ESXi PXE UEFI boot RTS error workaround

[90amper]

When i try to boot ESXi over UEFI PXE with default configuration load freeze with that message:

Shutting down firmware services...
Using 'simple offset' UEFI RTS mapping policy

The working fix for me, that i found in net:

1. Boot installer via bootx64.efi with -U from ipxe
2. Write norts=1 to /efi/boot.cfg

That fix it on all my servers: H3C, SuperMicro, HP

My configs:

boot.cfg

bootstate=0
title=Loading ESXi installer
timeout=5
prefix=http://<server>/os/esxi/7
kernel=b.b00
kernelopt=runweasel ks=http://<server>/os/esxi/7/ks.cfg
norts=1
modules=jumpstrt.gz --- useropts.gz --- features.gz --- k.b00 --- uc_intel.b00 --- uc_amd.b00 --- uc_hygon.b00 --- procfs.b00 --- vmx.v00 --- vim.v00 --- tpm.v00 --- sb.v00 --- s.v00 --- atlantic.v00 --- bnxtnet.v00 --- bnxtroce.v00 --- brcmfcoe.v00 --- brcmnvme.v00 --- elxiscsi.v00 --- elxnet.v00 --- i40enu.v00 --- iavmd.v00 --- icen.v00 --- igbn.v00 --- irdman.v00 --- iser.v00 --- ixgben.v00 --- lpfc.v00 --- lpnic.v00 --- lsi_mr3.v00 --- lsi_msgp.v00 --- lsi_msgp.v01 --- lsi_msgp.v02 --- mtip32xx.v00 --- ne1000.v00 --- nenic.v00 --- nfnic.v00 --- nhpsa.v00 --- nmlx4_co.v00 --- nmlx4_en.v00 --- nmlx4_rd.v00 --- nmlx5_co.v00 --- nmlx5_rd.v00 --- ntg3.v00 --- nvme_pci.v00 --- nvmerdma.v00 --- nvmxnet3.v00 --- nvmxnet3.v01 --- pvscsi.v00 --- qcnic.v00 --- qedentv.v00 --- qedrntv.v00 --- qfle3.v00 --- qfle3f.v00 --- qfle3i.v00 --- qflge.v00 --- rste.v00 --- sfvmk.v00 --- smartpqi.v00 --- vmkata.v00 --- vmkfcoe.v00 --- vmkusb.v00 --- vmw_ahci.v00 --- clusters.v00 --- crx.v00 --- elx_esx_.v00 --- btldr.v00 --- esx_dvfi.v00 --- esx_ui.v00 --- esxupdt.v00 --- tpmesxup.v00 --- weaselin.v00 --- loadesx.v00 --- lsuv2_hp.v00 --- lsuv2_in.v00 --- lsuv2_ls.v00 --- lsuv2_nv.v00 --- lsuv2_oe.v00 --- lsuv2_oe.v01 --- lsuv2_oe.v02 --- lsuv2_sm.v00 --- native_m.v00 --- qlnative.v00 --- vdfs.v00 --- vmware_e.v00 --- vsan.v00 --- vsanheal.v00 --- vsanmgmt.v00 --- tools.t00 --- xorg.v00 --- gc.v00 --- imgdb.tgz --- basemisc.tgz --- resvibs.tgz --- imgpayld.tgz
build=7.0.2-0.0.17867351
updated=0

iPXE item:

kernel nfs://${fog-ip}:/images/os/esxi/7/efi/boot/bootx64.efi -c nfs://${fog-ip}:/images/os/esxi/7/efi/boot/boot.cfg -U
boot || goto MENU

[Anubis.Dracul]

@george1421

Huh, your Google-fu is stronger than mine. I searched on google but didn’t find the link you provided. Thank you for the quick reply

[george1421]

@anubis-dracul said in ESXi PXE UEFI boot RTS error workaround:

However, is there an explanation what the boot parameter -U actually does? As well as the norts=1 ?

Google-fu finds me this article: https://github.com/vmware/esx-boot/issues/2#issuecomment-434405464

This has nothing (directly) to do with iPXE, but its an ESXi thing.

[Anubis.Dracul]

The workaround works flawlessly, thanks.

However, is there an explanation what the boot parameter -U actually does? As well as the norts=1 ?

I checked the iPXE and VMWare websites but couldn’t find anything in particular about it

[george1421]

@90amper Nice fix. Well done!