The board uses an Intel® Visual BIOS that is stored in the serial Peripheral Interface Flash Memory (SPI Flash) and can be updated using
a disk-based program. The SPI Flash contains the Visual BIOS Setup program, POST, the PCI auto-configuration utility, LAN EEPROM
information, and Plug and Play support.
The BIOS displays a message during POST identifying the type of BIOS and a revision code. The initial production BIOSs
are identified as RKPPT10H.86A.
When the BIOS setup configuration jumper is set to configure mode and the computer is powered-up, the BIOS compares
the CPU version and the microcode version in the BIOS and reports if the two match.
The Visual BIOS Setup program can be used to view and change the BIOS settings for the computer. The BIOS Setup
program is accessed by pressing the <F2> key after the Power-On Self-Test (POST) memory test begins and before the
operating system boot begins.
{Note, the maintenance menu is displayed only when the board is in configure mode.}
The Serial Peripheral Interface Flash Memory (SPI Flash) includes a 128Mb (16000 Kb) flash memory device.
System Management BIOS (SMBIOS)
SMBIOS is a Desktop Management Interface (DMI) compliant method for managing computers in a managed network.
The main component of SMBIOS is the Management Information Format (MIF) database, which contains information about
the computing system and its components. Using SMBIOS, a system administrator can obtain the system types,
capabilities, operational status, and installation dates for system components. The MIF database defines the data and
provides the method for accessing this information. The BIOS enables applications such as third-party management
software to use SMBIOS. The BIOS stores and reports the following SMBIOS information:
•
BIOS data, such as the BIOS revision level
•
Fixed-system data, such as peripherals, serial numbers, and asset tags
•
Resource data, such as memory size, cache size, and processor speed
•
Dynamic data, such as event detection and error logging
Non-Plug and Play operating systems require an additional interface for obtaining the SMBIOS information. The BIOS
supports an SMBIOS table interface for such operating systems. Using this support, an SMBIOS service-level application
running on a non-Plug and Play operating system can obtain the SMBIOS information. Additional board information can be
found in the BIOS under the Additional Information header under the Main BIOS page.
Legacy USB Support
Legacy USB support enables USB devices to be used even when the operating system’s USB drivers are not yet available.
Legacy USB support is used to access the BIOS Setup program, and to install an operating system that supports USB. By
default, Legacy USB support is set to Enabled.
Legacy USB support operates as follows:
1. When you apply power to the computer, legacy support is disabled.
2. POST begins
3. Legacy USB support is enabled by the BIOS allowing you to use a USB keyboard to enter and configure the BIOS
Setup program and the maintenance menu.
4. POST completes
5. The operating system loads. While the operating system is loading, USB keyboards and mice are recognized and
may be used to configure the operating system. (Keyboards and mice are not recognized during this period if
Legacy USB support was set to Disabled in the BIOS Setup program.)
6. After the operating system loads the USB drivers, all legacy and non-legacy USB devices are recognized by the
operating system, and Legacy USB support from the BIOS is no longer used.
7. Additional USB legacy feature options can be accessed by using Intel® Integrator Toolkit.
To install an operating system that supports USB, verify that Legacy USB support in the BIOS Setup program is set to
Enabled and follow the operating system’s installation instructions.
BIOS Updates
The BIOS can be updated using either of the following utilities, which are available on the Intel® World Wide Web site:
Chapter 3 – BIOS Settings
