PCI Device Resource Allocation Failure noticed during Boot Time for IBM Server 3650

After plugging on a HBA, Quad-Port Ethernet Card, Low latency TOE Card in additon to my RAID Controller. On boot, I saw this error "PCI Device Resource Allocation Failure" during boot time. But I did not pay much attention.

Until the system boot, I realize that my Low Latency TOE Card work but with no communication. I thought it was a card / cable issue and I correspondingly change it. But the effect was still the same. No communication still. Very puzzling.

In the IBM Website, there is an article that might give a hint. 1801 PCI resource error using CTRL-H with 2x MegaRAID 8480 - IBM System x.

From what I infer from the article, it is due to insufficient ROM Space for that many devices. And there is need to turn off unneeded ROM BIOS apps/PXE boot options.

What I did was to.....

Disable Planar Ethernet PXE/DHCP

1. Press F1 when prompted on boot
2. Go to Setup Option
3. At the Option of "Planer Ethernet PXE/DHCP", turn it to Disabled

If the above does not eliminate the error, do the following
Disable unrequired PCI ROM Slot

1. Press F1 when prompted on boot
2. Go to Advanced Setup
3. Select PCI Settings
4. Select PCI ROM Control Execution

Within the "PCI ROM Control Execution" Panel, select the slot number for the secondary controller and disable that slot.

Reboot, you should see the error gone.


For more information see

1. 1801 PCI resource error using CTRL-H with 2x MegaRAID 8480 - IBM System x.
2. Connecting ESX to SAN: PCI Device resource allocation failure
3. x3650 PCI Device Resource Allocation Failure