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Runbook: Configure Dell Node Boot Interface (HTTP/iPXE)

Goal: Ensure Dell baremetal nodes are configured to boot with http-ipxe (with PXE fallback enabled). Applies To: Dell nodes managed via OpenStack Ironic.

TL;DR

openstack baremetal node manage <NODE>
openstack baremetal node clean --clean-steps dell-boot-config.yaml <NODE>
openstack baremetal node set --boot-interface http-ipxe <NODE>
openstack baremetal node provide <NODE>

Step 1: Put node into manageable state

openstack baremetal node manage <NODE>

Step 2: Apply BIOS configuration

Save dell-boot-config.yaml:

---
- interface: bios
  step: apply_configuration
  args:
    settings:
      - name: PxeDev1EnDis
        value: Enabled
      - name: PxeDev1Interface
        value: NIC.Slot.1-1
      - name: HttpDev1EnDis
        value: Enabled
      - name: HttpDev1Interface
        value: NIC.Slot.1-1
      - name: HttpDev1TlsMode
        value: None
      - name: TimeZone
        value: UTC
  order: 1

Run cleaning with the runbook:

openstack baremetal node clean \
  --clean-steps dell-boot-config.yaml \
  <NODE>

Step 3: Monitor Cleaning Progress

openstack baremetal node show <NODE> -f value -c provision_state

Check the provision state until it returns to manageable:

Expected transitions:

  • cleaning
  • clean wait
  • manageable
  • If provision_state is clean failed: check the error
openstack baremetal node show <NODE> -f value -c last_error

Step 4: Switch node to HTTP iPXE boot

openstack baremetal node set --boot-interface http-ipxe <NODE>

Step 5: Provide the node (make it available)

openstack baremetal node provide <NODE>

(Optional) We can also use runbooks for Cleaning & Servicing

For detailed information, refer to the official OpenStack Ironic runbooks documentation: OpenStack Ironic Runbooks

To run these commands baremetal Standalone Command-Line Interface (CLI) is required

Check for Existing Runbooks

Before creating a new runbook, verify if it already exists:

baremetal runbook list

Create a New Runbook

baremetal runbook create \
    --name CUSTOM_PXE_INTERFACE_CONFIG \
    --steps scripts/runbooks/bios_pxe_interface_config.yaml

scripts/runbooks/bios_pxe_interface_config.yaml

Using a Runbook

# Using a runbook name
baremetal node clean --runbook CUSTOM_PXE_INTERFACE_CONFIG node-0

# Or using a runbook UUID
baremetal node clean --runbook 8aba8375-a08b-4e89-9bae-291a8aa100b0 node-0