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Using the System Setup Program: Dell PowerEdge 2550 Systems Service Manual
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Using the System Setup Program: Dell™ PowerEdge™ 2550
Systems Service Manual
This section describes the System Setup program, which is used to change the system
configuration information stored in NVRAM on the system board. If the system detects a
discrepancy, an error message may appear on the screen that identifies the incorrect
configuration settings. Many of these settings are established using the System Setup
program. The system then prompts you to enter the System Setup program to correct the
setting.
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 “System Beep Codes” and “System Messages” for an explanation of the
message and suggestions for correcting any errors. (It is normal to receive an error
message the first time you boot your system after installing a memory upgrade. In that
situation, do not refer to “System Beep
Codes” and System Messages”. Instead,
follow the instructions for performing a memory upgrade in “Adding Memory” in
your 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.
Table 1 lists the keys that 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 |
| <Tab> or <Down arrow> |
Moves to the next field. |
| <Shift>, <Tab>, or
<Up arrow> |
Moves to the previous field. |
| <Left arrow> or <Right
arrow> |
Cycles throught the setting in a
field. In many fields, you can also type the appropriate value. |
| <Esc> |
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. |
The following subsections outline the options on the System Setup screens.
Main Screen
When the System Setup program runs, the main program screen appears (see Figure 1).
Figure 1. Main System Setup Screen
The following options or information fields appear on the main System Setup screen:
Table 2. System Setup Options
| Option |
Function |
| System Time |
Resets the time on
the system's internal clock. |
| System Date |
Resets the date
on the system's internal calendar. |
| Diskette Drive
A |
Identifies the
type of diskette drive installed in your system. |
System
Memory |
Displays the
amount of system memory. This option has no user-selectable settings. |
| Video Memory |
Displays the
amount of video memory. This option has no user-selectable settings. |
| CPU Information |
Displays
information related to the system bus and microprocessors. This screen has no
user-selectable settings. |
| Boot Sequence |
Displays the Boot
Sequence screen; see “Boot Sequence Screen.” |
| Hard-Disk Drive
Sequence |
Displays the Hard-Disk
Drive Sequence screen; see “Hard-Disk
Drive Sequence Screen.” |
| Integrated
Devices |
Displays the Integrated
Devices screen; see “Integrated Devices
Screen.” |
| PCI IRQ
Assignment |
Displays a screen
that allows you to change the IRQ allocated to each of the three integrated devices on the
PCI bus, as well as any installed expansion cards that require an IRQ. See "PCI IRQ Assignment Screen". |
| Console
Redirection |
Displays a screen
that allows you to configure console redirection. See “Console Redirection Screen.” |
| System Security |
Displays a screen
that allows you to configure the system password and setup password features. See “Using the System Password Feature" and
"Using the Setup Password Feature". |
| OS Install Mode |
Determines the
maximum amount of memory available to the operating system; On sets the
maximum memory available to the operating system to 256 MB; Off (default)
makes all of the system memory available to the operating system. |
| Keyboard Numlock |
Determines
whether your system boots with the Num Lock mode activated on 101- or 102-key keyboards
(it does not apply to 84-key keyboards). |
| Report Keyboard
Error |
Enables or
disables reporting of keyboard errors during POST. 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 setting does not affect the operation of the keyboard itself if a
keyboard is attached to the system. |
| Asset Tag |
Displays the
customer-programmable asset tag number for the system if an asset tage number has been
assigned. To enter an asset tag number of up to 10 characters into NVRAM, follow the
procedure in "Asset Tag Utility" in the "System Setup" chapter of the User's
Guide. |
The Boot Sequence screen options determine the
order in which the system looks for the file that it needs to load during system startup.
Available options include the diskette drive, CD-ROM drive, and hard-disk drive. You can
enable or disable a device by selecting it and pressing the spacebar. To change the order
in which devices are searched, use the plus and minus keys (<+> and <>).
