Adapter Configuration
To add adapters to past generations of ISA computers, a variety of switches
are provided on the adapters. These switches control the assignment of computer resources
such as interrupt request (IRQ) lines, direct memory access (DMA) channels, and memory address
ranges. Determining how to set switches for (or configuring ) these resources can be complex.
Plug and Play adapters and devices make this task easier.
Plug and Play Adapters
Plug and Play adapters are easier to install and set up because
they are auto-configuring (no jumpers or switches) to set. A Plug and Play adapter comes with
built-in identification and configuration specifications set in the adapter memory. This information
is sensed by the I/O bus and interpreted by the computer BIOS. The BIOS routines the automatically configure
the adapter around the resources already in useby other devices.
PCI adapters are generally Plug and Play devices. Many ISA adapters are not Plug and Play devices. If the adapter
you are installing is not a Plug and Play adapter (a legacy device), you must configure it manually.
Legacy Adapters
ISA adapters that are not Plug and PLay devices are reffered to as legacy devices. The Configuration/Setup
Utility program can help you manually configure legacy adapters.
The Configuration/Setup Utility program screens show the legacy recources typically required by adapters:
See > PCI (PnP) Vendor-IDs
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