chore: release v1.7.95-alpha

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,5 +1,24 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## v1.7.95-alpha (2026-06-15)
+
+- Browsing another node's shared files now works over the fast encrypted mesh. Opening a peer's cloud could fail with a generic "Operation failed" message because the request for their file list wasn't permitted over the mesh and came back as "not found" — and it never retried over Tor. The mesh now serves the file list directly, and if a peer can't answer over the mesh the node automatically falls back to Tor instead of giving up.
+- Nodes you remove from your federation now stay removed. Previously a deleted node could quietly come back the next time you synced with another node that still listed it. Removed nodes are now remembered as removed and won't reappear on their own — only if you add them back yourself.
+- The app credentials pop-up now appears as a normal centred box with a dimmed background over the whole screen, instead of stretching to fill the entire screen.
+
+## v1.7.94-alpha (2026-06-15)
+
+- Your node now joins the private encrypted mesh network on its own. A wrong built-in setting meant nodes were quietly never reaching the shared mesh meeting point, so everything between nodes fell back to the slower Tor network. Every node now connects to the mesh automatically on startup, so node-to-node features like file sharing use the faster encrypted mesh first and only fall back to Tor when a peer is genuinely offline. (Confirmed live: a node with its mesh setting wiped re-connected to the mesh by itself within a second of starting.)
+- You can now bring the mesh networking software up to the latest stable version straight from the node, with one action — it fetches the new version, checks it's genuine before installing, and restarts the mesh on its own. (Confirmed live end to end: a node on an older build was upgraded to the current stable release and rejoined the mesh automatically.)
+- The Lightning wallet screen connects again on nodes where it was showing a "failed to fetch" error instead of your balance and channels. The wallet app and the node now talk to each other correctly, and the connection quietly repairs itself if its details drift after a restart.
+
+## v1.7.93-alpha (2026-06-14)
+
+- Receiving Bitcoin and Lightning works again on nodes where the Lightning wallet was stuck locked. After some updates the wallet could come back locked with a password the node no longer had, so "generate a receive address" kept failing with a "wallet is locked" message that nothing could clear. The node now detects this and repairs itself automatically.
+- Each node now secures its Lightning wallet with its own unique, randomly generated password instead of a shared built-in one, and remembers it safely so the wallet unlocks on its own after every restart or update — no more getting stuck locked.
+- If a wallet is found locked with an unrecoverable password, the node rebuilds it cleanly so Bitcoin and Lightning start working again. (On these early-access nodes the wallet holds no funds, so nothing is lost — a wallet locked with an unknown password was already inaccessible.)
+- The self-repair was validated end to end on live nodes: a stuck, locked wallet was detected, rebuilt, and came back unlocked on its own, and stayed unlocked across restarts.
+
 ## v1.7.92-alpha (2026-06-14)
 
 - The Electrum server app no longer flashes a "can't connect, try again" error over its loading screen while it's still catching up. If ElectrumX is building its index or waiting on the Bitcoin node, you now just see the sync progress, and the app opens on its own once it's ready.

apps/fips-ui/manifest.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+app:
+  id: fips-ui
+  name: FIPS Mesh
+  version: 1.0.0
+  description: |
+    Archipelago-native dashboard for the FIPS mesh transport. Runs nginx
+    inside a container with host networking, serves a static dashboard on
+    :8336, and reverse-proxies /rpc/v1 to the archipelago backend on
+    127.0.0.1:5678. All FIPS controls (status, seed anchors, reconnect,
+    restart, and stable-channel daemon updates) go through the existing
+    fips.* RPC methods, authenticated by the browser's own archipelago
+    session — there is no separate secret to manage.
+
+  container:
+    build:
+      context: /opt/archipelago/docker/fips-ui
+      dockerfile: Dockerfile
+      tag: localhost/fips-ui:local
+
+  resources:
+    memory_limit: 128Mi
+
+  security:
+    readonly_root: false
+    network_policy: host
+
+  # Host networking: nginx listens on 8336 directly on the host IP and
+  # proxies to 127.0.0.1:5678 (the archipelago RPC). `ports:` is
+  # intentionally empty because host networking bypasses port mapping.
+  ports: []
+
+  volumes: []
+
+  environment: []
+
+  health_check:
+    type: http
+    endpoint: http://127.0.0.1:8336
+    path: /
+    interval: 30s
+    timeout: 5s
+    retries: 3

core/Cargo.lock

@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ checksum = "a23eb6b1614318a8071c9b2521f36b424b2c83db5eb3a0fead4a6c0809af6e61"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "archipelago"
-version = "1.7.91-alpha"
+version = "1.7.94-alpha"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "archipelago-container",

core/archipelago/Cargo.toml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "archipelago"
-version = "1.7.92-alpha"
+version = "1.7.95-alpha"
 edition = "2021"
 description = "Archipelago Bitcoin Node OS - Native backend"
 authors = ["Archipelago Team"]

core/archipelago/src/api/handler/mod.rs

@@ -256,6 +256,45 @@ impl ApiHandler {
         }
     }
 
+    /// CORS origin to echo for same-node app → backend calls (e.g. the LND
+    /// wallet UI, served on its own APP_PORTS port). Such apps share the node's
+    /// host but use a different port, so the strict allowlist (`host_ip`, no
+    /// port) rejects them and the browser gets no `Access-Control-Allow-Origin`
+    /// header ("blocked by CORS policy"). Reflect the Origin when its host
+    /// matches the request's own `Host` header — i.e. the app lives on the same
+    /// address the node is being reached by, which transparently covers the LAN
+    /// IP, the Tailscale IP, localhost, and the `.onion` address without needing
+    /// to enumerate them. Auth is still enforced by the session cookie; this
+    /// only authorizes the browser to *read* the reply. Returns "" (no echoed
+    /// origin) when there is no match.
+    fn app_cors_origin(&self, headers: &hyper::HeaderMap) -> String {
+        if let Some(origin) = self.validate_origin(headers) {
+            return origin;
+        }
+        let Some(origin) = headers.get("origin").and_then(|v| v.to_str().ok()) else {
+            return String::new();
+        };
+        // host portion (no scheme, no port) of an `scheme://host[:port]` value
+        let host_of = |s: &str| -> Option<String> {
+            let after_scheme = s.split_once("://").map(|(_, r)| r).unwrap_or(s);
+            let host_port = after_scheme.split('/').next().unwrap_or(after_scheme);
+            let host = host_port
+                .rsplit_once(':')
+                .map(|(h, _)| h)
+                .unwrap_or(host_port);
+            (!host.is_empty()).then(|| host.to_string())
+        };
+        let origin_host = host_of(origin);
+        let req_host = headers
+            .get(hyper::header::HOST)
+            .and_then(|v| v.to_str().ok())
+            .and_then(host_of);
+        match (origin_host, req_host) {
+            (Some(o), Some(r)) if o == r => origin.to_string(),
+            _ => String::new(),
+        }
+    }
+
     pub async fn handle_request(&self, req: Request<hyper::Body>) -> Result<Response<hyper::Body>> {
         let path = req.uri().path().to_string();
         let method = req.method().clone();
@@ -265,9 +304,10 @@ impl ApiHandler {
             let mut builder = Response::builder()
                 .status(StatusCode::NO_CONTENT)
                 .header("Vary", "Origin");
-            if let Some(origin) = self.validate_origin(req.headers()) {
+            let preflight_origin = self.app_cors_origin(req.headers());
+            if !preflight_origin.is_empty() {
                 builder = builder
-                    .header("Access-Control-Allow-Origin", &origin)
+                    .header("Access-Control-Allow-Origin", &preflight_origin)
                     .header("Access-Control-Allow-Methods", "GET, POST, OPTIONS")
                     .header("Access-Control-Allow-Headers", "Content-Type, X-CSRF-Token")
                     .header("Access-Control-Allow-Credentials", "true");
@@ -448,7 +488,8 @@ impl ApiHandler {
             // No backend auth check here because the LND UI iframe fetches this
             // endpoint and the session cookie flow is validated at the nginx layer.
             (Method::GET, "/lnd-connect-info") => {
-                Self::handle_lnd_connect_info(self.rpc_handler.clone()).await
+                let origin = self.app_cors_origin(&headers);
+                Self::handle_lnd_connect_info(self.rpc_handler.clone(), &origin).await
             }
 
             // Container logs — requires session
@@ -465,8 +506,8 @@ impl ApiHandler {
                 if !self.is_authenticated(&headers).await {
                     return Ok(Self::unauthorized());
                 }
-                let origin = self.validate_origin(&headers).unwrap_or_default();
-                Self::handle_lnd_proxy(path, &origin).await
+                let origin = self.app_cors_origin(&headers);
+                Self::handle_lnd_proxy(self.rpc_handler.clone(), path, &origin).await
             }
 
             // DWN health — unauthenticated

core/archipelago/src/api/handler/proxy.rs

@@ -99,33 +99,61 @@ impl ApiHandler {
 
     pub(super) async fn handle_lnd_connect_info(
         rpc: std::sync::Arc<super::super::rpc::RpcHandler>,
+        cors_origin: &str,
     ) -> Result<Response<hyper::Body>> {
+        // The LND wallet UI is served on its own APP_PORTS origin and fetches
+        // this cross-origin, so it needs the CORS headers echoed back.
+        let cors = |builder: hyper::http::response::Builder| {
+            builder
+                .header("Access-Control-Allow-Origin", cors_origin)
+                .header("Access-Control-Allow-Credentials", "true")
+                .header("Vary", "Origin")
+        };
         match rpc.handle_lnd_connect_info().await {
             Ok(val) => {
                 let body = serde_json::to_vec(&val).unwrap_or_default();
-                Ok(build_response(
-                    StatusCode::OK,
-                    "application/json",
-                    hyper::Body::from(body),
-                ))
+                Ok(cors(
+                    Response::builder()
+                        .status(StatusCode::OK)
+                        .header("Content-Type", "application/json"),
+                )
+                .body(hyper::Body::from(body))
+                .unwrap_or_else(|_| Response::new(hyper::Body::from("{}"))))
             }
-            Err(e) => Ok(Response::builder()
-                .status(StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR)
-                .header("Content-Type", "application/json")
-                .body(hyper::Body::from(
-                    serde_json::json!({"error": e.to_string()}).to_string(),
-                ))
-                .unwrap()),
+            Err(e) => Ok(cors(
+                Response::builder()
+                    .status(StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR)
+                    .header("Content-Type", "application/json"),
+            )
+            .body(hyper::Body::from(
+                serde_json::json!({"error": e.to_string()}).to_string(),
+            ))
+            .unwrap()),
         }
     }
 
     pub(super) async fn handle_lnd_proxy(
+        rpc: Arc<RpcHandler>,
         path: &str,
         cors_origin: &str,
     ) -> Result<Response<hyper::Body>> {
         let suffix = path.strip_prefix("/proxy/lnd").unwrap_or("/");
         let url = format!("{LND_REST_BASE_URL}{suffix}");
-        match reqwest::get(&url).await {
+        // LND REST serves a self-signed cert and requires the admin macaroon.
+        // A bare reqwest::get() uses the default client, which rejects the
+        // self-signed cert (TLS verify error -> 502 "failing to fetch") and
+        // sends no macaroon. Use the shared authenticated client instead — the
+        // same one lnd.getinfo and the wallet RPCs use.
+        let request = match rpc.lnd_client().await {
+            Ok((client, macaroon_hex)) => client
+                .get(&url)
+                .header("Grpc-Metadata-macaroon", &macaroon_hex)
+                .send()
+                .await
+                .map_err(anyhow::Error::from),
+            Err(e) => Err(e),
+        };
+        match request {
             Ok(resp) => {
                 let status = resp.status().as_u16();
                 let headers = resp.headers().clone();

core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/auth.rs

@@ -33,6 +33,19 @@ impl RpcHandler {
 
         tracing::info!("[onboarding] login successful");
 
+        // Best-effort: heal a LOCKED LND wallet created with an unknown/legacy
+        // password by rotating it onto the per-node secret, using the password
+        // the user just authenticated with as a candidate. Non-blocking so login
+        // is never slowed or broken when LND isn't installed / already unlocked.
+        let candidate = password.to_string();
+        tokio::spawn(async move {
+            match crate::container::lnd::migrate_locked_wallet(&[candidate]).await {
+                Ok(true) => tracing::info!("[login] LND wallet healed / auto-unlocked"),
+                Ok(false) => {} // not locked, or seed-recovery required
+                Err(e) => tracing::debug!("[login] LND wallet migration skipped: {e}"),
+            }
+        });
+
         // Ensure NostrVPN config exists — covers the case where onboardingComplete
         // was never called (e.g., user took the "already set up" shortcut).
         let data_dir = self.config.data_dir.clone();

core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/federation/handlers.rs

@@ -533,6 +533,19 @@ impl RpcHandler {
             return Ok(serde_json::json!({ "accepted": true, "already_known": true }));
         }
 
+        // Respect operator removal: a peer the operator deleted must not
+        // silently re-join via a stale invite. The tombstone is only cleared
+        // by an explicit local action (manually adding the node or accepting
+        // an incoming invite) — not by a remote-triggered join.
+        if federation::load_removed_dids(&self.config.data_dir)
+            .await
+            .unwrap_or_default()
+            .contains(did)
+        {
+            info!(peer_did = %did, "Ignoring peer-joined for a removed (tombstoned) DID");
+            return Ok(serde_json::json!({ "accepted": false, "removed": true }));
+        }
+
         let node = FederatedNode {
             did: did.to_string(),
             pubkey: pubkey.to_string(),

core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/fips.rs

@@ -115,10 +115,12 @@ impl RpcHandler {
         } else if !after.key_present {
             "no_seed_key"
         } else if after.authenticated_peer_count == 0 {
-            // Daemon is up with a key but hasn't authenticated any
-            // peers — almost always outbound UDP/8668 dropped by the
-            // local firewall/router, or the anchor itself being down.
-            "no_outbound_udp_or_anchor_down"
+            // Daemon is up with a key but hasn't authenticated any peers —
+            // almost always the outbound connection to the anchor being
+            // dropped by the local firewall/router, or the anchor itself
+            // being down. The public anchor is reached over TCP/8443 (not
+            // UDP/8668 — that endpoint is dead).
+            "no_outbound_or_anchor_down"
         } else {
             "peers_but_no_anchor"
         };
@@ -126,8 +128,8 @@ impl RpcHandler {
             "connected" => "An anchor is reachable.",
             "daemon_down" => "The FIPS daemon didn't come back up — check the FIPS service on this host.",
             "no_seed_key" => "No seed-derived FIPS key on disk. Re-run the onboarding unlock step.",
-            "no_outbound_udp_or_anchor_down" =>
-                "Daemon is running but no peers handshook. Your router / ISP might be blocking outbound UDP 8668, or every configured anchor could be down. Add a reachable peer in Seed Anchors.",
+            "no_outbound_or_anchor_down" =>
+                "Daemon is running but no peers handshook. Your router or ISP may be blocking the outbound connection to the mesh anchor (TCP port 8443), or every configured anchor is down. The public anchor is added automatically — if it still won't connect, add another reachable peer in Seed Anchors.",
             "peers_but_no_anchor" =>
                 "Mesh has peers but none of them are anchors we recognise. Add your cluster's anchor in Seed Anchors.",
             _ => "",

core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/lnd/wallet.rs

@@ -552,8 +552,15 @@ impl RpcHandler {
         let entropy_b64 = base64::engine::general_purpose::STANDARD.encode(entropy);
         entropy.zeroize();
 
+        // Use the per-node secret as the LND wallet password (NOT the
+        // caller-supplied one) so the unattended boot path can auto-unlock this
+        // wallet. The wallet stays recoverable from the Archipelago seed via the
+        // derived entropy above. This unifies both init paths on one password
+        // source — the divergence here is what left wallets locked fleet-wide.
+        let _ = wallet_password; // accepted for API compat; superseded by the per-node secret
+        let node_wallet_pw = crate::container::lnd::ensure_wallet_password().await?;
         let wallet_password_b64 =
-            base64::engine::general_purpose::STANDARD.encode(wallet_password.as_bytes());
+            base64::engine::general_purpose::STANDARD.encode(node_wallet_pw.as_bytes());
 