The Hard-Disk Drive Sequence screen options
determine the order in which the system searches hard-disk drives for the files that it
needs to load during system startup. The choices depend on the particular hard-disk drive
installed in your system. You can enable or disable a device by selecting it and pressing
the spacebar. To change the order in which devices are searched, use the plus and minus
keys (<+> and <>).
The following devices on the system board are configured through
this screen:
Table 3. Integrated Devices Options
| Option |
Function |
| SCSI Controller |
Determines whether the
system's integrated small computer system interface (SCSI) controller is enabled. Changes
take effect after reboot. |
| Embedded 10/100 NIC |
Determines whether the
system's integrated network interface controller (NIC) is enabled. Changes take effect
after reboot. |
| NIC MAC Address |
Displays the address of the
media access control (MAC) address used by the integrated NIC. This field has no
user-selectable settings. |
| Embedded 10/100/1000 NIC |
Displays the address of the
MAC address used by the integrated NIC. This field has no user-selectable settings. |
| Mouse Controller |
Enables or disables the
system's mouse controller. Disabling the mouse controller allows an expansion card to use
IRQ12. |
| Serial Port 1, 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, 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 interrupt request (IRQ) setting. |
| Parallel Port |
Configures the system's
integrated parallel port. |
| Parallel Port Mode |
Controls whether the system's
integrated parallel port acts as an AT-compatible (unidirectional) or PS/2-compatible
(bidirectional) port. To determine the correct mode to use, see the documentation that
came with the peripheral device connected to the serial port. |
| USB Controller |
Enables or disables the
system's USB ports. Disabling the USB ports makes system resources available for other
devices. |
| BIOS USB Support |
Enables or disables the
system’s BIOS USB support. If you have a PS/2 keyboard attached to the system,
selecting OFF completely disables the system’s USB BIOS support. If you do not
have a PS/2 keyboard attached to your system and you select OFF, the USB mouse and
keyboard are functional only during the boot process. When set to ON, the USB mouse
and keyboard are controlled by the BIOS until a USB device driver is loaded by the
operating system. |
| IDE CD-ROM Interface |
Enables or disables the
system's IDE CD-ROM interface. |
| Diskette Controller |
Enables or disables the
system's diskette drive controller. With Auto (default) selected, the system turns
off the controller when necessary to accommodate a controller card installed in an
expansion slot. |
| Speaker |
Determines whether the
integrated speaker is On (the default) or Off. A change to this option takes
effect immediately (rebooting the system is not required). |
PCI IRQ Assignment screen allows you to change the
interrupt request (IRQ) allocated to each of the three integrated devices on the
peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus, as well as any installed expansion cards that
require an IRQ.screen options determine the order in which the system looks for the file
that it needs to load during system startup. Available options include the diskette drive,
CD-ROM drive, and hard-disk drive. You can enable or disable a device by selecting it and
pressing the spacebar. To change the order in which devices are searched, use the plus and
minus keys (<+> and <–>).
 |
NOTE: Changing the IRQ setting of a PCI device may affect the
IRQ settings of other PCI devices. |
Table 4 lists the following console redirection features through the
Console Redirection screen.
Table 4. Console Redirections Options
| Option |
Function |
| Console Redirection |
Enables or disables the
serial redirection function. This option can be set to DISABLED (the default) or ENABLED.
When enabled, serial port 1 is assigned the address 3f8 and is utilized for serial
redirection. |
| Remote Terminal Type |
Allows you to view the
terminal emulation supported by your client software. The default terminal type is
VT100/200. |
| Redirection After Boot |
Enables or disables the BIOS
console redirection when the operating system is loaded. |
You can set the following security features through the System
Security screen:
Table 5. System Security Options
| Option |
Function |
| Password Status |
Setting the Setup Password
option to Enabled 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 setup password in the Setup Password option and then change the
Password Status option to Locked. In this state, the system password cannot
be changed through the System Password option and cannot be disabled at system
start-up by pressing <Ctrl><Enter>.
To unlock the system password, you must enter the setup password in
the Setup Password option and then change the Password Status option to Unlocked.
