F8 DOES NOT bring up BIOS NOT coming up on UCS C200 M2 Server

[Texmansru47]

I have a UCS C200 M2 server at my house.  It runs CENTOS7 presently but migrating to Rocky 9 soon.  I have an systems alert flashing and I get the 18 beeps.  However, I cannot get in to CIMC via the IP because it seems to either be the wrong one or just not working.  When I try to reboot and hit the F8 key to get to the bios I don't get that option.  It goes from the Hardware/memory checks to loading the OS.  Is there ANYTHING I can do get to back to the CIMC option?  I do Have a KVM console cable but for some reason it is not pulling up the console... so I am not sure what I am doing wrong.

I just removed the CMOS battery for an hour to see if that would help... the CIMC is not reachable since IP I guess it is the wrong IP.  This is a real pain.  I need help and there no one seems to know what to do!  Any feedback would be helpful!

[Texmansru47]

Seriously?  A server from Cisco and no one can figure out a means for me to get to the CMOS without the IP address for the CIMC card, or the F8 function not working after the hardware check.  I get NO CMOS screen or splash screen.. straight to the OS.  COME ON Guys... Techs at Cisco... you have to have a backdoor to get the CMOS working again?  If not your servers are crap... sorry but come on.. This is nuts.

[marce1000]

  - Ok, but you are not on a official support channel here (the forums are populated  by customers mainly) 
    contact Cisco's TAC

 M.

[Kirk J]

For context, you have a 12/13 year old server that is still booting to an OS.

F2 should be the BIOS setup keystroke.

Kirk...

[Texmansru47]

Thanks but it does not work.  If I press it before the system check (Memory and hardware) it locks the boot process and it won't boot.  If I wait for the check to be completed it goes right to the OS.  There is where Cisco made HUGE mistakes with their server development... ALWAYS have a back door that actually will work every time.  HP, Dell and IBM all do.  Great Server I just cannot do a dare thing with it yet!

[Steven Tardy]

Don't know about the M2 generation, but most UCS generations show the CIMC IP on the bottom of the POST screen. If the bottom shows "0.0.0.0" or "UCSM" then CIMC needs initial configuration.

The M2 was a very early generation and much has improved regarding Cisco servers in the years since.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/unified_computing/ucs/release/notes/OL-25821-01.html

Looking through this old doc seems to indicate that CIMC defaults to DHCP.
Does your DHCP server show CIMC requesting an IP address?

[Texmansru47]

Well I think that may be part of my problem... I do not get the POST screen.  It goes from the Check memory and configuration screen to the OS load.  So when I try to break the boot and get to the CMOS or BOOT Menu, I cannot.  Is there a means to get this to a point where I can break the boot cycle and get into CMOS without CIMC?  This is one of my biggest issues with the UCS platform, it seems everything was pushed to be via the CIMC and if you cannot get to it... you are dead.  I want to completely rebuild this device but I cannot seem to get to that point.  I have even removed the CMOS battery for 12 hours... and still nothing.