Intel NetStructure MPCBL0001 - Manual (Page 110)

110 Technical Product Specification
Order #273817
Intel NetStructure
®
MPCBL0001 High Performance Single Board Computer
Contents
BIOS Features
7
7.1 Introduction
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.
7.2 BIOS 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.
7.3 Complementary 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.
7.3.1 Copying 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.