8 Server Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)

Learn about the server node BIOS Setup Utility.

The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) has a Setup Utility stored in the BIOS flash memory. The Setup Utility reports system information and can be used to configure the BIOS settings. The configurable data is provided with context-sensitive help and is stored in the system's battery-backed CMOS RAM. If the configuration stored in the CMOS RAM is invalid, the BIOS settings return to their default optimal values.

Note:

The BIOS menus shown in this chapter are examples. The BIOS version numbers, menu information, and menu selections are subject to change over the life of the product. You should not change the factory settings unless prompted to do so by Oracle Service personnel.

• Accessing the BIOS Setup Utility
  
• Using UEFI BIOS
  

Accessing the BIOS Setup Utility

The BIOS Setup Utility allows you to view product information, and to configure, enable, and disable, or manage system components.

• BIOS Setup Utility Menus
  
• BIOS Key Mappings
  
• Access BIOS Setup Utility Menus
  
• Navigate BIOS Setup Utility Menus
  

BIOS Setup Utility Menus

The following table provides descriptions for the top-level BIOS Setup Utility menus.

Menu	Description
Main	View general BIOS information, including version, build date and time, memory, and system date and time.
Advanced	Configure APCB, trusted computing, PSP firmware, AMD CBS, serial port console redirection, PCI subsystem, NVMe, network stack, CPU, and disk freeze lock.
IO	Configure internal I/O devices, add-in cards, and PCIe connectors.
Security	Configure secure boot.
Boot	Configure the retry boot list, network boot retry, persistent boot support, and boot option priorities.
Save & Exit	Save changes and exit, discard changes and exit, discard changes, or restore the default BIOS settings.

BIOS Key Mappings

When viewing the BIOS output from a terminal using the serial console redirection feature, some terminals do not support function keys. BIOS supports the mapping of function keys to Control key sequences when serial redirection is enabled. The following table provides a description of the function key to Control key sequence mappings.

Function Key	Control Key Sequence	BIOS Setup Function
F1	Ctrl+Q	Activate the Setup Utility Help menu.
F2	Ctrl+E	Enter BIOS Setup Utility while the system is performing power-on self-test (POST).
F8	Ctrl+P	Activate the BIOS Boot Menu.
F10	Ctrl+S	Save and Exit changes.
F12	Ctrl+N	Activate Network boot.

Access BIOS Setup Utility Menus

You can access the BIOS Setup Utility screens from the following interfaces:

• Use a terminal (or terminal emulator connected to a computer) through the serial port on the back panel of the server.

• Connect to the server using the Oracle ILOM Remote System Console Plus application.

1. Reset or power on the server.

   For example, to reset the server:

   • From the local server, press the On/Standby button on the front panel of the server to power off the server, and then press the On/Standby button again to power on the server.

   • Oracle ILOM CLI: type reset /System

   • Oracle ILOM web interface: click Host Management → Power Control and select Reset from the Select Action list. Click Save and click OK.

2. After the server resets, to enter the BIOS Setup Utility, press the F2 key (Ctrl+E from a serial connection) when prompted and while the BIOS is running the power-on self-tests (POST).

   The BIOS Setup Utility Main Menu screen appears.

   

Navigate BIOS Setup Utility Menus

1. In the BIOS Setup Utility, press the left and right arrow keys to select the menu options.

   As you select a menu option, the top-level menu for that menu option appears.

2. To navigate options in a top-level menu, press the up and down arrow keys.

   Options that you can modify appear highlighted in the menu. User instructions for a selected menu option appear on the upper right side of the screen.

3. Modify an option by pressing the + or - (plus or minus) keys, or by pressing Enter and selecting the option from the menu.

   The navigation keys appear on the lower right side of the BIOS screen.

4. Press the Esc key to return from a sub-menu to the previous menu.

   Pressing Esc from a top-level menu is equivalent to selecting the Discard Changes and Exit option in the Save menu.

5. Modify the parameters, as needed.
6. Press the F10 key to save your changes and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.

   Alternatively, you can select the Save menu, and select Save Changes and Exit to save your changes and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.

   Note:

   After modifying any BIOS settings, the subsequent reboot might take longer than a typical reboot where you did not change any settings. The delay occurs because the changes to the BIOS settings are synchronized with Oracle ILOM.

Using UEFI BIOS

The Oracle server has a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)-compatible BIOS, which runs with all operating systems that are supported on the server. The BIOS firmware controls the system from power-on until an operating system is booted and allows you to configure, enable, disable, or manage system components.

• Configuration Utilities for Add-In Cards
  
• Configure and Manage BIOS Using Oracle ILOM
  
• UEFI Secure Boot
  

Configuration Utilities for Add-In Cards

In UEFI BIOS, the configuration screens for the add-in cards appear as menu items in the BIOS Advanced Menu as part of the standard BIOS Setup Utility screens. For example, if the Oracle Storage 12 Gb SAS PCIe RAID HBA, Internal card is installed in the server, the configuration utility for the HBA appears as a menu selection.

Configure and Manage BIOS Using Oracle ILOM

Oracle Integrated Lights Out Manager (ILOM) includes BIOS configuration and management tools. You can perform the following BIOS configuration tasks using Oracle ILOM:

• View the BIOS configuration synchronization status and synchronize the configuration parameters

• Reset the factory defaults for the service processor (SP) and Oracle ILOM BIOS

• Back up or restore the BIOS configuration

• Enable UEFI diagnostics to run at system boot

Oracle ILOM Documentation

UEFI Secure Boot

The Oracle server UEFI BIOS supports UEFI Secure Boot. UEFI Secure Boot defines how platform firmware can authenticate a digitally signed UEFI image, such as an operating system loader or a UEFI driver.

When enabled, UEFI Secure Boot provides a policy-based invocation of various UEFI executable images, using cryptographic signatures to identify the software publishers. UEFI Secure Boot also requires all third-party UEFI drivers and operating system boot loaders to be signed by Microsoft or with Key Exchange Key (KEK) by using BIOS setup.

UEFI Secure Boot is enabled by default.