Restore post-build GRUB and isolinux sync

audit/internal/app/support_bundle.go

@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ var supportBundleServices = []string{
 	"bee-selfheal.service",
 	"bee-selfheal.timer",
 	"bee-sshsetup.service",
+	"display-manager.service",
+	"lightdm.service",
 	"nvidia-dcgm.service",
 	"nvidia-fabricmanager.service",
 }
@@ -44,12 +46,128 @@ var supportBundleCommands = []struct {
 	{name: "system/mount.txt", cmd: []string{"mount"}},
 	{name: "system/df-h.txt", cmd: []string{"df", "-h"}},
 	{name: "system/dmesg.txt", cmd: []string{"dmesg"}},
+	{name: "system/dmesg-gui-video-input.txt", cmd: []string{"sh", "-c", `
+if command -v dmesg >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  dmesg | grep -iE 'nvidia|drm|fb|framebuffer|vesa|efi|lightdm|Xorg|input|hid|usb|keyboard|mouse|virtual keyboard|virtual mouse|ami|aspeed|ast' || echo "no GUI/video/input kernel messages found"
+else
+  echo "dmesg not found"
+fi
+`}},
 	{name: "system/kernel-aer-nvidia.txt", cmd: []string{"sh", "-c", `
 if command -v dmesg >/dev/null 2>&1; then
   dmesg | grep -iE 'AER|NVRM|Xid|pcieport|nvidia' || echo "no AER/NVRM/Xid kernel messages found"
 else
   echo "dmesg not found"
 fi
+`}},
+	{name: "system/loginctl-sessions.txt", cmd: []string{"sh", "-c", `
+if command -v loginctl >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  loginctl list-sessions 2>&1 || true
+else
+  echo "loginctl not found"
+fi
+`}},
+	{name: "system/loginctl-seats.txt", cmd: []string{"sh", "-c", `
+if command -v loginctl >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  loginctl list-seats 2>&1 || true
+  echo
+  for seat in $(loginctl list-seats --no-legend 2>/dev/null | awk '{print $1}'); do
+    echo "=== $seat ==="
+    loginctl seat-status "$seat" 2>&1 || true
+    echo
+  done
+else
+  echo "loginctl not found"
+fi
+`}},
+	{name: "system/ps-gui.txt", cmd: []string{"sh", "-c", `
+ps -ef | grep -iE 'lightdm|Xorg|X$|openbox|chromium|chrome|xinit|xsession' | grep -v grep || echo "no GUI processes found"
+`}},
+	{name: "system/lspci-video-vv.txt", cmd: []string{"sh", "-c", `
+if ! command -v lspci >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "lspci not found"
+  exit 0
+fi
+found=0
+for dev in $(lspci -Dn | awk '$2 ~ /^03(00|02):$/ {print $1}'); do
+  found=1
+  echo "=== $dev ==="
+  lspci -s "$dev" -vv 2>&1 || true
+  echo
+done
+if [ "$found" -eq 0 ]; then
+  echo "no display-class PCI devices found"
+fi
+`}},
+	{name: "system/proc-fb.txt", cmd: []string{"cat", "/proc/fb"}},
+	{name: "system/drm-cards.txt", cmd: []string{"sh", "-c", `
+if [ -d /sys/class/drm ]; then
+  for path in /sys/class/drm/card*; do
+    [ -e "$path" ] || continue
+    card=$(basename "$path")
+    echo "=== $card ==="
+    for f in status enabled dpms modes; do
+      [ -r "$path/$f" ] && printf "  %-8s %s\n" "$f" "$(cat "$path/$f" 2>/dev/null)"
+    done
+    device=$(readlink -f "$path/device" 2>/dev/null || true)
