Hi,

Are you referring to the internal USB locate nearby the power supply and CMOC battery? How did you do the OS installation? When you said set the boot priority again, are you referring to going into BIOS and set the boot sequence? Have you update both BIOS and iDRAC firmware? When you start powering up the server, are you able to F11 into the boot menu to check if it is detected? In F11, usually it's not listed, you will need to select Hard Drive C: then a sub menu appears. Let me know if it's detected there.

Hi, yes, I'm referring to the internal USB locate nearby the power supply and CMOC battery. I've installed ESXi into that USB via iDRAC virtual console with the virtual media map. When I set the boot priority I go into BIOS and set the boot sequence there. BIOS and iDRAC are updated. Sometimes it says "unknown device: Cruzer Blade", sometimes it isn't listed at all, and other times it says "internal usb: Cruzer Blade".

I've noticed that this issue is caused only when I unplug the power cables, in other words when the server loses completely his AC power. 

Hi,

How long did you pull the plug out and left it? When you pull the plug out from the the server, that will actually clear certain settings on the server. We usually request the users here to do that if and when ever there are certain issues, like server not able to boot or not able to pass BIOS initialization. 

If the plug wasn't unplugged, does the server able to boot from USB all the time? When was the last time you change the CMOS battery? Do you have iDRAC access? Does the logs give you any errors?

Do let me know more.

Hi, I usually unplug for 6 hours, yes, I tried for 5 days without unplugging and it always boots correctly.

I don't remember but I think last time was more than 2/3 years but other settings don't clear when I unplug and also iDRAC says that CMOS is ok.

Yes, I have iDRAC access and can you tell me where I can find the logs you are talking about? 

Hi,

The instructions would be here: https://dell.to/3hAJfaX , you can follow the instructions and upload it. Once it's done, PM me the server's service tag, I'll be able to pull it. 

If the CMOS battery is intact and working, I can't find any reason for the server not able to boot at times after it's powered off. You mentioned that you have to set the boot priority again, did you notice it went back as default, like some sort of BIOS reset? 

Yes, Boot settings come back as default, but other settings (for example security options) remain set. Maybe is because when I power on after AC loss the first boot it can't find the USB?

I've saved the zip of my logs, I will send you the file, last time I powered off the machine I think is more than a week ago

Hi,

I got your TSR log via private note. I went through the logs, and all seems to be good and healthy. I went through documentations on poweredge boot list. What I can think of that the reason you need to amend the boot priority again from powered off would be that internal USB is not one of the boot device. The OS somehow is able to communicate with the main board to boot from USB via NVRAM, but when the plug is pulled, the RAM is cleared and the memory is not retained.

I hope this clarifies your issue. 

But why do I have to reboot twice? The first time the device isn't listed, then the second reboot the device is listed

Hello,

Somehow static electricity or AC loss could be cause this. Could you try flea power drain when you have downtime for server? 

1. Turn off your server.
2. Disconnect the power cable.
3. Press and hold down the power button for 15 seconds to drain the flea power.
4. Connect the power cable.
5. Turn on your server.

Thanks, I'll try

Hi,

Alternative, let's try this, if you're OK with it.

Try moving the USB drive out to the external USB ports. You probably need time to try it as the issue need power cable unplug out from PSU? If it boots on the 1st power on, then the internal USB might be configure in a way that it needs to be reboot twice for it to be recognized.

I've just tried the frontal usb and it works well, also when I remove AC cable at the first boot it works

Hi,

I might not have any clue to what's the reason why the internal USB would not be able to boot from cold shut. Have you tried using another flash drive, install a different OS and test it out?