One of the most common causes of installation failure is a hardware conflict within the fIle server. Selecting resource sets provides a way to decrease the possibility of conflicts between the network boards and other fIle server hardware.
When to include resource sets
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Selecting resource sets is an optional step, to be used mainly in the following situations.
With add-on hardware
You should include resource sets when configuring a fIle server that contains any of the following:
• AST clock/calendar card
• Color Graphics Adapter
• Enhanced Graphics Adapter
• COM port
• Hercules Monochrome Adapter
• IBM SDLC Adapter
• Monochrome adapter
• Novell standalone UPS monitor board
• LPT port
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With non-PS/2 file servers
You should include a resource set for any file server other than an IBM PS/2 file server. A program on the IBM REFERENCE diskette that comes with the PS/2 machine prevents hardware conflicts. Specifying resource, sets in ELSGEN provides the same protection for non-PS/2 file servers.
For example, you could ensure that nothing will conflict with the AT auxiliary ROM addresses, the AT hard drive
controller, and the floppy disk drive controller by selecting the "AT Compatible File Server" resource set.
With network boards that have limited options
You should include resource sets when configuring a file server that uses a network board with a limited number of available configuration options (for example, a board that has only two possible interrupt line settings). The potential for conflicts is much greater with such boards.
If you plan to include resource sets when you run ELSGEN,
,I"
continue with this section. If not, skip to "Which LAN
drivers to select" on page 39. "'-.. j
What is a resource?
36 File Server
A resource is any device, feature, circuit board, or built-in circuitry that can be defined by the I/O addresses, memory addresses, interrupt lines, and DMA lines it uses. The type of bus the resource is compatible with-PC AT bus or Micro Channel bus-is also part of the resource definition.
A resource can be either configurable (have more than one possible setting) or nonconfigurable (always uses specific addresses, interrupt lines, etc.). The I/O addresses, memory addresses, interrupt lines, and DMA lines used by a resource cannot be used by other hardware.
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What is a resource set?
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A resource set is one or more related resources that are grouped together and assigned an identifying name. Usually a resource set consists of only one defined resource, and the name of the resource set is the same as that of the resource.
For example, a COMl port is a resource set that consists of only one defined resource.
Sometimes, however, a single physical piece of hardware consists of several individual resources. It is more
convenient to group these individual resources as a resource set so that they can all be selected at once, rather than selecting each resource individually.
For example, the "AT Compatible File Server" is a resource set that consists of the following resources: an auxiliary ROM chip, an AT hard drive controller, and a floppy disk drive controller. If you wanted to tell ELSGEN that you will be using such a file server, you would simply select "AT Compatible File Server" instead of selecting each component resource separately.
A standard set of predefined file server resources, grouped together into the appropriate resource sets, is provided on your NetWare diskettes.
Experienced installers may want to define additional resources and resource sets not included in the standard definitions for hardware. Instructions for doing this are found in the Appendix of the Maintenance for ELS NetWare Level II manual.
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How do resource sels prevent hardware contl.lets?
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The file server's microprocessor has a limited number of I/O addresses, memory addresses, interrupt lines, and DMA lines. As you select resource sets in your file server
configuration, ELSGEN will keep track of which addresses and lines are "spoken for" and will eliminate incompatible options from any further menus or lists. As a result, the more hardware you include as part of your file server configuration, the more restricted your choices will become.
You should select your resource sets before you select the LAN drivers. Most resources are not configurable; they always use specific addresses, interrupt lines, etc., making these configurations unavailable to the networking hardware.
Choosing resource sets first will allow ELSGEN to reserve the required interrupt lines and addresses for these unchangeable resources; then, as you choose your LAN drivers, the program will offer only those options that are compatible with the resource sets already specified.
Be aware, however, that when you are ready to select a LAN driver, the driver you want might not be available if all of the addresses or interrupts it can possibly use have already been taken by the resource sets you have chosen. If this happens, you will need to deselect some of your resource sets until the needed LAN driver appears in the list of available LAN drivers. After selecting a LAN driver configuration, choose new configurations for the resource sets you deselected.
If you select resource sets that contain configurable
resources, the ELSGEN program will select a configuration setting for you. You can then decide whether to accept or reject the automatic configuration. In some cases, automatic settings may not fit your needs. Refer to "Whether to use the automatic configuration" on page 42 for more
information about customizing resource set configurations.
On the File Server Configuration Worksheet, record the resource set(s) you want to include in your operating system configuration.
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