Specifications

PC BIOS

The VP 110/01x board is fitted with PC BIOS firmware that performs many of the functions of a

standard desktop PC. It also includes additional features specifically tailored for the VME bus

environment. In addition to the core BIOS firmware, the board is fitted with BIOS Extensions for

remote bootload capability via either of the on-board Ethernet channels. To improve the

flexibility of the board, some of these features may be selectively enabled or disabled by an

operator using BIOS setup menus. Many of the features provided by the PC BIOS are unlikely

to be adjusted by the user, but there are several options which many users will find helpful.

Some of these are already referenced in other sections of this manual, but the remainder of this

chapter will describe some other commonly-used options. More information about each of the

options available is provided in the Help box of the BIOS setup menus.

9.1 Entering the PC BIOS

The startup mode of the board may be selected using the MODE switch, but can be either of the

following: PC BIOS mode (the factory default setting), which generally follows the behavior of a

desktop PC, and VSA mode (a more flexible and comprehensive testing mode), which can be

used for system or board testing. VSA mode operation and features are described in more detail

in Chapters 10 and 11 of this manual. Figure 9-1 shows the location of the switch on the board

and its settings.

VSA mode may be exited either by operator command, or by allowing the board to proceed

through the VSA startup sequence without intervention. In either case, the board will enter PC

BIOS mode and continue as if this mode had been selected with the switch. When the board is

reset, it will generally restart in the switch-selected operating mode. However, a reset caused by

a keyboard <CTRL-ALT-DEL> keystroke combination, or by a programmed reset using one of

several different I/O access sequences, will only cause a PC BIOS restart. A complete board or

system reset (using the front panel switch or through the VME bus EXTRST signal) will cause

the board to restart in the mode selected by the MODE switch setting.

Operator communication with the PC BIOS is usually through a VGA display connected to a

PMC module and a separate keyboard. This can be reconfigured with a board switch to use a

serial terminal connected to the COM1 port. Section 6.1 describes the location and settings for

VP 110/01x 9-1

Switch 2 - Mode

OFF - BIOS

ON - VSA

OFF

Figure 9-1 Mode Switch