Dell OpenManage Server Administrator Version 8.5 User's Guide

BIOS

Click the BIOS object to manage key features of your system's BIOS. Your system’s BIOS contains programs stored on a flash memory chipset that control communications between the microprocessor and peripheral devices, such as the keyboard and the video adapter, and other miscellaneous functions, such as system messages. The BIOS object action window can have the following tabs, depending on the user's group privileges:

Properties and Setup

Properties

Subtab: Information

Under the Properties tab, you can view BIOS information.

Setup

Subtab: BIOS

Under the Setup tab, you can set the state for each BIOS setup object.

You can modify the state of many BIOS setups features including but not limited to the Serial Port, Hard Disk Drive Sequence, User Accessible USB Ports, CPU Virtualization technology, CPU Hyper-Threading, AC Power Recovery Mode, Embedded SATA Controller, System Profile, Console Redirection, and Console Redirection fail-safe Baud Rate. You can also configure internal USB device, optical drive controller settings, automatic system recovery (ASR) Watchdog Timer, embedded hypervisor, and additional LAN network ports on motherboard information. You can also view the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and Trusted Cryptographic Module (TCM) settings.

Depending on your specific system configuration, additional setup items may be displayed. However, some BIOS setup options may be shown on the BIOS Setup screen that are not accessible in Server Administrator.

On Dell’s 12th generation PowerEdge and later systems, the configurable BIOS features are grouped as specific categories. The categories include Debug Menu, System Information, Memory Settings, Processor Settings, SATA Settings, Boot Settings, Boot Option Settings, One-Time Boot, Network Settings, Integrated Devices, Slot Disablement, Serial Communication, System Profile Settings, System Security, and Miscellaneous Settings. For example, on the System BIOS Settings page, when you click the Memory Settings link, the features pertaining to the system memory appear. You can view or modify the settings by navigating to the respective categories.

The configurable BIOS features are grouped as specific categories. The categories include Debug Menu, System Information, Memory Settings, Processor Settings, SATA Settings, Boot Settings, Boot Option Settings, Network Settings, Integrated Devices, Slot Disablement, Serial Communication, System Profile Settings, System Security, and Miscellaneous Settings. For example, on the System BIOS Settings page, when you click the Memory Settings link, the features pertaining to the system memory appear. You can view or modify the settings by navigating to the respective categories.

You can set a BIOS Setup password, on the System Security page. If you have set the setup password, enter the password to enable and modify the BIOS settings. Else, the BIOS settings appear in a read-only mode. Restart the system after setting the password.

When pending values from the previous session exist or the inband configuration is disabled from an out-of-band interface, Server Administrator does not allow BIOS Setup configuration.