Keys are not processed from Grub boot menu with Serial Over LAN (SOL) - IBM eServer BladeCenter HS40

Resolving The Problem

RETAIN tip: H181472  

If Linux is configured to use the Grub boot selection menu, during Linux boot Grub will display the boot selection menu. If using Serial Over LAN (SOL), the enter key or arrow keys have no effect on the host console.  

The system may be an IBM eServer BladeCenter HS40, type 8839, any model.
 
The system's diagnostics pass.
 
The BIOS level affected is:  

• SBYT11A

The firmware level affected is:

• BRMK17A

The following operating systems are affected:  

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
  
  Note: This does not imply that the network operating system will work under all combinations of hardware and software. Please see the ServerProven compatibility page for more information.

The BRMK17A firmware for the Integrated Systems Management Processor is affected.  

This behavior is corrected in the latest release of the ISMP firmware.

When choosing to boot a different selection in Grub (other than the 1st boot selection), you must use the local console to choose the alternate boot selection.  

The HS40 blade's Integrated Systems Management Processor does not process the keystrokes during the window of time where Grub is active in an SOL session. This will require a firmware update to the ISMP later this year. The keystrokes are processed regularly outside of the Grub boot selection menu.