IBM 8682 POST/BIOS Flash Diskette Version 1.10 Installation README File 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 1.1 This README file contains the latest information about installing the IBM Server 8682 POST/BIOS from here forward referred to as IBM Server POST/BIOS. 1.2 Limitations - NA 1.3 Enhancements - NA 1.4 Level of Recommendations and Prerequisites for the Update: - Upgrading to 1.10 is required for all systems with more than 4GB of RAM. - Upgrading to 1.09 is required for all systems currently using 1.08. - Upgrading to 1.08 is recommended if using mixed stepping level processors. - Upgrading to 1.07 is recommended for systems running Windows 2000, or using using the IBM Space Saver Keyboard. - Upgrading to 1.06 is required for systems with 900Mhz processors. This version is also required for all systems running Novell ICS. It is required for all planars that have the new revision of the South Bridge. It is recommended for systems with multi-function PCI devices. - Upgrading to 1.05 is required for systems running Windows 2000 which are at BIOS 1.04. - Upgrading to 1.04 is strongly recommended for multiprocessor systems. It is also recommended for users utilizing remote post. - Upgrading to 1.03 is required for systems supporting the Arctic186 Model 2 PCI/ISA Adapter. - Upgrading to 1.02 is recommended for systems running Windows 2000. - Upgrading to 1.01 is required for to run A1 step processors. It is strongly recommended for all multiprocessor systems. 1.5 Dependencies 2.0 Change History V1.10 - December 8, 2003 (Build ID == ARE126AUS) ---------------------- - Another update to BIOS INT 15h, Function E820h. Systems with > 4GB of memory incorrectly report available memory to the operating system when total installed memory is not a multiple of 4GB. V1.09 - June 7, 2002 ---------------------- - Fixed BIOS INT 15h, Function E820h. This was broken in 1.08, and can affect memory information reported to the operating system. V1.08 - March 5, 2002 ---------------------- - Fixed POST CP A9 reboot when mixed stepping level processors are used. V1.07 - November 28, 2001 ---------------------- - Updated and corrected Section 5 of this README file. - Remove invalid entry in the MPS table. - Fix for booting Windows 2000 while using remote video. - Fix for proper detection when AC power is restored. - Fix problem with CTRL+ALT+DEL when using Space Saver Keyboard. - Fix for flashing in unattended mode, while specifying the language support. - Fix for using the IBM Advanced System Management Option in Windows 2000. V1.06 - January 18, 2001 ---------------------- - Add support for 900Mhz B0 step processors. - Fix for corrupted text in F1 setup. - Fix to allow CTRL+A and CTRL+I to work in remote POST. - Update to type 1 DMI structures for manufacturing. - Fix for PCI interrupt routing on certain multi-function adapters. - Add changes to support the new revision of the South Bridge. - Added changes to make DMI and system screen/setup messages non brand specific. - Change to correct the vendor and product id in the MPS table. V1.05 - July 23, 2000 ---------------------- - Force RTC to bank one at start of POST. V1.04 - July 20, 2000 ---------------------- - Fix for interrupts being disabled during remote post. - Intel G57 Errata V1.03 - June 30, 2000 ---------------------- - Fixed additional setup panels that were corrupted due to the message length. - Fixed 1801 type errors when PLX PCI controllers are used. - The ability to enable or disable the visibility of the processor serial number through the Setup Program has been restored. - Marked the secondary IDE controller as disabled. The port does not exist. - Fixed the /B and /M options for the flash utility to store the data in the proper place. - Never released level V1.02 - May 23, 2000 ---------------------- - Updated the SMBIOS slot characteristics2 for Hot Plug slots. - Worked around Windows 2000 requirement for ACPI controls for unchangeable devices. V1.01 - April 06, 2000 ---------------------- - Added additional message translations, and fixed some setup panels that were corrupted due to the message length. - Added support for A1 stepping of Pentium III 6AX processors - In SMBIOS, removed descriptions for jumpers removed after development. - Added code to handle the printer port being disabled under Windows2000. - Fixed a problem in handling the second IOAPIC ID. - Added an MPS entry for Local Interrupt 0. 3.0 Installation and Setup Instructions *Note: If installing from an update package, see additional instructions, in Appendix A. The procedure to update the POST/BIOS is as follows: 3.1 Insert the "IBM Server POST/BIOS Flash Diskette" into drive A. 3.2 Start up or restart your IBM server. 3.3 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". 3.4 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. 3.5 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. 3.6 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. 3.7 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 return to reboot the system. 4.0 Configuration Information 5.0 Unattended Mode 5.1 Steps for unattended mode. 5.1.1 Modify CONFIG.SYS on the Flash Diskette to read: "SHELL=FLASH2.EXE /u /r xx*" 5.1.2 Reboot the system with the Flash Diskette in Drive A: * Note: "xx" refers to the language support. By default the system will flash the English versions of BIOS and Setup if no language is specified. 6.0 Web Sites and Support Phone Number 6.1 IBM Support Web Site: http://www.pc.ibm.com/support 6.2 IBM Marketing Web Site: http://www.pc.ibm.com/ww/eserver/xseries 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 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. 8.0 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. Appendix A: Package Specific Installation Instruction This update is packaged as a self-extracting PackageForTheWeb (PFTW) executable file. To unpack, this update requires that your TEMP environment variable be set to a path with read/write access. You must be logged in as an administrator. The package update log, ux.log, is created on the system drive. To locate the log file go to: %SystemDrive%\uxlog\ux.log The command-line syntax for PackageForTheWeb firmware update package is: Package.exe [-s] [-a [-s] | [-r] | [-c] | [-x directory] | [-xd] | [-w] | [-?] ] [-s] This command installs the Package-For-The-Web software silently and does not prompt if files are to be over-written in the %temp% directory. [-a] This command passes all subsequent commands to the PFTW software to install the update package. [-s] This command runs a silent and unattended update. For firmware updates, the update is scheduled to run on the next reboot. An immediate reboot can be forced with the -r option. [-r] This command schedules the update and reboot immediately. It can be used with or without the -s command. [-c] This command cancels any scheduled firmware update and records results of this operation in the log file. Only one firmware package can be scheduled at a time, if a firmware update needs to be applied instead of the currently scheduled firmware update package, cancel the current (run with the -c option on any firmware package) package. Then, run the applicable firmware package. [-x directory] This command is used with firmware updates to extract the update to the directory named directory. The PackageForTheWeb executable extracts itself to a subdirectory in the %TEMP% directory, a relative directory will be relative to that location. You must specify an absolute directory if you do not want to use the default directory. [-xd] This command is used with firmware updates to extract to a floppy diskette. The floppy diskette can then be used to boot from and apply the update. This option is not available for all firmware updates, such as tape drive and hard-disk drive updates. [-w] PowerQuest Virtual Boot Environment requires that there are 2 free sectors on the first track before it can schedule a firmware update. Use this option only if scheduling an update failed because 2 free sectors were not available on the first track. This option clears the non-boot and the non-partition information sectors on the first track. Typically, these sectors are not used. Before clearing the sectors a copy of the complete first track is saved in the %temp% directory from which the update runs. [-?] This command displays information about the command line switches. The command line switches -s, -r -c and -e are unnattended. Other command line options such as display help (-?) might require that you hit any key to continue. If Windows packages are run without any command line options, a GUI is displayed. This GUI offers all of the options that are available using the command line.