R710 Dual USB Boot + Scratch file?

Question

Hi, is it possible to have 2 USB drives connected with a default boot off one but be able to boot off the other if one wished?

Mainly use ESXI 6.5 on my R710 but would also like to put Oracle Linux on as an alternative virtualization and OS.

Also read that if using a USB drive one should move the scratch file, but finding very limit info in google on if this is needed/good idea and how one would do it.

thanks

Damien

DELL-Charles R · Answer

Hello Damien,

Dual boot is something we don't support, but I know that it can be done, just it's not supported by Dell.

That said you can try:

*Change the boot order in the BIOS when you want to boot to the other USB

Or

*Use the F11 boot menu, in POST, See if it gives you the option to select which USB you want to boot from.

I would recommend use a supported Operating system:

PowerEdge R710 supports these operating systems:

VMware ESXi 6.0 (the latest supported on the R710). It is not validated for ESXi 6.5.

https://dell.to/3ubXMl2

Damien-01100100 · Answer

thanks do you have any idea what they meant about the scracth file please

DELL-Charles R · Answer

Hello Damien,

These vmware resource and a 3rd party write up may help you:

Follow the steps in VMware Knowledge Base article https://dell.to/3F9aENy to point scratch space and system logs to persistent storage (SSD or HDD drive partitions), in your PowerEdge Server.

Set the Scratch Partition from the vSphere Client : https://dell.to/2ZFrOCh

Move ESXi scratch location : https://dell.to/3inDSid

Damien-01100100 · Answer

thanks

PowerEdge Hardware General

R710 Dual USB Boot + Scratch file?

Was this post helpful?