Tricks for getting a VM to boot from CD - bios.bootDelay
If you’ve used any of VMware’s products you’ve probably been frustrated by trying to boot a VM from CD. Not when you install the OS, but after the VM has been operating. For example when you need to grow the size of the virtual disk and you try to boot the VM from the GParted LiveCD. The VM’s BIOS is set to boot from disk first, so you need to change the boot device order. The problem is that the boot process is so fast it seems you have less than a second to hit F2 and enter Setup, and you have to be really quick with your mouse getting the cursor inside the VM. I bet you never thought you could get aggravated over a server booting too fast! Here’s the two methods I know of to catch the VM during boot so you can enter Setup.
The first method is to
keep your mouse inside the VM’s console window and start pressing F2 upon rebooting. Start from the running VM and reboot it or use CRTL + ALT + INS if you can. Watch for the black screen with the white VMware logo. That’s when you need to hit F2. Hitting F2 repeatedly is your best bet if it’s too quick. Simple, but effective.
Recently I discovered a second method from vinternals.com which requires modifying the .vmx file of the VM to delay the boot. VM boot screen timeout is a post which explains that you can add the following line to any .vmx file
For example, a setting of 15000 gives you 15 seconds to hit F2. I add the setting usually somewhere at the top of the .vmx file, but I do not think the position of the setting matters.
on March 20th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
You can also set the boot delay by editing the VM’s settings using the VI Client. Under Options -> Boot Options you can set the delay, at least when using VI 3.5.
on March 20th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Thanks Kyle. I did know that the setting was now configurable from the VI Client.
I was also told about a VMware Communities thread that talks about copying the nvram file (the VM BIOS) from a VM folder that is already configured to boot from CD first.
Go to http://communities.vmware.com/thread/54186 to read the thread tilted “BIOS Splash screen too fast to catch”. I’ve personally never tried that method, but it makes sense that it would work … all VM’s BIOS are the same.
on March 20th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Just to follow up on Kyle’s comment… There is also a setting for ESX 3.5/VC 2.5 to force they VM into the BIOS at the next restart. This avoids the need to set delay or catch the F2 key just right.
on May 15th, 2008 at 7:28 am
[…] Today i came accross a cool article about how to easy get your VM to boot from CD. Read the full story here: http://vmetc.com/2008/03/20/tricks-for-getting-a-vm-to-boot-from-cd-biosbootdelay/ […]