Chapter 2 Managing Hardware Devices

MIS 431 Chapter 22 Hardware Categories in WS03 Disk drives CD-ROM/DVD-ROM Modem Network adapter card Printers and scanners Keyboard Mouse USN devices IEEE1394 (Firewire devices)

MIS 431 Chapter 23 Hardware Compatibility (a big deal) Microsoft is very concerned about making sure you have compatible HW in a server Eliminates loose ends when there is a failure or incompatibility for troubleshooting reasons HCL – Hardware Compatibility List for previous versions of Windows Server (<2003) Windows Server Catalog is new name Devices have been certified to work with WS03 Don’t use any HW not in the WSC! MS may not provide troubleshooting support for you.

MIS 431 Chapter 24 Device Drivers Software to translate commands into actions and inform user about status of HW device It serves as the middleman between computer and the HW Computer talks to the driver which talks to device Device signing: certified driver is tested and compatible with WS03

MIS 431 Chapter 25 Device Manager Management tool.. click Device Manager button Access in System Properties: Hardware tab Control Panel Rt-click My Computer, Properties Determine … ? If installed and working properly (?) Summary of resources used Change the driver Install or uninstall device or disable

MIS 431 Chapter 26 Device Manager, contd See Fig 2-3 and 2-4 on p. 48 Note categories with + sign in front Click + to see the devices in that category See Fig 2-5 p. 49 Driver details Update driver Roll back driver (to prior version) Uninstall

MIS 431 Chapter 27 Adding New Devices Plug n Play much easier! NT and earlier did not support Plug and Play Steps for plug and play First install the driver with CD etc. Then attach the hardware and let the computer find the device and match it to the hardware

MIS 431 Chapter 28 Legacy Devices These are devices that are not in the modern set and don’t comply with plug and play stds. May be detected by WS03 but Can’t be configured automatically May be on the ISA bus (old one) Can go through Add Hardware Wizard in Control Panel and pick device From the predefined list Fig 2-8 p. 54 Or use Have Disk option May have to manually control device settings

MIS 431 Chapter 29 Hardware Resource Settings Types of resources settings I/O port number range DMA channel (direct memory access) Memory address range IRQ (interrupt request) number These cannot interfere with each other across devices e.g., two devices cannot share same resource setting See Fig 2-9 p.55

MIS 431 Chapter 210 Viewing Resource Settings In Device Manager First select the device category and device Select Resources tab View/change settings

MIS 431 Chapter 211 Troubleshooting Resource Conflicts Ordinarily PnP will resolve this May need to remove two expansion cards/devices, restart Then add one back in a different order and install Then add the last one back. May need to take out of plug and play and set resources manually Not all devices have the same flexibility

MIS 431 Chapter 212 Device Driver Signing Microsoft’s way to prove authenticity of the driver Signing it with a digital certificate means it is verified to work with the WS03 system and has not been changed since it was verified WS03 supports 3 options if driver is unsigned Ignore Warn Block

MIS 431 Chapter 213 Roll Back Driver In case an updated driver is causing a problem, can automatically return to a previously installed version Big Hint: don’t install a new driver just for the heck of it. Have a suitable reason: Known security risk with prior driver System will not work with a new mandatory feature Anticipated upgrade to a new SW version is not supported by current HW w/o upgrade

MIS 431 Chapter 214 Processor Scheduling Configure how processor resources are allocated to programs Default: Background, where all running applications receive equal priority: NORMAL May choose Programs option where you can allocate between programs and services

MIS 431 Chapter 215 Virtual Memory Cache memory on hard drive, used to extend physical RAM by swapping program blocks in and out of VM. Uses paging file as part of the disk where swaps between blocks occur Size and location of the paging file are critical for performance reasons: tune it Default size is installed RAM times 1.5 In Advanced tab of My Computer Properties

MIS 431 Chapter 216 Memory Allocation The server’s main RAM can be allocated between server functions and network connectivity functions See Fig 2-21 on p. 71 Choices for allocation Minimize memory used (<= 10 clients) Balance (small LAN of <= 64 clients) Maximize data throughput for file sharing Maximize data throughput for network appls (ignore the last choice – for early networks)

MIS 431 Chapter 217 Hardware Profiles Cool! This is a set of devices that you want to start when the computer boots up. Can be used to debug flakey devices by locking it out temporarily With a laptop, can set up one profile for work and another for home, depending on which resources are available (wired vs wireless network adapter, for instance) Locate in Hardware tab of MY Computer properties

MIS 431 Chapter 218 Configuring Power Options See Power Options in the Control Panel There are preprogrammed modes (roles) Home/Office Desk Portable/Laptop Presentation Always On Minimal Power Management Max Battery Major options Monitor Hard disks System standby

MIS 431 Chapter 219 Power Options, contd System suspend options Hibernate – copies session RAM onto special partition of hard drive, then shuts down completely; no battery flow Standby – keeps CPU alive by small trickle of energy from battery or power supply; 1 day battery or less

MIS 431 Chapter 220 UPS – Uninterruptible Power Supply UPS – a lead acid battery with an inverter Converts DC back to AC to go into power supply of server which in turn converts it back to DC Gives 10 – 60 minutes power when electric supply is off or fluctuates UPS options Best to install the UPS software utilities Can log voltage and current history System shutdown can be programmed when UPS is down to x minutes reserve Best known: APC