Solarflare
Server
Adapter
User
Guide
Issue
20
©
Solarflare
Communications
2017
374
9
Solarflare
Boot
Manager
9.1
Introduction
Solarflare
adapters
support
the
following
Preboot
Execution
Environment
(PXE)
options
enabling
diskless
systems
to
boot
from
a
remote
target
operating
system:
•
Solarflare
Boot
Manager
(based
on
gPXE)
‐
the
default
PXE
client
installed
on
all
Solarflare
adapters.
•
UEFI
network
boot.
•
iPXE
‐
supported
on
Solarflare
XtremeScale™
SFN8000
(and
later
series)
adapters.
The
Solarflare
Boot
Manager
complies
with
the
PXE
2.1
specification.
Boot
Manager
Exposed
Solarflare
adapters
are
shipped
with
boot
ROM
support
‘exposed’,
that
is
the
Boot
Manager
runs
during
the
machine
bootup
stage
allowing
the
user
to
enter
the
setup
screens
(via
Ctrl+B
)
and
enable
PXE
support
when
this
is
required.
The
Boot
Manager
can
also
be
invoked
using
the
Solarflare
supplied
sfboot
utility.
For
instructions
on
the
sfboot
method
refer
to
the
sfboot
commands
in
the
relevant
OS
specific
sections
of
this
user
guide.
Using
the
sfboot
utility,
the
boot
‐
image
options
identify
which
boot
images
are
exposed
on
the
adapter
during
boot
time.
The
boot
‐
image=uefi
option
allows
the
Solarflare
UEFI
driver
to
be
loaded
by
the
UEFI
platform
which
can
be
configured
to
PXE
boot
from
the
Solarflare
adapter.
The
boot
‐
type
options
allows
the
user
to
select
PXE
boot
or
to
disable
PXE
boot.
This
is
effective
on
the
next
reboot.
NOTE:
If
network
booting
is
not
required,
startup
time
can
be
decreased
when
the
boot
‐
image
option
is
‘disabled’
so
that
the
CTRL
‐
B
option
is
not
exposed
during
system
startup.
PXE
Enabled
Some
Solarflare
distributors
are
able
to
ship
Solarflare
adapters
with
PXE
boot
enabled.
Customers
should
contact
their
distributor
for
further
information.
Solarflare
SFN8000
series
adapters
are
shipped
with
the
PXE
boot
enabled
and
set
to
PXE
boot.