User`s manual

DIGITAL-LOGIC AG MSLB-P5 Manual V0.3
PRELIMINARY 158
ROM BIOS Functions
The PhoenixBIOS software performs these functions:
The Setup Program Using the Setup program, you can install,
configure, and optimize the hardware de-
vices on your system (clock, memory, disk
drives, etc.).
Initialize Hardware at Boot
At power-on or reset, perform Power-On
Self Test (POST) routines to test system
resources and run the operating system.
Run-Time Routines Basic hardware routines that can be called
from DOS and Windows applications.
Initialize and Configure the computer
The first job of a ROM BIOS is to initialize and configure the computer hardware when
you turn on your computer (system boot). The BIOS runs a series of complex pro-
grams called the Power On Self Test (POST), which performs a number of tasks, in-
cluding:
+ Test Random Access Memory (RAM)
+ Conduct an inventory of the hardware devices installed in the computer
+ Configure hard and floppy disks, keyboard, monitor, and serial and parallel ports
+ Configure other devices installed in the computer such as CD-ROM drives and sound
cards
+ Initialize computer hardware required for computer features such as Plug and Play and
Power Management
+ Run Setup if requested
+ Load and run the Operating System such as DOS, OS/2, UNIX, or Windows 95 or NT.
16.1.1 BIOS Services
The second task of the ROM BIOS is to provide the Operating System, device drivers, and application
programs with access to the system hardware. It performs this task with a set of program routines
called BIOS Services, which are loaded into high memory at boot time.
The number of BIOS Services is always changing. The BIOS Services of PhoenixBIOS 4.05 provide
precise control of hardware devices such as disk drives, which require careful management and ex-
haustive checking for errors. They also help manage new computer features such as Power Manage-
ment, Plug and Play, and MultiBoot.
16.2 System Hardware Requirements
PhoenixBIOS 4.0 requires the following hardware components on the motherboard:
System Board Requirements
1. CPU (486 or later)
2. AT-compatible and MC146818 RTC-compatible chipset.
3. AT or PS/2-compatible Keyboard controller
4. At least 1 MB of system RAM