en-US/about_DellBIOSProvider.help.txt

TOPIC
    about_DellBIOSProvider
     
SHORT DESCRIPTION
    The Dell Command PowerShell Provider (DCPP) provides BIOS reporting and
    configuration capability on Dell Optiplex, Latitude, Precision, and
    Venue 11 systems using PowerShell.
     
LONG DESCRIPTION
    This is a PowerShell provider for configuring the SMBIOS on Dell Business
    Client systems. Dell SMBIOS Provider works on the F2 (Setup) hierarchy
    and use the same strings as in F2 setup menu.
 
    Dell Command PowerShell provider is built for PowerShell 3.0.
    If the system is running PowerShell 2.0, update it to 3.0.
    You can download PowerShell 3.0 from the following link:
    http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34595
     
DRIVES
    DellSmbios:
 
NEW FEATURES
    DCPP 1.3.0 includes the following new features.
    -- Support for Dell Edge Gateway 3000 series platform
    -- New BIOS Features/Attributes
    -- Support for newer Asset Tag that accepts upto 64 characters on relevant platforms
 
RUNTIME REQUIREMENTS
    1. PowerShell 3.0 or later
    2. Administrator access
    3. Visual C++ runtime libraries for VS2010 and VS2012
     
WHAT IS SUPPORTED IN THE PROVIDER
    -- Navigation via cd and dir commands
    -- Reporting and Configuration of Dell Client BIOS attributes
    -- The attributes that are not supported on the system, are not reported.
    -- You can set, modify or clear BIOS administrator, BIOS system and HDD password.
    -- TPM settings
    -- Service tag, Asset Tag
    -- BootSequence
    -- SecureBoot ( This attribute does not support disable option)
    -- Case insensitive no-space strings for category, attribute and current
       value to set
    -- Showing Unsupported Possible Values for BIOS features on particular platform
 
WHAT IS NOT SUPPORTED
    -- Boot Sequence operations on UEFI incapable system like old generation Optiplex.
 
NOTES
     
 
INSTALLATION
    Perform the following steps:
    1. Copy the downloaded zip file to the system.
    2. Follow Install-instructions.txt and Load-DellBIOSProvider.ps1 to
       load the DellBIOSProvider module appropriately.
        
GENERIC SYNTAX OF THE CMD-LETS
    -- cd <Category>
    -- Dir <attribute>
    -- Set-Item <attribute> -value <possible value> -password <PW value>
    -- Get-Item .
     
EXAMPLES
    -- cd DellSmbios:
    -- cd DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration
    -- dir .
    -- dir DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration
    -- dir -path DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration\Serial1
    -- dir -path DellSmbios: | select category, desc
    -- dir -path DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration| select attribute,
       currentvalue, possiblevalues
    -- set-item -path DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration\Serial1 -value COM2
       -password $PlainTxtPwd
    -- dir DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration\EmbNic1 | select
       -expandproperty possiblevalues
     
INTEGRATED HELP
    -- Get-Help About_DellBIOSProvider
    -- Get-Help DellBIOSProvider
    -- Get-Help DellSmbiosProv
    -- Get-Help DellSmbios
 
    -- Get-Help Get-ChildItem -Path DellSmbios:\Security -full
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\Security -Examples
     
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\Security\HDDPassword -Full
     
    -- Get-Help Get-ChildItem -Path DellSmbios:\PowerManagement\PeakShiftDayConfiguration -full;
    -- Get-Help Get-ChildItem -Path DellSmbios:\PowerManagement\PeakShiftDayConfiguration -Examples;
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\PowerManagement\PeakShiftDayConfiguration -full;
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\PowerManagement\PeakShiftDayConfiguration -Examples;
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\PowerManagement\PeakShiftDayConfiguration -Parameter StartTime;
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\PowerManagement\PeakShiftDayConfiguration -Parameter EndTime;
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\PowerManagement\PeakShiftDayConfiguration -Parameter ChargeStartTime;
     
    -- Get-Help Get-ChildItem -Path DellSmbios:\PowerManagement\AdvancedBatteryChargeConfiguration -Examples;
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\PowerManagement\AdvancedBatteryChargeConfiguration -full;
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\PowerManagement\AdvancedBatteryChargeConfiguration -Parameter BeginningOfDay;
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\PowerManagement\AdvancedBatteryChargeConfiguration -Parameter WorkPeriod;
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\PowerManagement\AdvancedBatteryChargeConfiguration -Examples;
     
    -- Get-Help Get-ChildItem -Path DellSmbios:\PowerManagement\AutoOn -Examples;
    -- Get-Help Get-ChildItem -Path DellSmbios:\PowerManagement\AutoOn -full;
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\PowerManagement\AutoOn -Examples;
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\PowerManagement\AutoOn -full;
     