         // Call LND REST API to initialize wallet with derived entropy.
         // LND must be running but NOT yet initialized (no existing wallet).

core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/config.rs

@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ fn is_platform_managed_app(app_id: &str) -> bool {
             | "fedimint-gateway"
             | "indeedhub"
             | "immich"
+            | "fips"
+            | "fips-ui"
     )
 }
 

core/archipelago/src/bootstrap.rs

@@ -41,6 +41,13 @@ const NGINX_APP_CATALOG_BLOCK: &str = "\n    # App Store catalog proxy — backe
 
 const NGINX_BITCOIN_STATUS_BLOCK: &str = "\n    location /bitcoin-status {\n        proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:5678/bitcoin-status;\n        proxy_http_version 1.1;\n        proxy_set_header Host $host;\n        proxy_connect_timeout 10s;\n        proxy_read_timeout 10s;\n        proxy_send_timeout 5s;\n        error_page 502 503 = @backend_unavailable;\n        error_page 504 = @backend_timeout;\n    }\n";
 
+/// Inserted into every server block that lacks the `/proxy/lnd/` proxy. Nodes
+/// flashed before 2026-04-10 shipped an nginx config without this block, so the
+/// browser's wallet fetches to `/proxy/lnd/*` fell through to the SPA
+/// index.html and got HTML back instead of JSON ("failing to fetch"). Kept in
+/// sync with the canonical block in image-recipe/configs/nginx-archipelago.conf.
+const NGINX_LND_PROXY_BLOCK: &str = "\n    # LND REST proxy — backend handles auth + CORS\n    location /proxy/lnd/ {\n        proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:5678;\n        proxy_http_version 1.1;\n        proxy_set_header Host $host;\n        proxy_set_header Cookie $http_cookie;\n        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;\n        proxy_connect_timeout 10s;\n        proxy_read_timeout 10s;\n        proxy_send_timeout 5s;\n        error_page 502 503 = @backend_unavailable;\n        error_page 504 = @backend_timeout;\n    }\n";
+
 /// Entry point called from main startup. Never returns an error to the caller —
 /// failing to bootstrap host artifacts must not prevent the backend from serving.
 pub async fn ensure_doctor_installed() {
@@ -520,12 +527,31 @@ async fn patch_nginx_conf(path: &str) -> Result<bool> {
         .with_context(|| format!("read {}", path))?;
     let missing_app_catalog = !content.contains("location /api/app-catalog");
     let missing_bitcoin_status = !content.contains("location /bitcoin-status");
-    if !missing_app_catalog && !missing_bitcoin_status {
+    let missing_lnd_proxy = !content.contains("location /proxy/lnd/");
+    if !missing_app_catalog && !missing_bitcoin_status && !missing_lnd_proxy {
         return Ok(false);
     }
 
     let mut patched = content.clone();
 
+    if missing_lnd_proxy {
+        // Prefer the `/lnd-connect-info` anchor (present since 2026-03-17); fall
+        // back to `/electrs-status` (since 2026-03-08) for even older configs.
+        // Both appear once per archipelago server block, so the block is added
+        // to every server block that proxies to the backend.
+        let anchor = if patched.contains("    location /lnd-connect-info {") {
+            "    location /lnd-connect-info {"
+        } else {
+            "    location /electrs-status {"
+        };
+        if !patched.contains(anchor) {
+            warn!("nginx conf missing lnd-connect-info/electrs-status anchor — skipping /proxy/lnd patch");
+        } else {
+            let replacement = format!("{}{}", NGINX_LND_PROXY_BLOCK, anchor);
+            patched = patched.replace(anchor, &replacement);
+        }
+    }
+
     if missing_bitcoin_status {
         let anchor = "    location /electrs-status {";
         if !patched.contains(anchor) {

core/archipelago/src/container/lnd.rs

@@ -11,7 +11,16 @@ use crate::update::host_sudo;
 pub const DEFAULT_DATA_DIR: &str = "/var/lib/archipelago/lnd";
 pub const DEFAULT_CONF_PATH: &str = "/var/lib/archipelago/lnd/lnd.conf";
 const LND_REST_BASE_URL: &str = "https://127.0.0.1:18080";
-pub const WALLET_PASSWORD: &str = "hellohello";
+
+/// Per-node LND wallet password file (random, 0600). Replaces the old
+/// fleet-wide hardcoded constant: each node's wallet password is now unique,
+/// high-entropy, and recorded here so the unattended boot path can auto-unlock.
+const WALLET_PASSWORD_SECRET: &str = "/var/lib/archipelago/secrets/lnd-wallet-password";
+
+/// Legacy fleet-wide wallet password (builds that hardcoded it). Kept ONLY as an
+/// unlock fallback so wallets created by those builds still open; new wallets
+/// never use it, and the login-path migration rotates away from it.
+const LEGACY_WALLET_PASSWORD: &str = "hellohello";
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct EnsurePaths {
@@ -79,15 +88,125 @@ pub async fn ensure_wallet_initialized() -> Result<()> {
         if file_exists_as_root(admin_macaroon).await && lnd_getinfo_ready(admin_macaroon).await {
             return Ok(());
         }
-        unlock_existing_wallet().await?;
-        wait_for_admin_macaroon(admin_macaroon).await?;
-        return Ok(());
+        match unlock_existing_wallet().await? {
+            true => {
+                wait_for_admin_macaroon(admin_macaroon).await?;
+                return Ok(());
+            }
+            false => {
+                // Every candidate password was actively rejected: this wallet was
+                // created with a password this node no longer has, so it can never
+                // auto-unlock unattended. Alpha nodes hold no real funds and a wallet
+                // locked with an unknown password is already inaccessible, so wipe +
+                // recreate it on the per-node secret to self-heal at boot.
+                recreate_wallet_destructively().await?;
+                wait_for_admin_macaroon(admin_macaroon).await?;
+                return Ok(());
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     init_wallet_via_rest().await?;
     wait_for_admin_macaroon(admin_macaroon).await
 }
 
+/// LND data subdirectories holding wallet + channel + graph state. Removing them
+/// returns LND to a NON_EXISTING wallet state. Funds-bearing data lives here too,
+/// so deletion is destructive — only done once the wallet is already unrecoverable.
+const LND_STATE_DIRS: &[&str] = &[
+    "/var/lib/archipelago/lnd/data/chain",
+    "/var/lib/archipelago/lnd/data/graph",
+];
+
+/// Podman container name for the core LND app (see `compute_container_name`:
+/// non-UI core apps keep their bare id). LND runs as a plain bridge-network
+/// container, not a Quadlet unit, so it is restarted via `podman`, not systemctl.
+const LND_CONTAINER: &str = "lnd";
+
+/// Archipelago data dir (default; not overridden in prod). Holds the
+/// `user-stopped.json` that gates health-monitor auto-restart.
+const ARCHY_DATA_DIR: &str = "/var/lib/archipelago";
+
+/// Destroy an unrecoverable LND wallet and recreate a fresh one keyed to the
+/// per-node secret. Suppresses health-monitor auto-restart for the wipe window,
+/// stops LND, deletes its wallet/chain/graph state as root, restarts it, waits
+/// for NON_EXISTING, then inits a fresh wallet. Destructive — only called when no
+/// candidate password can open the existing wallet.
+async fn recreate_wallet_destructively() -> Result<()> {
+    tracing::warn!(
+        "[lnd] wallet is locked with an unknown password and cannot auto-unlock; \
+         wiping and recreating it on the per-node secret (DESTRUCTIVE)"
+    );
+
+    // The health monitor restarts any container it sees stopped; mark LND
+    // user-stopped so it doesn't re-launch (and re-open the wallet) mid-wipe.
+    // Always cleared below so LND auto-recovers normally afterwards.
+    let data_dir = std::path::Path::new(ARCHY_DATA_DIR);
+    crate::crash_recovery::mark_user_stopped(data_dir, LND_CONTAINER).await;
+    let result = wipe_and_reinit_wallet().await;
+    crate::crash_recovery::clear_user_stopped(data_dir, LND_CONTAINER).await;
+    result
+}
+
+async fn wipe_and_reinit_wallet() -> Result<()> {
+    podman_user_scoped(&["stop", LND_CONTAINER])
+        .await
+        .context("stopping lnd before wallet wipe")?;
+
+    for dir in LND_STATE_DIRS {
+        let status = host_sudo(&["rm", "-rf", dir])
+            .await
+            .with_context(|| format!("removing {dir}"))?;
+        if !status.success() {
+            anyhow::bail!("removing {dir} exited with {status}");
+        }
+    }
+
+    podman_user_scoped(&["start", LND_CONTAINER])
+        .await
+        .context("restarting lnd after wallet wipe")?;
+
+    wait_for_wallet_state("NON_EXISTING").await?;
+    init_wallet_via_rest().await
+}
+
+/// Run `podman <args>` inside a transient `systemd-run --user --scope`, matching
+/// how the orchestrator/health-monitor manage rootless containers (keeps the
+/// container out of the archipelago service's cgroup).
+async fn podman_user_scoped(args: &[&str]) -> Result<()> {
+    let out = tokio::process::Command::new("systemd-run")
+        .args(["--user", "--scope", "--quiet", "--collect", "podman"])
+        .args(args)
+        .output()
+        .await
+        .with_context(|| format!("systemd-run --user --scope podman {}", args.join(" ")))?;
+    if !out.status.success() {
+        anyhow::bail!(
+            "podman {} failed: {}",
+            args.join(" "),
+            String::from_utf8_lossy(&out.stderr).trim()
+        );
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// Poll `/v1/state` until LND reports `target`, or time out after ~120s.
+async fn wait_for_wallet_state(target: &str) -> Result<()> {
+    let client = reqwest::Client::builder()
+        .no_proxy()
+        .timeout(std::time::Duration::from_secs(5))
+        .danger_accept_invalid_certs(true)
+        .build()
+        .context("building LND REST client")?;
+    for _ in 0..120 {
+        if wallet_state(&client).await.as_deref() == Some(target) {
+            return Ok(());
+        }
+        tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_secs(1)).await;
+    }
+    anyhow::bail!("LND did not reach state {target} after wallet wipe")
+}
+
 async fn file_exists_as_root(path: &str) -> bool {
     if std::path::Path::new(path).exists() {
         return true;
@@ -121,11 +240,96 @@ async fn read_file_as_root(path: &str) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
     }
 }
 
-async fn unlock_existing_wallet() -> Result<()> {
+/// Read the per-node wallet password from the secrets file, if present.
+/// Never generates one — absence means "fall back to legacy / not set yet".
+async fn read_wallet_password() -> Option<String> {
+    let bytes = fs::read(WALLET_PASSWORD_SECRET).await.ok()?;
+    let pw = String::from_utf8_lossy(&bytes).trim().to_string();
+    (!pw.is_empty()).then_some(pw)
+}
+
+/// Return the per-node wallet password, generating and persisting a fresh
+/// 256-bit one (base64, 0600) if none exists. Use ONLY when creating a NEW
+/// wallet — calling it merely to unlock an existing wallet would record a
+/// password that doesn't match it.
+pub(crate) async fn ensure_wallet_password() -> Result<String> {
+    if let Some(pw) = read_wallet_password().await {
+        return Ok(pw);
+    }
+    use rand::RngCore;
+    let mut raw = [0u8; 32];
+    rand::rngs::OsRng.fill_bytes(&mut raw);
+    let pw = base64::engine::general_purpose::URL_SAFE_NO_PAD.encode(raw);
+    let path = std::path::Path::new(WALLET_PASSWORD_SECRET);
+    if let Some(dir) = path.parent() {
+        fs::create_dir_all(dir)
+            .await
+            .with_context(|| format!("creating {}", dir.display()))?;
+    }
+    fs::write(path, &pw)
+        .await
+        .with_context(|| format!("writing {WALLET_PASSWORD_SECRET}"))?;
+    use std::os::unix::fs::PermissionsExt;
+    let _ = fs::set_permissions(path, std::fs::Permissions::from_mode(0o600)).await;
+    Ok(pw)
+}
+
+/// Candidate passwords to try when unlocking an EXISTING wallet, in order: the
+/// per-node secret (current scheme) first, then the legacy constant so wallets
+/// created by older builds still open.
+async fn unlock_password_candidates() -> Vec<String> {
+    let mut v = Vec::new();
+    if let Some(pw) = read_wallet_password().await {
+        v.push(pw);
+    }
+    v.push(LEGACY_WALLET_PASSWORD.to_string());
+    v
+}
+
+/// Outcome of a single unlock attempt — lets the caller fail fast on a wrong
+/// password (no point retrying) vs keep waiting for LND to come up.
+enum UnlockAttempt {
+    Unlocked,
+    WrongPassword,
+    NotReady,
+}
+
+/// One unlock POST, no internal retry. Distinguishes "invalid passphrase"
+/// (WrongPassword — try the next candidate, don't retry) from transient
+/// not-ready / connection errors (NotReady — worth retrying).
+async fn try_unlock_once(client: &reqwest::Client, password: &str) -> UnlockAttempt {
+    let body = serde_json::json!({
+        "wallet_password": base64::engine::general_purpose::STANDARD.encode(password)
+    });
+    match client
+        .post(format!("{LND_REST_BASE_URL}/v1/unlockwallet"))
+        .json(&body)
+        .send()
+        .await
+    {
+        Ok(resp) => {
+            let status = resp.status();
+            let text = resp.text().await.unwrap_or_default();
+            if status.is_success() || text.contains("already unlocked") {
+                UnlockAttempt::Unlocked
+            } else if text.contains("invalid passphrase") {
+                UnlockAttempt::WrongPassword
+            } else {
+                UnlockAttempt::NotReady
+            }
+        }
+        Err(_) => UnlockAttempt::NotReady,
+    }
+}
+
+/// Unlock an existing wallet. Ok(true) = unlocked; Ok(false) = every candidate
+/// password was actively rejected (unrecoverable — caller should recreate);
+/// Err = transient (LND not ready / timeout — caller should retry, NOT wipe).
+async fn unlock_existing_wallet() -> Result<bool> {
     unlock_existing_wallet_via_rest().await
 }
 
-async fn unlock_existing_wallet_via_rest() -> Result<()> {
+async fn unlock_existing_wallet_via_rest() -> Result<bool> {
     let client = reqwest::Client::builder()
         .no_proxy()
         .timeout(std::time::Duration::from_secs(20))
@@ -133,57 +337,130 @@ async fn unlock_existing_wallet_via_rest() -> Result<()> {
         .build()
         .context("building LND REST client")?;
 
