Displaying critical system screens in a multiple graphics adapter environment

A computer-readable storage medium containing a program which, when executed by a computing device configures a computer system that includes multiple graphics processing units to perform a process to display critical system screens on a display device of the computer system, the process comprising:

• configuring only a first graphics processing unit of the multiple graphics processing units as a video graphics array (VGA) boot device, wherein the multiple graphics processing units are selectively connectable to the display device via a display multiplexor;
• receiving a notification that a critical system event has occurred;
• calling to a system basic input/output system (BIOS) interface from a video BIOS to determine which graphics processing unit is providing image data to the display device in response to receiving the notification;
• calling to the system BIOS interface to configure a display multiplexor to provide image data from the first graphics processing unit to the display device in response to determining that the first graphics processing unit is not providing image data to the display device;
• and
• outputting the critical system screen to the display device of the computer system through the first graphics processing unit.

A computer system, comprising:

• a first graphics processing unit;
• a second graphics processing unit;
• a display device;
• and
• a display multiplexor coupled between the display device and the first graphics processing unit and the second graphics processing unit to provide image data from either the first graphics processing unit or the second graphics processing unit to the display device;
• a central processing unit;
• and
• a memory containing a program, which, when executed on the processor is configured to perform an operation to display critical system screens on the display device, the operation comprising:
• configuring only the first graphics processing unit as a video graphics array (VGA) boot device;
• receiving a notification that a critical system event has occurred;
• calling to a system basic input/output system (BIOS) interface from a video BIOS to determine which graphics processing unit is providing image data to the display device in response to receiving the notification;
• calling to the system BIOS interface to configure the display multiplexor to provide image data from the first graphics processing unit to the display device in response to determining that the first graphics processing unit is not providing image data to the display device;
• and
• outputting the critical system screen to the display device through the first graphics processing unit.