cache memory A RAM cache using SRAM chips. Because SRAM chips operate at several times the speed of DRAM chips, the microprocessor can retrieve data and instructions faster from external cache memory than from RAM. F Abbreviation for Fahrenheit. FAT Acronym for file allocation table. The file system structure used by MS-DOS to organize and keep track of file storage. The Microsoft Windows NT ® and OS/2® operating systems can optionally use a FAT file system structure.
ID Abbreviation for identification. KB/sec Abbreviation for kilobyte(s) per second. interlacing A technique for increasing video resolution by only updating alternate horizontal lines on the screen. Because interlacing can result in noticeable screen flicker, most users prefer noninterlaced video adapter resolutions. Kbit(s) Abbreviation for kilobit(s), 1,024 bits. internal microprocessor cache An instruction and data cache built in to the microprocessor.
LN Abbreviation for load number. local bus On a computer with local-bus expansion capability, certain peripheral devices (such as the video adapter circuitry) can be designed to run much faster than they would with a traditional expansion bus. Some local-bus designs allow peripherals to run at the same speed and with the same width data path as the computer’s microprocessor. LPTn The MS-DOS device names for the first through third parallel printer ports on your computer are LPT1, LPT2, and LPT3.
multifrequency monitor A monitor that supports several video standards. A multifrequency monitor can adjust to the frequency range of the signal from a variety of video adapters. mV Abbreviation for millivolt(s). NiCad Acronym for nickel cadmium. NiMH Abbreviation for nickel-metal hydride. NLM Acronym for NetWare® Loadable Module. NMI Abbreviation for nonmaskable interrupt. A device sends an NMI to signal the microprocessor about hardware errors, such as a parity error.
pixel Arranged in rows and columns, a pixel is a single point on a video display. Video resolution—640 x 480, for example—is expressed as the number of pixels across by the number of pixels up and down. PVC Abbreviation for polyvinyl chloride. POST Acronym for power-on self-test. Before the operating system loads when you turn on your computer, the POST tests various system components such as RAM, the disk drives, and the keyboard. RAM Acronym for random-access memory.
ROM Acronym for read-only memory. Your computer contains some programs essential to its operation in ROM code. Unlike RAM, a ROM chip retains its contents even after you turn off your computer. Examples of code in ROM include the program that initiates your computer’s boot routine and the POST. rpm Abbreviation for revolutions per minute. RTC Abbreviation for real-time clock. Battery-powered clock circuitry inside the computer that keeps the date and time after you turn off the computer.
which video, mouse, and keyboard drivers are installed for Windows. TV Abbreviation for television. Running the Control Panel or Windows Setup program may change options in the system.ini file. On other occasions, you may need to change or add options to the system.ini file manually with a text editor, such as Notepad. UL Abbreviation for Underwriters Laboratories. terminator Some devices, especially disk drives, contain a terminator to absorb and dissipate excess current.
VDS Abbreviation for Virtual Direct Memory Access Services. VESA ® Acronym for Video Electronics Standards Association. VGA Abbreviation for video graphics array. VGA and SVGA are video standards for video adapters with greater resolution and color display capabilities than EGA and CGA, the previous standards. To display a program at a specific resolution, you must install the appropriate video drivers and your monitor must support the resolution.
on a hard-disk drive or to replicate themselves until a system or network runs out of memory. The most common way that virus programs move from one system to another is via “infected” diskettes, from which they copy themselves to the hard-disk drive.