-    let wallet_password = base64::engine::general_purpose::STANDARD.encode(WALLET_PASSWORD);
-    match post_lnd_unlocker_json::<serde_json::Value>(
-        &client,
-        "/v1/unlockwallet",
-        serde_json::json!({ "wallet_password": wallet_password }),
-    )
-    .await
-    .context("unlocking existing LND wallet")?
-    {
-        UnlockerResponse::Value(_) | UnlockerResponse::WalletAlreadyExists => Ok(()),
+    let candidates = unlock_password_candidates().await;
+    // Retry only while LND's unlocker isn't ready yet. If every candidate is
+    // *actively rejected* (invalid passphrase), retrying can't help — fail fast
+    // with a clear message instead of hanging the boot path for 60s+ (the wallet
+    // was created with a password this node doesn't have → migration/recovery).
+    for _ in 0..60 {
+        let mut all_rejected = true;
+        for pw in &candidates {
+            match try_unlock_once(&client, pw).await {
+                UnlockAttempt::Unlocked => return Ok(true),
+                UnlockAttempt::WrongPassword => {}
+                UnlockAttempt::NotReady => all_rejected = false,
+            }
+        }
+        if all_rejected {
+            tracing::warn!(
+                "[lnd] none of the {} candidate password(s) unlock the wallet — it was created \
+                 with a password this node does not have",
+                candidates.len()
+            );
+            return Ok(false);
+        }
+        tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_secs(1)).await;
+    }
+    anyhow::bail!("LND wallet unlock timed out waiting for the unlocker to become ready")
+}
+
+/// Current LND wallet state via the unauthenticated `/v1/state` endpoint
+/// (NON_EXISTING / LOCKED / UNLOCKED / RPC_ACTIVE / …). None if unreachable.
+async fn wallet_state(client: &reqwest::Client) -> Option<String> {
+    let resp = client
+        .get(format!("{LND_REST_BASE_URL}/v1/state"))
+        .send()
+        .await
+        .ok()?;
+    let v: serde_json::Value = resp.json().await.ok()?;
+    v.get("state")
+        .and_then(|s| s.as_str())
+        .map(|s| s.to_string())
+}
+
+/// ChangePassword via WalletUnlocker (wallet must be LOCKED). Both passwords are
+/// base64-encoded. Ok(true) = current accepted and rotated; Ok(false) = current
+/// rejected (wrong password — try the next candidate); Err = transport/other.
+async fn change_wallet_password(
+    client: &reqwest::Client,
+    current: &str,
+    new: &str,
+) -> Result<bool> {
+    let body = serde_json::json!({
+        "current_password": base64::engine::general_purpose::STANDARD.encode(current),
+        "new_password": base64::engine::general_purpose::STANDARD.encode(new),
+    });
+    let resp = client
+        .post(format!("{LND_REST_BASE_URL}/v1/changepassword"))
+        .json(&body)
+        .send()
+        .await
+        .context("calling LND changepassword")?;
+    let status = resp.status();
+    let text = resp.text().await.unwrap_or_default();
+    if status.is_success() {
+        Ok(true)
+    } else if text.contains("invalid passphrase") {
+        Ok(false)
+    } else {
+        anyhow::bail!("LND changepassword returned {status}: {text}")
     }
 }
 
-#[allow(dead_code)]
-async fn unlock_existing_wallet_via_lncli() -> Result<()> {
-    let mut last_err = None;
-    for _ in 0..60 {
-        let mut cmd = tokio::process::Command::new("podman");
-        cmd.args(["exec", "-i", "lnd", "lncli", "unlock", "--stdin"]);
-        cmd.stdin(std::process::Stdio::piped());
-        cmd.stdout(std::process::Stdio::piped());
-        cmd.stderr(std::process::Stdio::piped());
+/// Best-effort migration of a LOCKED wallet onto the per-node secret. Called at
+/// login, when the onboarding password is available as a candidate. If the
+/// per-node secret already opens the wallet, just unlock. Otherwise try each
+/// candidate as the CURRENT password and ChangePassword it to a fresh per-node
+/// secret so all future boots auto-unlock. Ok(true) = healed/unlocked;
+/// Ok(false) = not locked, or no candidate worked (seed-recovery required).
+pub(crate) async fn migrate_locked_wallet(candidates: &[String]) -> Result<bool> {
+    let client = reqwest::Client::builder()
+        .no_proxy()
+        .timeout(std::time::Duration::from_secs(20))
+        .danger_accept_invalid_certs(true)
+        .build()
+        .context("building LND REST client")?;
 
-        let mut child = cmd.spawn().context("spawning lncli wallet unlock")?;
-        if let Some(mut stdin) = child.stdin.take() {
-            use tokio::io::AsyncWriteExt;
-            stdin
-                .write_all(format!("{}\n", WALLET_PASSWORD).as_bytes())
-                .await
-                .context("writing lncli password")?;
-        }
-        let out = child
-            .wait_with_output()
-            .await
-            .context("waiting for lncli")?;
-        if out.status.success() {
-            return Ok(());
-        }
-        let stderr = String::from_utf8_lossy(&out.stderr);
-        let stdout = String::from_utf8_lossy(&out.stdout);
-        let msg = format!("{stderr}{stdout}");
-        if msg.contains("wallet already unlocked") || msg.contains("already unlocked") {
-            return Ok(());
-        }
-        last_err = Some(msg);
-        tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_secs(1)).await;
+    // Only act on a wallet that is actually LOCKED.
+    if wallet_state(&client).await.as_deref() != Some("LOCKED") {
+        return Ok(false);
     }
-    anyhow::bail!(
-        "lncli wallet unlock failed: {}",
-        last_err.unwrap_or_else(|| "unknown error".to_string())
-    )
+
+    // If the per-node secret already opens it, nothing to rotate — just unlock.
+    if let Some(secret) = read_wallet_password().await {
+        if matches!(
+            try_unlock_once(&client, &secret).await,
+            UnlockAttempt::Unlocked
+        ) {
+            return Ok(true);
+        }
+    }
+
+    // The wallet's new password becomes the per-node secret (generate if absent).
+    let new_secret = ensure_wallet_password().await?;
+
+    // ChangePassword requires LOCKED; bail out if a prior step already unlocked.
+    if wallet_state(&client).await.as_deref() != Some("LOCKED") {
+        return Ok(true);
+    }
+
+    for cand in candidates {
+        if cand.is_empty() || *cand == new_secret {
+            continue;
+        }
+        match change_wallet_password(&client, cand, &new_secret).await {
+            Ok(true) => {
+                tracing::info!("[lnd-migrate] rotated locked wallet onto the per-node secret");
+                return Ok(true);
+            }
+            Ok(false) => continue, // wrong current password — try next candidate
+            Err(e) => tracing::debug!("[lnd-migrate] changepassword error: {e}"),
+        }
+    }
+    tracing::warn!(
+        "[lnd-migrate] no candidate password opened the wallet — seed-recovery required"
+    );
+    Ok(false)
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
@@ -225,7 +502,8 @@ async fn init_wallet_via_rest() -> Result<()> {
         anyhow::bail!("LND genseed returned no seed words");
     }
 
-    let wallet_password = base64::engine::general_purpose::STANDARD.encode(WALLET_PASSWORD);
+    let wallet_password =
+        base64::engine::general_purpose::STANDARD.encode(ensure_wallet_password().await?);
     let req = InitWalletRequest {
         wallet_password,
         cipher_seed_mnemonic: seed.cipher_seed_mnemonic,
@@ -239,7 +517,9 @@ async fn init_wallet_via_rest() -> Result<()> {
     .context("initializing LND wallet")?
     {
         UnlockerResponse::Value(_) => {}
-        UnlockerResponse::WalletAlreadyExists => unlock_existing_wallet().await?,
+        UnlockerResponse::WalletAlreadyExists => {
+            unlock_existing_wallet().await?;
+        }
     }
 
     Ok(())
@@ -450,7 +730,16 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn wallet_password_is_valid_for_lncli() {
-        assert!(WALLET_PASSWORD.len() > 8);
+    fn legacy_wallet_password_is_valid_for_lncli() {
+        // Legacy fallback must still be a valid lncli passphrase (>8 chars).
+        assert!(LEGACY_WALLET_PASSWORD.len() > 8);
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn unlock_candidates_always_include_legacy_fallback() {
+        // With no per-node secret on disk in the test env, candidates fall back
+        // to the legacy constant so old wallets still open.
+        let cands = unlock_password_candidates().await;
+        assert!(cands.iter().any(|p| p == LEGACY_WALLET_PASSWORD));
     }
 }

core/archipelago/src/federation/mod.rs

@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ mod types;
 pub use invites::{accept_invite, create_invite};
 #[allow(unused_imports)]
 pub use storage::{
-    add_node, fips_npub_for_onion, load_nodes, record_peer_transport, remove_node, save_nodes,
-    set_trust_level, update_node,
+    add_node, fips_npub_for_onion, load_nodes, load_removed_dids, record_peer_transport,
+    remove_node, save_nodes, set_trust_level, update_node,
 };
 pub use sync::{build_local_state, deploy_to_peer, sync_with_peer, sync_with_peer_by_did};
 pub use types::{AppStatus, FederatedNode, NodeStateSnapshot, TrustLevel};

core/archipelago/src/federation/storage.rs

@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ use super::types::{FederatedNode, FederationInvite, NodeStateSnapshot, TrustLeve
 pub(crate) const FEDERATION_DIR: &str = "federation";
 pub(crate) const NODES_FILE: &str = "nodes.json";
 pub(crate) const INVITES_FILE: &str = "invites.json";
+/// Tombstones: DIDs the operator explicitly removed. Kept so transitive
+/// federation discovery can't silently re-add a peer they deleted.
+pub(crate) const REMOVED_FILE: &str = "removed-nodes.json";
 
 /// Top-level file structures.
 #[derive(Debug, Default, Serialize, Deserialize)]
@@ -17,6 +20,17 @@ pub(crate) struct NodesFile {
     pub(crate) nodes: Vec<FederatedNode>,
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug, Default, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub(crate) struct RemovedFile {
+    pub(crate) removed: Vec<RemovedNode>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub(crate) struct RemovedNode {
+    pub(crate) did: String,
+    pub(crate) removed_at: String,
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Default, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub(crate) struct InvitesFile {
     pub(crate) outgoing: Vec<FederationInvite>,
@@ -114,6 +128,9 @@ pub async fn add_node(data_dir: &Path, node: FederatedNode) -> Result<Vec<Federa
     if exists {
         anyhow::bail!("Node with DID {} is already federated", node.did);
     }
+    // Explicitly (re-)adding a node clears any prior tombstone so the
+    // operator can intentionally bring back a previously removed peer.
+    let _ = untombstone_did(data_dir, &node.did).await;
     nodes.push(node);
     save_nodes(data_dir, &nodes).await?;
     Ok(nodes)
@@ -127,9 +144,70 @@ pub async fn remove_node(data_dir: &Path, did: &str) -> Result<Vec<FederatedNode
         anyhow::bail!("No federated node with DID {}", did);
     }
     save_nodes(data_dir, &nodes).await?;
+    // Tombstone the DID so transitive federation discovery (a still-federated
+    // peer advertising this DID as one of *its* trusted peers) can't silently
+    // re-add it. Best-effort: a failed tombstone write must not fail the
+    // remove the operator asked for.
+    let _ = tombstone_did(data_dir, did).await;
     Ok(nodes)
 }
 
+/// Load the set of tombstoned (operator-removed) DIDs.
+pub async fn load_removed_dids(data_dir: &Path) -> Result<std::collections::HashSet<String>> {
+    let path = data_dir.join(FEDERATION_DIR).join(REMOVED_FILE);
+    if !path.exists() {
+        return Ok(std::collections::HashSet::new());
+    }
+    let content = fs::read_to_string(&path)
+        .await
+        .context("Failed to read removed nodes")?;
+    let file: RemovedFile = serde_json::from_str(&content).unwrap_or_default();
+    Ok(file.removed.into_iter().map(|r| r.did).collect())
+}
+
+/// Record a DID as removed. Idempotent.
+pub async fn tombstone_did(data_dir: &Path, did: &str) -> Result<()> {
+    let dir = ensure_dir(data_dir).await?;
+    let path = dir.join(REMOVED_FILE);
+    let mut file: RemovedFile = if path.exists() {
+        serde_json::from_str(&fs::read_to_string(&path).await.unwrap_or_default())
+            .unwrap_or_default()
+    } else {
+        RemovedFile::default()
+    };
+    if !file.removed.iter().any(|r| r.did == did) {
+        file.removed.push(RemovedNode {
+            did: did.to_string(),
+            removed_at: chrono::Utc::now().to_rfc3339(),
+        });
+        let content = serde_json::to_string_pretty(&file).context("serialize removed nodes")?;
+        fs::write(&path, content)
+            .await
+            .context("Failed to write removed nodes")?;
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// Clear a DID's tombstone (operator explicitly re-added it).
+pub async fn untombstone_did(data_dir: &Path, did: &str) -> Result<()> {
+    let path = data_dir.join(FEDERATION_DIR).join(REMOVED_FILE);
+    if !path.exists() {
+        return Ok(());
+    }
+    let mut file: RemovedFile =
+        serde_json::from_str(&fs::read_to_string(&path).await.unwrap_or_default())
+            .unwrap_or_default();
+    let before = file.removed.len();
+    file.removed.retain(|r| r.did != did);
+    if file.removed.len() != before {
+        let content = serde_json::to_string_pretty(&file).context("serialize removed nodes")?;
+        fs::write(&path, content)
+            .await
+            .context("Failed to write removed nodes")?;
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 pub async fn set_trust_level(
     data_dir: &Path,
     did: &str,
@@ -287,6 +365,36 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(result.is_err());
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_remove_tombstones_and_readd_clears_it() {
+        let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        add_node(dir.path(), make_node("did:key:z1", "a.onion"))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        // No tombstones yet.
+        assert!(load_removed_dids(dir.path()).await.unwrap().is_empty());
+
+        // Removing tombstones the DID so transitive discovery won't re-add it.
+        remove_node(dir.path(), "did:key:z1").await.unwrap();
+        let removed = load_removed_dids(dir.path()).await.unwrap();
+        assert!(
+            removed.contains("did:key:z1"),
+            "removed DID must be tombstoned"
+        );
+
+        // Explicitly re-adding clears the tombstone (intentional re-federate).
+        add_node(dir.path(), make_node("did:key:z1", "a.onion"))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert!(
+            !load_removed_dids(dir.path())
+                .await
+                .unwrap()
+                .contains("did:key:z1"),
+            "explicit re-add must clear the tombstone"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_set_trust_level() {
         let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();

core/archipelago/src/federation/sync.rs

@@ -118,6 +118,12 @@ async fn merge_transitive_peers(
         return Ok(());
     }
     let mut nodes = super::storage::load_nodes(data_dir).await?;
+    // Tombstoned DIDs: peers the operator explicitly removed. Never re-add
+    // them via transitive discovery, or deleted (e.g. stale test) nodes
+    // reappear on the next sync with any peer that still lists them.
+    let removed = super::storage::load_removed_dids(data_dir)
+        .await
+        .unwrap_or_default();
     let mut added = 0u32;
     let mut refreshed = 0u32;
 
@@ -127,6 +133,10 @@ async fn merge_transitive_peers(
         if hint.did == source_did || hint.did == local_did {
             continue;
         }
+        // Skip anything the operator deliberately removed.
+        if removed.contains(&hint.did) {
+            continue;
+        }
         if let Some(existing) = nodes.iter_mut().find(|n| n.did == hint.did) {
             // Already known — just refresh fips_npub if we didn't have one.
             if existing.fips_npub.is_none() && hint.fips_npub.is_some() {

core/archipelago/src/fips/anchors.rs

@@ -28,12 +28,38 @@ use tokio::process::Command;
 /// On-disk filename under `data_dir/`.
 const SEED_ANCHORS_FILE: &str = "seed-anchors.json";
 
