Intel(R) PRO/100 Boot Agent version 2.6 Release Notes August 18, 1999 ======================================================================= Introduction ------------ The Intel PRO/100 Boot Agent is a software product that allows a personal computer client to boot using a boot image that resides on a remote server. The product is compliant with the Wired for Management Baseline 2.0 (WfM 2.0) specification and incorporates the software defined in the Pre-boot eXecution Environment version 2.0 (PXE 2.0) specification. Refer to the PRO/100 Boot Agent User's Guide, included on the product diskette, for more detailed information. The user guide included with this archive was written for release 2.0 of the PRO/100 Boot Agent. It will be updated in a future release. However, there is only one operational / user visible change to the boot agent since that release so the content of the manual is still relevant. The one change is an additional configuration parameter in the setup screen. The new parameter is Power Management, and the settings are ACPI and APM. ACPI is the default, and normally should not be changed. Set this selection to APM if one of the following apply; 1. You are having difficulty with remote wake up in computers that are compliant to the PCI 2.2 specification, you are not using the 3-pin header cable and are running an OS that is not ACPI (Advanced Control and Power Interface) aware. 2. You are running an ACPI aware OS (such as Windows 98) on a none-ACPI computer and the link light goes out when you shut down the system, disabling Wake-on-LAN. Important note! --------------- When you finish updating your adapter, the default settings will be to boot from the network and disable local booting. If this does not suit your needs, you will need to reconfigure the settings. To do this, when the message "Initializing Intel Boot Agent Version 2.6 (build 004)" appears on the screen, press the Ctrl-S keys to enter the setup program. Installing PRO/100 Boot Agent Software -------------------------------------- Prior to installing the PRO/100 Boot Agent software your computer must be set up with an installed adapter that holds a 64KB Flash ROM device. If the adapter and ROM are not already installed in your computer, refer to the PRO/100 Boot Agent User's Guide for the complete installation instructions for the PRO/100 Boot Agent product. Perform the following steps to install the PRO/100 Boot Agent software: 1. Using a DOS system disk, boot your computer to a DOS prompt. The next several steps require that your computer be booted only to DOS. These steps cannot be performed from a DOS Command Prompt window or using a DOS task within Windows. 2. Insert the diskette with the PRO/100 Boot Agent software into your computer floppy disk drive. Assuming drive A: is your floppy drive, type: A:> \fboot 3. In response to the first question from the utility, enter the number corresponding to your adapter, then press the Enter key to continue. 4. The next question requiring a response is: Select Option (U)pdate or (R)estore: An update (U) response results in the fboot utility updating the Flash ROM device with the current version of PRO/100 Boot Agent software. A restore (R) response will cause the fboot utility to write a previously stored flash image file onto the flash ROM device. 5. You are next asked to respond to this final question: Create Restore Image (Y)es or (N)o: A yes (Y) response will create a flash image file and load it with the current (not updated) image of the Flash ROM device. A no (N) response will cause fboot to proceed without first saving a copy of the current flash image. The fboot program returns you to the DOS prompt once it completes the installation. Operating Procedures -------------------- At this time, assuming your network server is set up to support remote booting, you can reset your computer and it will remote boot using the boot image stored on the network server. If you also need to set up your server for remote booting (using either PXE or RPL protocol), refer to the PRO/100 Boot Agent User's Guide. Once installed, the PRO/100 Boot Agent software requires no operator intervention unless you (the operator) need to interrupt the normal boot sequence of your computer. Refer to the PRO/100 Boot Agent User's Guide for details on the normal boot process followed by your computer when the PRO/100 Boot Agent is installed. The User's Guide provides detailed information on the following operation topics: • Normal Boot Sequence • Interrupting the Boot Sequence • Diverting to the Motherboard BIOS Setup • Diverting to the PRO/100 Boot Agent Setup Menu Troubleshooting --------------- The PRO/100 Boot Agent product has only a few things that can go wrong once it is installed. In general, those problems (and possible causes) are as follows: • An error message "Media test failure, check cable" appears. The network cable between your computer and the network server is disconnected. • Cannot change boot order. See the detailed description in the PRO/100 Boot Agent User's Guide for corrective actions. • When using RPL protocol, the boot does not proceed normally. See the detailed description in the PRO/100 Boot Agent User's Guide, and the Errata descriptions below for corrective actions. • For any other problems, see the detailed descriptions in the Troubleshooting Procedures section of the PRO/100 Boot Agent User's Guide for corrective actions.