Sun Fire[TM] V20z/40Z servers: How to Reset BIOS/CMOS password ?

Asset ID:	1-72-1017735.1
Update Date:	2010-10-08
Keywords:

Solution Type Problem Resolution Sure

Solution 1017735.1 : Sun Fire[TM] V20z/40Z servers: How to Reset BIOS/CMOS password ?

Related Items


Sun Fire V20z Server
 Sun Fire V40z Server

Related Categories


GCS>Sun Microsystems>Servers>x64 Servers

PreviouslyPublishedAs
228946

Symptoms
If the BIOS/CMOS password on a Sun Fire[TM] V20z or Sun Fire{TM] V40z server is set, how can it be re-set to the default value?

Resolution
To re-set the password(or clear CMOS settings), you will need to perform the following procedure:
Locate the Clear-CMOS jumper on the motherboard:

  The Clear-CMOS jumper on the Sun Fire V20z motherboard is at J110.

  The Clear-CMOS jumper on the Sun Fire V40Z motherboard is at J125.

This jumper can be used to clear the CMOS if the server hangs during certain
conditions, or in order "to clear the password in the CMOS".

The default jumper position(Clear-CMOS-Removed) is - jumper on pins 2 and 3.
This setting retains CMOS settings on each re-boot of the server.

Moving the jumper to pins 1 and 2 will clear the CMOS settings with each
re-boot.

For example, if someone created a password in the CMOS, and then forgot it,
the only way to clear it, is to manually change the jumper from "pins 2 and 3"
to "pins 1 and 2", and then reboot the server. This will clear the password.

The exact location of the jumpers is shown in the online Sun[TM] System Handbook:

https://support.oracle.com/handbook_private/Devices/System_Board/SYSBD_SunFireV20z_CPU.html
https://support.oracle.com/handbook_private/Devices/System_Board/SYSBD_SunFireV40z_CPU.html

Make sure that when you have concluded resetting the CMOS, that you return the
jumper to its original position - pins 2 and 3, so that the server will then
retain it's CMOS settings on subsequent re-boots.

Additional Information
Acronyms:

BIOS: Basic Input Output System. This is the basic set of instructions that tell
the computer how to act. Most computers have these instructions built into a chip
that plugs into the motherboard.

CMOS:Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor. A CMOS computer circuit consumes
very little power and is used in computers to keep track of the system setup
information, data, time, type of disk and hard drives, etc. that a computer has
installed. The CMOS information is powered by the computer's on-board battery. So
if the on-board battery fails, the information in CMOS is lost.

Product
Sun Fire V20z Server
Sun Fire V40z Server

Internal Comments
Audited/updated 11/11/09 - James.Carter@Sun.COM, x64 Content Team Member

From the release note, it indicates where the clear CMOS jumpers are located,
however, it does not specify what other functions it can perform when changing
the jumper position, besides using the clear CMOS to recover from a hang condition during post,
nor in the release note mentioned/documented how to reset password.

CMOS password, clear CMOS, Hang During Boot, BIOS
Previously Published As
79518

Change History
Date: 2005-09-28
User Name: 67850
Action: Update Canceled
Comment: *** Restored Published Content *** No longer needed. Duplicate doc.
Version: 0
Date: 2005-08-04
User Name: 67850
Action: Update Started
Comment: Going to bubble up the symptom (hang) so we can have a clear resolution path.
Version: 0

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