File Name: README.TXT IBM Netfinity 8500R POST/BIOS Flash Diskette Readme.txt Version 1.04 System 8500R CONTENTS --------- 1.0 Overview 2.0 Change History 3.0 Installation and Setup Instructions 4.0 Configuration Information 5.0 Unattended Mode 6.0 Web Sites and Support Phone Number 7.0 Trademarks and Notices 8.0 Disclaimer 1.0 Overview: This README file contains the latest information about installing the IBM Netfinity 8500R POST/BIOS. 1.1 Overview about this code This diskette contains code for the POST/BIOS image which supports the models of IBM Netfinity 8500R listed below. - Netfinity 8500R 8681-4RY(G) - Netfinity 8500R 8681-5RY(G) - Netfinity 8500R 8681-6RY(G) - Netfinity 8500R 8681-7RY(G) - Netfinity 8500R 8681-8RY(G) 1.2 Limitations N/A 1.3 Enhancements N/A 1.4 Level of Recommendations and Prerequisites for the Update: - The models of Netfinity 8500R that are listed below must require BIOS revision 4 or higher. - Netfinity 8500R 8681-7RY(G) - Netfinity 8500R 8681-8RY(G) - This BIOS has backward compatibility for the following models of Netfinity 8500R. - Netfinity 8500R 8681-4RY(G) - Netfinity 8500R 8681-5RY(G) - Netfinity 8500R 8681-6RY(G) - BIOS revision 4 or higher can support the total memory size up to 32GB. - BIOS revision 3 or below can only support the total memory size up to 16GB. 1.5 Dependencies: N/A 2.0 Change History -------------------- 2.1 IBM Netfinity 8500R POST/BIOS Flash Diskette 1.03 to 1.04 - BIOS Revision 4 Fixed the following defect(s): - Reset the system within 30 seconds after receiving double bit ECC error. - Fixed the hang problem with a single bit ECC error. - Added proceesor ID for Xeon Pentium III Cascade. - Fixed PCI resource allocation error with Artic 960 adapter. - Fixed the hang problem with W2K after receiving NMI caused by double ECC error. - Added processor version information for Cascade processor. Corrected the following defects in Flash Update Utility: - Display error message when attempting to write to a write protected diskette. - Provided user the option to choose whether or not to re-flash BIOS(via menu option 5) - Fixed code to restore correct saved version while attempting to restore current version of BIOS(via menu option 4). - Removed redundant "save message" from menu - Corrected problem where by system was re-flashed each time BIOS was saved. - Increased message box size to fit longer directory name. - Removed all Logo function options from menu. Corrected the following defects in Setup: - Changed the PCI configuration space dump panel footer from help to general help. - Re-worded help message for IRQ selection, Latency timer value select, system generated output, MPS version selection, memory disable selection, CPU setting. - Added system summary footer in the system memory panel in setup. - Removed move keys display from video panel footer in setup. - Changed the product data panel status line from general help to product data panel help. Added the following feature(s): - Added Cascade A1 stepping MicroCode. - Changed text to display installed memory size vs system memory size during POST and in SETUP. - Added code to support memory DIMM with CAS latency 2 for better performance. - Added code to support Pentium Xeon III processor of speed up to 700 MHz. - Cleaned up redundant PCI codes. - Added support for memory range from 16GB to 32GB. 2.2 IBM Netfinity 8500R POST/BIOS Flash Diskette 1.02 to 1.03 - BIOS Revision 3. Added the following feature(s): - Added support for DIMMS of 256 Mbit memory technology. - Reduced the time delay (from 3 seconds to 1.5 seconds) for powering up PCI adapters during POST in order to speed up the boot time. - Added support for special NMI break-in card (for service use only). Now NMI can be generated by forced SERR. This enhancement requires POST GA version of glue logic code. - Modified the flash update utility to support command line interface for backing up the current BIOS image or diagnostic images onto diskette(s). - Added code to disable the Power Management Enable (PME) bit for PCI adapters during POST. This is one of the requirements for Hardware Compatibility Test (Version 9.5 or above) for Windows 2000. Fixed the following defect(s): - Fixed NT 4.0 hang condition when a single bit memory error occurs in the first memory DIMM. 2.3 IBM Netfinity 8500R POST/BIOS Flash Diskette 1.01 to 1.02 - BIOS Revision 2. Fixed the following defect(s): - Fixed PCI adapters recognization & configuration problem in an expansion unit with multiple PCI-PCI bridges. - Fixed hibernation problem for Windows 2000 by changing the memory mapped I/O and I/O ranges for each PCI bus to a constant range. - Fixed active PCI support for Windows 2000 by updating the latest level of ACPI code. - Changed the year of copyright from 1999 to 2000. 