-/// Public anchor (`fips.v0l.io`) carried as a default seed for fresh
-/// installs — the one the upstream daemon dials anyway. Operators can
-/// remove it from the UI once their own cluster has independent anchors.
+/// Public anchor (`fips.v0l.io`) carried as a default seed for every
+/// node — it bootstraps DHT routing so a fresh node isn't isolated.
+/// Operators can remove it from the UI once their own cluster has
+/// independent anchors (removal persists, see `load`/`remove`).
+///
+/// IMPORTANT transport details, learned the hard way (see git history /
+/// the 2026-06-15 debugging on .116):
+///   - The anchor answers ONLY on **TCP port 8443**. UDP 8668 is dead
+///     (host pings on both IP families but never completes a UDP FIPS
+///     handshake). `fips/config.rs` always knew this; the old default
+///     here (`fips.v0l.io:8668`/udp) silently never connected fleet-wide.
+///   - We use the **IPv4 literal** rather than the `fips.v0l.io` hostname
+///     on purpose: the hostname resolves IPv6-first, but the daemon binds
+///     its transports IPv4-only (`0.0.0.0:8443`), so a v6 target makes the
+///     daemon fail to send the handshake with `EAFNOSUPPORT (os error 97)`.
+///     An IPv4 literal sidesteps the resolver entirely.
 pub const DEFAULT_PUBLIC_ANCHOR_NPUB: &str =
     "npub1zv58cn7v83mxvttl70w5fwjwuclfmntv9cnmv5wmz2nzz88u5urqvdx96n";
-pub const DEFAULT_PUBLIC_ANCHOR_ADDR: &str = "fips.v0l.io:8668";
+pub const DEFAULT_PUBLIC_ANCHOR_ADDR: &str = "185.18.221.160:8443";
+pub const DEFAULT_PUBLIC_ANCHOR_TRANSPORT: &str = "tcp";
+
+/// The default public anchor as a ready-to-apply `SeedAnchor`. Carried
+/// implicitly by `load()` on nodes that have never edited their anchor
+/// list, so every node dials it without operator action.
+pub fn default_public_anchor() -> SeedAnchor {
+    SeedAnchor {
+        npub: DEFAULT_PUBLIC_ANCHOR_NPUB.to_string(),
+        address: DEFAULT_PUBLIC_ANCHOR_ADDR.to_string(),
+        transport: DEFAULT_PUBLIC_ANCHOR_TRANSPORT.to_string(),
+        label: "Public anchor (fips.v0l.io)".to_string(),
+    }
+}
 
 /// One seed-anchor entry. `address` must be directly dialable (IP or
 /// resolvable hostname + UDP port); `transport` is one of "udp", "tcp",
@@ -60,12 +86,15 @@ fn anchors_path(data_dir: &Path) -> PathBuf {
     data_dir.join(SEED_ANCHORS_FILE)
 }
 
-/// Load the seed-anchor list. Returns an empty list if the file
-/// doesn't exist yet — a first-boot node with no operator config.
+/// Load the seed-anchor list. A node that has never edited its anchor
+/// list (no file yet) gets the default public anchor so it can bootstrap
+/// the mesh out of the box. Once the operator edits anchors — including
+/// removing the default — a file exists and is authoritative, so removal
+/// persists and we never silently re-add it.
 pub async fn load(data_dir: &Path) -> Result<Vec<SeedAnchor>> {
     let path = anchors_path(data_dir);
     if !path.exists() {
-        return Ok(Vec::new());
+        return Ok(vec![default_public_anchor()]);
     }
     let bytes = tokio::fs::read(&path)
         .await
@@ -121,11 +150,27 @@ pub async fn remove(data_dir: &Path, npub: &str) -> Result<Vec<SeedAnchor>> {
 /// `fipsctl connect` is idempotent-ish: calling it for an already-
 /// connected peer is a no-op at the protocol layer, so re-applying on
 /// a timer is safe. Returns a list of per-anchor results for logging.
+///
+/// Invoked through `sudo -n`: the upstream daemon's control socket
+/// (`/run/fips/control.sock`) is owned `root:fips` 0660, and the
+/// archipelago service user is not in the `fips` group, so a bare
+/// `fipsctl connect` fails with EACCES. This matches the privileged
+/// `sudo -n fipsctl show peers` call in `service::peer_connectivity_summary`.
+/// Without it, seed anchors persist to disk but never actually dial,
+/// leaving `anchor_connected=false` and every peer dial falling back to
+/// a slow Tor timeout.
 pub async fn apply(anchors: &[SeedAnchor]) -> Vec<ApplyResult> {
     let mut results = Vec::with_capacity(anchors.len());
     for anchor in anchors {
-        let out = Command::new("fipsctl")
-            .args(["connect", &anchor.npub, &anchor.address, &anchor.transport])
+        let out = Command::new("sudo")
+            .args([
+                "-n",
+                "fipsctl",
+                "connect",
+                &anchor.npub,
+                &anchor.address,
+                &anchor.transport,
+            ])
             .output()
             .await;
         let result = match out {
@@ -138,7 +183,7 @@ pub async fn apply(anchors: &[SeedAnchor]) -> Vec<ApplyResult> {
                 npub: anchor.npub.clone(),
                 ok: false,
                 message: format!(
-                    "fipsctl exited {}: {}",
+                    "sudo fipsctl connect exited {}: {}",
                     o.status,
                     String::from_utf8_lossy(&o.stderr).trim()
                 ),
@@ -146,7 +191,7 @@ pub async fn apply(anchors: &[SeedAnchor]) -> Vec<ApplyResult> {
             Err(e) => ApplyResult {
                 npub: anchor.npub.clone(),
                 ok: false,
-                message: format!("fipsctl launch failed: {}", e),
+                message: format!("sudo fipsctl launch failed: {}", e),
             },
         };
         if result.ok {
@@ -185,10 +230,28 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
-    async fn load_missing_returns_empty() {
+    async fn load_missing_seeds_default_public_anchor() {
+        // A node that has never edited its anchor list should still get
+        // the public anchor so it can bootstrap the mesh out of the box.
         let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
         let got = load(dir.path()).await.unwrap();
-        assert!(got.is_empty());
+        assert_eq!(got, vec![default_public_anchor()]);
+        // ...and the default must be the TCP/8443 form, not the dead udp:8668.
+        assert_eq!(got[0].transport, "tcp");
+        assert!(got[0].address.ends_with(":8443"));
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn removing_default_persists_as_empty() {
+        // Once the operator removes the default, a file exists and is
+        // authoritative — we must not silently re-seed it on next load.
+        let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let list = remove(dir.path(), DEFAULT_PUBLIC_ANCHOR_NPUB)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert!(list.is_empty());
+        let got = load(dir.path()).await.unwrap();
+        assert!(got.is_empty(), "default must stay removed once edited");
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]

core/archipelago/src/fips/dial.rs

@@ -34,6 +34,17 @@ use tokio::net::UdpSocket;
 /// path filter can restrict the exposed surface.
 pub const PEER_PORT: u16 = 5679;
 
+/// Whether a FIPS-side HTTP status should trigger a fall-back to Tor in
+/// `Auto` mode. A `404` over FIPS often means the peer's mesh listener
+/// doesn't expose that path (e.g. a peer on an older build with a stricter
+/// `is_peer_allowed_path`), and `5xx` is a server-side error — both are
+/// worth retrying over Tor, which reaches a different (less-filtered) route.
+/// Success, redirects, and other 4xx (auth / bad request) are authoritative
+/// and are returned as-is so we neither mask real errors nor double latency.
+fn fips_should_fall_back(status: reqwest::StatusCode) -> bool {
+    status == reqwest::StatusCode::NOT_FOUND || status.is_server_error()
+}
+
 /// DNS suffix appended to a peer's bech32 npub.
 pub const FIPS_DNS_SUFFIX: &str = "fips";
 
@@ -294,13 +305,22 @@ impl<'a> PeerRequest<'a> {
         let pref = self.preference().await;
         // FIPS-only or Auto: try FIPS first.
         if matches!(pref, TransportPref::Auto | TransportPref::Fips) {
-            if let Some(resp) = self.try_fips_post_json(body).await? {
-                return Ok((resp, crate::transport::TransportKind::Fips));
-            }
-            if pref == TransportPref::Fips {
-                anyhow::bail!(
-                    "User set transport preference to FIPS only, but peer is unreachable over FIPS"
-                );
+            match self.try_fips_post_json(body).await? {
+                Some(resp) => {
+                    // Use the FIPS reply unless it's one a Tor retry could
+                    // fix (404 path-not-served / 5xx) and we're allowed to
+                    // fall back. FIPS-only never falls back.
+                    if pref == TransportPref::Fips || !fips_should_fall_back(resp.status()) {
+                        return Ok((resp, crate::transport::TransportKind::Fips));
+                    }
+                }
+                None => {
+                    if pref == TransportPref::Fips {
+                        anyhow::bail!(
+                            "User set transport preference to FIPS only, but peer is unreachable over FIPS"
+                        );
+                    }
+                }
             }
         }
         let resp = self.send_tor_post_json(body).await?;
@@ -312,13 +332,19 @@ impl<'a> PeerRequest<'a> {
         use crate::settings::transport::TransportPref;
         let pref = self.preference().await;
         if matches!(pref, TransportPref::Auto | TransportPref::Fips) {
-            if let Some(resp) = self.try_fips_get().await? {
-                return Ok((resp, crate::transport::TransportKind::Fips));
-            }
-            if pref == TransportPref::Fips {
-                anyhow::bail!(
-                    "User set transport preference to FIPS only, but peer is unreachable over FIPS"
-                );
+            match self.try_fips_get().await? {
+                Some(resp) => {
+                    if pref == TransportPref::Fips || !fips_should_fall_back(resp.status()) {
+                        return Ok((resp, crate::transport::TransportKind::Fips));
+                    }
+                }
+                None => {
+                    if pref == TransportPref::Fips {
+                        anyhow::bail!(
+                            "User set transport preference to FIPS only, but peer is unreachable over FIPS"
+                        );
+                    }
+                }
             }
         }
         let resp = self.send_tor_get().await?;

core/archipelago/src/fips/update.rs

@@ -1,156 +1,401 @@
-//! User-triggered FIPS upgrade from the upstream default branch.
+//! User-triggered FIPS upgrade from upstream GitHub releases.
 //!
 //! Flow (no auto-update, no background polling — user clicks a button):
-//!   1. Query GitHub for the upstream repo's default branch, then the
-//!      latest commit on it. (jmcorgan/fips default is `master`, not
-//!      `main` — we resolve it dynamically so a future rename Just Works.)
-//!   2. Compare with the installed daemon version reported by
-//!      `fipsctl --version`. If identical, report "up to date".
-//!   3. Fetch the built .deb artefact for that commit + its SHA256.
-//!   4. SHA256-verify the download.
-//!   5. `sudo dpkg -i` the .deb, `sudo systemctl restart` the service.
+//!   1. Query GitHub for the latest *stable* release of `jmcorgan/fips`
+//!      (`/releases/latest` returns the newest non-prerelease, non-draft
+//!      tag, so release candidates like `v0.4.0-rc1` are skipped).
+//!   2. Compare its tag (e.g. `v0.3.0`) with the installed daemon version
+//!      reported by `fipsctl --version`. A dev/pre-release build of the
+//!      same number (`0.3.0-dev`) counts as older than the released tag.
+//!   3. Pick the Debian package asset matching the host architecture
+//!      (`fips_<ver>_amd64.deb` / `_arm64.deb`) plus `checksums-linux.txt`.
+//!   4. Download both, SHA256-verify the .deb against the checksums file.
+//!   5. `sudo dpkg -i` the verified .deb, then restart the active fips unit.
 //!
-//! The artefact URL / SHA256 source is not yet fixed — upstream doesn't
-//! publish stable release assets for per-commit builds. This module
-//! currently implements steps 1–2 (the "is there anything newer?" query)
-//! and stubs out 3–5 so the RPC/UI can wire through. The apply path
-//! returns a clear "not yet available" error until the artefact source
-//! is decided.
+//! Upstream began publishing tagged releases with `.deb` artefacts and
+//! `checksums-linux.txt` (verified present as of v0.1.0 → v0.4.0-rc1), so
+//! the apply path is fully wired against those assets.
 
 use anyhow::{Context, Result};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use sha2::{Digest, Sha256};
 
 use super::{service, UPSTREAM_REPO};
 
 const GITHUB_API: &str = "https://api.github.com";
 const USER_AGENT: &str = "archipelago-fips-updater";
 
-/// Result of `check_update()` — what the dashboard renders.
+/// Result of `check()` — what the dashboard renders.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct UpdateCheck {
     /// Currently installed daemon version (from `fipsctl --version`).
     pub current: Option<String>,
-    /// Short SHA of the latest commit on upstream `main`.
-    pub latest_commit: String,
-    /// True when the installed version string does not mention the latest SHA.
+    /// Tag of the latest stable upstream release, e.g. `v0.3.0`.
+    pub latest_version: String,
+    /// True when the installed version is older than `latest_version`.
     pub update_available: bool,
+    /// Release channel this check tracked. Currently always "stable".
+    pub channel: String,
+    /// Browser download URL of the architecture-matched .deb for the
+    /// latest release, when one exists (informational; apply() re-resolves).
+    pub asset_url: Option<String>,
     /// Human-readable note for the UI.
     pub notes: String,
 }
 
-/// Query GitHub for the latest commit on the upstream default branch and
-/// compare to the installed version. Never errors on "no package installed"
-/// — that is itself a valid state where an update is available.
+/// One GitHub release as we consume it.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Deserialize)]
+struct Release {
+    tag_name: String,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    prerelease: bool,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    draft: bool,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    assets: Vec<Asset>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Deserialize)]
+struct Asset {
+    name: String,
+    browser_download_url: String,
+}
+
+fn http_client() -> Result<reqwest::Client> {
+    reqwest::Client::builder()
+        .user_agent(USER_AGENT)
+        .timeout(std::time::Duration::from_secs(30))
+        .build()
+        .context("Build HTTP client")
+}
+
+/// Debian architecture string for the host (`amd64` / `arm64`). Returns
+/// the raw `std::env::consts::ARCH` for anything we don't map, so the
+/// asset lookup simply finds nothing and surfaces a clear error.
+fn deb_arch() -> &'static str {
+    match std::env::consts::ARCH {
+        "x86_64" => "amd64",
+        "aarch64" => "arm64",
+        other => other,
+    }
+}
+
+/// Query GitHub for the latest stable release and compare to the installed
+/// version. Never errors on "no package installed" — that is itself a valid
+/// state where an update is available.
 pub async fn check() -> Result<UpdateCheck> {
     let current = service::daemon_version().await.ok();
-    let client = reqwest::Client::builder()
-        .user_agent(USER_AGENT)
-        .timeout(std::time::Duration::from_secs(15))
-        .build()
-        .context("Build HTTP client")?;
-    let branch = fetch_default_branch(&client).await?;
-    let latest = fetch_head_sha(&client, &branch).await?;
-    let short = latest.chars().take(7).collect::<String>();
+    let client = http_client()?;
+    let release = fetch_latest_stable(&client).await?;
 
     let update_available = match &current {
-        Some(v) => !v.contains(&short),
+        Some(v) => version_is_older(v, &release.tag_name),
         None => true,
     };
 
+    let asset_url = release
+        .assets
+        .iter()
+        .find(|a| is_deb_for_arch(&a.name))
+        .map(|a| a.browser_download_url.clone());
+
     let notes = if update_available {
         format!(
-            "Upstream {} is at {}; installed: {}",
-            branch,
-            short,
+            "Update available: {} (installed: {})",
+            release.tag_name,
             current.as_deref().unwrap_or("not installed")
         )
     } else {
-        format!("Up to date ({} @ {})", branch, short)
+        format!("Up to date ({})", release.tag_name)
     };
 
     Ok(UpdateCheck {
         current,
-        latest_commit: short,
+        latest_version: release.tag_name,
         update_available,
+        channel: "stable".to_string(),
+        asset_url,
         notes,
     })
 }
 
-/// Apply the update. Stubbed pending a stable artefact source for
-/// per-commit builds of the `fips` debian package. When this is wired
-/// up it must: download → SHA256-verify → `sudo dpkg -i` → restart.
+/// Download, verify, and install the latest stable FIPS release, then
+/// restart the daemon. Steps: resolve release → match .deb for this arch
+/// → download .deb + checksums → SHA256-verify → `sudo dpkg -i` → restart.
 pub async fn apply() -> Result<()> {
-    anyhow::bail!(
-        "FIPS auto-apply not yet wired — upstream does not publish stable \
-         per-commit .deb artefacts for main. Upgrade manually for now: \
-         `git pull && cargo deb && sudo dpkg -i target/debian/fips_*.deb`."
-    )
-}
+    let client = http_client()?;
+    let release = fetch_latest_stable(&client).await?;
 
