Task 01: Delete and Recreate Virtual Disk on Dell BOSS Card

DOCUMENT CATEGORY: Runbook
SCOPE: Boot device configuration
PURPOSE: Ensure a clean, initialized BOSS RAID-1 virtual disk exists on every node before OS installation begins
MASTER REFERENCE: Phase 02: OS Installation

Status: Active

Overview

Optional Step

This task is optional. Perform it only if the BOSS card contains a residual virtual disk from a previous OS installation, or if Dell deployment guidance explicitly requires a clean BOSS state for your hardware generation.

New hardware shipped with no OS typically arrives with the BOSS virtual disk already initialized and healthy — verify first before deleting.

Delete and recreate the virtual disk on the Dell BOSS (Boot Optimized Storage Solution) card, then confirm the node reboots from the ISO/USB will be mounted in Task 02.

Why this step is required when needed: Per the Dell Boot-Optimized Storage Solution-N1 User's Guide for Azure Local deployments:

"Delete the virtual disk on the BOSS... Create a virtual disk on the BOSS and initialize it."

A complete delete-and-recreate ensures:

• No residual UEFI boot entries from a previous OS
• Clean partition table — no legacy partitions that block Windows Setup
• Fresh initialized virtual disk ready for the Azure Stack HCI OS installer
• No BitLocker state conflicts on the M.2 drives

Data Loss

This step permanently deletes any existing virtual disk and all data on the BOSS M.2 drives. Only proceed on new deployments or explicitly approved reinstallations.

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Prerequisites

Requirement	Description	Source
Phase 01 Complete	Hardware provisioning and BIOS/iDRAC validation done	Phase 01
Dell BOSS card	BOSS-S1 or BOSS-S2 installed with two M.2 SSDs	Hardware team
iDRAC access	iDRAC UI and Redfish API accessible	variables.yml: nodes.<name>.idrac_ip
No existing OS	Or written approval for reinstallation	Project sign-off

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Variables from variables.yml

Path	Type	Description
nodes.<name>.idrac_ip	string	iDRAC IP address for BOSS card management
nodes.<name>.hostname	string	Node hostname for tracking

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Dell BOSS Card Reference

Feature	BOSS-S1	BOSS-S2 / BOSS-N1
Interface	PCIe 3.0	PCIe 4.0
M.2 Slots	2	2
Max Capacity	480 GB × 2	960 GB × 2
RAID Level	RAID 1	RAID 1
Purpose	Mirrored M.2 SATA SSDs for OS boot resilience

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Execution Options

Dell iDRAC UI

Perform the following steps on each node using iDRAC Storage Management.

Delete Existing Virtual Disk

1. Open https://<idrac-ip> and log in with iDRAC credentials
2. Navigate to Configuration → Storage → Virtual Disks
3. Locate the BOSS controller (labelled BOSS-N1 or BOSS-S2)
4. Select the existing virtual disk
5. Click Delete Virtual Disk (or choose from the Operations drop-down)
6. Click Apply Now — iDRAC will schedule a RAID job and reboot

Monitor the job in Maintenance → Job Queue until status shows Completed.

Recreate Virtual Disk (After Reboot)

1. Navigate back to Configuration → Storage → Controllers
2. Select the BOSS controller
3. Click Create Virtual Disk
4. Configure:

• RAID Level: RAID 1 (Mirror)
• Physical Disks: Select both M.2 drives
• Name: leave default or enter OS-VD
• Stripe Size: default

5. Click Create Virtual Disk → Apply Now

iDRAC schedules a second RAID job and reboots again to apply.

Verify

After the second reboot, return to Configuration → Storage → Virtual Disks and confirm:

• Status: Optimal
• RAID Level: RAID 1
• Both physical disks: Online

The node will boot from the ISO (Task 01) after the BOSS recreation reboot.

BIOS Alternative (Off-line)

If iDRAC Storage Management is unavailable, the BOSS controller can also be configured at POST: press Ctrl+R when prompted during server boot, then use Device Settings → BOSS Controller to delete and recreate the virtual disk.

