A system includes a multi-node chassis including a chassis management module, a plurality of compute nodes, and a physical presence manual actuator for transmitting a physical presence signal to each compute node in response to manual actuation. Each server has a firmware interface, a trusted platform module, and an AND gate. The firmware interface has a general purpose input output pin for providing an enabling signal in response to a user instruction to a firmware interface setup program that communicates with the firmware interface. The AND gate has a first input receiving the enabling signal, a second input receiving the physical presence signal, and an output coupled to the trusted platform module, wherein the AND gate for a selected compute node asserts physical presence to the trusted platform module of the selected compute node in response to receiving both the enabling signal and the physical presence signal.