ADLINK MXE-200 Industrial Control Computer Deployment and BIOS Optimization Guide

4. Operating system and driver installation sequence

MXE-200 supports Windows 7/8/10 (32/64 bit) and Linux (contact ADLINK for BSP). Taking Windows 7 as an example, drivers must be installed in strict order, otherwise it may cause device recognition abnormalities.

Install chipset drivers (path Driver Installation Matrix MXE-200 Chipset) - this is a prerequisite for the SATA, USB, PCIe root ports to function properly.

Install Graphics driver - Provides HDMI output and hardware acceleration.

Install network card driver (LAN Intel) - Intel I210IT dual network card, supporting jumbo frames, WOL, and time synchronization.

Install USB 3.0 driver (USB 3.0) - If not installed, the USB 3.0 port can only run at 2.0 speed and cannot boot the system from the USB 3.0 optical drive (requires cold start).

Install I/O Drivers - Provide support for serial ports (COM1/COM2) and isolated DIO.

Install SEMA, WDT, and DIO tools ( WDT-SMA-DIO) - including APIs and demonstration programs for watchdog and GPIO.

Special reminder: If using Windows 8/10, some drivers are already built-in, but it is still recommended to install the official version for the chipset and network card to obtain advanced features (such as IEEE 1588).

BIOS key settings and performance tuning

BIOS (based on AMI Aptio) is the cornerstone of stability. Improper settings may result in inability to start or performance degradation. The following are recommended configurations for common needs in industrial sites.

6.1 Boot&Power Management

Fast Boot: It is recommended to set it to Disabled so that POST information can be seen during debugging; After the site is stabilized, it can be activated as needed.

Boot Option priorities: If the system disk is mSATA, the SATA device must be placed first; If installing the system from USB, it is necessary to temporarily set USB as the first option.

Power Up Mode: Recommended Turn On, suitable for unmanned stations; If manual control is required, select 'Remain Off'.

ECO Mode: When enabled, it can reduce standby power consumption (by about 1-2W), but the wake-up delay is slightly increased, and it can be turned on in power sensitive scenarios.

Power Up Watchdog: It is set to automatically reset if the startup is not completed within a specified number of seconds after power on, in order to prevent the device from crashing during startup.

6.2 CPU Configuration&Thermal

Intel Virtualization Technology: If running a virtual machine or container, it must be turned on.

Execute Disable Bit: It is recommended to keep it enabled to enhance system security.

CPU C-state Report: It is recommended to enable to allow the OS to enter a deep power-saving state; If high real-time performance is required, the maximum C-state can be limited (such as disabling C6/C7).

Critical Trip Point: Default temperature is 90 ℃. If the ambient temperature is high, it can be lowered to 85 ℃ for early protection.

Passive Trip Point: The default temperature is 85 ℃. When this temperature is reached, the CPU starts throttling, which can be set to 5-10 ℃ below the critical temperature.

Active Cooling Trip Point: If an external fan is installed, the trigger temperature can be set (such as 70 ℃), but the MXE-200 does not have a built-in fan, and this option is only used for external control.

6.3 Serial Port and USB Configuration

COM2 mode: In Advanced → Miscellaneous Configuration, COM2 can be set to RS-232/422/485, which needs to be matched with external devices.

Legacy USB Support: If you need to boot from a USB flash drive or use a USB keyboard, keep it enabled; If only EFI driver is used, Auto or Disabled can be set.

XHCI Hand Off: Windows 7 must be set to Enabled, otherwise the USB 3.0 port may not respond after system startup.

6.4 Security&Network Startup

Administrator password: It is recommended to set it in the production environment to prevent accidental modification of BIOS.

Network Stack: If you need to perform a PCIe network boot, set it to Enabled and configure UEFI IPv4/IPv6 at the same time.

Common troubleshooting and solutions

7.1 No display when the system is powered on

Check the power supply: Confirm that the polarity of the DC terminal is correct, the voltage is ≥ 6V, and whether the power indicator light (blue) is on.

HDMI cable: Some monitors require an HDMI to DVI adapter, please confirm that the adapter supports HDMI 1.4.

Clear CMOS: If the BIOS settings are incorrect, you can short-circuit the RTC battery jumper (J3) on the motherboard to restore default (see manual 1.8.1 for details).

7.2 The system cannot start at low temperatures (<0 ℃)

Reason: The electrical characteristics of ordinary mSATA or SD cards decrease at low temperatures.

Solution: Industrial grade wide temperature storage (-40 ℃~85 ℃) must be used, and confirm that the "SATA Speed Support" in the BIOS is set to Gen1 (to reduce speed and improve compatibility).

7.3 Watchdog not reset after timeout

Check: whether StartWDT has been called; Is the timeout value set too long; Is the feeding interval less than the timeout.

Hardware verification: If the API returns an error (False), it may be due to incorrect driver installation. Reinstall the SEMA driver package.