fix(onboard): restore N1x standard onboarding

scripts/install.sh

@@ -3718,6 +3718,9 @@ run_installer_host_preflight() {
           // authoritative onboarding gate apply supported storage remediation,
           // but only when the gateway declaration confirms NemoClaw ownership.
           allowStorageRemediation,
+          allowDeferredN1xManagedVllm:
+            process.env.NEMOCLAW_PROVIDER === "install-vllm" ||
+            process.env.NEMOCLAW_NO_EXPRESS === "1",
         });
         const infoLines = [];
         const actionLines = [];
@@ -6053,9 +6056,6 @@ maybe_offer_express_install() {
   # On a detected Express platform but a skip condition applies — explain why so
   # the user understands they could have gotten express otherwise.
   if [ "${NEMOCLAW_NO_EXPRESS:-}" = "1" ]; then
-    if [ "$platform" = "N1x" ] && [ "${NEMOCLAW_PROVIDER:-}" != "install-vllm" ]; then
-      error "N1x onboarding currently requires explicit Deferred managed-vLLM preview intent. Remove NEMOCLAW_NO_EXPRESS=1 and accept the preview, or set NEMOCLAW_PROVIDER=install-vllm."
-    fi
     if [ "$platform" = "DGX Station" ]; then
       station_dual_pair_resume_pending \
         && error "A dual-DGX Station pair resume is pending; finish exact pair revalidation before disabling Station setup."
@@ -6066,7 +6066,7 @@ maybe_offer_express_install() {
   fi
   if [ -n "${NEMOCLAW_PROVIDER:-}" ]; then
     if [ "$platform" = "N1x" ] && [ "$NEMOCLAW_PROVIDER" != "install-vllm" ]; then
-      error "N1x onboarding currently accepts only the Deferred managed-vLLM preview. Set NEMOCLAW_PROVIDER=install-vllm or use another host for provider ${NEMOCLAW_PROVIDER}."
+      export NEMOCLAW_NO_EXPRESS=1
     fi
     if [ "$platform" = "DGX Station" ] && [ "$NEMOCLAW_PROVIDER" = "install-vllm" ]; then
       # An explicit managed-vLLM provider selects the same Station host/pair
@@ -6160,7 +6160,7 @@ maybe_offer_express_install() {
       ;;
     *)
       if [ "$platform" = "N1x" ]; then
-        error "N1x onboarding currently requires the Deferred managed-vLLM preview. Re-run the installer and accept the preview, or set NEMOCLAW_PROVIDER=install-vllm."
+        export NEMOCLAW_NO_EXPRESS=1
       fi
       info "Skipping express install. Continuing with interactive flow."
       ;;

src/lib/onboard/fatal-runtime-preflight.test.ts

@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ afterEach(() => {
 });
 
 describe("report-backed runtime readiness (#7411)", () => {
-  it("requires explicit managed-vLLM intent and lets rebuild reject ambient intent (#9292)", () => {
+  it("requires explicit N1x intent and lets rebuild reject ambient intent (#9292)", () => {
     const readiness: SystemReadinessReport = {
       schemaVersion: "1.1.0",
       status: "incompatible",
@@ -214,6 +214,15 @@ describe("report-backed runtime readiness (#7411)", () => {
       }),
     ).toBe(readiness);
 
+    vi.stubEnv("NEMOCLAW_PROVIDER", "");
+    vi.stubEnv("NEMOCLAW_NO_EXPRESS", "1");
+    expect(
+      assertOnboardSystemReadiness(readiness, hostWithRuntime("docker"), {
+        explicitlyOptedOutGpuPassthrough: false,
+        exitProcess: exit as never,
+      }),
+    ).toBe(readiness);
+
     expect(() =>
       assertOnboardSystemReadiness(readiness, hostWithRuntime("docker"), {
         explicitlyOptedOutGpuPassthrough: false,

src/lib/onboard/fatal-runtime-preflight.ts

@@ -180,7 +180,8 @@ export function assertOnboardSystemReadiness(
     allowPortableHostPreparation: options.allowPortableHostPreparation,
     allowDeferredN1xManagedVllm:
       options.allowDeferredN1xManagedVllm ??
-      process.env.NEMOCLAW_PROVIDER === MANAGED_VLLM_PROVIDER_KEY,
+      (process.env.NEMOCLAW_PROVIDER === MANAGED_VLLM_PROVIDER_KEY ||
+        process.env.NEMOCLAW_NO_EXPRESS === "1"),
   });
   const advisories = planHostAdvisories(host, {
     providerOwnsHostReadiness: selectedRuntimeOwnsHostReadiness,

test/install/install-express-n1x.test.ts

@@ -30,29 +30,26 @@ describe("installer N1x Express preview", () => {
     );
   });
 
-  it("stops before onboarding when the Deferred preview is declined (#8574)", () => {
+  it("continues with ordinary onboarding when the Deferred preview is declined (#11041)", () => {
     // Model curl | bash: stdin is the script pipe, while the reply reaches the controlling /dev/tty.
     const result = runExpressPromptWithTty("n\n", "pipe", "N1x");
     const output = `${result.stdout}${result.stderr}`;
 
-    expect(result.status, output).toBe(1);
-    expect(output).toMatch(/N1x onboarding currently requires the Deferred managed-vLLM preview/);
-    expect(output).toMatch(/accept the preview, or set NEMOCLAW_PROVIDER=install-vllm/);
-    expect(output).not.toMatch(/Continuing with interactive flow/);
-    expect(output).not.toMatch(/RESULT /);
+    expect(result.status, output).toBe(0);
+    expect(output).toMatch(/Skipping express install\. Continuing with interactive flow/);
+    expect(output).toMatch(/RESULT /);
   });
 
-  it("rejects NEMOCLAW_NO_EXPRESS without explicit managed-vLLM intent (#8574)", () => {
-    const result = runExpressPromptWithTty("", "pipe", "N1x", {
-      NEMOCLAW_NO_EXPRESS: "1",
-    });
+  it.each([
+    ["NEMOCLAW_NO_EXPRESS", { NEMOCLAW_NO_EXPRESS: "1" }],
+    ["an explicit provider", { NEMOCLAW_PROVIDER: "ollama" }],
+  ])("continues with ordinary onboarding for %s (#11041)", (_scenario, env) => {
+    const result = runExpressPromptWithTty("", "pipe", "N1x", env);
     const output = `${result.stdout}${result.stderr}`;
 
-    expect(result.status, output).toBe(1);
-    expect(output).toMatch(/explicit Deferred managed-vLLM preview intent/);
-    expect(output).toMatch(/Remove NEMOCLAW_NO_EXPRESS=1 and accept the preview/);
-    expect(output).toMatch(/set NEMOCLAW_PROVIDER=install-vllm/);
-    expect(output).not.toMatch(/RESULT /);
+    expect(result.status, output).toBe(0);
+    expect(output).toMatch(/Skipping express prompt/);
+    expect(output).toMatch(/RESULT /);
   });
 
   it("allows the N1x prompt bypass with explicit managed-vLLM intent (#8574)", () => {