+    [ -n "$device" ] && echo "  device   ${device##*/}"
+    echo
+  done
+else
+  echo "/sys/class/drm not present"
+fi
+`}},
+	{name: "system/input-devices.txt", cmd: []string{"sh", "-c", `
+if [ -r /proc/bus/input/devices ]; then
+  cat /proc/bus/input/devices
+else
+  echo "/proc/bus/input/devices not readable"
+fi
+`}},
+	{name: "system/udevadm-input.txt", cmd: []string{"sh", "-c", `
+if ! command -v udevadm >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "udevadm not found"
+  exit 0
+fi
+found=0
+for dev in /dev/input/event*; do
+  [ -e "$dev" ] || continue
+  found=1
+  echo "=== $dev ==="
+  udevadm info --query=all --name="$dev" 2>&1 || true
+  echo
+done
+if [ "$found" -eq 0 ]; then
+  echo "no /dev/input/event* devices found"
+fi
+`}},
+	{name: "system/xinput-list.txt", cmd: []string{"sh", "-c", `
+if command -v xinput >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  DISPLAY=:0 xinput --list 2>&1 || true
+else
+  echo "xinput not found"
+fi
+`}},
+	{name: "system/libinput-list-devices.txt", cmd: []string{"sh", "-c", `
+if command -v libinput >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  libinput list-devices 2>&1 || true
+else
+  echo "libinput not found"
+fi
+`}},
+	{name: "system/systemctl-gui-units.txt", cmd: []string{"sh", "-c", `
+if ! command -v systemctl >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "systemctl not found"
+  exit 0
+fi
+echo "=== unit files ==="
+systemctl list-unit-files --no-pager --all 'lightdm*' 'display-manager*' 2>&1 || true
+echo
+echo "=== active units ==="
+systemctl list-units --no-pager --all 'lightdm*' 'display-manager*' 2>&1 || true
+echo
+echo "=== failed units ==="
+systemctl --failed --no-pager 2>&1 | grep -iE 'lightdm|display-manager|Xorg' || echo "no failed GUI units"
 `}},
 	{name: "system/nvidia-smi-q.txt", cmd: []string{"nvidia-smi", "-q"}},
 	{name: "system/nvidia-smi-topo.txt", cmd: []string{"sh", "-c", `
@@ -236,6 +354,13 @@ var supportBundleOptionalFiles = []struct {
 }{
 	{name: "system/kern.log", src: "/var/log/kern.log"},
 	{name: "system/syslog.txt", src: "/var/log/syslog"},
+	{name: "system/Xorg.0.log", src: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log"},
+	{name: "system/Xorg.0.log.old", src: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log.old"},
+	{name: "system/lightdm/lightdm.log", src: "/var/log/lightdm/lightdm.log"},
+	{name: "system/lightdm/x-0.log", src: "/var/log/lightdm/x-0.log"},
+	{name: "system/lightdm/x-0-greeter.log", src: "/var/log/lightdm/x-0-greeter.log"},
+	{name: "system/home-bee-xsession-errors.log", src: "/home/bee/.xsession-errors"},
+	{name: "system/home-bee-chromium-debug.log", src: "/tmp/bee-chrome/chrome_debug.log"},
 	{name: "system/fabricmanager.log", src: "/var/log/fabricmanager.log"},
 	{name: "system/nvlsm.log", src: "/var/log/nvlsm.log"},
 	{name: "system/fabricmanager/fabricmanager.log", src: "/var/log/fabricmanager/fabricmanager.log"},

