A computer system has a centralized configuration control point. Preferably,
this
control point is a ROM-based setup utility ("RBSU") which permits various aspects
of the computer system to configured such as system passwords, serial ports, parallel
ports, and the like. The RBSU also permits an operator to configure various option
device and subsystems, such as PCI devices. When such an option device is selected
to be configured, the RBSU code searches option ROM space for one or more predefined
signature values. Such a signature, which preferably comprises an eight byte value,
signifies the beginning of a table of information which the RBSU code uses to determine
the location of the beginning of the option ROM routine through which the corresponding
option device can be configured. Once the option device is configured, control
returns to the RBSU code. In this way, the operator can configure the computer
system and the option devices from a single software control system.