Setting boot device via ipmitool

Modified on Fri, 23 Feb at 12:20 PM

ipmitool is a powerful Linux tool for interacting with the built-in management protocol, or IPMI.

You can use ipmitool to adjust the boot device, either for a single boot, or forever.

List the available options:

[root@localhost ~]# ipmitool chassis bootdev
bootdev <device> [clear-cmos=yes|no]
bootdev <device> [options=help,...]
  none  : Do not change boot device order
  pxe   : Force PXE boot
  disk  : Force boot from default Hard-drive
  safe  : Force boot from default Hard-drive, request Safe Mode
  diag  : Force boot from Diagnostic Partition
  cdrom : Force boot from CD/DVD
  bios  : Force boot into BIOS Setup
  floppy: Force boot from Floppy/primary removable media

Check the current boot config:

[root@localhost ~]# ipmitool chassis bootparam get 5
Boot parameter version: 1
Boot parameter 5 is valid/unlocked
Boot parameter data: a004000000
 Boot Flags :
   - Boot Flag Valid
   - Options apply to only next boot
   - BIOS EFI boot
   - Boot Device Selector : Force PXE
   - Console Redirection control : System Default
   - BIOS verbosity : Console redirection occurs per BIOS configuration setting (default)
   - BIOS Mux Control Override : BIOS uses recommended setting of the mux at the end of POST

Change the config:

[root@localhost ~]# ipmitool chassis bootdev pxe options=efiboot
Set Boot Device to pxe

Please note that you may need to specify "options=efiboot". Without this flag, ipmitool defaults to legacy mode which is being phased out.

If and unsupported config is applied - for example legacy boot - you will see the "Boot Flag Invalid" message:

[root@localhost ~]# ipmitool chassis bootparam get 5
Boot parameter version: 1
Boot parameter 5 is valid/unlocked
Boot parameter data: 0004000000
 Boot Flags :
   - Boot Flag Invalid
   - Options apply to only next boot
   - BIOS PC Compatible (legacy) boot
   - Boot Device Selector : Force PXE
   - Console Redirection control : System Default
   - BIOS verbosity : Console redirection occurs per BIOS configuration setting (default)
   - BIOS Mux Control Override : BIOS uses recommended setting of the mux at the end of POST

Finally, if you want the boot order change to be permanent, you can add the "persistent" flag:

[root@localhost ~]# ipmitool chassis bootdev pxe options=efiboot,persistent
Set Boot Device to pxe