audit/internal/webui/server.go

@@ -1294,8 +1294,8 @@ const loadingPageHTML = `<!DOCTYPE html>
 *{margin:0;padding:0;box-sizing:border-box}
 html,body{height:100%;background:#0f1117;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;font-family:'Courier New',monospace;color:#e2e8f0}
 .wrap{text-align:center;width:420px}
-.logo{font-size:11px;line-height:1.4;color:#f6c90e;margin-bottom:6px;white-space:pre;text-align:left}
-.subtitle{font-size:12px;color:#a0aec0;text-align:left;margin-bottom:24px;padding-left:2px}
+.brand{font-size:22px;letter-spacing:.18em;color:#f6c90e;margin-bottom:6px;text-align:left}
+.subtitle{font-size:12px;color:#a0aec0;text-align:left;margin-bottom:24px}
 .spinner{width:36px;height:36px;border:3px solid #2d3748;border-top-color:#f6c90e;border-radius:50%;animation:spin .8s linear infinite;margin:0 auto 14px}
 .spinner.hidden{display:none}
 @keyframes spin{to{transform:rotate(360deg)}}
@@ -1313,12 +1313,7 @@ td:first-child{color:#718096;width:55%}
 </head>
 <body>
 <div class="wrap">
-  <div class="logo">  ███████╗ █████╗ ███████╗██╗   ██╗      ██████╗ ███████╗███████╗
-  ██╔════╝██╔══██╗██╔════╝╚██╗ ██╔╝      ██╔══██╗██╔════╝██╔════╝
-  █████╗  ███████║███████╗ ╚████╔╝ █████╗██████╔╝█████╗  █████╗
-  ██╔══╝  ██╔══██║╚════██║  ╚██╔╝  ╚════╝██╔══██╗██╔══╝  ██╔══╝
-  ███████╗██║  ██║███████║   ██║         ██████╔╝███████╗███████╗
-  ╚══════╝╚═╝  ╚═╝╚══════╝   ╚═╝         ╚═════╝ ╚══════╝╚══════╝</div>
+  <div class="brand">EASY BEE</div>
   <div class="subtitle">Hardware Audit LiveCD</div>
   <div class="spinner" id="spin"></div>
   <div class="status" id="st">Connecting to bee-web...</div>
@@ -1328,8 +1323,20 @@ td:first-child{color:#718096;width:55%}
 <script>
 (function(){
 var gone = false;
+var pollStarted = false;
+var fallbackOpenTimer = null;
+var AUTO_OPEN_DELAY_MS = 15000;
 function go(){ if(!gone){gone=true;window.location.replace('/');} }
 
+function scheduleFallbackOpen(){
+  if(fallbackOpenTimer!==null) return;
+  fallbackOpenTimer=setTimeout(function(){
+    document.getElementById('spin').className='spinner hidden';
+    document.getElementById('st').textContent='Startup checks are taking too long — opening app...';
+    go();
+  },AUTO_OPEN_DELAY_MS);
+}
+
 function icon(s){
   if(s==='active')   return '<span class="ok">&#9679; active</span>';
   if(s==='failed')   return '<span class="fail">&#10005; failed</span>';
@@ -1361,6 +1368,7 @@ function pollServices(){
       tbl.innerHTML=html;
       if(allSettled(svcs)){
         clearInterval(pollTimer);
+        if(fallbackOpenTimer!==null) clearTimeout(fallbackOpenTimer);
         document.getElementById('spin').className='spinner hidden';
         document.getElementById('st').textContent='Ready \u2014 opening...';
         setTimeout(go,800);
@@ -1375,8 +1383,12 @@ function probe(){
       if(r.ok){
         document.getElementById('st').textContent='bee-web running \u2014 checking services...';
         document.getElementById('btn').style.display='';
-        pollServices();
-        pollTimer=setInterval(pollServices,1500);
+        scheduleFallbackOpen();
+        if(!pollStarted){
+          pollStarted=true;
+          pollServices();
+          pollTimer=setInterval(pollServices,1500);
+        }
       } else {
         document.getElementById('st').textContent='bee-web starting (status '+r.status+')...';
         setTimeout(probe,500);

audit/internal/webui/server_test.go

@@ -604,6 +604,25 @@ func TestReadyIsOKWhenAuditPathIsUnset(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestLoadingPageHasFallbackAutoOpen(t *testing.T) {
+	handler := NewHandler(HandlerOptions{})
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	handler.ServeHTTP(rec, httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "/loading", nil))
+	if rec.Code != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("status=%d body=%s", rec.Code, rec.Body.String())
+	}
+	body := rec.Body.String()
+	for _, needle := range []string{
+		`var AUTO_OPEN_DELAY_MS = 15000;`,
+		`function scheduleFallbackOpen(){`,
+		`Startup checks are taking too long — opening app...`,
+	} {
+		if !strings.Contains(body, needle) {
+			t.Fatalf("loading page missing %q: %s", needle, body)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestAuditPageRendersViewerFrameAndActions(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := t.TempDir()
 	path := filepath.Join(dir, "audit.json")

