docs(pfi-gx10): AC power-restore patch applied, pending a real power-cut test; keep the original UEFI bytes

After the 2026-09-24 NH3 outage pfi-gx10 stayed off. It has no BMC, and the
ASUS firmware defaults to staying off after AC loss. With Prime's approval,
bytes 3-4 of the UEFI Setup variable were changed from 0x1d,0x00 to
0x1c,0x01, a community recipe that matches factory power-on units. The
readback shows exactly those two bytes changed. The original 85-byte raw
variable (attr header included) is committed here and also kept on the box.

The README records that an OS shutdown is not a test of this setting. It
stays off by design, and two such "tests" were invalid. The only valid test
is pulling and restoring AC, which Prime will do on 2026-09-25. It also
records the revert procedure.
This commit is contained in:
vh
2026-09-24 15:40:06 -07:00
parent 1cbde502f4
commit e5197a3688
2 changed files with 31 additions and 0 deletions
+31
View File
@@ -54,6 +54,37 @@ trivially while the desktop is still running.
The playbook will not stop GDM while someone holds a seat session. Override with
`--var force_dm_stop=true`, or just let the rack-install reboot handle it.
## Power-on after AC loss — patched, NOT YET VALIDATED (2026-09-24)
There is **no BMC**, and the ASUS firmware ships with "Restore AC Power Loss" set
to stay off, so the box did not come back after the 2026-09-24 NH3 power outage.
Prime approved patching the setting from the OS, headless:
- UEFI var `Setup-ec87d643-eba4-4bb5-a1e5-3f3e36b20da9`, 81 bytes, attrs `0x7`,
BIOS `GX10DGX.0105.2026.0505.1153`. Bytes 3–4 changed `0x1d,0x00 → 0x1c,0x01`,
written with `efivar -w`. The readback shows exactly those two bytes changed.
- The recipe is community-sourced (`Fheodoor01/DGX-Spark---Power-on-boot-`,
derived by diffing a power-on unit against a stay-off unit; verified by its
author on GX10DGX.0103/.0104). **Byte 3's meaning is not known.** The resulting
pair matches factory power-on units.
- **Original bytes are saved twice:** `/var/lib/efi-setup-backup/Setup-ec87d643-20260924-pre-poweron.bin`
on the box (raw, including the 4-byte attr header) and
`servers/pfi-gx10/efi-Setup-ec87d643-20260924-pre-poweron.bin` here (sha256
`6d6f6f77…`). To revert, write `data[4:]` of that file back with
`efivar -w -n ec87d643-eba4-4bb5-a1e5-3f3e36b20da9-Setup -A 7 -f <file-without-header>`.
⚠ **A shutdown is NOT a test of this setting.** "Power On after AC loss" means the
box starts when power RETURNS after a cut. An OS `poweroff` is supposed to stay
off, by design. The community README claims the two are indistinguishable. They
are not on this board, and trusting that claim cost two trips to the power button
(infra-ops, 1421 and 1435 on 2026-09-24). **The only valid test is pulling and
restoring AC power without touching the button.**
**Status at end of 2026-09-24:** the box is OFF (the 1435 shutdown), with the patch
in place. Prime will pull and restore AC on 2026-09-25. It comes up on its own →
the patch works, so delete "NOT YET VALIDATED" above. It stays off → press the
button, then revert with the backup and set it in the firmware menu via a PiKVM.
## Training — run 3c is staged and ready
The ERP-seat SFT LoRA (run 3c) that died on ana-ml2 at step 24 of 604 to an