SAS BIOS configuration utility 7
3 SAS BIOS configuration utility
SAS BIOS features
The SAS BIOS is the bootable ROM code that manages SAS hardware resources. It is specific to a family of SAS
controllers or processors. The SAS BIOS integrates with a standard system BIOS, extending the standard disk
service routine provided through INT13h.
During the boot time initialization, the SAS BIOS determines if the system BIOS has already installed other hard
disks, such as an IDE drive. If the drives are already installed, the SAS BIOS maps any SAS or SATA drives it
finds behind these drives. Otherwise, the SAS BIOS installs drives starting with the system boot drive. In this case,
the system boots from a drive controlled by the SAS BIOS.
Boot initialization with the BBS
The SAS BIOS supports the BIOS boot specification (BBS), which enables you to choose which device to boot
from by selecting the priority.
If the system supports the BBS, use the system BIOS setup menu to select the boot order and drive order. In the
system BIOS setup, the Boot Connection Devices menu lists the available boot options. Use that menu to select the
device and rearrange the order. Exit to continue the boot process.
Starting the SAS BIOS configuration utility
If using SAS BIOS 6.xx and it includes the SAS BIOS configuration utility, you can change the default
configuration of the SAS host adapters. The default values might change if there is a conflict between device
settings or if the system performance needs optimizing. The version number of the SAS BIOS appears in a banner
displayed on the computer monitor during bootup. If the configuration utility is available, the following message
also appears during bootup:
Press F8 to start LSI Logic Configuration Utility...
NOTE:
The exact key sequence might be different for different version numbers.
This message remains on the screen for five seconds, giving you time to start the utility. If you press the
F8
key,
the message changes to:
Please wait, invoking LSI Logic Configuration Utility...
After a pause, the SAS BIOS configuration utility opens.
The following messages might appear during the boot process:
•
Adapter removed from boot order!
This message appears when an adapter was removed from the system or was relocated behind a PCI
bridge.
•
Adapter configuration may have changed, reconfiguration is suggested!
This message appears when the information in the non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) is invalid.
•
Updating Adapter List!
This message appears when fewer than four adapters are in the boot order list and more adapters exist
than are shown.
NOTE:
The SAS BIOS configuration utility can sometimes detect devices that the SAS BIOS cannot control (for
example, tape drives and scanners require their own specific drivers). However, you can still use the
configuration utility to modify some parameters for these devices.