iso/builder/build.sh

@@ -731,15 +731,19 @@ write_canonical_grub_cfg() {
 source /boot/grub/config.cfg
 
 menuentry "EASY-BEE" {
-    linux   ${kernel} ${append_live} bee.display=kms bee.nvidia.mode=normal pci=realloc net.ifnames=0 biosdevname=0 mitigations=off transparent_hugepage=always numa_balancing=disable pcie_aspm=off intel_idle.max_cstate=1 processor.max_cstate=1 nowatchdog nosoftlockup
+    linux   ${kernel} ${append_live} nomodeset bee.nvidia.mode=normal pci=realloc net.ifnames=0 biosdevname=0 mitigations=off transparent_hugepage=always numa_balancing=disable pcie_aspm=off intel_idle.max_cstate=1 processor.max_cstate=1 nowatchdog nosoftlockup
     initrd  ${initrd}
 }
 
 menuentry "EASY-BEE -- load to RAM (toram)" {
-    linux   ${kernel} ${append_live} toram bee.display=kms bee.nvidia.mode=normal pci=realloc net.ifnames=0 biosdevname=0 mitigations=off transparent_hugepage=always numa_balancing=disable pcie_aspm=off intel_idle.max_cstate=1 processor.max_cstate=1 nowatchdog nosoftlockup
+    linux   ${kernel} ${append_live} toram nomodeset bee.nvidia.mode=normal pci=realloc net.ifnames=0 biosdevname=0 mitigations=off transparent_hugepage=always numa_balancing=disable pcie_aspm=off intel_idle.max_cstate=1 processor.max_cstate=1 nowatchdog nosoftlockup
     initrd  ${initrd}
 }
 
+menuentry "EASY-BEE -- no GUI / no X11" {
+    linux   ${kernel} ${append_live} nomodeset bee.gui=off bee.nvidia.mode=gsp-off pci=realloc net.ifnames=0 biosdevname=0 mitigations=off transparent_hugepage=always numa_balancing=disable pcie_aspm=off intel_idle.max_cstate=1 processor.max_cstate=1 nowatchdog nosoftlockup
+    initrd  ${initrd}
+}
 
 if [ "\${grub_platform}" = "efi" ]; then
     menuentry "Memory Test (memtest86+)" {
@@ -779,6 +783,12 @@ label live-@FLAVOUR@-toram
     initrd ${initrd}
     append ${append_live} toram nomodeset bee.nvidia.mode=normal net.ifnames=0 biosdevname=0 mitigations=off transparent_hugepage=always numa_balancing=disable pcie_aspm=off intel_idle.max_cstate=1 processor.max_cstate=1 nowatchdog nosoftlockup
 
+label live-@FLAVOUR@-console
+    menu label EASY-BEE (^no GUI / no X11)
+    linux ${kernel}
+    initrd ${initrd}
+    append ${append_live} nomodeset bee.gui=off bee.nvidia.mode=gsp-off net.ifnames=0 biosdevname=0 mitigations=off transparent_hugepage=always numa_balancing=disable pcie_aspm=off intel_idle.max_cstate=1 processor.max_cstate=1 nowatchdog nosoftlockup
+
 label live-@FLAVOUR@-gsp-off
     menu label EASY-BEE (^NVIDIA GSP=off)
     linux ${kernel}

iso/builder/config/bootloaders/grub-efi/config.cfg

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ else
 fi
 
 if loadfont $font ; then
-    set gfxmode=1920x1080,1280x1024,auto
+    set gfxmode=1280x1024,auto
     set gfxpayload=keep
     insmod efi_gop
     insmod efi_uga

