beautypg.com

Dell PowerEdge 6400 User Manual

Page 7

background image

Back to Contents Page

Using the Resource Configuration Utility: Dell™ PowerEdge™ 6400 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 "

Configuring PCI Expansion Cards

" for more information about how PCI devices are configured

based on settings in the RCU.

Configuring PCI Expansion Cards

The RCU is PCI-aware and can 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.

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 it 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 read-only memory (ROM) automatically uses the information
maintained by the RCU to assign resources for PCI expansion cards.

When to Run the RCU

After the RCU has configured all your Plug and Play and PCI expansion cards, you can use the utility to

lock the configuration

of your Plug and Play

and 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 . In the Help menu or
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 or key, respectively.

Using Online Instructions

Overview

Starting the RCU

Configuring PCI Expansion Cards

Main Menu

How to Run the RCU

Advanced Menu

When to Run the RCU

Resolving Resource Conflicts

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.