Intel MPCBL0001 manual Bios Features, Introduction, Bios Flash Memory Organization

Intel NetStructure® MPCBL0001 High Performance Single Board Computer

Contents

BIOS Features 7

7.1Introduction

The Intel NetStructure® MPCBL0001 High Performance Single Board Computer SBC uses an Intel/AMI BIOS, which is stored in flash memory and updated using a disk-based program. In addition to the BIOS and BIOS setup program, the flash memory contains POST and Plug and Play support.

The BIOS displays a message during POST identifying the type of BIOS and a revision code. Refer to the specification update for the latest default settings.

7.2BIOS Flash Memory Organization

MPCBL0001 contains two Firm Ware Hub (FWH) devices (see Figure 1, “Block Diagram” on page 17). The first one is the Primary FWH, which holds the BIOS code that executes during POST. The second is the Backup FWH, which recovers the system when the Primary FWH is corrupted. The N82802AC FWH includes an 8 Mbit (1024 KByte) symmetrical flash memory device. Internally, the device is grouped into sixteen 64-KByte blocks that are individually erasable, lockable, and unlockable.

7.3Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS)

CMOS RAM is a nonvolatile storage that stores data needed by the BIOS. The data consists of certain onboard configurable settings, including time and date. CMOS resides in the ICH3 and is powered by the Supercap when the blade is power off. The settings in the BIOS setup menu are stored in the CMOS RAM and are often called CMOS settings.

7.3.1Copying and Saving CMOS Settings

The BIOS/CMOS flash update utility (flashlnx or flashdos) loads a fresh copy of the BIOS into flash ROM. It has the capability to save the CMOS settings from the MPCBL0001 SBC. The CMOS settings file can be copied to a file. This file can be saved in a directory specified by the user. The filename also can be specified by user, such as CMOS.BIN.

With the BIOS/CMOS flash utility and CMOS.bin file, user is able to copy CMOS settings to another MPCBL0001 SBC, thus minimizing the effort to reconfigure the preferred CMOS settings across all boards.

This BIOS/CMOS flash utility that is designed to run under MontaVista* Carrier Grade Linux* 3.0 should be on the local hard disk of the MPCBL0001. Any user who is able to communicate with the MPCBL0001 via Telnet would be able to execute to copy and save the CMOS remotely.

110	Technical Product Specification
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