iso/builder/config/bootloaders/grub-efi/grub.cfg

@@ -1,12 +1,17 @@
 source /boot/grub/config.cfg
 
 menuentry "EASY-BEE" {
-    linux   @KERNEL_LIVE@ @APPEND_LIVE@ bee.display=kms bee.nvidia.mode=normal pci=realloc net.ifnames=0 biosdevname=0 mitigations=off transparent_hugepage=always numa_balancing=disable pcie_aspm=off intel_idle.max_cstate=1 processor.max_cstate=1 nowatchdog nosoftlockup
+    linux   @KERNEL_LIVE@ @APPEND_LIVE@ nomodeset bee.nvidia.mode=normal pci=realloc net.ifnames=0 biosdevname=0 mitigations=off transparent_hugepage=always numa_balancing=disable pcie_aspm=off intel_idle.max_cstate=1 processor.max_cstate=1 nowatchdog nosoftlockup
     initrd  @INITRD_LIVE@
 }
 
 menuentry "EASY-BEE -- load to RAM (toram)" {
-    linux   @KERNEL_LIVE@ @APPEND_LIVE@ toram bee.display=kms bee.nvidia.mode=normal pci=realloc net.ifnames=0 biosdevname=0 mitigations=off transparent_hugepage=always numa_balancing=disable pcie_aspm=off intel_idle.max_cstate=1 processor.max_cstate=1 nowatchdog nosoftlockup
+    linux   @KERNEL_LIVE@ @APPEND_LIVE@ toram nomodeset bee.nvidia.mode=normal pci=realloc net.ifnames=0 biosdevname=0 mitigations=off transparent_hugepage=always numa_balancing=disable pcie_aspm=off intel_idle.max_cstate=1 processor.max_cstate=1 nowatchdog nosoftlockup
+    initrd  @INITRD_LIVE@
+}
+
+menuentry "EASY-BEE -- no GUI / no X11" {
+    linux   @KERNEL_LIVE@ @APPEND_LIVE@ nomodeset bee.gui=off bee.nvidia.mode=gsp-off pci=realloc net.ifnames=0 biosdevname=0 mitigations=off transparent_hugepage=always numa_balancing=disable pcie_aspm=off intel_idle.max_cstate=1 processor.max_cstate=1 nowatchdog nosoftlockup
     initrd  @INITRD_LIVE@
 }
 

iso/builder/config/bootloaders/grub-efi/live-theme/theme.txt

@@ -5,13 +5,6 @@ title-text: ""
 message-font: "Unifont Regular 16"
 terminal-font: "Unifont Regular 16"
 
-#bee logo - centered, upper third of screen
-+ image {
-        top = 4%
-        left = 50%-200
-        file = "bee-logo.tga"
-}
-
 #help bar at the bottom
 + label {
         top = 100%-50

iso/builder/config/bootloaders/isolinux/live.cfg.in

@@ -11,6 +11,12 @@ label live-@FLAVOUR@-toram
     initrd @INITRD@
     append @APPEND_LIVE@ toram nomodeset bee.nvidia.mode=normal net.ifnames=0 biosdevname=0 mitigations=off transparent_hugepage=always numa_balancing=disable pcie_aspm=off intel_idle.max_cstate=1 processor.max_cstate=1 nowatchdog nosoftlockup
 
+label live-@FLAVOUR@-console
+    menu label EASY-BEE (^no GUI / no X11)
+    linux @LINUX@
+    initrd @INITRD@
+    append @APPEND_LIVE@ nomodeset bee.gui=off bee.nvidia.mode=gsp-off net.ifnames=0 biosdevname=0 mitigations=off transparent_hugepage=always numa_balancing=disable pcie_aspm=off intel_idle.max_cstate=1 processor.max_cstate=1 nowatchdog nosoftlockup
+
 label live-@FLAVOUR@-gsp-off
     menu label EASY-BEE (^NVIDIA GSP=off)
     linux @LINUX@

iso/builder/config/hooks/normal/9000-bee-setup.hook.chroot

@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ chmod +x /usr/local/bin/bee-log-run    2>/dev/null || true
 chmod +x /usr/local/bin/bee-selfheal        2>/dev/null || true
 chmod +x /usr/local/bin/bee-boot-status    2>/dev/null || true
 chmod +x /usr/local/bin/bee-install        2>/dev/null || true
+chmod +x /usr/local/bin/bee-gui-gate       2>/dev/null || true
 chmod +x /usr/local/bin/bee-remount-medium 2>/dev/null || true
 if [ "$GPU_VENDOR" = "nvidia" ]; then
     chmod +x /usr/local/bin/bee-nvidia-load 2>/dev/null || true

