The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) has a Setup utility stored in flash memory. The Setup utility reports system information and can be used to configure the BIOS settings. The configured data is provided with context-sensitive Help and is stored in the system's battery-backed CMOS RAM. If the configuration stored in the CMOS RAM is invalid, the BIOS settings will default to the original state specified at the factory.
The BIOS Setup utility for the Sun Blade X8400, X8420, and X8440 Server Modules includes seven menus. The menus are displayed in this order: Main Menu, Advanced Menu, PCI Menu, Boot Menu, Security Menu, Chipset Menu, and Exit Menu. The BIOS Setup utility for the Sun Blade X8450 Server Module includes six menus, which are displayed in this order: Main Menu, Advanced Menu, PCI/PnP Menu, Boot Menu, Security Menu, and Exit Menu. Refer to BIOS Menus for information about what is accessible from each menu. You can navigate the menu structure using the arrow keys on the keyboard. Selections are made using the Enter key.
The system BIOS loads the operating system each time a blade is powered on. The BIOS also determines what devices are bootable and acts as an interfaces between a blade's operating system and hardware components. In addition, the BIOS verifies that circuit chips, hard drives, and other ports are functioning by performing a power-on self-test (POST).
The BIOS Setup Utility Menus contains user configurable settings, allowing you to customize the BIOS configuration and boot specification. Press the F2 function key (or Control-E from a remote session) during POST to access the BIOS Setup utility.