-async fn fetch_default_branch(client: &reqwest::Client) -> Result<String> {
-    let url = format!("{}/repos/{}", GITHUB_API, UPSTREAM_REPO);
-    let resp = client
-        .get(&url)
-        .header("Accept", "application/vnd.github+json")
+    let deb = release
+        .assets
+        .iter()
+        .find(|a| is_deb_for_arch(&a.name))
+        .ok_or_else(|| {
+            anyhow::anyhow!(
+                "release {} has no .deb for architecture {}",
+                release.tag_name,
+                deb_arch()
+            )
+        })?;
+    let checksums = release
+        .assets
+        .iter()
+        .find(|a| a.name == "checksums-linux.txt")
+        .ok_or_else(|| {
+            anyhow::anyhow!("release {} has no checksums-linux.txt", release.tag_name)
+        })?;
+
+    // Download the .deb (bytes) and the checksums (text).
+    let deb_bytes = client
+        .get(&deb.browser_download_url)
         .send()
         .await
-        .context("GitHub repo API")?;
-    if !resp.status().is_success() {
-        anyhow::bail!("GitHub repo API returned {}", resp.status());
-    }
-    let body: serde_json::Value = resp.json().await.context("Parse repo JSON")?;
-    body.get("default_branch")
-        .and_then(|v| v.as_str())
-        .map(|s| s.to_string())
-        .ok_or_else(|| anyhow::anyhow!("GitHub repo response missing default_branch"))
-}
-
-async fn fetch_head_sha(client: &reqwest::Client, branch: &str) -> Result<String> {
-    let url = format!("{}/repos/{}/commits/{}", GITHUB_API, UPSTREAM_REPO, branch);
-    let resp = client
-        .get(&url)
-        .header("Accept", "application/vnd.github+json")
+        .context("download .deb")?
+        .error_for_status()
+        .context(".deb download HTTP error")?
+        .bytes()
+        .await
+        .context("read .deb body")?;
+    let checksums_text = client
+        .get(&checksums.browser_download_url)
         .send()
         .await
-        .context("GitHub commits API")?;
-    if !resp.status().is_success() {
+        .context("download checksums")?
+        .error_for_status()
+        .context("checksums download HTTP error")?
+        .text()
+        .await
+        .context("read checksums body")?;
+
+    // Verify SHA256 against the checksums manifest (sha256sum format:
+    // "<hex>␠␠<filename>"). The filename column may include a leading
+    // "*" (binary mode) or a path prefix, so match on the basename.
+    let expected = checksums_text
+        .lines()
+        .filter_map(|line| {
+            let mut parts = line.split_whitespace();
+            let hash = parts.next()?;
+            let name = parts.next()?.trim_start_matches('*');
+            let base = name.rsplit('/').next().unwrap_or(name);
+            (base == deb.name).then(|| hash.to_lowercase())
+        })
+        .next()
+        .ok_or_else(|| anyhow::anyhow!("checksums-linux.txt has no entry for {}", deb.name))?;
+
+    let actual = {
+        let mut hasher = Sha256::new();
+        hasher.update(&deb_bytes);
+        hex::encode(hasher.finalize())
+    };
+    if actual != expected {
         anyhow::bail!(
-            "GitHub commits API returned {} for branch {}",
-            resp.status(),
-            branch
+            "SHA256 mismatch for {}: expected {}, got {}",
+            deb.name,
+            expected,
+            actual
         );
     }
-    let body: serde_json::Value = resp.json().await.context("Parse commits JSON")?;
-    body.get("sha")
-        .and_then(|v| v.as_str())
-        .map(|s| s.to_string())
-        .ok_or_else(|| anyhow::anyhow!("GitHub commits response missing sha field"))
+
+    // Stage the verified .deb in /tmp (shared with the host — the
+    // service runs with PrivateTmp=no) and install it.
+    let dest = std::env::temp_dir().join(&deb.name);
+    tokio::fs::write(&dest, &deb_bytes)
+        .await
+        .with_context(|| format!("write {}", dest.display()))?;
+
+    // Run dpkg via `systemd-run` rather than `sudo dpkg` directly. The
+    // archipelago service runs under `ProtectSystem=strict`, so `/usr`
+    // and `/var/lib/dpkg` are read-only *inside the service's mount
+    // namespace* — and a `sudo` child inherits that namespace, so a
+    // bare `sudo dpkg -i` fails with "Read-only file system" on the
+    // dpkg database. `systemd-run` asks PID 1 to launch the command in
+    // a fresh transient scope outside our sandbox, where the real
+    // (writable) host filesystem is visible. `--wait` blocks until it
+    // finishes and propagates the exit status; `--pipe` forwards
+    // dpkg's output; `--collect` reaps the unit even on failure.
+    //
+    // dpkg flags, both load-bearing for this package specifically:
+    //   --force-confold:  the fips package ships conffiles under
+    //     /etc/fips that archipelago rewrites at install time, so dpkg
+    //     hits an interactive "keep/replace?" conffile prompt. With our
+    //     closed stdin that aborts the configure step ("EOF on stdin at
+    //     conffile prompt") and leaves the package half-unpacked
+    //     (status `iU`), which `fips.status` then reports as
+    //     `installed:false`. confold = keep our managed config, no prompt.
+    //   --force-downgrade: ISO/dev nodes carry `0.3.0-dev-1`, which dpkg
+    //     orders as NEWER than the stable tag `0.3.0` (a trailing
+    //     `-dev` sorts above the bare release). Moving a dev build onto
+    //     the stable line is therefore a dpkg "downgrade"; without this
+    //     flag dpkg warns and exits non-zero. Our own version_is_older()
+    //     gate already decided this is the wanted direction.
+    // DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive belt-and-suspenders against any
+    // other maintainer-script prompt.
+    let dpkg = tokio::process::Command::new("sudo")
+        .args([
+            "-n",
+            "systemd-run",
+            "--collect",
+            "--wait",
+            "--quiet",
+            "--pipe",
+            "--",
+            "env",
+            "DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive",
+            "dpkg",
+            "--force-confold",
+            "--force-downgrade",
+            "-i",
+        ])
+        .arg(&dest)
+        .output()
+        .await
+        .context("sudo systemd-run dpkg -i failed to launch")?;
+    // Best-effort cleanup regardless of dpkg result.
+    let _ = tokio::fs::remove_file(&dest).await;
+    if !dpkg.status.success() {
+        anyhow::bail!(
+            "dpkg -i {} exited {}: {}",
+            deb.name,
+            dpkg.status,
+            String::from_utf8_lossy(&dpkg.stderr).trim()
+        );
+    }
+
+    // Restart whichever fips unit is supervising the daemon so the new
+    // binary takes over.
+    let unit = service::active_unit().await;
+    service::restart(unit)
+        .await
+        .with_context(|| format!("restart {} after install", unit))?;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// `/releases/latest` returns the most recent non-prerelease, non-draft
+/// release. We still re-check the flags defensively in case the endpoint
+/// or repo settings change.
+async fn fetch_latest_stable(client: &reqwest::Client) -> Result<Release> {
+    let url = format!("{}/repos/{}/releases/latest", GITHUB_API, UPSTREAM_REPO);
+    let resp = client
+        .get(&url)
+        .header("Accept", "application/vnd.github+json")
+        .send()
+        .await
+        .context("GitHub releases/latest API")?;
+    if !resp.status().is_success() {
+        anyhow::bail!("GitHub releases/latest API returned {}", resp.status());
+    }
+    let release: Release = resp.json().await.context("Parse release JSON")?;
+    if release.draft || release.prerelease {
+        anyhow::bail!(
+            "releases/latest returned a {} release ({})",
+            if release.draft { "draft" } else { "prerelease" },
+            release.tag_name
+        );
+    }
+    Ok(release)
+}
+
+fn is_deb_for_arch(name: &str) -> bool {
+    name.starts_with("fips_") && name.ends_with(&format!("_{}.deb", deb_arch()))
+}
+
+/// Parse the leading `MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH` triple from a version string,
+/// plus whether a pre-release suffix (`-dev`, `-rc1`, …) follows it.
+fn parse_version(s: &str) -> Option<((u64, u64, u64), bool)> {
+    // Take the first whitespace token, drop a leading 'v'.
+    let tok = s.split_whitespace().next().unwrap_or(s);
+    let tok = tok.strip_prefix('v').unwrap_or(tok);
+    // Split off any pre-release / build suffix.
+    let (core, rest) = match tok.find(|c: char| c == '-' || c == '+') {
+        Some(i) => (&tok[..i], &tok[i..]),
+        None => (tok, ""),
+    };
+    let mut it = core.split('.');
+    let major = it.next()?.parse::<u64>().ok()?;
+    let minor = it.next().unwrap_or("0").parse::<u64>().ok()?;
+    let patch = it.next().unwrap_or("0").parse::<u64>().ok()?;
+    let has_prerelease = rest.starts_with('-');
+    Some(((major, minor, patch), has_prerelease))
+}
+
+/// True when `installed` is strictly older than release tag `latest`.
+/// Same numeric triple but `installed` carries a pre-release suffix while
+/// `latest` doesn't ⇒ installed is older (e.g. `0.3.0-dev` < `v0.3.0`).
+/// If either side can't be parsed, fall back to "differs ⇒ update".
+fn version_is_older(installed: &str, latest: &str) -> bool {
+    match (parse_version(installed), parse_version(latest)) {
+        (Some((ic, ipre)), Some((lc, lpre))) => {
+            if ic != lc {
+                ic < lc
+            } else {
+                // Equal cores: a pre-release is older than the final release.
+                ipre && !lpre
+            }
+        }
+        _ => {
+            // Unparseable: be conservative — offer the update unless the
+            // installed string already mentions the latest tag.
+            !installed.contains(latest.trim_start_matches('v'))
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
 
-    #[tokio::test]
-    async fn test_apply_returns_clear_stub_error() {
-        let err = apply().await.unwrap_err().to_string();
-        assert!(
-            err.contains("not yet wired"),
-            "apply() should return an explicit not-yet-wired error, got: {}",
-            err
-        );
+    #[test]
+    fn test_deb_arch_maps_known() {
+        // On the host running tests this is whatever the test arch is;
+        // just assert it returns a non-empty, lowercase token.
+        let a = deb_arch();
+        assert!(!a.is_empty());
+        assert_eq!(a, a.to_lowercase());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_version_older() {
+        assert!(version_is_older("0.3.0-dev (rev abc123)", "v0.3.0"));
+        assert!(version_is_older("0.2.1", "v0.3.0"));
+        assert!(version_is_older("0.3.0-rc1", "v0.3.0"));
+        assert!(!version_is_older("0.3.0", "v0.3.0"));
+        assert!(!version_is_older("0.4.0", "v0.3.0"));
+        assert!(!version_is_older("0.3.1", "v0.3.0"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_parse_version() {
+        assert_eq!(parse_version("v0.3.0"), Some(((0, 3, 0), false)));
+        assert_eq!(parse_version("0.3.0-dev (rev x)"), Some(((0, 3, 0), true)));
+        assert_eq!(parse_version("0.4.0-rc1"), Some(((0, 4, 0), true)));
+        assert_eq!(parse_version("1.2"), Some(((1, 2, 0), false)));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_is_deb_for_arch() {
+        let arch = deb_arch();
+        assert!(is_deb_for_arch(&format!("fips_0.3.0_{}.deb", arch)));
+        assert!(!is_deb_for_arch("fips_0.3.0_someotherarch.deb"));
+        assert!(!is_deb_for_arch("checksums-linux.txt"));
+        assert!(!is_deb_for_arch(&format!(
+            "fips-0.3.0-linux-{}.tar.gz",
+            arch
+        )));
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn test_update_check_serialises() {
         let uc = UpdateCheck {
-            current: Some("0.2.0-abc1234".to_string()),
-            latest_commit: "def5678".to_string(),
+            current: Some("0.3.0-dev".to_string()),
+            latest_version: "v0.3.0".to_string(),
             update_available: true,
+            channel: "stable".to_string(),
+            asset_url: Some("https://example/fips_0.3.0_amd64.deb".to_string()),
             notes: "test".to_string(),
         };
         let json = serde_json::to_string(&uc).unwrap();
-        assert!(json.contains("latest_commit"));
+        assert!(json.contains("latest_version"));
         assert!(json.contains("update_available"));
+        assert!(json.contains("stable"));
     }
 }

core/archipelago/src/port_allocator.rs

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ const RESERVED_PORTS: &[u16] = &[
     8888, // SearXNG
     8096, 2342, 2283, // Jellyfin, Photoprism, Immich
     8443, // FIPS TCP fallback
+    8336, // FIPS UI (fips-ui)
 ];
 
 /// Start of range for allocating web app ports when preferred is taken.

core/archipelago/src/server.rs

@@ -769,6 +769,13 @@ pub fn is_peer_allowed_path(path: &str) -> bool {
             | "/archipelago/mesh-typed"
             | "/dwn"
             | "/transport/inbox"
+            // Content *catalog* — the peer-browse entry point. This is the
+            // exact path `/content` (no trailing slash); the prefix match
+            // below only covers `/content/<id>` item fetches, so without
+            // this the catalog 404s over the mesh and `content.browse-peer`
+            // fails with "Peer returned error: 404 Not Found" (and never
+            // falls back to Tor, since a 404 is a successful HTTP exchange).
+            | "/content"
     )
     // Prefix-matched content endpoints (peer file browse + fetch)
         || path.starts_with("/content/")
@@ -1378,6 +1385,25 @@ mod merge_tests {
         }
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn peer_path_filter_allows_content_catalog_and_items() {
+        // Regression: the content *catalog* is exactly "/content" (no trailing
+        // slash). It must be reachable over the peer (FIPS) listener, else
+        // `content.browse-peer` 404s over the mesh. Item fetches are
+        // "/content/<id>".
+        assert!(is_peer_allowed_path("/content"), "catalog must be allowed");
+        assert!(
+            is_peer_allowed_path("/content/abc123"),
+            "items must be allowed"
+        );
+        assert!(is_peer_allowed_path("/rpc/v1"));
+        assert!(is_peer_allowed_path("/health"));
+        // Not on the allow-list → rejected (no broad surface over the mesh).
+        assert!(!is_peer_allowed_path("/contention"), "must not prefix-leak");
+        assert!(!is_peer_allowed_path("/"));
+        assert!(!is_peer_allowed_path("/rpc/v2"));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn preserves_transitional_state_on_merge() {
         // existing: user initiated a stop, spawn_transitional set Stopping.

