Accessing BIOS on Dell server running Ubuntu

[rick.reddy]

I'm running the latest Comet firmware (1.3.0 r1) and everything works fine when using the server, but one of our key use cases is to have the ability to access the BIOS of these machines using the Comets to be able to change the settings. Every time I boot into BIOS using Comet, I get the no HDMI signal detected message. I can hit the esc key to exit and then boot normally and the Ubuntu login screen appears.

I've tried selecting the different resolutions that are provided, but none of them seem to work. I do not know what resolution the BIOS screen is using and I do not know how to create a custom EDID as another post talked about.

Please help me figure this out.

[robotluo]

Do you have other monitors connected to your server? The BIOS is usually only displayed on the primary monitor.
Also, if you are controlling a laptop, usually the BIOS is only output on the integrated screen, not through HDMI

[rick.reddy]

The Comet is the only display device connected to the server and it works great when accessing the OS, but nothing displays (no HDMI detected) when trying to access the BIOS. The monitor icon at the bottom right of the Comet show that as well. The keyboard works as I can hit to go into the BIOS, and then to exit it so that it can boot normally.

[robotluo]

I suggest you try 1024x768 or 800x600 resolution in BIOS, which is more common in BIOS.

EDID database

2560x1080@60FPS: 00 ff ff ff ff ff ff 00 05 e3 63 29 4b 01 00 00 0a 17 01 03 80 43 1c 78 2a ca 95 a6 55 4e a1 26 0f 50 54 bf ef 00 d1 c0 b3 00 95 00 81 80 81 40 81 c0 01 01 01 01 cd 46 00 a0 a0 38 1f 40 30 20 3a 00 a1 1c 21 00 00 1a 02 3a 80 18 71 38 2d 40 58 2c 45 00 a1 1c 21 00 00 1e 00 00 00 fd 00 32 4c 1e 63 1e 00 0a 20 20 20 20 20 20 00 00 00 fc 00 32 39 36 33 0a 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 01 16 02 03 1f f1 4c 05 14 10 1f 04 13 03 12 02 11 01 22 23 09 07 01 83 01 00 00 65 03 0c 00 10 00 02 3…

If it still doesn't work, please export a log to me through the KVM help menu after entering BIOS

[hurstgroup]

Hi - I have a similar problem with a Dell 610. We are using VGA->HDMI convertors as per your documentation and that works fine until reboot when we get no signal. We also use this as the primary display and with a screen it works fine.

[minmie]

maybe you can provide debug log to us , and we can see if there is someting like bios output a not supported fps

[minmie]

I should say I personally meet this problem because one of the two server we tested output a 1024x768@75 which comet can't support. I'm no sure if you meet this problem either. Maybe you can provide debug log and we can check

[hurstgroup]

How do I send an attached file?

[minmie]

[xize11]

Hmm how is the kvm powered?

If the kvm gets its power from a usb port of the server, then the usb ports will shutdown making the kvm reboot.

Have you tried to put it on a different power source?

[hurstgroup]

Couple of things:

• I did not see the upload icon so my fault
• I bought a spare R610 server to just try this which is helping
• The basic issue of the BIOS has been solved by using the FRONT VGA port on the Dell server. This is really a suprise to us as generally the rear ports are considered the primarys and the front a "nice to have" to save Climbing into the rack to connect up a screen,

Now the current issue we have is that we cannot press the function keys to be able to enter setup. The attached screen shows progress so far. Can you advise. THis is on a Mac.

UPDATE: I have just updated the Mac App and also the KVM itself to the latest versions but still no joy in pressing the keys.

[minmie]

disable msd , many old bios refuse a usb composite device contain both hid(keyboard and mouse) and msd(cd-rom/ thumbdrive)