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13 Configuring server boot options on 14th generation Dell EMC PowerEdge servers
3.5.2 SetBootOrderFqddN
A more flexible means to programmatically set the boot order is provided by the use of the
SetBootOrderFqddN attributes, where N is 1‒16. Note that these attributes are not available from the BIOS
User Interface.
SetBootOrderFqddN settings
Programmatic Name
Attribute
SetBootOrderFqdd1 – SetBootOrderFqdd16
Possible Values
A comma-delimited list of the boot devices using programmatic names.
Using the SetBootOrderFqddN attributes provides a more flexible method of changing Boot Sequence and
has several benefits versus using the Boot Sequence attributes including:
 The device is not required to be present in the boot list on current boot. This allows enabling a device
and setting its place in the boot sequence with a single job or reboot.
 Only the necessary devices must to be specified; not necessary to read/modify/write the boot
sequence.
Details for using SeqBootOrderFqddN attributes:
 The value for each SetBootOrderFqddN attribute specifies one or more boot devices.
 The attributes are processed in order—SetBootOrderFqdd1 will be applied first, followed by
SetBootOrderFqdd2, and so on.
 If a specified device is not present on the system, it is skipped by BIOS.
 Unlike many BIOS attributes which are set to a state, SetBootOrderFqddN attributes are “one-shot”
attributes. They are processed once on the subsequent server boot to update the boot order, and
then they are reset (values deleted). Because the values are not retained, there are no values
provided if a SetBootOrderFqddN attribute is read.
As an example, the following RACADM sequence illustrates enabling PXE boot and placing it first in the boot
order. At the start of this example, the boot sequence does not include PXE. Using the UefiBootSeq attribute,
PXE must be enabled first, the server rebooted, and then the UefiBootSeq could be modified to place PXE
first in the sequence. That process can be simplified by using the SetBootOrderFqddN attributes.
1. View the current boot sequence.