chore(docs): provide clear guidance on DPU configuration for site-controller nodes

docs/getting-started/prerequisites/hardware.md

@@ -22,12 +22,14 @@ The site controller runs the NICo control plane on a Kubernetes cluster. A minim
 
 **Storage layout**: Total local NVMe capacity should be 4 TiB or greater. Mount 1.7 TiB on `/` (root) on the NVMe OS disk (ext4 or xfs) — typical usage is 200–500 GiB. Mount `/var/lib/containerd` and `/var/lib/kubelet` on a separate NVMe data disk (1+ TiB, ext4/xfs, `noatime`). Consider a dedicated `/var/log` if there is heavy logging. Persistent app storage (SAN/NAS, Rook-Ceph) is not required for NICo itself.
 
-### DPUs on Site Controller (Optional)
+### DPUs on Site Controller (Required)
 
-DPUs on site controller nodes are optional and site-owned. If DPUs are installed, ensure the following requirements are met:
-- Verify the correct DPU power cable has been ordered from the server vendor.
+Site-controller nodes must have Bluefield-3 DPUs. Ensure the following requirements are met:
+- You have the correct DPU power cable from the server vendor.
+- The Bluefield-3's operating mode is DPU mode. NIC mode is not supported.
 - For BF3 DPUs, verify link speed and optics: BF3 runs at 200 Gb, so match ports to 200 Gb-capable optics, fiber, or DACs.
-- A basic onboard NIC for management is sufficient--no extra ConnectX NICs are needed.
+- Verify that the DPU can connect to the outside world (curl -I https://www.nvidia.com)
+- The DPUs are at the latest supported firmware version: DOCA 2.9.3 and HBN 2.4.3
 
 ## Compute Systems (Managed Hosts)
 

docs/getting-started/quick-start.md

@@ -33,17 +33,23 @@ The cluster must have:
 
 ### Site controller node DPU requirements
 
-If your site controller nodes are equipped with DPUs (BlueField NICs), the DPUs must be fully provisioned and configured **before** the Kubernetes cluster is set up. NICo does not provision the site controller nodes' own DPUs — it only manages DPUs on downstream bare-metal hosts after ingestion.
+Site controller nodes must be equipped with fully provisioned DPUs (Bluefield-3s) which are configured **before** the Kubernetes cluster is set up. We do not support configuring site controller nodes without DPUs today. NICo does not provision the site controller nodes' own DPUs — it only manages DPUs on downstream bare-metal hosts after ingestion.
 
 Specifically, you must complete the following before proceeding:
 
-- Flash the DPU firmware to a supported version using the BlueField Firmware Bundle.
-- Configure the DPU operating mode (DPU mode or NIC mode) to match your site controller networking topology. See the [network prerequisites](prerequisites/network.md) for the supported topologies.
+- Flash the DPU firmware to the latest supported version using the BlueField Firmware Bundle. Latest supported firmware versions:
+
+  | DOCA  | HBN   |
+  | ----- | ----- |
+  | 2.9.3 | 2.4.3 |
+
+- Configure the Bluefield-3 device in DPU mode (operating mode). We do not currently support NIC mode.
 - Ensure the DPU ARM OS is booted and reachable via its management interface.
+- Verify that the DPU can connect to the outside world (curl -I https://www.google.com)
 
 Refer to the NVIDIA DOCA documentation and the BlueField Firmware Bundle download archive for firmware flashing instructions and supported firmware versions:
 
-[https://developer.nvidia.com/doca-2-9-2-lts-ovs-doca-download-archive?deployment_platform=BlueField&deployment_package=BF-FW-Bundle](https://developer.nvidia.com/doca-2-9-2-lts-ovs-doca-download-archive?deployment_platform=BlueField&deployment_package=BF-FW-Bundle)
+[https://developer.nvidia.com/doca-2-9-3-download-archive?deployment_platform=BlueField&deployment_package=BF-FW-Bundle](https://developer.nvidia.com/doca-2-9-3-download-archive?deployment_platform=BlueField&deployment_package=BF-FW-Bundle)
 
 ### Required tools (local machine)