VNX: Linux cannot boot from SAN. Install boot fails in BIOS with "Emulex driver not installed"
Summary: On trying to boot from SAN and installation of the OS (Linux Red Hat) with a mounted Linux disk. After install, boot fails in BIOS with "Emulex driver not installed." This is resolved by correctly configuring and installing HBA BIOS. ...
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Symptoms
Correctly configuring the HBA BIOS
On trying to boot from SAN and installation of the OS (Linux Red Hat) with a mounted Linux disk. After install, boot fails in BIOS with "Emulex driver not installed."
Cause
When the host OS kernel resides on an external device, it is not loaded during boot by the host system's hard disk controller. The OS image is only be fetched by the HBA s BIOS. To facilitate visibility of the external boot device by the HBA, the HBA BIOS must be installed to register the external device as the boot source.
The host bus adapters Boot BIOS must be installed and enabled on the adapter to boot from storage attached to the SAN environment. This explains why the Boot fails from SAN as with the reported message after OS install: boot fails in BIOS with "Emulex driver not installed."
Resolution
Issue was resolved by following the steps for installing and configuring HBA BIOS in the Host connectivity guide for Linux, Page 168-173.
Online Support Documentation at: Dell EMC Host Connectivity Guide for Linux
Additional Information
Dell EMC supports Emulex, QLogic, and Brocade HBAs to boot from SAN.
Browse the Dell EMC supported HBA vendors (Emulex, QLogic, Brocade) for the latest BIOS and firmware downloads.
Browse the Dell EMC supported HBA vendors (Emulex, QLogic, Brocade) for the latest BIOS and firmware downloads.
Note: Emulex and QLogic adopt slightly different approaches in distributions of the latest BIOS and firmware.
Affected Products
VNX1 SeriesProducts
PowerPath, Symmetrix, VNX1 Series, VNX2 SeriesArticle Properties
Article Number: 000052606
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 01 Aug 2025
Version: 4
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