---
name: "pnpbios"
section: "4"
platform: "linux"
package: "freebsd-manpages"
version: "6.0-5"
release: "Debian 4.0 (Etch)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pnpbios"
---

# pnpbios(4)

support for embedded devices on the motherboard

## NAME

**pnpbios** – support for embedded devices on the motherboard

## DESCRIPTION

The **pnpbios** driver enumerates embedded ISA devices on the motherboard whose BIOS supports “Plug and Play BIOS Specification”. It assigns ISA bus resources (interrupt line, DMA channel, I/O ports, and memory region) to each device and activates it.

If it cannot assign necessary resources to a device without causing conflict with other devices in the system, the device will not be activated and will be unavailable to programs.

## CAVEATS

There is no explicit way to disable individual embedded devices. The **pnpbios** driver will find all devices reported by the “Plug and Play (PnP)” BIOS and try to activate them all.

There is no way to explicitly assign particular resource to a device. The resource assignment is fully automatic and there is no provision for manual override.

## SEE ALSO

[pnp(4)](/pnp/4.md)

## STANDARDS

Compaq, Phenix, and Intel, *Plug and Play BIOS Specification Version 1.0A*, May 5, 1994.

Compaq, Phenix, and Intel, *Plug and Play BIOS CLARIFICATION Paper for Plug and Play BIOS Specification Version 1.0A*, October 6, 1994.

## HISTORY

The **pnpbios** driver first appeared in FreeBSD 4.0.

## AUTHORS

The **pnpbios** driver was written by Mike Smith.