After updating BIOS and NIC firmware using Lifecycle Controller, a PowerEdge server boots into Lifecycle...

When a PowerEdge server bypasses its standard operating system boot sequence and automatically defaults into the pre-boot Lifecycle Controller interface following a firmware flash event, it signifies a disruption within the NVRAM boot variable mapping. A frequent consequence of major BIOS or platform firmware updates is the reset or modification of the global Boot Mode setting back to factory defaults or an alternate state. For instance, if the operating system was originally deployed under a modern Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) profile, and the firmware update script forces the system back to legacy BIOS mode, the platform initialization layer will be unable to discover or interpret the UEFI bootloader block. Because the system cannot find a valid boot target matching its current boot mode configuration, it defaults to the embedded management partition. Reviewing the Boot Settings menu inside the System Setup utility to verify and align the boot mode with the operating system layout resolves this boot loop without data loss. Study Guide References: Troubleshooting; UEFI Boot Order Synchronization; System Setup Configuration Verification.