Orchestrated Script

Mount and execute from the management server. Reads iDRAC IPs from variables.yml and credentials from Key Vault.

scripts/deploy/04-cluster-deployment/phase-02-os-installation/task-02-delete-and-recreate-virtual-disk-on-dell-boss-card/powershell/Invoke-ResetBossVirtualDisk.ps1

#Requires -Version 7.0
# ============================================================================
# Script: Invoke-ResetBossVirtualDisk.ps1
# Execution: Run FROM management server — Redfish API to each iDRAC
# Prerequisites: powershell-yaml, Az module, iDRAC reachable on port 443
# ============================================================================

param(
 [Parameter(Mandatory = $false)]
 [string]$ConfigPath = ".\config\variables.yml",

 [Parameter(Mandatory = $false)]
 [switch]$WhatIf
)

Import-Module powershell-yaml -ErrorAction Stop
Import-Module Az.KeyVault -ErrorAction Stop

$config = Get-Content $ConfigPath -Raw | ConvertFrom-Yaml
$secrets = Get-AzKeyVaultSecret -VaultName $config.key_vault.name

$iDRACUser = ($secrets | Where-Object { $_.Name -eq "idrac-username" }).SecretValue |
 ConvertFrom-SecureString -AsPlainText
$iDRACPass = ($secrets | Where-Object { $_.Name -eq "idrac-password" }).SecretValue |
 ConvertFrom-SecureString -AsPlainText
$credential = [PSCredential]::new($iDRACUser, (ConvertTo-SecureString $iDRACPass -AsPlainText -Force))

$results = @()

foreach ($nodeKey in $config.nodes.Keys) {
 $node = $config.nodes[$nodeKey]
 $ip = $node.idrac_ip
 $baseUri = "https://$ip/redfish/v1"
 $rest = @{ Credential = $credential; SkipCertificateCheck = $true
 Headers = @{ "Content-Type" = "application/json" } }

 Write-Host "`n$($node.hostname) ($ip)" -ForegroundColor Cyan

 try {
 # --- Step 1: Find BOSS controller ---
 Write-Host " [1/4] Locating BOSS controller..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
 $controllers = Invoke-RestMethod -Uri "$baseUri/Systems/System.Embedded.1/Storage" -Method Get @rest
 $bossId = ($controllers.Members | ForEach-Object {
 $c = Invoke-RestMethod -Uri "https://$ip$_.'@odata.id'" -Method Get @rest
 if ($c.Name -match "BOSS") { $c.Id }
 }) | Select-Object -First 1

 if (-not $bossId) { throw "BOSS controller not found" }
 Write-Host " Found: $bossId" -ForegroundColor Green
 $bossUri = "$baseUri/Systems/System.Embedded.1/Storage/$bossId"

 # --- Step 2: Delete existing virtual disks ---
 Write-Host " [2/4] Querying virtual disks..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
 $vds = Invoke-RestMethod -Uri "$bossUri/Volumes" -Method Get @rest
 foreach ($vdRef in $vds.Members) {
 $vdUri = "https://$ip$($vdRef.'@odata.id')"
 if ($WhatIf) { Write-Host " WHATIF: Would delete $vdUri"; continue }
 Invoke-RestMethod -Uri $vdUri -Method Delete @rest | Out-Null
 Write-Host " Deleted: $($vdRef.'@odata.id')" -ForegroundColor Green
 }

 if ($vds.'Members@odata.count' -eq 0) {
 Write-Host " No virtual disks found — already clean" -ForegroundColor Gray
 } else {
 # Wait for deletion job to complete
 Start-Sleep -Seconds 5
 Write-Host " Waiting for RAID deletion job..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
 $timeout = (Get-Date).AddMinutes(10)
 while ((Get-Date) -lt $timeout) {
 $jobs = Invoke-RestMethod -Uri "$baseUri/Managers/iDRAC.Embedded.1/Jobs" -Method Get @rest
 $pending = $jobs.Members | Where-Object { $_.'@odata.id' -match "JID_" }
 if (-not $pending) { break }
 Start-Sleep -Seconds 15
 }
 }