    -- Get-Help Get-ChildItem -Path DellSmbios:\PowerManagement\PrimaryBattChargeCfg -full;
    -- Get-Help Get-ChildItem -Path DellSmbios:\PowerManagement\PrimaryBattChargeCfg -Examples;
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\PowerManagement\PrimaryBattChargeCfg -Examples;
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\PowerManagement\PrimaryBattChargeCfg -full;
     
    -- Get-Help Get-ChildItem -Path DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration\KeyboardBacklightActiveColor -full;
    -- Get-Help Get-ChildItem -Path DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration\KeyboardBacklightActiveColor -Examples;
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration\KeyboardBacklightActiveColor -Examples;
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration\KeyboardBacklightActiveColor -full;
     
    -- Get-Help Get-ChildItem -Path DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration\KeyboardBacklightEnabledColors -full;
    -- Get-Help Get-ChildItem -Path DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration\KeyboardBacklightEnabledColors -Examples;
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration\KeyboardBacklightEnabledColors -Examples;
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration\KeyboardBacklightEnabledColors -full;
     
    -- Get-Help Get-ChildItem -Path DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration\KeyboardBacklightCustom1Color -full;
    -- Get-Help Get-ChildItem -Path DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration\KeyboardBacklightCustom1Color -Examples;
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration\KeyboardBacklightCustom1Color -Examples;
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration\KeyboardBacklightCustom1Color -full;
     
    -- Get-Help Get-ChildItem -Path DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration\KeyboardBacklightCustom2Color -full;
    -- Get-Help Get-ChildItem -Path DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration\KeyboardBacklightCustom2Color -Examples;
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration\KeyboardBacklightCustom2Color -Examples;
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\SystemConfiguration\KeyboardBacklightCustom2Color -full;
     
    -- Get-Help Get-ChildItem -Path DellSmbios:\BootSequence -full
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\BootSequence -Examples
     
    -- Get-Help Get-ChildItem -Path DellSmbios:\TPMSecurity -full
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\TPMSecurity -Examples
     
    -- Get-Help Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\SecureBoot -Full
     
DYNAMIC PARAMETERS
    -Password <System.String>
        Required to validate the BIOS password. Provided in plain text string. This parameter is valid for all settable attributes.
        Cmdlets supported: Set-Item
         
    -PasswordSecure <System.SecureString>
        Required to validate the BIOS password. Provided in encrypted string. This parameter is valid for all settable attributes.
        Cmdlets supported: Set-Item
     
    -BeginningOfDay
        Specifies the start time when ExpressCharge will be used for charging the batteries faster. This parameter is used with AdvancedBatteryChargeConfiguration attribute.
        Cmdlets supported: Set-Item
         
    -WorkPeriod
        Specifies the duration of time when ExpressCharge is used for charging the batteries faster. This parameter is used with AdvancedBatteryChargeConfiguration attribute.
        Cmdlets supported: Set-Item
         
    -StartTime
        Specifies the time when system starts consuming battery power. System will continue consuming the battery power till either peakshift battery threshold is reached or peakshift end time is reached. This parameter is used with PeakShiftDayConfiguration attribute.
        Cmdlets supported: Set-Item
     
    -EndTime
        Specifies the time when system stops consuming battery power and starts consuming AC power, if available; however, the system does not charge battery. This parameter is used with PeakShiftDayConfiguration attribute.
        Cmdlets supported: Set-Item
     
    -ChargeStartTime
        Specifies the time when the system starts charging battery while consuming AC power, if available. This parameter is used with PeakShiftDayConfiguration attribute.
        Cmdlets supported: Set-Item
     
    -AdminPassword
        Specifies that admin password must be provided while setting HDD password if administrator has restricted the changes to HDD password. This parameter is used with HDDPassword attribute.
        Cmdlets supported: Set-Item
         
    -ATAMaximumSecurityMode
        Specifies the ATA Maximum Security Mode. Provide the value as '0' if you want HDD to be configured in ATA High Security Mode or '1' if you want HDD to be configured in ATA maximum Security Mode (Secure Erase). This parameter is used with HDDPassword attribute.
        Cmdlets supported: Set-Item
     
     Sample usage:
        Set-Item DellSmbios:\PostBehavior\NumLock "Enabled" -Password $PlainTxtPwd
        Set-Item DellSmbios:\PostBehavior\NumLock "Enabled" -PasswordSecure $SecurePwd
         
        (Get-Command -name si Dellsmbios:).Parameters['Password']
        (Get-Command -name si Dellsmbios:).Parameters['PasswordSecure']
         
        Note: It is an error to provide -Password and -PasswordSecure together.
         
