Recommended BIOS Settings for Supermicro SuperServer SYS-5028D-TN4T
See also my recent article about performance optimized BIOS settings that includes a way to quickly and easily revert to the general purpose settings in this article, just in case you don't wish to have to do this 7 minute procedure twice.
Given there are so many use case scenarios, no BIOS setting combination is perfect for everybody, and the User Manual doesn't exactly help. But I believe this article is a solid start. So when you're done messing around with performance testing your SuperServer, you'll likely want to go back to the settings that match the way your Wiredzone SuperServer Bundle 1 or 2 was born:
EU SuperServer Bundle 3 owners:
See also Bundle 3. As shown in the comparison chart, I'd recommend you apply these BIOS settings, ideally before proceed with installing an OS, since Supermicro in the Netherlands doesn't (yet) customize the BIOS for you. OSs like Windows 10 will set the C: drive to GPT type if your BIOS is set to UEFI mode, for example, a good thing, should you ever wish to grow your C: drive beyond 2TB someday.
SuperServer SYS-5028D-TN4T owners who bought their system somewhere else:
Your BIOS may not be at the latest 1.0b levels, so go ahead and flash it to 1.0b first:
then proceed with the BIOS configuration below.
Recommended BIOS Settings for SYS-5028D-TN4T - Video
Recommended BIOS Settings for SYS-5028D-TN4T - Step-by-step
This procedure applies to any owner of the X10SDV-TLN4F motherboard.
- Open Console Redirect session in IPMI iKVM interface (point browser to management IP)
- Select "Power Control" and "Set Power On"
- Press "Del" key when prompted, to enter BIOS configuration
- Go to "Save & Exit" tab
Restore Optimized Defaults
Load Optimized Defaults? / Yes
Save Changes and Reset
Save configuration and reset? / Yes - After system restart, Press "Del" key when prompted, to enter BIOS configuration
- Advanced / Boot Feature
Bootup NumLock State [Off] - Advanced / Boot Feature
Power Button Function [4 Seconds Override] - Advanced / Boot Feature
Restore on AC Power Loss (Stay Off) - Press ESC
- SATA Configuration
- For each SSD, change "SATA Device Type" from [Hard Disk Drive] to [Solid State Drive]
- Press ESC
- If you are using a PCIe card with multiple M.2 ports like the Supermicro AOC-SLG3-2M2 explained here, you'll want to change
Advanced / PCIe/PCI/PnP Configuration
SLOT7 PCI-E 3.0 x16 Bifurcation
change from the default of [x16] to [x4x4x4x4]
Press ESC
- If you are using an Optane SSD like the P4800X or 900P in either the M.2 slot (using U.2 to M.2 cable), or right the PCIe slot, to avoid a BIOS Hang
A9you'll need to change the following:
Advanced / PCIe/PCI/PnP Configuration
M.2 PCI-E 3.0 X4 OPROM
change from the default of [Legacy] to [EFI]
SLOT7 PCI-E 3.0 X16 Bifurcation
change from the default of [x16] to [x4x4x4x4]
SLOT7SLOT7 PCI-E 3.0 X16 OPROM
change from the default of [Legacy] to [EFI] - If you have a Bundle 1 with GPU, change
Advanced / PCIe/PCI/PnP Configuration
VGA Priority
change from [Onboard] to [Offboard]
Press ESC - BOOT
Boot Mode Select
Change from [DUAL] to [UEFI]
If the UEFI Boot Order #1 device in the Priorities column isn't your preferred device, change it now - Save & Exit
Save Changes and Reset
Save configuration and reset? / Yes
1. Use a browser to login to IPMI, choose Configuration / Fan Mode
Fan Mode "Set to Full Speed"
Feb 06 2016 revision - the above line was included in error, you are likely going to like the factory default normal fan speed best for a vast majority of use cases. - Save and Exit
- Wait to see that your preferred OS begins to boot, then you're done!
See also at TinkerTry
-
Benchmark Optimized BIOS Settings for Supermicro SuperServer SYS-5028D-TN4T
- BIOS/IPMI Upgrade Procedure (with video)
All Comments on This Article (7)
Hi Paul,
I just ordered the bundle from wiredzone.com, using your link of course, and I will be setting up a vCenter lab. Are these suggested BIOS settings still correct?
Thanks for all your great articles.
According to page 7-32 of the manual:
https://www.supermicro.com/manuals/superserver/mid-tower/MNL-5028D-TN4T.pdf
the answer should be yes, it's just not something I've had a chance to fully test out yet, something I've been wanting to do every since Mike Foley published this:
https://www.yelof.com/2017/05/04/secure-boot-for-esxi-6-5-hypervisor-assurance/
Can you do a Secure Boot/EFI boot with the Supermicro 5028D-TN4T servers with ESXi 6.5?
Here's a screenshot/FYI about bios levels: https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/01259d16108bdf8e0e4926555035eb3df35379a62b2916f15681c6aa3e164d8e.png
Odd, seems like PXE boot issue:
http://forum.ipxe.org/showthread.php?tid=8190
Anyhow, I don't have that particular system, that uses the Flex ATX motherboard design and the somewhat older BIOS, so it is very difficult for me to really help, other than to offer some guesses/longshots. Have you tried different ISO files and different browsers? See also this article about BIOS 1.2 which is hopefully headed to your platform soon:
https://TinkerTry.com/supermicro-superserver-bios-12-and-ipmi-352-released-spring-2017
Another approach, a work-around really, is to mount the ISO over a network share, see:
https://TinkerTry.com/superserver-ikvm-remote-console-lets-you-dump-java-now
Hi, can you please advise if you have installed ESXi 6.5 on the Supermicro E300-8D with Bios 1.0b. I have tried installing by mounting the iso as a virtual cd and the install appears to go fine however when it reboots it fails with the message "error loading /user.b00". I have re-downloaded the iso and verified the md5 hash and tried re-installation a couple times with the same issue. Thx
Marc
Hi Paul,
I just ordered the bundle from wiredzone.com, using your link of course, and I will be setting up a vCenter lab. Are these suggested BIOS setting still correct?
Thanks for all your great information.