 # --- Step 3: Get physical drives ---
 Write-Host " [3/4] Reading physical drives..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
 $drives = (Invoke-RestMethod -Uri "$bossUri/Drives" -Method Get @rest).Members
 if ($drives.Count -lt 2) { throw "Expected 2 M.2 drives, found $($drives.Count)" }
 $driveUris = $drives | ForEach-Object { @{ '@odata.id' = $_.'@odata.id' } }

 # --- Step 4: Create RAID-1 virtual disk ---
 Write-Host " [4/4] Creating RAID-1 virtual disk..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
 $vdPayload = @{
 VolumeType = "Mirrored"
 Drives = $driveUris
 DisplayName = "OS-VD"
 } | ConvertTo-Json

 if ($WhatIf) {
 Write-Host " WHATIF: Would POST RAID-1 creation to $bossUri/Volumes"
 } else {
 Invoke-RestMethod -Uri "$bossUri/Volumes" -Method Post -Body $vdPayload @rest | Out-Null
 Write-Host " RAID-1 virtual disk created" -ForegroundColor Green
 }

 $results += [PSCustomObject]@{ Node = $node.hostname; Status = "OK" }

 } catch {
 Write-Host " FAILED: $_" -ForegroundColor Red
 $results += [PSCustomObject]@{ Node = $node.hostname; Status = "FAIL"; Error = "$_" }
 }
}

Write-Host "`nSummary:" -ForegroundColor Cyan
$results | Format-Table -AutoSize

$failed = $results | Where-Object { $_.Status -eq "FAIL" }
if ($failed) {
 Write-Host "$($failed.Count) node(s) failed — resolve before proceeding to Task 03" -ForegroundColor Red
 exit 1
}
Write-Host "All nodes reset — nodes will reboot from ISO (Task 01) — proceed to Task 03" -ForegroundColor Green

Expected Output

azlocal-node01 (10.245.64.11)
 [1/4] Locating BOSS controller...
 Found: BOSS-N1.Modular.1-1
 [2/4] Querying virtual disks...
 Deleted: /redfish/v1/Systems/System.Embedded.1/Storage/BOSS-N1.Modular.1-1/Volumes/Disk.Virtual.0:BOSS-N1.Modular.1-1
 Waiting for RAID deletion job...
 [3/4] Reading physical drives...
 [4/4] Creating RAID-1 virtual disk...
 RAID-1 virtual disk created

Summary:
Node Status
---- ------
azlocal-node01 OK
azlocal-node02 OK
azlocal-node03 OK
azlocal-node04 OK

All nodes reset — nodes will reboot from ISO (Task 01) — proceed to Task 03

Standalone Script

#Requires -Version 5.1
# ============================================================================
# Script: Invoke-ResetBossVirtualDisk-Standalone.ps1
# Execution: Run FROM any workstation — Redfish API to each iDRAC
# Prerequisites: iDRAC reachable on port 443, administrator credentials
# ============================================================================

#region CONFIGURATION
$iDRACUser = "root"
$iDRACPassSecure = Read-Host "Enter iDRAC password" -AsSecureString
$credential = [PSCredential]::new($iDRACUser, $iDRACPassSecure)

$nodes = @(
 @{ Hostname = "azlocal-node01"; iDRACIP = "10.245.64.11" },
 @{ Hostname = "azlocal-node02"; iDRACIP = "10.245.64.12" },
 @{ Hostname = "azlocal-node03"; iDRACIP = "10.245.64.13" },
 @{ Hostname = "azlocal-node04"; iDRACIP = "10.245.64.14" }
)
#endregion

$rest = @{ Credential = $credential; SkipCertificateCheck = $true
 Headers = @{ "Content-Type" = "application/json" } }

foreach ($node in $nodes) {
 $ip = $node.iDRACIP
 $baseUri = "https://$ip/redfish/v1"
 Write-Host "`n$($node.Hostname) ($ip)" -ForegroundColor Cyan

 try {
 # Find BOSS controller
 $controllers = Invoke-RestMethod -Uri "$baseUri/Systems/System.Embedded.1/Storage" -Method Get @rest
 $bossId = ($controllers.Members | ForEach-Object {
 $c = Invoke-RestMethod -Uri "https://$ip$_.'@odata.id'" -Method Get @rest
 if ($c.Name -match "BOSS") { $c.Id }
 }) | Select-Object -First 1
 if (-not $bossId) { throw "BOSS controller not found" }
 $bossUri = "$baseUri/Systems/System.Embedded.1/Storage/$bossId"

