Skip To Main Content
Support Knowledge Base

How to Turn Off Intel® Boot Agent (IBA) or Prevent It from Running

Content Type: Install & Setup   |   Article ID: 000005626   |   Last Reviewed: 02/06/2025

What is the Intel® Boot Agent (IBA)?

The Intel® Boot Agent (IBA) is firmware in the Network Interface Card (NIC). The Intel® Boot Agent (IBA) allows your networked client computer to boot using an image on a remote server. PC vendors can implement the Intel Boot Agent (IBA) to accommodate various environments and protocols. The BIOS inserts the Intel Boot Agent (IBA) into the list of boot devices. When the Intel Boot Agent (IBA) is ahead of any other bootable device in the list, it executes and tries to boot the computer over the network.

Disabling the Intel Boot Agent (IBA) applies to add-on adapters plugged into a PCI, PCI-X, or PCI Express* slot.

If you have a built-in network connection, refer to your computer's documentation. Usually the settings to disable or enable a boot agent are in the BIOS.

If you have a laptop computer, this information doesn't apply. See your computer BIOS for settings to disable the Intel Boot Agent (IBA).

Note For the latest information on accessing your system BIOS, contact your original equipment manufacturer (OEM) directly.

How do I stop the Intel Boot Agent (IBA)?

You can either:

  • Prevent the Intel Boot Agent (IBA) from executing.
  • Turn the Intel Boot Agent (IBA) off or prevent it from running by using the utility.
Note You don't have to do both options.

To prevent the Intel Boot Agent (IBA) from executing:

  1. Go into the BIOS and find the order settings for the boot devices.
  2. Move the boot agent down the list after the hard drive or the device you prefer to boot from.

To prevent the Intel Boot Agent (IBA) from initializing, use the Intel® Ethernet Flash Firmware Utility (BootUtil.exe) to turn it off. Intel Ethernet Flash Firmware Utility is a program that:

  • Changes the default settings of your Intel® Ethernet Adapter.
  • Enables or disables the Wake-on-LAN.
  • Enables or disables Intel® Boot Agent capabilities and settings.
  • Allows in-the-field upgrades to the image stored in the flash component of the NIC.

The download package contains versions of the utility for DOS, Windows*, Linux*, and UEFI. It also includes the Intel® Boot Agent Guide. Launch index.htm to open the guide, which includes detailed instructions to disable Intel Boot Agent (IBA).

Note This will not work on all OEM motherboards. If this doesn't work, contact your OEM manufacturer.

Instructions on running Intel® Ethernet Flash Firmware Utility.

Download the Intel® Ethernet Flash Firmware Utility (BootUtil.exe).

How do I install the Intel® Ethernet Flash Firmware Utility?

For DOS or UEFI, you can run the program from the folder for that operating system (OS). If you try to run the DOS version of the utility from the Windows* command line, the program fails. The DOS version only runs under DOS.

For Linux* and Windows*, you must first run the installation program.

The installation and boot utility programs are in the folder for your OS, inside the \APPS\BootUtil folder. If the folder for your OS includes an installation program, run the installation before running the Intel Boot Utility.

Installing the boot utility in Windows* overwrites files required for Intel® PROSet for Windows Device Manager. Installation can cause system bug checks or loss of functionality when you use Intel® PROSet or other tools with the same driver. Uninstall Intel® PROSet before installing the utility. After using the utility, reinstall Intel® PROSet. Reinstalling Intel® PROSet overwrites files used by the utility.

Intel Boot Agent (IBA) settings

Intel Boot Agent (IBA) initializes during the system startup, even if it isn't the first boot device. Once the initialization screen displays, press Control-S to configure the Intel Boot Agent (IBA) settings.

  • On desktop adapters: Intel® Boot Agent (IBA) is enabled by default.
  • On server adapters: Intel® Boot Agent (IBA) is disabled by default.

