interesting bios feature: why not standard?

[VJ]

Hello,

We recently (a couple of months ago) purchased a Dell PowerEdge 2800. Nice server (dual Xeon, SCSI raid-5, ...), but it has a very intriguing feature in the bios. The rackmountable tower case has a front USB port, which in the bios can be adjusted to be seen as either a floppy or a CD drive.
This feature is extremely handy if you for instance want to install Windows and you require additional storage drivers (the Windows installation procedure ONLY looks for them on floppy A: just put them on a USB storage, and be done with it.

Any ideas why a feature like this isn't more common?
It would overcome the need for a floppy for those few occasions on which we need them.


Jörg

[JTD]

I have no idea why it isn't more common, but i just noticed i have the feature in my new asus board (it can set the usb stoarage device to emulate floppy, hdd or cd-rom).

I just checked the manual and found it, so thanks for the heads up.

[VJ]

I have no idea why it isn't more common, but i just noticed i have the feature in my new asus board (it can set the usb stoarage device to emulate floppy, hdd or cd-rom).

Hey, cool!

Perhaps it is a rather new feature, that is now just making its way in the mainstream market...

I just checked the manual and found it, so thanks for the heads up.

What a forum: you get questions answered before you ask them.
Glad to be of service!
FWIW, on the Dell it only works on one specific port, most likely it is something similar for the Asus...


Jörg

[JTD]

FWIW, on the Dell it only works on one specific port, most likely it is something similar for the Asus...

Jörg

It doesn't actually say if it's only on a specific port, but if i'm going to use it, i guess i'll find out which (if not all) of the eight usb-ports it is.

[Fluff]

That is cool, another feature that is needed on domestic boards is 4pin pwm fans. Which are auto controlled by the MB.

[High_Jumbllama]

Why can't the machine just boot off the usb device without emulating a floppy or CD-ROM? Or is this for older operating systems?

[Wombat]

An OS has to have drivers to access ANY device. Most don't come with low-level USB drivers.

[High_Jumbllama]

Aahhh. "We understand."

[Claymonkey]

what I would find useful is a toggle for a one time boot that allows you to have a usb thumbdrive seen as A: so you can easily install Raid/Sata drivers. You shouldn't have to slipstream a disk or dig out a floppy drive everytime you build a new rig.