iso/overlay/etc/motd

@@ -1,11 +1,4 @@
-
-  ███████╗ █████╗ ███████╗██╗   ██╗      ██████╗ ███████╗███████╗
-  ██╔════╝██╔══██╗██╔════╝╚██╗ ██╔╝      ██╔══██╗██╔════╝██╔════╝
-  █████╗  ███████║███████╗ ╚████╔╝ █████╗██████╔╝█████╗  █████╗
-  ██╔══╝  ██╔══██║╚════██║  ╚██╔╝  ╚════╝██╔══██╗██╔══╝  ██╔══╝
-  ███████╗██║  ██║███████║   ██║         ██████╔╝███████╗███████╗
-  ╚══════╝╚═╝  ╚═╝╚══════╝   ╚═╝         ╚═════╝ ╚══════╝╚══════╝
-
+  EASY BEE
   Hardware Audit LiveCD
   Build: %%BUILD_INFO%%
 

iso/overlay/etc/systemd/system/bee-audit.service

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [Unit]
 Description=Bee: hardware audit
-After=bee-preflight.service bee-network.service bee-nvidia.service bee-blackbox.service
+After=bee-preflight.service bee-nvidia.service bee-blackbox.service
 
 [Service]
 Type=oneshot

iso/overlay/etc/systemd/system/bee-network.service

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 [Unit]
 Description=Bee: bring up network interfaces via DHCP
-After=local-fs.target bee-blackbox.service
-Before=network-online.target bee-audit.service
+After=bee-web.service bee-audit.service
 
 [Service]
 Type=oneshot

iso/overlay/etc/systemd/system/bee-preflight.service

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [Unit]
 Description=Bee: runtime preflight self-check
-After=bee-network.service bee-nvidia.service bee-blackbox.service
+After=bee-nvidia.service bee-blackbox.service
 Before=bee-audit.service
 
 [Service]

iso/overlay/etc/systemd/system/lightdm.service.d/bee-gui-gate.conf

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+[Service]
+ExecCondition=/usr/local/bin/bee-gui-gate

iso/overlay/usr/local/bin/bee-boot-status

@@ -51,12 +51,7 @@ while true; do
     printf '\033[H\033[2J'
 
     printf '\n'
-    printf '  \033[33m███████╗ █████╗ ███████╗██╗   ██╗      ██████╗ ███████╗███████╗\033[0m\n'
-    printf '  \033[33m██╔════╝██╔══██╗██╔════╝╚██╗ ██╔╝      ██╔══██╗██╔════╝██╔════╝\033[0m\n'
-    printf '  \033[33m█████╗  ███████║███████╗ ╚████╔╝ █████╗██████╔╝█████╗  █████╗\033[0m\n'
-    printf '  \033[33m██╔══╝  ██╔══██║╚════██║  ╚██╔╝  ╚════╝██╔══██╗██╔══╝  ██╔══╝\033[0m\n'
-    printf '  \033[33m███████╗██║  ██║███████║   ██║         ██████╔╝███████╗███████╗\033[0m\n'
-    printf '  \033[33m╚══════╝╚═╝  ╚═╝╚══════╝   ╚═╝         ╚═════╝ ╚══════╝╚══════╝\033[0m\n'
+    printf '  \033[33mEASY BEE\033[0m\n'
     printf '  Hardware Audit LiveCD\n'
     printf '\n'
 

iso/overlay/usr/local/bin/bee-gui-gate

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+# bee-gui-gate — skip starting the local GUI when bee.gui=off is set.
+
+set -eu
+
+cmdline_param() {
+    key="$1"
+    for token in $(cat /proc/cmdline 2>/dev/null); do
+        case "$token" in
+            "$key"=*)
+                echo "${token#*=}"
+                return 0
+                ;;
+        esac
+    done
+    return 1
+}
+
+mode="$(cmdline_param bee.gui || true)"
+case "${mode}" in
+    off|false|0|tty|console|text|nogui)
+        echo "bee-gui-gate: bee.gui=${mode}; skipping lightdm"
+        exit 1
+        ;;
+esac
+
+exit 0

iso/overlay/usr/local/bin/bee-network.sh

@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # bee-network.sh — bring up all physical network interfaces via DHCP
-# Unattended: runs silently, logs results, never blocks.
+# Unattended: starts later in boot, runs quietly, and gives up after a bounded timeout.
 
