If you don't restart the DGX Station after an update, several issues can occur:
1. Incomplete Update Process: Updates often require a restart to ensure that all changes are properly applied and that services and runtimes are updated correctly. Without a restart, some updates might not be fully implemented, potentially leading to inconsistent system behavior or errors[1][3].
2. System Instability: Failing to restart after an update can cause system instability. This is because some updated components might not be loaded or initialized correctly until the system is restarted. This can lead to unexpected crashes or performance issues[4].
3. Driver and Firmware Issues: Updates to drivers, especially for critical components like NVIDIA graphics drivers, typically require a restart to ensure they are properly loaded and functioning as intended. Without a restart, these drivers might not work correctly, affecting system performance or functionality[4].
4. Security Risks: Some updates address security vulnerabilities. If the system is not restarted, these vulnerabilities might remain exposed until the system is properly restarted and the security patches are applied[3].
5. BIOS and Firmware Updates: If the update involves BIOS or firmware changes, not restarting the system can prevent these updates from being applied correctly. This might lead to hardware issues or boot problems if the system is restarted later without completing the update process[2][7].
In summary, not restarting the DGX Station after an update can lead to incomplete updates, system instability, driver issues, security risks, and problems with BIOS or firmware updates. It is recommended to always restart the system after completing updates to ensure that all changes are properly applied and the system operates smoothly and securely.
Citations:
[1] https://docs.nvidia.com/dgx/dgx-os-6-user-guide/upgrading.html
[2] https://docs.nvidia.com/dgx/dgx-station-user-guide/index.html
[3] http://cdn.cnetcontent.com/2f/ed/2fed407b-03de-4bda-86b4-64cb9ec20a50.pdf
[4] https://docs.nvidia.com/dgx/pdf/DGX-Station-User-Guide.pdf
[5] https://github.com/NVIDIA/deepops/blob/master/docs/deepops/dgx-diagnostic-firmware.md
[6] https://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redpapers/pdfs/redp5746.pdf
[7] https://nvcrm.my.site.com/ESPCommunity/s/article/DGX-A100-Endless-rebooting-after-Firmware-Upgrade
[8] https://www.vastdata.com/whitepaper.pdf
[9] https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1512/ML15121A741.pdf