When you boot the ESXi host from iSCSI using iBFT-enabled network adapters, certain considerations apply.

  • Update your NIC's boot code and iBFT firmware using vendor supplied tools before trying to install and boot VMware ESXi. Consult vendor documentation and VMware HCL for supported boot code and iBFT firmware versions for VMware ESXi iBFT boot.
  • The iBFT iSCSI boot does not support failover for the iBFT-enabled network adapters.
  • After you set up your host to boot from iBFT iSCSI, the following restrictions apply:
    • You cannot disable the software iSCSI adapter. If the iBFT configuration is present in the BIOS, the host re-enables the software iSCSI adapter during each reboot.
      Note: If you do not use the iBFT-enabled network adapter for the iSCSI boot and do not want the software iSCSI adapter to be always enabled, remove the iBFT configuration from the network adapter.
    • You cannot remove the iBFT iSCSI boot target using the vSphere Web Client. The target appears on the list of adapter static targets.