Restoring EFI Linux VM Guest Work Around

Following restore of an EFI Linux guest VM, the guest does not successfully boot into Linux when powering on the VM.

This is a known restriction with VMware vSphere 5 in which the EFI Boot Device information is not made available for backup partners.

Tivoli Storage Manager Backup-Archive Client Version 6.3 or Tivoli Storage Manager for Virtual Environments Version 6.3

• VMware ESXi 5
• Linux guest VM configured for EFI firmware instead of BIOS.
• Note: This is not an issue with Windows-based virtual machines; Windows-based virtual machines which use EFI for boot can be powered-on normally after a restore from Tivoli Storage Manager Data Protection for VMware or Backup-Archive client.

Following restore of an EFI Linux guest VM, the guest does not successfully boot into Linux when powering on the VM. Instead they see the following:

Workaround Summary

• Remove the boot VMDK from the VM... DO NOT DELETE IT.... Save
• Add the boot VMDK back to the VM and enable the boot into EFI setup console... Save
• Boot machine and use console EFI Setup to reconfigure the boot options adding the boot VMDK back
• (OPTIONAL) Use the console EFI Setup to change the boot order
• Boot the virtual machine

Detailed Workaround Steps
1. After restoring the guest VM, access the VMware Virtual Center or ESXi host via the Virtual Infrastructure Client (VIC).

2. Locate the restored guest VM and click Edit virtual machine settings.

3. From the Hardware tab, select the Hard disk then click Remove.




4. Under Removal Options make sure Remove from virtual machine is selected then click OK
Click Edit virtual machine settings, then click Add.




5. Select Hard Disk and click Next




6. Select Use an existing virtual disk and click Next




7. Click Browse and navigate to the restored vmdk file. Click OK, Next




8. Accept the default settings on the next two tabs by pressing Next, Next.

9. Press the Finishbutton.

10. Once the new Hard Disk and SCSI Controllers appear, select the Options tab.




11. Select Boot Options; Check the Force EFI Setup box, click OK.




12. Power on the virtual machine and open a console.

13. From the EFI setup screen use the down arrow to select Boot Maintenance Manager then press Enter.




14. Make sure Boot Options is selected and press Enter.




15. Select Add Boot Option and press Enter.




16. Make sure the NO VOLUME LABEL entry is selected and press Enter.




17. <efi> should be selected, press Enter.




18. Arrow down to the Linux name, press Enter.

19. Arrow down to the efi boot file and press Enter.

20. Press Enter in the Input description field and type a name for the boot drive.

21. Arrow down to Commit Changes and Exit, press Enter.




22. Select Boot Options again then arrow down to Change boot order, press Enter.




23. Press Enter to change the order then use the arrows and + to navigate to the Linux boot image and move it to the top of the list, press Enter.




24. Arrow down to Commit Changes and Exit, press Enter.




25. Press ESC to return to the main EFI Setup Screen.

26. Arrow up to Continue, press Enter.

27. The Linux EFI guest VM will now boot successfully