Solved: HP RBSU opens in Command-Line mode

I never thought I will face this issue in my life, but it happened .  When I turned ON a HP Proliant Server and tried to launch HP RBSU  by pressing F9 key, suddenly Command Line window popped out!  I restarted Server and tried to launch RBSU) again, but the story was same.

Are you wondering what is HP RBSU? RBSU (HP ROM-Based Setup Utility) is the BIOS of your HP Server. HP Server RBSU (BIOS) can be accessed in Full-screen Menu-based mode (GUI) or Command Line mode. 99% of people will use only the GUI version of RBSU because of ease of use. In rare occasions, users may prefer to use Command Line version of RBSU (BIOS).

Sometimes, when you launch RBSU, it may automatically go to the CLI mode of RBSU. This is irrespective of whether server is brand new or in production. The server would not show the Full-screen Menu-based mode (GUI); instead it will show a Command Line Interface (CLI).

In Ideal situation, when you press the F9 key at Server boot, menu-based RBSU screen will launch and the screen will look like the image shown below. Though you may find minor changes in the RBSU options, the look and feel will be almost same.

When you press the F9 key, if you are seeing a RBSU in CLI mode, then it is high time for you to get out of it. RBSU command line console will look like the image pasted below.

How to Exit from RBSU Command-Line mode:

If RBSU CLI window launches instead of normal RBSU GUI screen, then you need to run a series of commands to restore your RBSU GUI. Here, in this article, I will explain how to get back the RBSU GUI on your HP Server.

1. Turn ON server and press F9 key to launch RBSU.
2. RBSU Command line screen will launch on your server (Check screenshot).

3. Now type the command type ‘SHOW CONFIG BIOS INTERFACE MODE’ at the RBSU Prompt.

4. Have a look at the screenshot provided below.

5. Press the Enter key. Now you will get two options ‘Auto’ and ‘Command-Line’.

6. As per the above image, BIOS (RBSU) is set at Command-Line mode (follow <= symbol).
7. To Change mode back to ‘Auto’, run the command ‘SET CONFIG BIOS INTERFACE MODE 1’

8. Check below provided screenshot for better understanding.

9. Press Enter key.
10. Now type the command ‘EXIT’ and press Enter key.

11.Congrats, you are done. Now Reboot the server and press F9 key to launch RBSU. It should show the Full-screen Menu-based mode (GUI).

If above said method does not work for you, then you can clear the NVRAM of server using System Maintenance switch (DIP switch)  located on server system board. When you keep DIP switch number 6 in ON position, it will clear the NVRAM of your server. Please check the server user guide to find the switch information.

You may also use System Erase utility available in HP SmartStart CDs or HP Intelligent Provisioning (Gen8 Servers) to clear NVRAM. Ensure that you select just the NVRAM option in System Erase utility. Selecting any other option will delete all the data from your server

Last but not least, special thanks to my friend Swapnil Gupta for helping to write this article. If you like my article, please like our facebook page, Google+ page or leave comments.

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