SUPER MICRO Computer SBI-7127R-S6 user manual Bios, Introduction

Chapter 5

BIOS

5-1 Introduction

This chapter describes the BIOS for Intel SuperBlade modules. The Intel Blade modules use a 16 Mb SPI Flash EEPROM with AMI® BIOS™ that is stored in a flash chip. This BIOS can be easily upgraded using a floppy disk-based program.

Note: Due to periodic changes to the BIOS, some settings may have been added or deleted and might not yet be recorded in this manual. Please refer to the http:// www.supermicro.com/products/SuperBlade/module/ web site for further details on BIOS setup and the BIOS menus for your SuperBlade blade module.

System BIOS

BIOS stands for Basic Input Output System. The 16 Mb SPI Flash EEPROM with AMI® BIOS BIOS flash chip stores the system parameters, types of disk drives, video displays, in the CMOS. The CMOS memory requires very little electrical power. When the blade unit is turned off, a backup battery provides power to the BIOS flash chip, enabling it to retain system parameters. Each time the blade is powered on it is configured with the values stored in the BIOS ROM by the system BIOS, which gains control at boot up.

How To Change the Configuration Data

The CMOS information that determines the system parameters may be changed by entering the BIOS Setup utility. This Setup utility can be accessed by pressing the <DELETE> key at the appropriate time during system boot. (See "Starting the Setup Utility" below.)

Starting the Setup Utility

Normally, the only visible POST (Power-On Self-Test) routine is the memory test. As the memory is being tested, press the <DELETE> key to enter the main menu of the BIOS Setup utility. From the main menu, you can access the other setup screens, such as the Security and Power menus.

Caution: To prevent possible boot failure, do not shut down or reset the system while updating the BIOS.

5-1