 # Delete existing VDs
 $vds = Invoke-RestMethod -Uri "$bossUri/Volumes" -Method Get @rest
 foreach ($vdRef in $vds.Members) {
 Invoke-RestMethod -Uri "https://$ip$($vdRef.'@odata.id')" -Method Delete @rest | Out-Null
 Write-Host " Deleted: $($vdRef.'@odata.id')" -ForegroundColor Green
 }
 if ($vds.'Members@odata.count' -gt 0) { Start-Sleep -Seconds 30 }

 # Create RAID-1
 $drives = (Invoke-RestMethod -Uri "$bossUri/Drives" -Method Get @rest).Members
 $driveUris = $drives | ForEach-Object { @{ '@odata.id' = $_.'@odata.id' } }
 $payload = @{ VolumeType = "Mirrored"; Drives = $driveUris; DisplayName = "OS-VD" } | ConvertTo-Json
 Invoke-RestMethod -Uri "$bossUri/Volumes" -Method Post -Body $payload @rest | Out-Null
 Write-Host " RAID-1 virtual disk created" -ForegroundColor Green

 } catch {
 Write-Host " ERROR: $_" -ForegroundColor Red
 }
}

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What Happens After BOSS Recreation

1. iDRAC schedules a RAID configuration job and reboots the node automatically
2. On reboot, BOSS initializes the new RAID-1 virtual disk
3. At next boot, the node falls back to the ISO/USB will be mounted in Task 02
4. "Press any key to boot from CD/DVD..." appears → Windows Setup begins loading
5. Proceed to Task 03

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Validation Checklist

• BOSS virtual disk Status: Optimal on all nodes
• RAID Level: RAID 1 (mirror)
• Both M.2 physical disks: Online
• No failed or degraded drives
• All nodes rebooted and booting from ISO
• Windows Setup loading on all nodes (verify via iDRAC Virtual Console)

Do Not Proceed Until Verified

Do not start Task 03 until all nodes show Windows Setup loading. A node that reboots without a mounted ISO will halt at a "Boot device not found" prompt and require manual intervention.

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Troubleshooting

Issue	Cause	Resolution
BOSS controller not found	BOSS card not installed or disabled	Verify BOSS card in BIOS: Device Settings
Cannot delete virtual disk	Insufficient iDRAC permissions	Use account with Administrator role
RAID job stuck	iDRAC job queue blocked	Clear stuck jobs: Maintenance → Job Queue → Delete All Jobs
Server not rebooting after job	iDRAC connectivity issue	Reboot manually via iDRAC: Power → Power Cycle
Boot to wrong device after reboot	ISO not mounted	Return to Task 01 and verify ISO is inserted
Disk degraded / one drive offline	M.2 drive failure	Replace faulty drive and recreate virtual disk
Members@odata.count: 0 on volumes	Virtual disk already clean	Skip deletion; proceed directly to creation

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Alternatives

The procedures in this task use the scripted methods shown in the tabs above. Additional deployment methods including Azure CLI and Bash scripts are available in the azurelocal-toolkit repository under scripts/deploy/.

Method	Description
Azure CLI	PowerShell-based Azure CLI scripts for Azure resource operations
Bash	Linux/macOS compatible shell scripts for pipeline environments

Navigation

← Phase 02 Overview	↑ Phase 02: OS Installation	Task 02: Mount Gold Image →

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Version Control

Version	Date	Author	Changes
1.0	2026-01-31	Azure Local Cloud	Initial document
1.1	2026-03-04	Azure Local Cloud	Add Optional badge, Azure badge, full frontmatter, fix tab labels and script paths, remove duplicate sections, standards alignment
1.2	2026-03-04	Azure Local Cloud	Reorder: promoted to Task 01 (BOSS config before ISO mount)