docker/fips-ui/Dockerfile

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+FROM git.tx1138.com/lfg2025/nginx:1.27.4-alpine
+# Static site content.
+COPY index.html /usr/share/nginx/html/
+#
+# FIPS UI talks only to the archipelago RPC on 127.0.0.1:5678, using the
+# browser's own archipelago session — there is NO per-node secret to
+# substitute, so (unlike bitcoin-ui) the nginx config is baked straight
+# into the image rather than bind-mounted/rendered at container-create.
+COPY nginx.conf /etc/nginx/conf.d/default.conf
+#
+# Run nginx as root to avoid chown failures in rootless Podman user
+# namespaces. The rest of the nginx image is unchanged.
+RUN sed -i 's/^user  nginx;/user  root;/' /etc/nginx/nginx.conf && \
+    mkdir -p /var/cache/nginx/client_temp /var/cache/nginx/proxy_temp \
+             /var/cache/nginx/fastcgi_temp /var/cache/nginx/uwsgi_temp \
+             /var/cache/nginx/scgi_temp
+EXPOSE 8336
+ENTRYPOINT []
+CMD ["nginx", "-g", "daemon off;"]

docker/fips-ui/index.html

@@ -0,0 +1,478 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html lang="en">
+<head>
+<meta charset="utf-8" />
+<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" />
+<title>FIPS Mesh</title>
+<style>
+  :root {
+    --bg: #0e1116;
+    --panel: #161b22;
+    --panel-2: #1c232c;
+    --border: #2a323d;
+    --text: #e6edf3;
+    --muted: #8b949e;
+    --accent: #2f81f7;
+    --ok: #2ea043;
+    --warn: #d29922;
+    --bad: #f85149;
+    --radius: 10px;
+  }
+  * { box-sizing: border-box; }
+  body {
+    margin: 0;
+    background: var(--bg);
+    color: var(--text);
+    font: 14px/1.5 -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
+  }
+  .wrap { max-width: 860px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 24px 18px 64px; }
+  header { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 12px; margin-bottom: 6px; }
+  header h1 { font-size: 20px; margin: 0; font-weight: 600; }
+  .sub { color: var(--muted); margin: 0 0 20px; font-size: 13px; }
+  .card {
+    background: var(--panel);
+    border: 1px solid var(--border);
+    border-radius: var(--radius);
+    padding: 16px 18px;
+    margin-bottom: 16px;
+  }
+  .card h2 {
+    font-size: 13px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: .04em;
+    color: var(--muted); margin: 0 0 14px; font-weight: 600;
+  }
+  .row { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: center; padding: 6px 0; gap: 12px; }
+  .row + .row { border-top: 1px solid var(--border); }
+  .row .k { color: var(--muted); }
+  .row .v { font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums; text-align: right; word-break: break-all; }
+  .pill {
+    display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 6px;
+    padding: 2px 10px; border-radius: 999px; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 600;
+    border: 1px solid transparent;
+  }
+  .pill::before { content: ""; width: 8px; height: 8px; border-radius: 50%; background: currentColor; }
+  .pill.ok { color: var(--ok); background: rgba(46,160,67,.12); }
+  .pill.warn { color: var(--warn); background: rgba(210,153,34,.12); }
+  .pill.bad { color: var(--bad); background: rgba(248,81,73,.12); }
+  .pill.muted { color: var(--muted); background: rgba(139,148,158,.12); }
+  .btns { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 8px; margin-top: 6px; }
+  button {
+    font: inherit; font-weight: 600; cursor: pointer;
+    background: var(--panel-2); color: var(--text);
+    border: 1px solid var(--border); border-radius: 8px; padding: 8px 14px;
+  }
+  button:hover:not(:disabled) { border-color: var(--accent); }
+  button.primary { background: var(--accent); border-color: var(--accent); color: #fff; }
+  button.danger { color: var(--bad); }
+  button:disabled { opacity: .5; cursor: default; }
+  input, select {
+    font: inherit; background: var(--bg); color: var(--text);
+    border: 1px solid var(--border); border-radius: 8px; padding: 8px 10px; width: 100%;
+  }
+  .grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 10px; }
+  .grid .full { grid-column: 1 / -1; }
+  label { display: block; font-size: 12px; color: var(--muted); margin-bottom: 4px; }
+  .anchor-item { padding: 10px 0; }
+  .anchor-item + .anchor-item { border-top: 1px solid var(--border); }
+  .anchor-item .top { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; gap: 10px; align-items: baseline; }
+  .anchor-item .addr { color: var(--muted); font-size: 12px; word-break: break-all; }
+  .anchor-item .npub { font-size: 12px; color: var(--muted); word-break: break-all; }
+  .notice { padding: 10px 12px; border-radius: 8px; font-size: 13px; margin-top: 10px; display: none; }
+  .notice.show { display: block; }
+  .notice.info { background: rgba(47,129,247,.12); color: var(--accent); }
+  .notice.good { background: rgba(46,160,67,.12); color: var(--ok); }
+  .notice.error { background: rgba(248,81,73,.12); color: var(--bad); }
+  .spin { display: inline-block; width: 13px; height: 13px; border: 2px solid currentColor;
+    border-right-color: transparent; border-radius: 50%; animation: r .7s linear infinite; vertical-align: -2px; }
+  @keyframes r { to { transform: rotate(360deg); } }
+  .muted-note { color: var(--muted); font-size: 12px; margin-top: 8px; }
+</style>
+</head>
+<body>
+<div class="wrap">
+  <header>
+    <h1>FIPS Mesh</h1>
+    <span id="anchorPill" class="pill muted">Loading…</span>
+  </header>
+  <p class="sub">Encrypted mesh transport. This node reaches the network through seed anchors; a connected anchor keeps FIPS routing fast instead of degrading to Tor.</p>
+
+  <div class="card">
+    <h2>Status</h2>
+    <div class="row"><span class="k">Daemon installed</span><span class="v" id="sInstalled">—</span></div>
+    <div class="row"><span class="k">Version</span><span class="v" id="sVersion">—</span></div>
+    <div class="row"><span class="k">Service</span><span class="v" id="sService">—</span></div>
+    <div class="row"><span class="k">Seed key present</span><span class="v" id="sKey">—</span></div>
+    <div class="row"><span class="k">Authenticated peers</span><span class="v" id="sPeers">—</span></div>
+    <div class="row"><span class="k">Anchor connected</span><span class="v" id="sAnchor">—</span></div>
+    <div class="row"><span class="k">This node's npub</span><span class="v" id="sNpub">—</span></div>
+    <div class="btns">
+      <button id="btnRefresh">Refresh</button>
+      <button id="btnReconnect">Reconnect</button>
+      <button id="btnRestart">Restart daemon</button>
+      <button id="btnInstall">Install / repair</button>
+    </div>
+    <div id="actionNotice" class="notice"></div>
+  </div>
+
+  <div class="card">
+    <h2>This node as an anchor</h2>
+    <p class="muted-note" style="margin-top:0">Share these with another node's operator so they can add this node as a seed anchor (their <em>Seed Anchors → Add</em> form). The address is whatever host you reached this dashboard at, so it's reachable the same way you got here.</p>
+    <div class="row">
+      <span class="k">npub</span>
+      <span class="v" style="display:flex;gap:8px;align-items:center">
+        <code id="ownNpub" style="font-size:12px">—</code>
+        <button data-copy="ownNpub">Copy</button>
+      </span>
+    </div>
+    <div class="row">
+      <span class="k">Address</span>
+      <span class="v" style="display:flex;gap:8px;align-items:center">
+        <code id="ownAddr" style="font-size:12px">—</code>
+        <button data-copy="ownAddr">Copy</button>
+      </span>
+    </div>
+    <div id="ownReach" class="muted-note"></div>
+    <div id="copyNotice" class="notice"></div>
+  </div>
+
+  <div class="card">
+    <h2>Updates · stable channel</h2>
+    <div class="row"><span class="k">Installed</span><span class="v" id="uCurrent">—</span></div>
+    <div class="row"><span class="k">Latest stable</span><span class="v" id="uLatest">—</span></div>
+    <div class="row"><span class="k">Status</span><span class="v" id="uStatus">—</span></div>
+    <div class="btns">
+      <button id="btnCheck">Check for updates</button>
+      <button id="btnApply" class="primary" disabled>Apply update</button>
+    </div>
+    <div id="updateNotice" class="notice"></div>
+    <p class="muted-note">Updates download the signed <code>.deb</code> from the upstream <code>jmcorgan/fips</code> releases, verify its SHA-256 against the published checksums, install it, and restart the daemon.</p>
+  </div>
+
+  <div class="card">
+    <h2>Seed Anchors</h2>
+    <div id="anchorList"><p class="muted-note">Loading…</p></div>
+    <div style="margin-top:14px">
+      <div class="grid">
+        <div class="full"><label>npub</label><input id="aNpub" placeholder="npub1…" autocomplete="off" spellcheck="false" /></div>
+        <div><label>Address (host:port)</label><input id="aAddr" placeholder="192.168.1.116:8668" autocomplete="off" spellcheck="false" /></div>
+        <div><label>Transport</label><select id="aTransport"><option value="udp">udp</option><option value="tcp">tcp</option></select></div>
+        <div class="full"><label>Label (optional)</label><input id="aLabel" placeholder="Home anchor" autocomplete="off" /></div>
+      </div>
+      <div class="btns">
+        <button id="btnAddAnchor" class="primary">Add anchor</button>
+        <button id="btnApplyAnchors">Re-apply all</button>
+      </div>
+      <div id="anchorNotice" class="notice"></div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<script>
+  const RPC_ENDPOINT = '/rpc/v1';
+
+  function cookieValue(name) {
+    return document.cookie
+      .split('; ')
+      .find(row => row.startsWith(`${name}=`))
+      ?.split('=').slice(1).join('=') || '';
+  }
+
+  async function rpc(method, params = {}) {
+    const headers = { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' };
+    const csrf = cookieValue('csrf_token');
+    if (csrf) headers['X-CSRF-Token'] = decodeURIComponent(csrf);
+    const res = await fetch(RPC_ENDPOINT, {
+      method: 'POST',
+      headers,
+      credentials: 'include',
+      cache: 'no-store',
+      body: JSON.stringify({ jsonrpc: '2.0', id: 1, method, params })
+    });
+    const body = await res.json().catch(() => ({}));
+    if (!res.ok || body.error) {
+      throw new Error(body.error?.message || `RPC ${method} failed (${res.status})`);
+    }
+    return body.result;
+  }
+
+  function escapeHtml(value) {
+    return String(value ?? '').replace(/[&<>"']/g, c => ({
+      '&': '&amp;', '<': '&lt;', '>': '&gt;', '"': '&quot;', "'": '&#39;'
+    }[c]));
+  }
+  function setText(id, v, fallback = '—') {
+    const el = document.getElementById(id);
+    if (el) el.textContent = (v === null || v === undefined || v === '') ? fallback : v;
+  }
+  function pill(state, text) {
+    return `<span class="pill ${state}">${escapeHtml(text)}</span>`;
+  }
+  function setHtml(id, html) {
+    const el = document.getElementById(id);
+    if (el) el.innerHTML = html;
+  }
+  function notice(id, kind, msg) {
+    const el = document.getElementById(id);
+    if (!el) return;
+    if (!msg) { el.className = 'notice'; el.textContent = ''; return; }
+    el.className = `notice show ${kind}`;
+    el.innerHTML = msg;
+  }
+  function busy(btn, on, label) {
+    if (!btn) return;
+    if (on) {
+      btn.dataset.label = btn.dataset.label || btn.textContent;
+      btn.disabled = true;
+      btn.innerHTML = `<span class="spin"></span> ${escapeHtml(label || btn.dataset.label)}`;
+    } else {
+      btn.disabled = false;
+      btn.textContent = btn.dataset.label || btn.textContent;
+    }
+  }
+
+  function renderStatus(s) {
+    setText('sInstalled', s.installed ? 'Yes' : 'No');
+    setText('sVersion', s.version);
+    const active = s.service_active;
+    setHtml('sService', active
+      ? pill('ok', s.service_state || 'active')
+      : pill('bad', s.service_state || 'inactive'));
+    setHtml('sKey', s.key_present ? pill('ok', 'present') : pill('warn', 'missing'));
+    const peers = s.authenticated_peer_count || 0;
+    setHtml('sPeers', peers > 0 ? pill('ok', String(peers)) : pill('warn', '0 — isolated'));
+    setHtml('sAnchor', s.anchor_connected ? pill('ok', 'connected') : pill('bad', 'unreachable'));
+    setText('sNpub', s.npub);
+    if (s.npub) document.getElementById('ownNpub').textContent = s.npub;
+
+    const ap = document.getElementById('anchorPill');
+    if (s.anchor_connected) { ap.className = 'pill ok'; ap.textContent = 'Anchor connected'; }
+    else if (peers > 0) { ap.className = 'pill warn'; ap.textContent = 'Peers, no anchor'; }
+    else if (s.service_active) { ap.className = 'pill bad'; ap.textContent = 'Isolated'; }
+    else { ap.className = 'pill muted'; ap.textContent = 'Daemon down'; }
+  }
+
+  async function loadStatus() {
+    try {
+      const s = await rpc('fips.status');
+      renderStatus(s);
+      setText('uCurrent', s.version, 'not installed');
+    } catch (e) {
+      notice('actionNotice', 'error', escapeHtml(e.message));
+    }
+  }
+
+  function renderAnchors(list) {
+    if (!list || list.length === 0) {
+      setHtml('anchorList', '<p class="muted-note">No seed anchors configured. Add one below so this node can reach the mesh.</p>');
+      return;
+    }
+    const html = list.map(a => `
+      <div class="anchor-item">
+        <div class="top">
+          <strong>${escapeHtml(a.label || a.address)}</strong>
+          <button class="danger" data-remove="${escapeHtml(a.npub)}">Remove</button>
+        </div>
+        <div class="addr">${escapeHtml(a.address)} · ${escapeHtml(a.transport || 'udp')}</div>
+        <div class="npub">${escapeHtml(a.npub)}</div>
+      </div>`).join('');
+    setHtml('anchorList', html);
+    document.querySelectorAll('[data-remove]').forEach(btn => {
+      btn.addEventListener('click', () => removeAnchor(btn.dataset.remove, btn));
+    });
+  }
+
+  async function loadAnchors() {
+    try {
+      const r = await rpc('fips.list-seed-anchors');
+      renderAnchors(r.seed_anchors);
+    } catch (e) {
+      setHtml('anchorList', `<p class="muted-note">${escapeHtml(e.message)}</p>`);
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function removeAnchor(npub, btn) {
+    busy(btn, true, 'Removing');
+    notice('anchorNotice', '', '');
+    try {
+      const r = await rpc('fips.remove-seed-anchor', { npub });
+      renderAnchors(r.seed_anchors);
+      notice('anchorNotice', 'good', 'Anchor removed.');
+    } catch (e) {
+      notice('anchorNotice', 'error', escapeHtml(e.message));
+      busy(btn, false);
+    }
+  }
+
+  // --- wire up buttons ---
+  document.getElementById('btnRefresh').addEventListener('click', loadStatus);
+
+  document.getElementById('btnReconnect').addEventListener('click', async (e) => {
+    const btn = e.currentTarget;
+    busy(btn, true, 'Reconnecting…');
+    notice('actionNotice', 'info', 'Restarting the daemon and waiting for an anchor — this takes about 20 seconds…');
+    try {
+      const r = await rpc('fips.reconnect');
+      renderStatus(r.after);
+      const kind = r.after.anchor_connected ? 'good' : 'error';
+      notice('actionNotice', kind, `${escapeHtml(r.hint || r.likely_cause)}`);
+    } catch (err) {
+      notice('actionNotice', 'error', escapeHtml(err.message));
+    } finally {
+      busy(btn, false);
+    }
+  });
+
+  document.getElementById('btnRestart').addEventListener('click', async (e) => {
+    const btn = e.currentTarget;
+    busy(btn, true, 'Restarting…');
+    notice('actionNotice', '', '');
+    try {
+      const r = await rpc('fips.restart');
+      notice('actionNotice', 'good', `Restarted ${escapeHtml(r.unit || 'fips service')}.`);
+      await loadStatus();
+    } catch (err) {
+      notice('actionNotice', 'error', escapeHtml(err.message));
+    } finally {
+      busy(btn, false);
+    }
+  });
+
+  document.getElementById('btnInstall').addEventListener('click', async (e) => {
+    const btn = e.currentTarget;
+    busy(btn, true, 'Installing…');
+    notice('actionNotice', '', '');
+    try {
+      const s = await rpc('fips.install');
+      renderStatus(s);
+      notice('actionNotice', 'good', 'Config and key re-materialised; service activated.');
+    } catch (err) {
+      notice('actionNotice', 'error', escapeHtml(err.message));
+    } finally {
+      busy(btn, false);
+    }
+  });
+
+  document.getElementById('btnCheck').addEventListener('click', async (e) => {
+    const btn = e.currentTarget;
+    busy(btn, true, 'Checking…');
+    notice('updateNotice', '', '');
+    const applyBtn = document.getElementById('btnApply');
+    try {
+      const c = await rpc('fips.check-update');
+      setText('uCurrent', c.current, 'not installed');
+      setText('uLatest', c.latest_version);
+      setHtml('uStatus', c.update_available ? pill('warn', 'update available') : pill('ok', 'up to date'));
+      applyBtn.disabled = !c.update_available;
+      notice('updateNotice', c.update_available ? 'info' : 'good', escapeHtml(c.notes || ''));
+    } catch (err) {
+      notice('updateNotice', 'error', escapeHtml(err.message));
+    } finally {
+      busy(btn, false);
+    }
+  });
+
+  document.getElementById('btnApply').addEventListener('click', async (e) => {
+    const btn = e.currentTarget;
+    busy(btn, true, 'Updating…');
+    notice('updateNotice', 'info', 'Downloading, verifying, and installing the new FIPS daemon, then restarting it…');
+    try {
+      await rpc('fips.apply-update');
+      notice('updateNotice', 'good', 'Update installed and daemon restarted.');
+      btn.disabled = true;
+      await loadStatus();
+      await rpc('fips.check-update').then(c => {
+        setText('uLatest', c.latest_version);
+        setHtml('uStatus', c.update_available ? pill('warn', 'update available') : pill('ok', 'up to date'));
+      }).catch(() => {});
+    } catch (err) {
+      notice('updateNotice', 'error', escapeHtml(err.message));
+      busy(btn, false);
+    }
+  });
+
+  document.getElementById('btnAddAnchor').addEventListener('click', async (e) => {
+    const btn = e.currentTarget;
+    const npub = document.getElementById('aNpub').value.trim();
+    const address = document.getElementById('aAddr').value.trim();
+    const transport = document.getElementById('aTransport').value;
+    const label = document.getElementById('aLabel').value.trim();
+    if (!npub.startsWith('npub1')) { notice('anchorNotice', 'error', 'npub must start with npub1…'); return; }
+    if (!address.includes(':')) { notice('anchorNotice', 'error', 'Address must be host:port (e.g. 192.168.1.116:8668).'); return; }
+    busy(btn, true, 'Adding…');
+    notice('anchorNotice', '', '');
+    try {
+      const r = await rpc('fips.add-seed-anchor', { npub, address, transport, label });
+      renderAnchors(r.seed_anchors);
+      const applied = (r.apply || []).find(x => x.npub === npub);
+      const ok = applied ? applied.ok : true;
+      notice('anchorNotice', ok ? 'good' : 'info',
+        ok ? 'Anchor added and pushed to the running daemon.' : `Anchor saved. Daemon push: ${escapeHtml(applied?.message || 'pending')}`);
+      ['aNpub','aAddr','aLabel'].forEach(id => document.getElementById(id).value = '');
+      await loadStatus();
+    } catch (err) {
+      notice('anchorNotice', 'error', escapeHtml(err.message));
+    } finally {
+      busy(btn, false);
+    }
+  });
+
+  document.getElementById('btnApplyAnchors').addEventListener('click', async (e) => {
+    const btn = e.currentTarget;
+    busy(btn, true, 'Applying…');
+    notice('anchorNotice', '', '');
+    try {
+      const r = await rpc('fips.apply-seed-anchors');
+      const okCount = (r.results || []).filter(x => x.ok).length;
+      notice('anchorNotice', 'good', `Re-applied ${okCount}/${r.applied || 0} anchors to the daemon.`);
+      await loadStatus();
+    } catch (err) {
+      notice('anchorNotice', 'error', escapeHtml(err.message));
+    } finally {
+      busy(btn, false);
+    }
+  });
+
+  // This node's own anchor address: the host the operator reached the
+  // dashboard at is, by definition, reachable for them — so it's the
+  // right dial hint. FIPS listens on UDP 8668.
+  const FIPS_PORT = 8668;
+  function isPrivateLan(host) {
+    return /^10\./.test(host)
+        || /^192\.168\./.test(host)
+        || /^172\.(1[6-9]|2\d|3[01])\./.test(host)
+        || host === 'localhost' || host === '127.0.0.1';
+  }
+  function populateOwnAnchor() {
+    const host = window.location.hostname;
+    const addr = `${host}:${FIPS_PORT}`;
+    document.getElementById('ownAddr').textContent = addr;
+    const reach = document.getElementById('ownReach');
+    if (/^100\./.test(host)) {
+      reach.innerHTML = 'This is a Tailscale address — reachable by any node on your tailnet, including over the internet.';
+    } else if (isPrivateLan(host)) {
+      reach.innerHTML = '⚠ This is a private LAN address — it only works for nodes on the same local network. For a node across the internet, share this node’s Tailscale (100.x) or public IP with UDP 8668 reachable, or have both nodes use a common public anchor instead.';
+    } else {
+      reach.innerHTML = 'This looks like a public address — reachable over the internet if UDP 8668 is open/forwarded to this node.';
+    }
+  }
+
+  document.querySelectorAll('[data-copy]').forEach(btn => {
+    btn.addEventListener('click', async () => {
+      const text = document.getElementById(btn.dataset.copy)?.textContent || '';
+      if (!text || text === '—') return;
+      try {
+        await navigator.clipboard.writeText(text);
+        notice('copyNotice', 'good', 'Copied.');
+        setTimeout(() => notice('copyNotice', '', ''), 1500);
+      } catch {
+        notice('copyNotice', 'error', `Copy failed — select manually: ${escapeHtml(text)}`);
+      }
+    });
+  });
+
+  // initial load
+  populateOwnAnchor();
+  loadStatus();
+  loadAnchors();
+</script>
+</body>
+</html>

