How to mount a virtual floppy disk via IPMI

Written By Christian Castagna (Administrator)

Updated at May 6th, 2025

The operation requires the entire physical host to be rebooted

PREREQUISITES

IPMI: ensure you have access to the IPMI interface for remote management.
Virtual floppy: ensure you have the virtual floppy disk file provided by Syneto Customer Support.
Java: verify that Java is correctly installed on your system, to support necessary tools.
DHCP: ensure at least two IP addresses are available via DHCP, for network configuration.
VPN (avoid): if possible, avoid working through a VPN connection, for optimal performance.
Downtime: schedule appropriate downtime, as it will be required to complete this process.

 

Step 1. Shut down all VMs and VMware ESXi system

Step 2. Login to IPMI GUI

Step 3. Click on Virtual Media → Floppy Disk menu

 

Step 4. Click on Choose File button, navigate to the browse window that appears, and select the virtual floppy disk file from your computer

 

Step 5. Click on Upload button

 

Step 6. Click on Remote Control menu

 

Step 7. Click on Launch Console button under “Current interface: JAVA plug-in”


Step 8. Click on Power Control → Set Power Reset menu, to reboot the system


Step 9. During reboot, immediately press F11 key to load the Boot Menu

Step 10. Identify and select the correct option from boot device menu

EXAMPLE #1

EXAMPLE #2

EXAMPLE #3

Depending on different software configurations, your boot menu may display:

  • UEFI: ATEN Virtual Floppy 3000 (example #1)
  • ATEN Virtual Floppy 3000 (example #2)
  • Both options (example #3)

If only one options is available (example #1 or example #2), proceed performing all optional steps starting from Step 11

Otherwise, if both options are available, proceed selecting one-by-one, in order to identify which one works on your system configuration.

 

Step 11 (optional). Click on option Enter SETUP


Step 12 (optional). Click on Boot


Step 13 (optional). Change Boot Mode Select in DUAL


Step 14 (optional). Save and Exit

Step 15 (optional). During reboot, immediately press F11 key to load the Boot Menu

Step 16 (optional). Identify and select the correct option from boot device menu