Specifications

EISA Configuration Utility

installing configuration files, although switch configurations are still allowed

for both ISA and EISA to maintain compatibility.

EISA provides a product identification mechanism for system and adapter

cards. The computer automatically interrupts each device during the BIOS

Power-On Self Test (POST) for the product identifier, compares it with the

ID stored in EISA Extended CMOS RAM and configures the adapter card

accordingly.

The EISA configuration scheme has the following characteristics:

• An ECU (EISA Configuration Utility) for configuration of mother-

boards and adapter cards.

• A software interface to the ECU used by CFG files to control the

configuration process.

. CFG files for the ECU.

• CFG files for the motherboard and adapter cards.

• EISA Extended CMOS RAM to store configuration parameters.

® A mechanism to save and restore the configuration parameters.

о BIOS routines to read and write to Extended CMOS RAM.

о Automatic detection and initialization of adapter cards by the

BIOS during POST routines.

•

KB of I/O address space for each EISA expansion device (adapt-

er card).

5.2 Configuring Your Computer for the First Time

The first time you set up your EISA computer and any time you change the

configuration by adding or removing an EISA or ISA board, you must

configure your system with the EISA Configuration Utility program. When

the configuration process is completed, the configuration is stored in the

computer's nonvolatile memory where it is available to the system whenever

you use your computer.

The EISA Configuration Utility program is on the System Configuration

diskette provided with your computer. Before you use this diskette to run the

Configuration Utilityprogram,we recommend that you make a backup copy.

This ensures that you will be able to run the program if the original diskette

is damaged or lost.

5-3