Why do you "have to" clear all of these? Some of this is completely unnecessary or is a sign of other issues. 1. This I can see - it has valid uses. Set the jumper to CLR, then boot up the system - you will see a message that the NVRAM jumper is installed. At this point, you can power off, unplug, and put the jumper back in its original location. 2. Yes, there might be very rare situations where you might need to do this, but only if the system has no OS and the cache is not cleared on subsequent reboots, and even then it is more likely because of bad RAID memory or battery than cache needing flushed. On newer controllers, you can do this from the controller BIOS. 3. This is cleared on every reboot - there is NO valid reason for data to be kept "alive" in the video RAM. If you are super concerned, power down, remove power,  hold power button down for 10 seconds.
Hello, newbe here I have a Dell PowerEdge 2950 that I have to clear three areas of NV Ram, I downloaded the Statement of Volatility, and these are the sections: 1. Server Firmware, Optional Embedded ROMB) Memory Checking Dell's pages, I see a NVRAM_CLR Jumper, remove this jumper, boot and that should do it?   2. Server (Embedded) Storage Controller Cache Memory, Battery Backed volatile RAM Checking Dell's pages, To clear Storage Controller Cache Memory, Remove the Controller RAM Chip and Battery. Boot the server, CTRL-M for SCSI controllers (PERC 3, PERC 4) or CTRL-R for SAS/SATA controllers (PERC 5, PERC 6 and newer controllers) depending on the controller installed, wait five minutes while in the CTRL menu to allow contents of cache to purge, reboot back to controller BIOS. Dell also recommends re-flashing and BIOS / Firmware in the server.   3. Server Video Memory DDR SDRAM Cannot find anything on this This is the actual wording from the web site SOV, can anyone confirm the steps to clear these 3 areas of NV RAM?   Thank you, Bruce 1. Server Firmware (Optional Embedded ROMB) Memory Details Size: 32KB NVRAM, 4MB Flash Type: [e.g. Flash PROM, EEPROM]: NVRAM, Flash Can user programs or operating system write data to it during normal operation? NVRAM data can be changed during normal operation Purpose? [e.g. boot code] Controller Firmware & configuration data How is data input to this memory? Loading flash memory requires a vendor provided firmware file and loader program which is executed by booting up the system from a floppy or OS based executable containing the firmware file and the loader. System loaded with arbitrary data in firmware memory would not operate. How is this memory write protected? The flash chip is software write protected Remarks      2. Server (Embedded) Storage Controller Cache Memory (if not present/applicable, N/A is shown under details) Details Size: 256MB Type: [e.g. Flash PROM, EEPROM]: Battery Backed volatile RAM Can user programs or operating system write data to it during normal operation? Yes Purpose? [e.g. boot code] Data Caching How is data input to this memory? Normal Operation How is this memory write protected? No Remarks      3. Server Video Memory Details Size: 16MB Type: [e.g. Flash PROM, EEPROM]: DDR SDRAM Can user programs or operating system write data to it during normal operation? Yes Purpose? [e.g. boot code] Graphics Buffer How is data input to this memory? Normal Operation How is this memory write protected? No Remarks          
Server 2950 and NV Components