A Mobile kit has three controls that get confused with each other: the external power button, the compute power button inside the case, and the exhaust fan switch. Only one of them is main power.
Mobile only Drop-In units have no latching power button. They power on whenever DC is applied and power off when it is removed at the source.
The three controls
| Control | Location | Function |
|---|---|---|
| External power button | Case exterior | Main power. Must be latched to supply power inside the case. The button LED illuminates when latched. |
| Compute power button | Inside the case, on the compute module | Local shutdown only. Not main power. |
| Exhaust fan switch | Inside the case | Cooling fans only. Frequently mistaken for the main power switch. |
Powering on
- Connect the supplied power source — the vehicle adapter or the AC adapter — to the locking power connector on the case.
- Energize the supply.
- Press and latch the external power button. The LED should illuminate.
- Allow 60 to 90 seconds for boot, or up to 5 minutes on first boot or after an update.
Note The compute module powers on whenever power reaches it. Pressing the external button is all that is needed; the compute button does not need to be pressed to boot. USB ports stay powered while the external button is latched.
Shutting down
Always shut the operating system down before removing power. Cutting power without a clean shutdown can corrupt the filesystem.
- Shut the system down from the command line, or from the Console’s System menu if the Console is installed:
sudo shutdown -h now- Wait until the unit has powered off completely.
- Delatch the external power button.
Important Do not press the compute power button after a command-line shutdown. If the external button is still latched, the unit will boot again.
The HDMI dummy plug
Not a button, but it belongs on the same checklist. The right-angle HDMI adapter on the compute module carries a dummy plug that simulates a connected display. You remove it to connect a monitor during setup, and it must go back in afterward.
Critical Without the dummy plug, remote desktop shows a blank screen or fails to connect. If remote desktop worked while a monitor was attached and stopped working after you disconnected it, the plug is the cause.
Related
- WarDragon User Guide, Section 3.2 — applying power
- WarDragon User Guide, Section 9.5 — shutdown
- WarDragon User Guide, Section 10.2 — power and boot troubleshooting