2.4 IBM Netfinity 8500R POST/BIOS Flash Diskette 1.00 to 1.01 - BIOS Revision 1. Added the following feature(s): - Added support for special NMI break-in card using PERR (for service use only). - Added support for failure detection for 1st bank of DIMMs. - Changed the designation of the integrated SCSI device (channel A & B)from slot 13 to a non expansion slot device. NOTE: When a system BIOS is updated from Revision 0 to, Revision 1,the following messages will appear during the first boot ONLY,and they will also be logged in the system error log. > PCI device(s) removed since last power up: > PCI Vendor ID=9005 PCI Device ID=005F previously in in slot 13 > PCI Vendor ID=9005 PCI Device ID=005F previously in in slot 13 Please ignore the above three information messages. These 3 messages will only occur when the system is rebooted the first time after it is updated from BIOS Revision 0 to BIOS Revision 1. It will not occur during the subsequent boots. - Added a feature to log the bad CPU status in the CMOS when it is detected by SMI handler. Fixed the following defect(s): - Corrected the image checksum generation for "remote" flash update(if requested) during POST. - Removed IRQ 9 from the manual selection list for PCI devices in SETUP,because IRQ 9 has been dedicated for System Control Interrupt(SCI)which is required to support ACPI. - Fixed a problem for DC power cycling test by ensuring that the I2C bus is available for subsequent power on and power off commands by a test program through Service Processor. - Fixed intermittent I2C protocol contention problem during memory initialization. - Fixed "CP:CC POST hang" problem, when the system is rebooted after an ECC memory "check bit" error occurred on the "1st bank" of DIMMs. 2.5 IBM Netfinity 8500R POST/BIOS Flash Diskette 1.00 First release - BIOS Revision 0. 3.0 Installation and Setup Instructions ----------------------------------------- 3.1 The procedure to update the POST/BIOS is as follows: 1. Insert the "IBM Netfinity 8500R POST/BIOS Flash Diskette" into drive A. 2. Start up or restart your IBM Netfinity 8500R server. 3. The system will boot off of the diskette and present a window which allows you the option to flash various options. Choose "1 - Update POST/BIOS". 4. You will be asked if you would like to move the current POST/BIOS image to the backup ROM location. If you select 'Y', the current code will be flashed in to the backup bank immediately. 5. You will then be asked if you would like to save the current code to a diskette. If you select 'Y', you need to have a formatted diskette already available. 6. At this point, the image will be loaded from the diskette, and you will be asked to choose which language you wish to use during POST and in Setup. If you select a choice other than English,the selected language will be merged into the image.There is also an option to Quit the flash update on this menu. 7. After this completes the system will update the flash ROM with the new code. When this is complete you will be prompted to remove the diskette and hit enter to reboot the system. 4.0 Configuration Information ------------------------------- 4.1 Include any configuration installation N/A 4.2 Configuration Settings N/A 4.3 Hardware Status and Information N/A 5.0 Unattended Mode ------------------------------- 5.1 N/A 6.0 WEB Sites and Support Phone Number ---------------- 6.1 IBM Support Web Site: http://www.pc.ibm.com/support 6.2 IBM Marketing Netfinity Web Site: http://www.pc.ibm.com/netfinity 6.3 If you have any questions about this update, or problems applying the update go to the following Help Center World Telephone Numbers URL: http://www.pc.ibm.com/qtechinfo/YAST-3P2QLY.html. 7.0 Trademarks and Notices ---------------------------- 7.1 IBM is a registered trademark of international Business Machines Corporation. 7.2 Intel is a registered trademark and pentium is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation. 7.3 Microsoft is a registered trademark and Windows NT, Windows, are trademarks of Microsoft. 7.4 Novell and NetWare are registered trademarks of Novell. Inc. 7.5 SCO,SCO UNIX, Open Desktop, Open Server are registered trademarks of Santa Cruz Operation.Inc. 7.6 All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners. 8.0 Disclaimer ---------------------------- 8.1 THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. IBM DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND MERCHANTABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT. BY FURNISHING THIS DOCUMENT, IBM GRANTS NO LICENSES TO ANY PATENTS OR COPYRIGHTS. 8.2 Note to Government Users Include the following note after the disclaimer paragraph. Note to U.S. Government Users -- Documentation related to restricted rights -- Use, duplication or disclosure is subject to restrictions set forth in GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corporation.