 LOG_PREFIX="bee-network"
+DHCP_TIMEOUT_SECS=300
 
 log() { echo "[$LOG_PREFIX] $*"; }
 
@@ -19,9 +20,50 @@ if command -v udevadm >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     udevadm settle --timeout=5 >/dev/null 2>&1 || log "WARN: udevadm settle timed out"
 fi
 
+start_dhcp() {
+    iface="$1"
+    if ! ip link set "$iface" up; then
+        log "WARN: could not bring up $iface"
+        return 1
+    fi
+
+    carrier=$(cat "/sys/class/net/$iface/carrier" 2>/dev/null || true)
+    if [ "$carrier" = "1" ]; then
+        log "carrier detected on $iface"
+    else
+        log "carrier not detected on $iface"
+    fi
+
+    dhclient -r "$iface" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+
+    if timeout "${DHCP_TIMEOUT_SECS}" dhclient -4 -q -1 "$iface" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        addr="$(ip -4 -o addr show dev "$iface" scope global 2>/dev/null | awk '{print $4}' | head -1)"
+        if [ -n "$addr" ]; then
+            log "DHCP lease acquired on $iface ($addr)"
+        else
+            log "DHCP lease acquired on $iface"
+        fi
+        return 0
+    fi
+
+    rc=$?
+    case "$rc" in
+        124)
+            log "DHCP timed out on $iface after ${DHCP_TIMEOUT_SECS}s"
+            ;;
+        *)
+            log "DHCP failed on $iface (exit $rc)"
+            ;;
+    esac
+    dhclient -r "$iface" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+    return 1
+}
+
 started_ifaces=""
 started_count=0
 scan_pass=1
+pids=""
+pid_ifaces=""
 
 # Some server NICs appear a bit later after module/firmware init. Do a small
 # bounded rescan window without turning network bring-up into a boot blocker.
@@ -34,22 +76,11 @@ while [ "$scan_pass" -le 3 ]; do
                 *" $iface "*) continue ;;
             esac
 
-            log "bringing up $iface"
-            if ! ip link set "$iface" up; then
-                log "WARN: could not bring up $iface"
-                continue
-            fi
-
-            carrier=$(cat "/sys/class/net/$iface/carrier" 2>/dev/null || true)
-            if [ "$carrier" = "1" ]; then
-                log "carrier detected on $iface"
-            else
-                log "carrier not detected yet on $iface"
-            fi
-
-            # DHCP in background — non-blocking, keep dhclient verbose output in the service log.
-            dhclient -4 -v -nw "$iface" &
-            log "DHCP started for $iface (pid $!)"
+            log "starting DHCP on $iface (timeout ${DHCP_TIMEOUT_SECS}s)"
+            start_dhcp "$iface" &
+            pid="$!"
+            pids="$pids $pid"
+            pid_ifaces="$pid_ifaces $pid:$iface"
 
             started_ifaces="$started_ifaces $iface"
             started_count=$((started_count + 1))
@@ -68,4 +99,15 @@ if [ "$started_count" -eq 0 ]; then
     exit 0
 fi
 
-log "done (interfaces started: $started_count)"
+success_count=0
+for pid_iface in $pid_ifaces; do
+    pid="${pid_iface%%:*}"
+    iface="${pid_iface#*:}"
+    if wait "$pid"; then
+        success_count=$((success_count + 1))
+    else
+        log "DHCP did not complete successfully on $iface"
+    fi
+done
+
+log "done (interfaces scanned: $started_count, leases acquired: $success_count)"