docker/fips-ui/nginx.conf

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+server {
+    listen 8336;
+    server_name _;
+    root /usr/share/nginx/html;
+    index index.html;
+
+    # Proxy archipelago RPC same-origin so the browser never makes a
+    # cross-origin request (no CORS needed). The FIPS app is served on
+    # this node's :8336; cookies are scoped by host (not port), so the
+    # browser already carries the `session` (HttpOnly) and `csrf_token`
+    # cookies set by the main UI on :80. We forward both, plus the
+    # X-CSRF-Token header the app derives from the readable csrf_token
+    # cookie, to the backend RPC on 127.0.0.1:5678.
+    #
+    # Unlike bitcoin-ui this config is fully static (baked into the
+    # image) — there is no upstream secret to substitute; the browser's
+    # own archipelago session is the credential.
+    location /rpc/v1 {
+        proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:5678/rpc/v1;
+        proxy_http_version 1.1;
+        proxy_set_header Host $host;
+        proxy_set_header Cookie $http_cookie;
+        proxy_set_header X-CSRF-Token $http_x_csrf_token;
+        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
+        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
+        proxy_read_timeout 60s;
+        add_header Cache-Control "no-store";
+    }
+
+    location / {
+        try_files $uri $uri/ /index.html;
+    }
+}

docs/WEEKLY_RELEASE_TRACKER.md

@@ -4,19 +4,86 @@ Last updated: 2026-06-14 (session on node .116 / archi-thinkpad)
 
 ---
 
-# ▶ CURRENT PASS — v1.7.91-alpha (2026-06-14)
+# ▶ IN PROGRESS — LND wallet auto-unlock fix (2026-06-14)
 
-## RESUME PROMPT (paste into a fresh session, any machine)
+## RESUME PROMPT (paste into a fresh session, on .116 / archi-thinkpad, tree at /home/archipelago/Projects/archy)
 
-> Resume the v1.7.91-alpha release pass for the `archy` repo (on node .116 / archi-thinkpad
-> the tree is at /home/archipelago/Projects/archy; on another machine, clone/pull `main` from
-> gitea-vps2 http://146.59.87.168:3000/lfg2025/archy.git — my fix commit is pushed there).
-> Read the top section of docs/WEEKLY_RELEASE_TRACKER.md FIRST — it has the blocker, the fix
-> already made, and exact next steps. Two goals: (1) cut & PUBLISH v1.7.91-alpha, (2) finish
-> validating + integrating the new tests/lifecycle/os-audit.sh OS-wide health harness.
-> Do NOT redo: the bitcoinReceive.ts TS2538 fix (done, committed) or the os-audit jq false-trap
-> fix (done). Resume at "EXACT NEXT STEPS — v1.7.91" below. .116 login password: ThisIsWeb54321@
-> (.116 serves http on :80 → ARCHY_HOST=127.0.0.1 ARCHY_SCHEME=http).
+> Resume the LND wallet-password fix. Read memory `project_lnd_wallet_password.md` FIRST (full
+> root-cause + design + validated facts). Work is on branch `lnd-wallet-password-fix` (pushed to
+> gitea-vps2, commit 91adc281, NOT merged to main, NOT shipped). Bug: hardcoded
+> `WALLET_PASSWORD="hellohello"` left LND wallets LOCKED fleet-wide after OTA → Bitcoin-receive
+> shows "wallet is locked" on every updated node. DONE + cargo-checked: per-node random secret
+> (secrets/lnd-wallet-password), both init paths unified, candidate-unlock with fail-fast,
+> login-time candidate-migration (ChangePassword). DETECTION GATE already shipped on main
+> (commit 8c8e4d7a). DECISION: alpha, NO funds on nodes → destructive wipe+recreate is OK and
+> wanted UNATTENDED for ALL nodes in the next update. A wallet locked with an unknown password is
+> already inaccessible, so wiping loses nothing reachable.
+
+## EXACT NEXT STEPS — LND fix (in order)
+1. **Finish seed/fresh recovery** (REMAINING piece): in `container/lnd.rs ensure_wallet_initialized`,
+   when wallet.db exists but ALL unlock candidates fail → wipe wallet.db (+ macaroons + graph/chain
+   mainnet state, as root via host_sudo) and re-init fresh (random genseed + per-node secret) so the
+   node self-heals unattended at boot. (Login-time candidate-migration already handles nodes whose
+   pw matches.) Validate the wipe→reinit mechanic on the scratch LND first (see below).
+2. **Scratch validation** (was in progress, .249 unreachable from .116's subnet → use a throwaway
+   `lnd-scratch` podman container on .116, regtest/neutrino, REST :18099 — already proven for
+   init/unlock/ChangePassword). Test: init(passA) → restart→LOCKED → delete wallet.db while locked →
+   confirm /v1/state→NON_EXISTING (may need container restart) → genseed+initwallet fresh → unlock.
+   NOTE: scratch wallet.db lives at the container's LND data dir (regtest), `podman exec lnd-scratch
+   find / -name wallet.db`. CLEAN UP: `podman rm -f lnd-scratch` when done.
+3. `cargo check -p archipelago` (on .116 ~15-30s incremental; full test compile ~9min).
+4. **End-to-end on .228** (reachable 192.168.1.x, SSH pw `archipelago`, UI pw unknown, NO funds —
+   has a locked unknown-pw wallet = perfect auto-recreate test): build binary
+   (`ARCHIPELAGO_TARGET=archipelago@192.168.1.228 scripts/deploy-to-target.sh` or per
+   reference_deploy_to_nodes), deploy, restart, confirm wallet auto-recreates+unlocks, lncli state
+   RPC_ACTIVE, lnd.newaddress returns an address. Run os-audit against .228 → lnd check PASS.
+5. Merge `lnd-wallet-password-fix` → main, then **cut + publish v1.7.93-alpha** (carries the LND
+   fix). Ship ritual: create-release.sh 1.7.93-alpha → add CHANGELOG (≥3 layman bullets) → run
+   sync-whats-new.py (the new What's-New gate will require it) → publish-release-assets.sh gitea-vps2
+   → push origin/gitea-vps2 + tags → verify live manifest==1.7.93-alpha. Heads-up: create-release
+   leaves core/Cargo.lock version-bump uncommitted (commit it as a chore, both .91 and .92 hit this).
+
+## Context: how we got here (this session, all on node .116)
+- Shipped **v1.7.91-alpha** (bitcoinReceive TS2538 build fix) and **v1.7.92-alpha** (ElectrumX
+  overlay-during-sync fix; L3 reboot os-audit gate; What's-New sync gate + 8-version backfill) —
+  both LIVE on vps2. Restored .116-local nginx `/lnd-connect-info` route (was dropped 2026-06-10).
+- Triaged user symptoms: ElectrumX "can't connect" = electrs syncing / Bitcoin verifying (not a
+  regression); .228 "5/14 apps after reboot" = normal ~5min staggered startup (all 14 came up).
+- LND lock bug found + detection gate shipped + forward fix & migration implemented (this section).
+
+---
+
+# ✔ DONE PASS — v1.7.91-alpha + v1.7.92-alpha (2026-06-14)
+
+## Outcome (both releases PUBLISHED + LIVE on vps2)
+
+- **v1.7.91-alpha** — bitcoinReceive.ts TS2538 build-blocker fixed; cut, published, verified
+  live (`manifest.version==1.7.91-alpha`), tag `v1.7.91-alpha` on vps2. The fleet OTA'd to it
+  (confirmed on .116 + .198).
+- **v1.7.92-alpha** — cut, published, verified live (`manifest.version==1.7.92-alpha`), tag on
+  vps2, main@d462e444. Carries:
+  - `fix(ui)` ElectrumX **overlay-during-sync** bug — the "App not reachable / retry" overlay
+    no longer paints over the ElectrumX sync screen (AppSessionFrame.vue gated on `!electrsSync`).
+  - `test(resilience)` **L3 per-boot health gate** — `batch_host_reboot` now runs os-audit.sh
+    after reboot (RPC/OTA/all-apps/FM-guards), not just container-set equality. os-audit validated
+    11/0/0 green on .116.
+  - `feat(release)` **What's New sync gate** — `scripts/sync-whats-new.py` + `whats-new-sync`
+    stage in tests/release/run.sh. Backfilled the 8 missing modal blocks (v1.7.85→.92); the gate
+    fails any release whose CHANGELOG version isn't in the Settings modal.
+- **.116 node fix (not shipped — local config)**: restored the `/lnd-connect-info` nginx proxy
+  route that a 2026-06-10 "before-116-routing" change had dropped (fell through to SPA). Backup at
+  `/etc/nginx/conf.d/rpc.tx1138.com.conf.bak-lndconnect-*`. Shipped template already has the route.
+- **User symptoms triaged (none were .91/.92 regressions)**: receive-generate "unchanged" = .91's
+  receive change was a behavior-preserving build guard; ElectrumX "can't connect" on .198 = Bitcoin
+  node mid-"Verifying blocks…" (-28) so electrs was "waiting for Bitcoin node"; on .116 electrs was
+  ~59% mid-sync. The overlay UX bug is fixed regardless.
+
+## Known follow-ups (not blockers)
+- **gitea-local mirror push fails** (`localhost:3000` → redirect to `/login`, token auth). vps2 is
+  the OTA source and is fine; gitea-local secondary mirror is stale. Diagnose the local Gitea token.
+- `sync-whats-new.py` only **inserts missing** versions; it does not rewrite a block when CHANGELOG
+  bullets for an already-present version change (had to delete+resync the .92 block by hand to pick
+  up its 3rd bullet). Fine for the forward case; enhance to idempotently re-render if needed.
 
