Book: LPI Linux Certification in a Nutshell Section: Chapter 24. Exam 102 Highlighter's Index
### 24.1 Hardware and Architecture #### 24.1.1 Objective 1: Configure Fundamental System Hardware ##### 24.1.1.1 PC BIOS The BIOS is the PC's firmware. The BIOS sets date and time for onboard clock, storage device configuration, and so on via menus. ##### 24.1.1.2 Resource assignments Interrupts (IRQs) allow peripherals to interrupt the CPU. I/O addresses are locations in the microprocessor's memory map for hardware devices. DMA allows certain devices to work directly with memory, freeing the microprocessor (see Table 24-1).

##### Table 24-1. Some Common Device Settings

Device | I/O Address | IRQ | DMA
--- | --- | --- | ---
ttyS0 (COM1) | 3f8 | 4 | NA
ttyS1 (COM2) | 2f8 | 3 | NA
ttyS2 (COM3) | 3e8 | 4 | NA
ttyS3 (COM4) | 2e8 | 3 | NA
lp0 (LPT1) | 378-37f | 7 | NA
lp1 (LPT2) | 278-27f | 5 | NA
fd0, fd1 (floppies 1 and 2) | 3f0-3f7 | 6 | 2
fd2, fd3 (floppies 3 and 4) | 370-377 | 10 | 3
##### 24.1.1.3 1024-cylinder limit LILO and the kernel image should be kept within the first 1024 cylinders on hard disks. #### 24.1.2 Objective 2: Set Up SCSI and NIC Devices ##### 24.1.2.1 NICs NICs have been configured using hardware jumpers, nonvolatile memory, and automated means. The proc filesystem includes information on interrupts, I/O ports, and DMA in /proc/interrupts, /proc/ioports, and /proc/dma. ##### 24.1.2.2 SCSI The Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) defines a bus for multiple storage devices. SCSI capabilities range from 5 MBps to 80 MBps and higher for the newest types. 8-bit SCSI offers up to seven devices plus the controller on a single bus. 16-bit SCSI offers up to 15 devices plus the controller on a single bus. Each device on the bus has a unique SCSI ID, 0-7 or 0-15. Controllers often default to address 7. Linux device files for SCSI disks are typically /dev/sda, /dev/sdb, and so forth. Linux device files for SCSI tape drives are typically /dev/st0, /dev/st1, and so on. SCSI buses must be terminated on both ends. Many SCSI devices include internal terminators to eliminate the need for external terminators. PC SCSI adapters have their own BIOS, where the default boot device, bus speed, and onboard termination settings can be made. #### 24.1.3 Objective 3: Configure Modems and Sound Cards ##### 24.1.3.1 Modems Modems are serial devices. Some are external and are attached to a serial port. Others are installed in a computer and include serial port electronics onboard. Some modems are cost-reduced by implementing portions of their functionality in Windows software libraries. These so-called "WinModems" often aren't compatible with Linux without add-on drivers. ##### 24.1.3.2 Sound devices Sound is well-supported under Linux. pnpdump output is stored for use at boot time by isapnp, which does plug-n-play configuration.