[gPXE] gPXE, nc380t (bcm5706 / bnx2) sanboot iscsi connectivity and BIOS issues

[Marcin Kosieradzki]

Hello,

I am trying to make my HP NC380T boot from iSCSI target (msa 2312i).

HP provided firmware seems to not support iSCSI boot correctly - I
have reflashed my nc380t with iscsi boot 1.2.3, but I am unable to
configure it (I face the same issue:
http://forums11.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?admit=109447626+1258477327393+28353475&threadId=1258058).

I decided to try using gpxe to run my dhcp-less scenario.
I have:
1. Generated rom using rom-o-matic for correct PCI/Vendor id
(14e4164a) (it uses bnx2 driver) - version 0.9.9
2. Booted uxdiag cd from broadcom and flashed my nc380t with options:
-c 1 -fmba <rom>. It was flashed correctly. (My mistake was not to
disable second mba)
3. Rebooted machine and entered gpxe using ctrl+B

NIC was correctly detected, there was a warning about "using legacy wrapper"
Link was up on 1000mbps with flow control ON

4. Entered some commands:
ifopen net0
set net0/ip 10.0.0.101
set net0/netmask 255.255.255.0
set root-path iscsi:10.0.0.44::::<my msa iqn>
set initiator_iqn <my iqn>
sanboot iscsi:10.0.0.44::::<my msa iqn>

During connection attempt link was going up and down changing speed,
and transmit timeout error was reported.
Finally connection timed out error has been reported.
When I run ifstat I get: TX:15 RX:0

I have tested multiple cables, both ports, both controllers (on msa),
direct connection, conection through switch.

This might be an issue with bnx2 driver... or I am doing something wrong.

Any help is appreciated.

Another issue is that I am now unable to enter computer BIOS or boot
any OS - I will need to reflash my NIC, but AFAIK I cannot do this
without network connectivity.

Kind regards,
Marcin Kosieradzki