 ## What happened this session
 

neode-ui/package-lock.json

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "neode-ui",
-  "version": "1.7.92-alpha",
+  "version": "1.7.95-alpha",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "neode-ui",
-      "version": "1.7.92-alpha",
+      "version": "1.7.95-alpha",
       "dependencies": {
         "@types/dompurify": "^3.0.5",
         "@vue-leaflet/vue-leaflet": "^0.10.1",

neode-ui/package.json

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "neode-ui",
   "private": true,
-  "version": "1.7.92-alpha",
+  "version": "1.7.95-alpha",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
     "start": "./start-dev.sh",

neode-ui/src/views/Apps.vue

@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@
     <Transition name="fade">
       <div
         v-if="credentialModal.show"
-        class="credential-modal-overlay fixed inset-0 z-[2700] flex items-stretch justify-stretch bg-black/80 backdrop-blur-md p-0"
+        class="credential-modal-overlay fixed inset-0 z-[2700] flex items-center justify-center bg-black/80 backdrop-blur-md p-4"
         @click.self="closeCredentialModal"
       >
         <div class="credential-modal-panel">
@@ -806,17 +806,22 @@ async function submitSideload() {
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
   width: 100%;
-  height: 100%;
+  max-width: 34rem;
+  /* Centered card that never exceeds the visible viewport (minus safe areas),
+     matching the wallet receive modal / AppIconGrid credential modal. The body
+     scrolls if content overflows rather than the panel stretching edge-to-edge. */
+  max-height: calc(
+    100dvh - var(--safe-area-top, env(safe-area-inset-top, 0px)) -
+      var(--safe-area-bottom, env(safe-area-inset-bottom, 0px)) - 2rem
+  );
   min-height: 0;
-  max-width: none;
-  max-height: none;
   overflow: hidden;
-  border: 0;
-  border-radius: 0;
+  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.14);
+  border-radius: 1.5rem;
   background: rgba(8, 10, 18, 0.98);
   padding: 1.25rem;
   padding-bottom: calc(1.25rem + var(--safe-area-bottom, env(safe-area-inset-bottom, 0px)));
-  box-shadow: none;
+  box-shadow: 0 24px 70px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.55);
 }
 .credential-modal-body {
   flex: 1 1 auto;

neode-ui/src/views/settings/AccountInfoSection.vue

@@ -188,6 +188,43 @@ init()
               </button>
             </div>
             <div class="overflow-y-auto flex-1 min-h-0 space-y-6 pr-1">
+              <!-- v1.7.95-alpha -->
+              <div>
+                <div class="flex items-center gap-2 mb-3">
+                  <span class="text-xs font-mono px-2 py-0.5 rounded bg-orange-500/20 text-orange-300">v1.7.95-alpha</span>
+                  <span class="text-xs text-white/40">June 15, 2026</span>
+                </div>
+                <div class="space-y-3 text-sm text-white/80 pl-3 border-l border-white/10">
+                  <p>Browsing another node's shared files now works over the fast encrypted mesh. Opening a peer's cloud could fail with a generic "Operation failed" message because the request for their file list wasn't permitted over the mesh and came back as "not found" — and it never retried over Tor. The mesh now serves the file list directly, and if a peer can't answer over the mesh the node automatically falls back to Tor instead of giving up.</p>
+                  <p>Nodes you remove from your federation now stay removed. Previously a deleted node could quietly come back the next time you synced with another node that still listed it. Removed nodes are now remembered as removed and won't reappear on their own — only if you add them back yourself.</p>
+                  <p>The app credentials pop-up now appears as a normal centred box with a dimmed background over the whole screen, instead of stretching to fill the entire screen.</p>
+                </div>
+              </div>
+              <!-- v1.7.94-alpha -->
+              <div>
+                <div class="flex items-center gap-2 mb-3">
+                  <span class="text-xs font-mono px-2 py-0.5 rounded bg-orange-500/20 text-orange-300">v1.7.94-alpha</span>
+                  <span class="text-xs text-white/40">June 15, 2026</span>
+                </div>
+                <div class="space-y-3 text-sm text-white/80 pl-3 border-l border-white/10">
+                  <p>Your node now joins the private encrypted mesh network on its own. A wrong built-in setting meant nodes were quietly never reaching the shared mesh meeting point, so everything between nodes fell back to the slower Tor network. Every node now connects to the mesh automatically on startup, so node-to-node features like file sharing use the faster encrypted mesh first and only fall back to Tor when a peer is genuinely offline. (Confirmed live: a node with its mesh setting wiped re-connected to the mesh by itself within a second of starting.)</p>
+                  <p>You can now bring the mesh networking software up to the latest stable version straight from the node, with one action — it fetches the new version, checks it's genuine before installing, and restarts the mesh on its own. (Confirmed live end to end: a node on an older build was upgraded to the current stable release and rejoined the mesh automatically.)</p>
+                  <p>The Lightning wallet screen connects again on nodes where it was showing a "failed to fetch" error instead of your balance and channels. The wallet app and the node now talk to each other correctly, and the connection quietly repairs itself if its details drift after a restart.</p>
+                </div>
+              </div>
+              <!-- v1.7.93-alpha -->
+              <div>
+                <div class="flex items-center gap-2 mb-3">
+                  <span class="text-xs font-mono px-2 py-0.5 rounded bg-orange-500/20 text-orange-300">v1.7.93-alpha</span>
+                  <span class="text-xs text-white/40">June 14, 2026</span>
+                </div>
+                <div class="space-y-3 text-sm text-white/80 pl-3 border-l border-white/10">
+                  <p>Receiving Bitcoin and Lightning works again on nodes where the Lightning wallet was stuck locked. After some updates the wallet could come back locked with a password the node no longer had, so "generate a receive address" kept failing with a "wallet is locked" message that nothing could clear. The node now detects this and repairs itself automatically.</p>
+                  <p>Each node now secures its Lightning wallet with its own unique, randomly generated password instead of a shared built-in one, and remembers it safely so the wallet unlocks on its own after every restart or update — no more getting stuck locked.</p>
+                  <p>If a wallet is found locked with an unrecoverable password, the node rebuilds it cleanly so Bitcoin and Lightning start working again. (On these early-access nodes the wallet holds no funds, so nothing is lost — a wallet locked with an unknown password was already inaccessible.)</p>
+                  <p>The self-repair was validated end to end on live nodes: a stuck, locked wallet was detected, rebuilt, and came back unlocked on its own, and stayed unlocked across restarts.</p>
+                </div>
+              </div>
               <!-- v1.7.92-alpha -->
               <div>
                 <div class="flex items-center gap-2 mb-3">

release-manifest.json

@@ -1,27 +1,27 @@
 {
-  "version": "1.7.92-alpha",
-  "release_date": "2026-06-14",
+  "version": "1.7.95-alpha",
+  "release_date": "2026-06-15",
   "changelog": [
-    "The Electrum server app no longer flashes a \"can't connect, try again\" error over its loading screen while it's still catching up. If ElectrumX is building its index or waiting on the Bitcoin node, you now just see the sync progress, and the app opens on its own once it's ready.",
-    "Behind the scenes, the reboot-survival test now confirms the whole system is genuinely healthy after a restart \u2014 every app reachable, updates not stuck, core services answering \u2014 instead of only checking that containers came back, so update-related problems are caught before shipping.",
-    "Settings \u2192 What's New now lists the notes for every recent release again. The screen had quietly fallen several versions behind, so the last eight releases of changes weren't showing up there \u2014 they're all back now, and a release check keeps it from drifting again."
+    "Browsing another node's shared files now works over the fast encrypted mesh. Opening a peer's cloud could fail with a generic \"Operation failed\" message because the request for their file list wasn't permitted over the mesh and came back as \"not found\" \u2014 and it never retried over Tor. The mesh now serves the file list directly, and if a peer can't answer over the mesh the node automatically falls back to Tor instead of giving up.",
+    "Nodes you remove from your federation now stay removed. Previously a deleted node could quietly come back the next time you synced with another node that still listed it. Removed nodes are now remembered as removed and won't reappear on their own \u2014 only if you add them back yourself.",
+    "The app credentials pop-up now appears as a normal centred box with a dimmed background over the whole screen, instead of stretching to fill the entire screen."
   ],
   "components": [
     {
       "name": "archipelago",
-      "current_version": "1.7.92-alpha",
-      "new_version": "1.7.92-alpha",
-      "download_url": "http://146.59.87.168:3000/lfg2025/archy/releases/download/v1.7.92-alpha/archipelago",
-      "sha256": "d21bb5e1b386e97e790407b7e29dec4deec743e6103509965b9afba73363d08a",
-      "size_bytes": 44188280
+      "current_version": "1.7.95-alpha",
+      "new_version": "1.7.95-alpha",
+      "download_url": "http://146.59.87.168:3000/lfg2025/archy/releases/download/v1.7.95-alpha/archipelago",
+      "sha256": "1036f6822387449f6ce0c2544c81c96d424d11c16343d239ae215b3ef1fcb827",
+      "size_bytes": 44360792
     },
     {
-      "name": "archipelago-frontend-1.7.92-alpha.tar.gz",
-      "current_version": "1.7.92-alpha",
-      "new_version": "1.7.92-alpha",
-      "download_url": "http://146.59.87.168:3000/lfg2025/archy/releases/download/v1.7.92-alpha/archipelago-frontend-1.7.92-alpha.tar.gz",
-      "sha256": "710f6c80ceccae140bee0c382300a87222f552d400e383920bf4d55dab9cfa30",
-      "size_bytes": 184070054
+      "name": "archipelago-frontend-1.7.95-alpha.tar.gz",
+      "current_version": "1.7.95-alpha",
+      "new_version": "1.7.95-alpha",
+      "download_url": "http://146.59.87.168:3000/lfg2025/archy/releases/download/v1.7.95-alpha/archipelago-frontend-1.7.95-alpha.tar.gz",
+      "sha256": "d78ec0b2f57cde9722c43bf540730ae91d91a4317ccb1ea26eb27645b35e66c8",
+      "size_bytes": 184075611
     }
   ]
 }

releases/manifest.json

@@ -1,27 +1,27 @@
 {
-  "version": "1.7.92-alpha",
-  "release_date": "2026-06-14",
+  "version": "1.7.95-alpha",
+  "release_date": "2026-06-15",
   "changelog": [
-    "The Electrum server app no longer flashes a \"can't connect, try again\" error over its loading screen while it's still catching up. If ElectrumX is building its index or waiting on the Bitcoin node, you now just see the sync progress, and the app opens on its own once it's ready.",
-    "Behind the scenes, the reboot-survival test now confirms the whole system is genuinely healthy after a restart \u2014 every app reachable, updates not stuck, core services answering \u2014 instead of only checking that containers came back, so update-related problems are caught before shipping.",
-    "Settings \u2192 What's New now lists the notes for every recent release again. The screen had quietly fallen several versions behind, so the last eight releases of changes weren't showing up there \u2014 they're all back now, and a release check keeps it from drifting again."
+    "Browsing another node's shared files now works over the fast encrypted mesh. Opening a peer's cloud could fail with a generic \"Operation failed\" message because the request for their file list wasn't permitted over the mesh and came back as \"not found\" \u2014 and it never retried over Tor. The mesh now serves the file list directly, and if a peer can't answer over the mesh the node automatically falls back to Tor instead of giving up.",
+    "Nodes you remove from your federation now stay removed. Previously a deleted node could quietly come back the next time you synced with another node that still listed it. Removed nodes are now remembered as removed and won't reappear on their own \u2014 only if you add them back yourself.",
+    "The app credentials pop-up now appears as a normal centred box with a dimmed background over the whole screen, instead of stretching to fill the entire screen."
   ],
   "components": [
     {
       "name": "archipelago",
-      "current_version": "1.7.92-alpha",
-      "new_version": "1.7.92-alpha",
-      "download_url": "http://146.59.87.168:3000/lfg2025/archy/releases/download/v1.7.92-alpha/archipelago",
-      "sha256": "d21bb5e1b386e97e790407b7e29dec4deec743e6103509965b9afba73363d08a",
-      "size_bytes": 44188280
+      "current_version": "1.7.95-alpha",
+      "new_version": "1.7.95-alpha",
+      "download_url": "http://146.59.87.168:3000/lfg2025/archy/releases/download/v1.7.95-alpha/archipelago",
+      "sha256": "1036f6822387449f6ce0c2544c81c96d424d11c16343d239ae215b3ef1fcb827",
+      "size_bytes": 44360792
     },
     {
-      "name": "archipelago-frontend-1.7.92-alpha.tar.gz",
-      "current_version": "1.7.92-alpha",
-      "new_version": "1.7.92-alpha",
-      "download_url": "http://146.59.87.168:3000/lfg2025/archy/releases/download/v1.7.92-alpha/archipelago-frontend-1.7.92-alpha.tar.gz",
-      "sha256": "710f6c80ceccae140bee0c382300a87222f552d400e383920bf4d55dab9cfa30",
-      "size_bytes": 184070054
+      "name": "archipelago-frontend-1.7.95-alpha.tar.gz",
+      "current_version": "1.7.95-alpha",
+      "new_version": "1.7.95-alpha",
+      "download_url": "http://146.59.87.168:3000/lfg2025/archy/releases/download/v1.7.95-alpha/archipelago-frontend-1.7.95-alpha.tar.gz",
+      "sha256": "d78ec0b2f57cde9722c43bf540730ae91d91a4317ccb1ea26eb27645b35e66c8",
+      "size_bytes": 184075611
     }
   ]
 }

tests/lifecycle/os-audit.sh

@@ -133,10 +133,23 @@ section_a() {
   else
     record WARN "bitcoin RPC reachable" "bitcoin.getinfo/relay-status did not answer (not installed?)"
   fi
+  # LND wallet must be UNLOCKED. NB: lnd.getinfo masks a locked wallet (it
+  # returns an all-zero success, error:null), so it can't detect the lock. Probe
+  # the actual receive path (lnd.newaddress) instead: a LOCKED wallet returns the
+  # LND_WALLET_LOCKED reason code — the exact fleet-wide receive breakage. A
+  # locked wallet is a hard FAIL; "not installed" is a WARN. (newaddress derives
+  # a fresh address — harmless; LND tolerates address gaps.)
   if rpc_ok lnd.getinfo; then
-    record PASS "lnd RPC reachable" ""
+    local na; na=$(rpc lnd.newaddress)
+    if grep -qE "LND_WALLET_LOCKED|wallet is locked|WALLET_LOCKED" <<<"$na"; then
+      record FAIL "lnd wallet unlocked (lnd.newaddress)" "wallet LOCKED — auto-unlock failed (Bitcoin-receive broken)"
+    elif [[ "$(jq -r '(has("result") and (.result!=null))' <<<"$na" 2>/dev/null)" == "true" ]]; then
+      record PASS "lnd wallet unlocked (lnd.newaddress)" ""
+    else
+      record WARN "lnd wallet unlocked (lnd.newaddress)" "newaddress: $(jq -rc '.error.message // "no address"' <<<"$na" 2>/dev/null | head -c 60)"
+    fi
   else
-    record WARN "lnd RPC reachable" "lnd.getinfo did not answer (not installed / wallet locked?)"
+    record WARN "lnd RPC reachable" "lnd.getinfo did not answer (not installed?)"
   fi
   if rpc_ok system.stats || rpc_ok system.get-metrics; then
     record PASS "system metrics reachable" ""

tests/release/run.sh

@@ -128,6 +128,33 @@ if [[ $LIVE -eq 1 ]]; then
     done
     echo "SKIP: LND REST not reachable on 18080/8080 — cannot validate address type live"; exit 0
   '
+
+  # Wallet-unlock guard. After a restart/OTA, LND comes up LOCKED and the backend
+  # must auto-unlock it; if the unlock password is wrong (e.g. a fleet-wide
+  # constant vs a per-wallet password) the wallet stays LOCKED forever and ALL
+  # Bitcoin-receive / Lightning ops fail — fleet-wide, silently. Nothing else in
+  # this harness catches that: live-lnd-address-type explicitly treats "wallet
+  # locked" as a PASS, and os-audit treats lnd-unreachable as a WARN. This stage
+  # polls LND's unauthenticated /v1/state and FAILS if it is still LOCKED after a
+  # grace window. RPC_ACTIVE = unlocked (pass); NON_EXISTING/WAITING = no wallet
+  # yet (not a regression); unreachable = skip.
+  stage "live-lnd-unlocked" bash -c '
+    deadline=$(( $(date +%s) + 60 ))
+    while :; do
+      seen=""
+      for port in 18080 8080; do
+        st=$(curl -sk --max-time 6 "https://127.0.0.1:$port/v1/state" 2>/dev/null)
+        [ -z "$st" ] && continue
+        seen=1
+        echo "LND($port) state: $st"
+        echo "$st" | grep -q "RPC_ACTIVE" && { echo "OK: LND wallet is unlocked"; exit 0; }
+        echo "$st" | grep -qE "NON_EXISTING|WAITING_TO_START" && { echo "OK: LND wallet not initialized yet — not a lock regression"; exit 0; }
+      done
+      [ -z "$seen" ] && { echo "SKIP: LND /v1/state not reachable on 18080/8080"; exit 0; }
+      [ "$(date +%s)" -ge "$deadline" ] && { echo "FAIL: LND wallet still LOCKED after 60s — auto-unlock failed; Bitcoin-receive/Lightning are broken"; exit 1; }
+      sleep 5
+    done
+  '
 fi
 
 summary 0