PowerFlex: Upgrade Failed BIOS_FIRMWARE_TYPE WARNING: Legacy boot detected

Summary: Compute Only node upgrade fails with the error BIOS_FIRMWARE_TYPE WARNING: Legacy boot detected ESXi servers running legacy BIOS are encouraged to move to Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) ...

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.

Symptoms

Error Message encountered while performing node upgrade in: /var/log/esxupdate.log

ERROR: esximage.Errors.HardwareError: Hardware precheck of profile ESXi-8.0U3-24022510-standard failed with warnings: <BIOS_FIRMWARE_TYPE WARNING: Legacy boot detected. ESXi servers running legacy BIOS are encouraged to move to UEFI. Please refer to KB 84233 for more details.>

 

Error Message encountered while performing node upgrade in: /var/log/esxupdate.log 

Cause

As of vSphere 7.0 and all newer releases, VMware will no longer allow new server listings on VMware Compatibility Guide using legacy BIOS. vSphere 8.0 will drop support for legacy BIOS for new server platforms (Intel Cascade Lake and onwards; AMD Rome and onwards). This applies to all new server platforms, regardless of the server CPU series. If a server that was certified and running successfully with legacy BIOS is upgraded to a newer release of ESXi, it is possible the server will no longer function with that release. For example, some servers may fail to boot with an "Out of resources" message because the newer ESXi release is large to boot in legacy BIOS mode. 

Resolution

  1. Capture the VMkernel IP and connected Ipswitch information.
  2. Place the relevant node into maintenance mode using vSphere if it is a compute node, and into protected maintenance mode if it is a hyperconverged node.
  3. Go to the iDRAC of the concerned node.

 Node idrac 

 

  1. Go to Configuration and choose BIOS Settings

idrac configuration

 

  1. Expand the Boot settings option

 Boot settings option

 

  1. Under Boot Mode change BIOS to UEFI.

Boot Mode change BIOS to UEFI.

 

  1. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and click Apply and Reboot.

 click Apply and reboot. 

 

  1. After the node is back from reboot, remove it from Maintenance Mode and restart the upgrade.

Alternatively, changing the BIOS can be done from the BIOS Setup Page. 

 

Configure Dell BOSS

Additional Information

Affected Products

PowerFlex rack HW
Article Properties
Article Number: 000317135
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 12 يناير 2026
Version:  3
Find answers to your questions from other Dell users
Support Services
Check if your device is covered by Support Services.