OK ,There is a  project (NOT my design), Sometimes when NION boots ,it CANNOT start the role .
Here are some messages from "remote log":
NOTE that the TIME set is not correct.
2/9/2011 17:11:04    3558    note    mcp/processes    shutting down gracefully
2/9/2011 17:07:13    3557    note    piond/version    Audio network module Peavey NION CobraNet version 2.9.16 CM-1(a) rev 3
2/9/2011 17:07:13    3556    note    piond/version    Firmware version release_1.6.0
2/9/2011 17:07:13    3555    error    piond/role_manager
not restarting role because boot mode is unspecified by bios
2/9/2011 17:07:08    3552    note    piond/time    Wed Feb  9 17:07:08 2011 CST, Wed Feb  9 09:07:08 2011 UTC
2/9/2011 17:06:55    3548    error    mcp/monitor
missing shutdown state in environment
2/9/2011 17:06:06    3545    note    mcp/processes    shutting down gracefully
2/9/2011 16:37:56    3544    note    piond/version    Audio network module Peavey NION CobraNet version 2.9.16 CM-1(a) rev 3
2/9/2011 16:37:56    3543    note    piond/version    Firmware version release_1.6.0
2/9/2011 16:37:56    3542    error    piond/role_manager
not restarting role because boot mode is unspecified by bios
2/9/2011 16:37:51    3539    note    piond/time    Wed Feb  9 16:37:51 2011 CST, Wed Feb  9 08:37:51 2011 UTC
2/9/2011 16:37:38    3535    error    mcp/monitor
missing shutdown state in environment
2/9/2011 13:05:00    3532    note    piond/mute    muted: mcp mute request
2/9/2011 13:05:00    3531    note    mcp/processes    shutting down gracefully
2/9/2011 12:13:00    3530    note    piond/version    Audio network module Peavey NION CobraNet version 2.9.16 CM-1(a) rev 3
2/9/2011 12:13:00    3529    note    piond/version    Firmware version release_1.6.0
2/9/2011 12:13:00    3528    note    piond/role_manager    role is running
2/9/2011 12:13:00    3527    note    piond/mute    unmuted
2/9/2011 12:12:58    3526    note    project/RATC2_service    started on port 1632
2/9/2011 12:12:44    3524    note    piond/role_manager    restarting role : DADIANSHI DIANHUA2/DADIANSHI NION3/fw9TpzAOcTwhMJrtpRxouVqlonf/tcsy0B4Doo2WzA8Fo2qxFyW-dwC
2/9/2011 12:12:39    3521    note    piond/time    Wed Feb  9 12:12:39 2011 CST, Wed Feb  9 04:12:39 2011 UTC
2/9/2011 12:12:26    3517    note    mcp/monitor    system boot

We have seen this too, but with no resolution.
Anyone else?

Phil,
Please review your email messages from April 12-13, 2011 for a thread between you and I and several other people. Our software engineering recommended a relatively simple solution that involved using Telnet to log into the operating system of the NION and entering the commands:
nv_enviro -write boot_mode normal
reboot
At this time the unit should restart and the boot-mode should be set to "Normal". If anyone else is having issues with this, please let me know and I'll fill you in on the complete process.
Likewise, Jainye, using the front panel or web interfaces to power down your NIONs will allow them to shut down normally. This should write the "shutdown state" into the non-volitile environment. Simply pulling the power will not allow this state to be written and you will see these error messages in the unit's remote log.