PowerEdge: 16G platform fails to power on with BOSS-N1 present

Power‑On Issues on Affected Intel Based PowerEdge 16G Servers

Observed Behaviors:

• The system does not power up on the initial power‑on attempt and remains in a persistent power‑off state.
• The system powers up on the first power‑on attempt but fails to power up on subsequent AC/DC boot cycles.
• For R660 and R760 platforms, no BOSS‑related events appear in the Lifecycle Controller (LC) or System Event Log (SEL).
• For T160, R360, T360, and R260 platforms, the following events are recorded in the LC and SEL:
• All variants and leveraged platforms built on the above PowerEdge systems are impacted. Check the Affected Products section for the full list of affected systems. 

VLT0204: The system board BOSS CPLD voltage is outside of range.
VLT0205: The system board BOSS CPLD voltage is within range.

Voltage Sensitivity of BOSS‑N1 Controller Part Number WW56V

Underlying Technical Issue:

The BOSS‑N1 controller on certain Intel‑based Dell PowerEdge 16G servers is sensitive to voltage fluctuations when operating with earlier CPLD firmware releases. This sensitivity causes the system‑board BOSS CPLD voltage to fall outside the defined range, preventing successful power‑on cycles.

Relevant Error Messages:

• VLT0204: The system board BOSS CPLD voltage is outside of range.
• VLT0205: The system board BOSS CPLD voltage is within range.

Affected Platforms and Firmware Versions:

• R660, R760 – CPLD version 1.2.6  - NOTE: No voltage error is recorded in the LC or SEL logs.
• T160, R360, T360, R260 – CPLD version 1.4.0 - NOTE: voltage errors are recorded in the LC and SEL logs.

Update the Platform CPLD Firmware to Resolve Power‑On Issue.

Warning: PowerEdge R660 and R670 systems do not log voltage errors for this condition when operating with CPLD version 1.2.6 or earlier. 

NOTE: For VxRail platforms, see  VxRail: Intel 16G platform fails to power on with BOSS-N1 present
 

Although the CPLD firmware update process is not impacted by the system's inability to power up, access to iDRAC is necessary to initiate the update.  

Prerequisites:

• iDRAC access (network connectivity and credentials)
• Correct CPLD firmware file:
• R660, R760 - CPLD version 1.2.7 - https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/DriversDetails?driverID=XJG0V
• T160, R360, T360, R260 - CPLD version 1.4.1 - https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/DriversDetails?driverID=1GRCX
• Stable power source for the server during the update.

Resolution Steps:

1. Log in to the iDRAC web interface using a supported browser.
2. Navigate to Maintenance > Firmware Update.
3. In the Upload Firmware section, click Browse and select the appropriate CPLD firmware file (1.2.7 or 1.4.1).
4. Click Upload. The iDRAC validates the file.
5.  Choose the Install and Reboot option.
6. After the upload completes, the system will automatically perform a virtual AC power cycle and reboot.
7. Observe the POST sequence. The server should power on normally without remaining in a power‑off state.

Verification:

• Confirm the server powers on and completes POST without interruption.
• Check the Lifecycle Controller (LC) and System Event Log (SEL) for the absence of VLT0204 or VLT0205 messages.
• In iDRAC, verify the CPLD version under System Summary > Firmware matches the updated version.

Caution: Interrupting the CPLD update (for example, power loss or network disconnect) can render the system unbootable. Ensure uninterrupted power and network connectivity before starting the update.

Note: If the server still fails to power on after the CPLD update, follow standard platform troubleshooting procedures (for example, reseat components, check power supplies) or contact Dell Support.