R740xd PCIe Storage Card

Question

I added a PCIe storage card for M2 RAID to my R740xd, and Windows install sees the individual drives, but I'm not seeing the drives as a boot option.  The PCIe card had vague instructions to add the PCIe card as a bootable drive in the BIOS, which looks like is set, but not sure what other options need configured.  Little help?

DELL-Charles R · Answer

Hello,   That is the only M.2 pcie boot card (BOSS) we have validated for the R740xd.   The BOSS-N1, NVMe, is only available from 16th Gen and on. The R740xd is a 14th gen.

DELL-Marco B · Answer

Hello, can you try to change the boot mode in the BIOS? Dell PowerEdge R740xd BIOS and UEFI Reference Guide | Dell US

xalpha25 · Answer

Boot mode has been set to UEFI, which I understood to be required to run Server 2025. That doesn't seem to be what's causing this issue.

xalpha25 · Answer

I tried a different NVMe card (x8 Gen 3) with bifurcation set to 4x4x.  Windows installer sees both SSDs installed, so that seems to be the correct setting.  Boot mode is set to UEFI; secure boot is disabled.  Boot options do not show Windows Boot Manager after Windows Server is installed on either drive.  What BIOS settings need changed to allow for booting to the PCIe SSDs?

DELL-Charles R · Answer

Hello,

Give this a try:

The Boot Manager enables you to:

* Add, delete, and arrange boot options.

Page 70-71

https://dl.dell.com/content/manual10126488-lifecycle-controller-user-s-guide.pdf?language=en-us

Enter the UEFI boot manager

Boot to <F11> = UEFI Boot Manager

UEFI Boot menu

Add Boot Option: Adds a new boot option.

Delete Boot Option: Deletes an existing boot option.

xalpha25 · Answer

Nothing shows up as available to add as a boot option - I was expecting to see a PCIe card or SSD drive, but they aren't there. Nothing shows up there to add at all.

I have tried using both an ASUS Hyper M.2 and Supermicro AOC-SLG3-2M2 - both have the same results. Windows Installer sees drives on the cards, and will install Windows, but they don't show up as boot options in the UEFI Boot Manager. So I'm assuming there's an incorrect setting in the BIOS?

DELL-Young E · Answer

Hello, I'm afraid this PCIe storage card for M2 RAID that you are using at the moment isn't a Dell certified part component. Respectfully,

xalpha25 · Answer

What is a Dell certified component to use on an R740xd that supports bootable NVMe SSDs in HBA mode? Ideally 2 SSDs, I don't need four.  Raid capability is optional.

DELL-Charles R · Answer

Hello

I would recommend a dedicated BOOT device.

Try the Boot Optimized Storage Subsystem (BOSS)

The BOSS card is a simple RAID solution card designed specifically for booting a server's operating system. The card

supports up to two 6 Gbps M.2 SATA drives. The BOSS adapter card has a x8 connector using PCIe gen 2.0 x2 lanes,

available only in the low-profile and half-height form factor.

It uses M.2 SSD and not NVMe, but it is a dedicated boot device.

Check this part number with Sales and be sure to ask for the drives with it. It can hold two for a RAID 1 configuration.

403-BBVQ: BOSS controller card, full height, Customer Kit

xalpha25 · Answer

That doesn't work for me. I need NVMe drive support in a non-RAID configuration. Does the Boss -N1 card work?

xalpha25 · Answer

The user requirement is a bootable NVMe PCIe device.  If there aren't any certified devices that meet the requirement, I'm back to what non-certified devices are known to at least boot?

DELL-Charles R · Answer

Hello,   There may be third party adapters. I'm not aware. I'm providing the Dell validated option.   Maybe someone in the community has tried a 3rd party adapter and can share their experience.

xalpha25 · Answer

@DELL-Charles R​ That's my hope

PowerEdge Hardware General

R740xd PCIe Storage Card

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