PCI Simple Comm & PCI Serial Port - drivers

NS7 — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 20:34:10 GMT

I just reinstalled my operating system and wanted to know if I really need to install the following drivers:

- PCI Simple Communications Controller

- PCI Serial Port

I know it installs AMT, but since I'm a home user and I don't use it. Can I forgo installing the drivers and just disable them in the Device Manager? Will it affect my PC's ability to function correctly? If yes, what can be affected by not installing the drivers?

Re: PCI Simple Comm & PCI Serial Port - drivers

Dariusz_W_Intel — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 10:30:24 GMT

It looks like your Home PC is based on Intel® vPro™ Technology which includes Intel® AMT and other technologies as well - anyway it is not "typical" home PC.

PCI Simple Communications Controller is Intel® Management Engine interface - used for Intel® AMT (discovery and configuration) which is remote OOB management.

If you want to use it for ex. to be able to remotely turn on your PC - then you will need it.

Depending on Intel ME FW version (starting from ME FW 7.x) Intel ME driver may be also required for any OS to Intel ME FW interaction required by Intel® Identity Protection Technology - which may be useful for providing PC end user with some additional identity factors (like PKI embeded certificate provider or Token Security provider).You may like to check related Reference Use cases: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/46611/Intel-Identity-Protection-Technology-Intel-IPT- https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/46611/Intel-Identity-Protection-Technology-Intel-IPT- and https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/identity-protection/identity-protection-technology.html?wapkw=identity+protection https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/identity-protection/identity-protection-technology.html?wapkw=identity+protection

If your system is based on 6th or 7th Gen Intel® Core™ vPro™ and you want to use https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security/authenticate/authenticate-is-hardware-enhanced-security.html Intel® Authenticate you will have to install required Intel ME driver.

For Intel ME FW 8 or newer you may use the latest Intel MEI SW package 11.0 or 11.6(includes all required drivers) from OEM support website (as a backup you may use https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26136/Intel-Management-Engine-Driver-5M-for-Intel-NUC-Windows-7-8-1 https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26136/Intel-Management-Engine-Driver-5M-for-Intel-NUC-Windows-7-8-1).

For Intel ME FW 2-7 you will need to use respective MEI Driver major version matching FW major version.

If none of those technologies are planned to be used you may disable this device.
- PCI Serial Port is Intel AMT SOL serial port - if Intel AMT is not to be used you may disable it.

rgds

Dariusz Wittek

Intel EMEA Biz Client Technical Sales Specialist

Re: PCI Simple Comm & PCI Serial Port - drivers

NS7 — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 05:06:02 GMT

Thank for a quick and thorough explanation.

topic PCI Simple Comm & PCI Serial Port - drivers in Intel vPro® Platform

PCI Simple Comm & PCI Serial Port - drivers

Re: PCI Simple Comm & PCI Serial Port - drivers

Re: PCI Simple Comm & PCI Serial Port - drivers