Configuration Printout and Archive

Over the last 10 years a major transition has occurred in the configuration methods for computer peripherals. The good old "DIP switch" has given way to non volatile ram "soft" setup. As the functionality of the hardware has increased, so has the number of configurable parameters to keep track of.

In our repair center we find that the percentage of NPF (no problem found) repairs is much higher in assembles which use novram for setup, and the percentage climbs with the complexity of the assembly. We regularly see installations where in a single piece of equipment there may be as many as three soft configured sub assemblies which must all be configured perfectly in order to work. There are thousands of configuration variations in this type of installation and success requires a thorough understanding of the customers hardware and software environment. This can be a very painful process for the unprepared service tech.

The purpose of this Tech Tip is to help the poor technician who has to go out after a power glitch has splattered random bits through the equipment’s novram and try to reconstruct the configuration matrix. The key is to leave a road map behind. Virtually all of these sub assemblies have a mechanism for providing a hard copy configuration printout (one of the benefits to working with a printer).

The tip is simple. Once the painful process of the initial configuration is complete and the customer is patting you on the back telling you what a genius you are, run two sets of config printouts for every part of the equipment you can. Fold one set up, place it in a envelope labeled "CONFIGURATION" and tape it inside the printer in a spot the next tech will find and where it won’t catch on fire. Take the other set and place it in the file associated with that customer in your office.

Another benefit to this is that generally these printouts also include valuable information on firmware part numbers and revisions. Remember that the next time this information is required the printer will not be in a state where it will be able to provide it. The time to take the record is when it works perfectly. If a spare pcba needs to be ordered, these printouts will provide us with all the information we need to supply you with a spare that is 100% compatible and pre-configured to your requirements