Setting up system-management features

This section describes how to configure the network interface in your computer. You can change the settings of system-management features in Easy-Setup. Easy-Setup contains the following functions:

• Enabling or disabling Wake on LAN
• Automatic power-on startup sequence
• Enabling or disabling Flash (POST/BIOS) update from the network

To use these functions, the administrator's password (supervisor password) must be set, and you must specify it when you start Easy-Setup.

Enabling or disabling Wake on LAN

This setting is used to enable or disable the Wake on LAN feature, which enables your computer to be powered on remotely by a network administrator from a management console. Remote network-management software, such as LCCM and Netfinity, must be used to support Wake on LAN.

Notes: This feature is valid only when a LAN adapter card with Wake on LAN is installed in the docking station, and its signal line and auxiliary power line are connected to the adapter. The enable or disable setting in your computer is independent of what is set for the docking station. When the Wake on LAN cables are connected to the docking station correctly and the Wake on LAN function of your computer is "disabled" in Easy-Setup, your computer is switched on when the server sends a "wake" signal to it. Your computer's POST (power-on self-test) recognizes the Wake on LAN status of your computer and switches off a few seconds after switching on. This is not an error; however, the network administrator should not set Wake on LAN for LAN cards of the docking station systems connected to ThinkPad computers in which Wake on LAN is disabled.

Setting up in Easy-Setup

You can enable or disable Wake on LAN from the Easy-Setup menu. When Wake on LAN is enabled, the network administrator can power on remote machines connected on a LAN by using remote network-management software. Disable the function when your computer is not under the network administrator's system management.

To set this function, do either of the following:

1. Go to the Easy-Setup menu.

2. Click the CONFIG icon.

   The "Configuration" window appears.

3. Click the Network icon.

   The "Network" window appears.

4. Select either the Enable or the Disable button beside "Wake".

5. Click OK.

or

1. Go to the Easy-Setup menu.

2. Click the Startup icon.

   The "Startup" window appears.

3. Click the Network icon.

   The "Automatic Power On Startup Sequence" window appears.

4. Select either the Enable or the Disable button beside "Wake".

5. Click OK.

Setting up for Netfinity Service

If you have Netfinity Service 5.0 installed in the network and wish to use the Wake on LAN function, do the following:

For Windows 95 systems:

Add the following line in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file in the root directory of the boot drive:

 SET NFWAKEONLAN=YES

For Windows NT systems:

1. Log on to the system with administrator privilege.

2. Double-click the System icon in the Control Panel window.

3. Click the Environment tab.

4. Click one of the system variables.

5. Change the variable name to "NFWAKEONLAN" and the value to "YES", and click the Set button.

6. To save the new settings, click OK.

7. Restart the system.

Automatic power-on startup sequence

The automatic power-on startup sequence settings determine the order in which devices in or attached to your computer will start when your computer is turned on remotely.

To define a sequence:

1. Go to the Easy-Setup menu.

2. Click the CONFIG icon.

   The "Configuration" window appears.

3. Click the Network icon.

   The "Network" window appears.

4. Click the Startup icon.

   The "Automatic Power On Startup Sequence" window appears.

5. Define a sequence by clicking the devices in the order you want them to start.

   The devices you choose appear in boxes 1 to 4.

6. Click OK.

or

1. Go to the Easy-Setup menu.

2. Click the Startup icon.

   The "Startup" window appears.

3. Click the Network icon.

   The "Automatic Power on Startup Sequence" window appears.

4. Define a sequence by clicking the devices in the order you want them to start.

   The devices you choose appear in boxes 1 to 4.

5. Click OK.

Enabling or disabling a Flash (POST/BIOS) update from the network

When a Flash (POST/BIOS) update from the network is enabled, the system programs in your computer can be updated remotely by a network administrator from a management console. The following requirements must be met, however:

• Update Flash from network must also be enabled. (See the following steps.)

• Your computer must be started over the LAN.

• Your computer must be engaged in a remote program load.

• Network-management software is required in the remote administrator's computer.

1. Go to the Easy-Setup menu.

2. Click the CONFIG icon.

   The "Configuration" window appears.

3. Click the Network icon.

   The "Network" window appears.

4. Select either the Enable or the Disable button beside "Flash".

5. Click OK.

System programs: System programs are the basic layer of software built into every IBM computer. They include the power-on self-test (POST), the basic input/output system (BIOS) code, and the Configuration/Setup Utility program. POST is a set of tests and procedures performed every time you switch on your computer. The BIOS is a layer of software that translates instructions from other layers of software into electrical signals that the computer hardware can understand. In the past, the system programs were stored in a read-only memory (ROM) module on the system board. Generally, the contents of ROM modules cannot be modified once they have been originally programmed. However, a type of nonvolatile memory referred to as electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM) can be reprogrammed while it is in the computer, and has replaced the ROM module on the system board in ThinkPad computers. System programs are stored in a type of EEPROM module referred to as Flash memory. The contents of Flash memory can be easily updated with an update (Flash) diskette. The process of updating system programs is often referred to as "flashing the BIOS". As part of its continuous efforts to improve quality, IBM might make changes and enhancements to the system programs. When updates are released, they will be made available on the World Wide Web (http://www.ibm.com/thinkpad/). Instructions for using the system program updates will be available in a README file included in the downloaded files.