        Set-Item PeakShiftDayConfiguration -Value Friday -StartTime "11:45" -EndTime "13:30" -ChargeStartTime "15:30"
        Set-Item AdvancedBatteryChargeConfiguration -Value Friday -BeginningOfDay "11:45" -WorkPeriod "5:00"
        Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\Security\HDDPassword $NewPwd -ATAMaximumSecurityMode 1;
        Set-Item -Path DellSmbios:\Security\HDDPassowrd $NewPwd -Password $PlainTxtPwd -AdminPassword $AdminPwd;
         
ERROR REPORTING
    Errors can be captured in the built-in variable -ErrorVariable.
     
BIOS PASSWORDS
       cd DellSmbios:\Security
    -- To Set, Set-Item AdminPassword $NewPwd
             
    -- To change, Set-Item AdminPassword $NewPwd -Password $PlainTxtPwd
                    Set-Item AdminPassword $NewPwd -PasswordSecure $SecurePwd
                     
    -- To Clear, Set-Item AdminPassword "" -Password $PlainTxtPwd
                    Set-Item AdminPassword "" -PasswordSecure $SecurePwd
                     
 
HDD PASSWORD
       cd DellSmbios:\Security
    -- To Set, Set-Item HDDPassword $NewPwd
             
    -- To change, Set-Item HDDPassword $NewPwd -Password $PlainTxtPwd
                    Set-Item HDDPassword $NewPwd -PasswordSecure $SecurePwd
                     
    -- To Clear, Set-Item HDDPassword "" -Password $PlainTxtPwd
                    Set-Item HDDPassword "" -PasswordSecure $SecurePwd
                     
ASSET TAG
    -- Set-Item DellSmbios:\SystemInformation\assettag Dell -password $PlainTxtPwd
     
SystemConfiguration
     
    -- Set-Item KeyboardBacklightActiveColor "Red" -Password $PlainTxtPwd
    -- Set-Item KeyboardBacklightEnabledColors "Red,Green,Custom1,Custom2,White" -Password $PlainTxtPwd
    -- Set-Item KeyboardBacklightEnabledColors "NoColor" -Password $PlainTxtPwd
    -- Set-Item KeyboardBacklightCustom1Color "234:35:56" -Password $PlainTxtPwd
    -- Set-Item KeyboardBacklightCustom2Color "124:45:246" -Password $PlainTxtPwd
 
PowerManagement
 
    -- Set-Item AutoOn "Weekdays" -Password $PlainTxtPwd
    -- Set-Item AutoOn "SelectDays"
    -- Set-Item PeakShiftDayConfiguration -Value Friday -StartTime "11:45" -EndTime "13:30" -ChargeStartTime "15:30"
    -- Set-Item PeakShiftDayConfiguration -Value Sunday -StartTime "11:45" -Password $PlainTxtPwd
    -- Set-Item AdvancedBatteryChargeConfiguration -Value Friday -BeginningOfDay "11:45" -WorkPeriod "5:00"
    -- Set-Item AdvancedBatteryChargeConfiguration -Value Sunday -WorkPeriod "5:00" -Password $PlainTxtPwd
    -- Set-Item PrimaryBattChargeCfg "Adaptive" -Password $PlainTxtPwd;
    -- Set-Item PrimaryBattChargeCfg "Custom";
     
BOOTSEQUENCE
    -- dir DellSmbios:\BootSequence\BootList
    -- Set-Item DellSmbios:\bootsequence\BootList Uefi -Password $PlainTxtPwd
     
    Note: Ensure that "AdvancedBootOptions\LegacyOrom" is set to
          Enabled and SecureBoot is set to Disabled To set attribute
          BootList to "Legacy".
         
    -- dir DellSmbios:\bootsequence\bootsequence | select-object -expand
       currentvalue
    -- Set-Item DelllSmbios:\BootSequence\bootsequence "2,3,4" -password $PlainTxtPwd
     
    Note: To change the bootsequence, check the current bootorder using
          dir command on the path DelllSmbios:\BootSequence\BootSequence.
    Note: BootSequence operations are not supported on UEFI incapable systems.
     
SECUREBOOT
    Note: This tool cannot disable the SecureBoot.
    -- Set-Item DellSmbios:\SecureBoot\SecureBoot enabled -password $PlainTxtPwd
 
     
TPM SECURITY
    -- Set-Item DellSmbios:\TPMSecurity\tpmsecurity enabled -password $PlainTxtPwd
    Note: Restart the system after changing tpmsecurity.
 
    -- Set-Item DellSmbios:\TPMSecurity\TpmActivation Enabled -password $PlainTxtPwd
    Note - To activate the TpmActivation , Admin password must be installed and
          tpmsecurity should be enabled.
 
     
SEE ALSO
    http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/enterprise-client/w/wiki/6901.dell-Command-powershell-provider