In this state, the system password can be disabled at system start-up by pressing
<Ctrl><Enter> and then changed through the System Password option. |
| System Password |
Displays the current status
of your system's password security feature and allows you to assign and verify a new
password. See "Using the System Password Feature" for
instructions on assigning a system password and using or changing an existing system
password. See "Disabling a Forgotten Password"
for instructions on disabling a forgotten system password. |
| Setup Password |
Lets you restrict access to
your system's System Setup program in the same way that you restrict access to your system
with the system password feature. See "Using the System Password Feature" for
instructions on assigning a system password and using or changing an existing system
password. See "Disabling a Forgotten Password"
for instructions on disabling a forgotten system password. |
| Chassis Intrusion |
Lets you enable the system
chassis intrusion switch to detect if the system cover is removed. If this option is set
to Enabled, a warning message is displayed during system startup. If the option is
set to Enabled – Silent, no startup message is displayed, but the Chassis
Intrusion option in the System Setup program will change to Detected. |
After you press <Esc> to exit the System Setup program, the Exit
screen displays the following choices:
- Save Changes and Exit
- Discard Changes and Exit
- Return to Setup
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 the System Password option is set to Enabled, the
system prompts you for the system password just after the system boots.
To change an existing system password, you must know the password
(see “Deleting or Changing
an Existing Setup Password ”). If you assign and later forget a system password,
you need to be able to remove the system cover to change a jumper setting that disables
the system password feature (see “Disabling a
Forgotten Password”). Note that 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 system unlocked so that someone can disable the password by changing a jumper
setting, anyone can access the data stored on your hard-disk drive..
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Before you can assign a system password, you must enter the System
Setup program and check the System Password option.
When a system password is assigned, the setting shown for the System
Password option is Enabled. When the system password feature is disabled by a
jumper setting on the system board, the setting shown is Disabled by Jumper. You
cannot change or enter a new system password if either of these settings is displayed.
When no system password is assigned and the password jumper on the
system board is in the enabled position (its default), the setting shown for the System
Password option is Not Enabled. Only when this option is set to Not Enabled
can you assign a system password, using the following procedure:
- Verify that the Password Status option is set to Unlocked.
- Highlight the System Password option and then press the left-
or right-arrow key.
- 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.
|
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 is less 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 System Password option 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, press the reset button, or reboot
the system by pressing the <Ctrl><Alt><Del> key combination, the
following prompt appears on the screen when the Password Status option 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 the Password Status option 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 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 the Password Status option
in conjunction with System Password and Setup Password
to further protect your system from unauthorized changes. |
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 <F2> key. 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 for 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 option, 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 "Using the System Password Feature."
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 (see "Deleting or
Changing an Existing Setup Password"). If you assign and later forget a setup
password, you need to remove the system 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 the Setup
Password option is set to Not Enabled. To assign a setup
password, highlight the Setup Password option 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, the Setup Password
setting changes to Enabled. The next time you enter the System Setup
program, the system prompts you for the setup password.
A change to the Setup Password option 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 the Setup Password option highlighted, prompting you
to type the password.
If you do not enter the correct password in three tries, the system
lets you view, but not modify, the System Setup screens—with the following
exceptions:
- You can still modify the Date, Time,
CPU Speed, Num Lock, and Speaker
options.
- If System Password is not enabled and is not locked via the
Password Status option, you can assign a system password (however, you cannot
disable or change an existing system password).
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NOTE: You can use the Password Status option
in conjunction with Setup Password to protect the system password from
unauthorized changes. |
To delete or change an existing setup password, perform the
following steps:
- Enter the System Setup program.
- Highlight the Setup Password option, and press the
left- or right-arrow key to delete the existing setup password.
The setting changes to Not Enabled.
To delete or change an existing setup password, perform the
following steps:
- Enter the System Setup program and select the System Security
screen option.
- Highlight the Setup Password option 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, perform the steps 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 until you open the system chassis,
change the password jumper setting to disable the passwords, and erase the existing
passwords. For instructions, see “Jumpers, Switches, and
Connectors”.
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