Dell PowerEdge 4400 User Manual
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Using the Resource Configuration Utility:
Dell™ PowerEdge™ 4400 Systems User's
Guide
Overview
The Resource Configuration Utility (RCU) is used to tell the system what expansion cards are installed and which expansion slots they occupy.
With this information, the system automatically configures Plug and Play expansion cards and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) expansion
cards. Before your system was shipped from Dell, a technician used the RCU to enter the correct information for the expansion cards initially
installed in your computer.
The RCU also monitors the resources required by any installed PCI expansion card. After installing or moving a PCI expansion card, you should
run the RCU to update the system's database of available system resources stored in nonvolatile random-access memory (NVRAM).
NOTICE: Whenever you make changes to the System Setup program or change settings for integrated devices, you must run the
RCU, make any necessary changes, and save the system configuration information. Failure to do so may cause resource conflicts
between PCI devices (such as PCI expansion cards, the integrated video controller, or the integrated small computer system
interface [SCSI] host adapter). See "
" for more information about how PCI devices are configured
based on settings in the RCU.
Configuring Expansion Cards
The RCU is PCI-aware and can also be used to configure PCI expansion cards. Configuration information for PCI expansion cards is contained
within the card, so no additional .cfg file is required. You should run the RCU after installing or moving a PCI expansion card to keep the system's
database of available resources accurate.
How to Run the RCU
The RCU is included on the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD shipped with your system. This CD includes an RCU directory that contains
the main program.
You can run the RCU directly from the CD or from a diskette that you create using the CD's main menu. Dell recommends that you run the RCU
from a diskette because the RCU is not compatible with all operating systems. Also, using a diskette to run the utility allows you to copy any system
configuration changes to the diskette for safekeeping. See "
Using the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD
" for instructions on creating an
RCU diskette.
PCI expansion cards do not require a configuration file. The PCI configuration utility in ROM automatically uses the information maintained by the
RCU to assign resources for PCI expansion cards.
When to Run the RCU
Whenever you add or remove expansion cards, you must run the RCU to ensure that no two cards attempt to use the same resources (such as
interrupt request [IRQ] lines).
After you have run the RCU and it has configured all your expansion cards, you can use the utility to lock the configuration of your PCI expansion
cards so that they are always assigned the same resources.
Making Selections in the RCU
The RCU uses menus to guide you through the configuration process. The menus and their options are accessed through keyboard commands.
To make a menu selection, press the up- or down-arrow key to highlight the desired option, and then press
Advanced menu, you can also select an option by pressing the key that corresponds to the highlighted letter in the selection list.
To scroll up or down a screen, press the
Using Online Instructions
The RCU has online instructions for each of its procedures. If you need help at any time, press
about the task you are doing.
NOTE: If your system detects a card configuration problem during operation, you receive a warning message directing you to run the
RCU to correct the problem.