 

Related Products

This article applies to 234 products.
Intel® Ethernet Controller X710 Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter E810-CQDA2 Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter X710-DA2 for OCP 3.0 Legacy Intel® Killer™ Ethernet Products 500 Series Controllers (up to 10GbE) Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I210 Series Intel® Ethernet Controller X550-AT2 Intel® Gigabit ET Quad Port Server Adapter NetEffect™ Ethernet Adapters Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter X722 Intel® Ethernet Software Intel® 82566MC Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® PRO/100 ISA Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X550-T2 Intel® 82579LM Gigabit Ethernet PHY NetEffect™ Ethernet Server Cluster Adapter DA Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X550-T1 Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520 Series Intel® 82566MM Gigabit Ethernet PHY Gigabit Ethernet Adapters (up to 2.5GbE) Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X540-T2 Intel® Ethernet E810 Network Adapters (up to 100GbE) Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X540-T1 Intel® Ethernet Controller I226 Series NetEffect™ Ethernet Server Cluster Adapter DA2 Intel® PRO/1000 PM Adapter Series Intel® Killer™ Ethernet E3000 2.5 Gbps Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter E810-XXVDA2 Intel® Ethernet Controller XL710-AM2 Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter X520 Intel® Killer™ Ethernet E3100 2.5 Gbps Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter X520-DA1 for Open Compute Project Intel® Gigabit CT Desktop Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Controller XL710 Intel® PRO/1000 PM Network Connection Intel® 82578 Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® PRO/1000 PF Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X710-DA2 Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-SR1 Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I210-T1 Intel® 82579V Gigabit Ethernet PHY NetEffect™ Ethernet Server Cluster Adapter CX4 Intel® Gigabit VT Quad Port Server Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X710-T4 Intel® PRO/100 S Management Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 PF Quad Port Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 MT Server Adapter Series Intel® 10 Gigabit AF DA Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® Ethernet Controller E610-IAT2 Intel® Gigabit ET Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 XT Server Adapter Series 500 Series Network Adapters (up to 10GbE) Intel® PRO/1000 Gigabit Server Adapter Series Intel® 10 Gigabit AF Server Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Connection I219 Series Intel® 82579 Gigabit Ethernet Controller Ethernet Connections (up to 100GbE) Intel® 10 Gigabit AT2 Server Adapter Intel® Killer™ Ethernet E2500v2 Intel® PRO/1000 PF Server Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 GT Server Adapter Series Intel® Gigabit EF Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter X520-DA2 Intel® Ethernet Controller X540-AT2 Intel® PRO/100 M Desktop Adapter Series Intel® 82566DM Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® Gigabit ET Server Adapter Series Multi-host Controllers (up to100GbE) Intel® 10 Gigabit CX4 Dual Port Server Adapter 700 Series Network Adapters (up to 40GbE) Intel® Ethernet Controller XL710-BM2 Intel® PRO/1000 PT Quad Port Server Adapter Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter X710 Intel® PRO/100B Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 T Server Adapter Series NetEffect™ Ethernet Server Cluster Adapter SFP+ SR2 Intel® PRO/1000 T Desktop Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter XL710-QDA2 Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I350-T4 700 Series Controllers (up to 40GbE) Intel® PRO/1000 XF Server Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X550 Intel® Ethernet Controller E610-XAT Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter XXV710-DA1 for OCP Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter XL710 800 Series Network Adapters Intel® Ethernet Controller X710-BM2 Intel® PRO/10GbE SR Server Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Controller XL710-BM1 Intel® 82578DC Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® PRO/100 VM Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-LR1 Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-DA2 NetEffect™ Ethernet Mezzanine Cluster Adapter -H Intel® Ethernet Controller E610 Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter XXV710-DA2 Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter X710-T4L for OCP 3.0 Intel® 10 Gigabit CX4 Server Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Controller X540 Intel® PRO/1000 F Server Adapter Series Intel® Gigabit CT Desktop Adapter Intel® 10 Gigabit XF SR Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X710 Intel® Gigabit EF Server Adapter Series Intel® 10 Gigabit AT Server Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter XXV710 Intel® PRO/10GbE LR Server Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter X710-DA2 for OCP Intel® 82577LC Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® PRO/1000 CT Network Connection Intel® 82578DM Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® PRO/1000 MT Desktop Adapter Series Intel® Killer™ Ethernet Controller Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter XXV710-DA1 for OCP Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter I350-T4 for OCP 3.0 Intel® Killer™ Ethernet Products Intel® 82577LM Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter XXV710-DA1 Intel® PRO/1000 GT Desktop Adapter Intel® Killer™ Ethernet E2600 Intel® 10 Gigabit XF LR Server Adapter Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter X520-DA2 for Open Compute Project Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter XL710-QDA1 Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter I350 Series Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I340 Series 800 Series Controllers (up to 200GbE) Xircom® Networking & Modem Adapters Intel® 10 Gigabit XF Server Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Controller X710-AM2 Intel® Ethernet Controller I225 Series Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I340-F4 Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter X722-DA4 Gigabit Ethernet Controllers (up to 2.5GbE) Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-T2 Intel® PRO/100 VM Network Connection Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter X722-DA2 Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I350-F2 Intel® PRO/1000 CT Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 PT Server Adapter Intel® Ethernet Controller XL710-AM1 NetEffect™ Ethernet Server Cluster Adapter SFP+ SR Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter X710-DA4 for OCP 3.0 Intel® PRO/100 Smart Adapter Series Intel® PRO/100+ Management Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X540 Intel® 82566DC Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I350-T2 Intel® Gigabit ET2 Quad Port Server Adapter Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter X710-T2L Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I340-T4 Intel® 10 Gigabit XF SR Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 PT Server Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Controller E610-XAT2 Intel® Ethernet Controller X550 Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I350 Series 600 Series Controllers (up to 10GbE) Intel® PRO/1000 PT Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter X710-T2L for OCP 3.0 Intel® 82567 Gigabit Ethernet Controller Intel® Ethernet Fabric Suite (Intel® EFS) Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter X710-T4L Intel® PRO/100 S Desktop Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Controller X550-BT2 Intel® PRO/1000 GT Desktop Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 MF Server Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter E810-CQDA1 Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X710-DA4 Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-SR2 Intel® PRO/1000 PT Desktop Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I350-F4 Intel® PRO/100 VE Network Connection Intel® PRO/1000 MT Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 PF Server Adapter Intel® 82566 Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-QDA1 Intel® Ethernet Controller X550-AT Intel® PRO/100 VE Adapter Series Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter E810-XXVDA4 Intel® 82577 Gigabit Ethernet PHY Intel® PRO/1000 GT Quad Port Server Adapter NetEffect™ Ethernet Mezzanine Cluster Adapter -I

Discontinued Products

Intel® PRO/100+ Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 MF Server Adapter Legacy Ethernet Products Intel® PRO/100 S Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100 S Mobile Adapter Intel® PRO/10GbE LR Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100 Intelligent Server Adapter Series Intel® PRO/100+ Management Adapter Intel® PRO/10GbE CX4 Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 MF Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100 ISA Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 XT Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100+ Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100 Smart Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 PT Desktop Adapter Intel® PRO/100+ Adapter Intel® PRO/100 Intelligent Server Adapter Intel® Gigabit VT Quad Port Server Adapter Intel® NetportExpress Print Servers Intel® PRO/1000 MT Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100 S Dual Port Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 PT Quad Port Low Profile Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100+ Dual Port Server Adapter Series Intel® PRO/100 S Desktop Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 XF Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100 S Server Adapter Series Intel® PRO/100 VE Desktop Adapter Intel® PRO/100 M Desktop Adapter Intel® PRO/100 LAN+Modem56 PC Card Adapter Intel® NetportExpress™ 10 and 10/100 Print Servers Intel® PRO/1000 Gigabit Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 T Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100 PC Card Adapter Intel® PRO/100 LAN+Modem56 CardBus II Adapter Intel® PRO/100 SR Mobile Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 MT Quad Port Server Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 XT Low Profile Server Adapter Intel® NetportExpress™ PRO and PRO/100 Print Servers Intel® PRO/100B Adapter Intel® PRO/100 S Management Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 MT Desktop Adapter Intel® PRO/100 CardBus II Adapter Intel® PRO/100 CardBus Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 MF Server Adapter (LX) Intel® PRO/100 S Combo Mobile Adapter Intel® PRO/1000 T Desktop Adapter Intel® PRO/10GbE SR Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100 LAN+Modem56 CardBus Adapter Intel® 10 Gigabit AT Server Adapter Intel® PRO/100 Mobile Adapter Series Intel® PRO/100 SR Combo Mobile Adapter Intel® PRO/100+ Server Adapter Series Intel® PRO/1000 F Server Adapter