diff --git a/2026/2026-10-21--castopod-php-stay-off.md b/2026/2026-10-21--castopod-php-stay-off.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0455ac3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/2026/2026-10-21--castopod-php-stay-off.md
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# Castopod stays off
+
+Rechecked 2026-10-21 after the stop note. Web unit container-koopa-castopod.service is disabled, inactive, dead. Container koopa-castopod is exited, finished 2026-10-21 22:48:06 +0200. Nothing listens on :9020. MariaDB and Redis user units stay loaded and active. No second stop. Caddy vhost unchanged.
+
+Log review found no sign of a successful remote code execution. Overlay file /tmp/fw-cp.php (1448 bytes, mode 600, sha256 7bb279bffa12dbb81787183108a2641b78a6657b069cbef7967950d80e13b5bc, mtime 2026-09-07 03:25:59 +0200) is a local database script for cp_users, outside the docroot, not a web shell. /tmp/os-dry.out is an apt dry-run. Five theme files differ by one branding line from 2026-07-13. Media volume has no scripts. Access logs run 2026-10-17 through the stop and show no 2xx on a non-index script. Critical lines on 2026-09-07 match other days.
+
+Limits: access logs start 2026-10-17, so HTTP from 2026-09-07 is absent. A memory-only or already rotated request is not ruled out. Whether the local script ran is not in the logs. MariaDB was not opened.
+
+Stays down until an image ships PHP newer than 8.4.18. Hub tag :1 from 2026-02-24 is not that image. Parent 537, slug castopod-restart-after-php-fix.
+
+Restore only then:
+
+ systemctl --user enable --now container-koopa-castopod.service
diff --git a/2026/2026-10-21--castopod-php-stop.md b/2026/2026-10-21--castopod-php-stop.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e951d06
--- /dev/null
+++ b/2026/2026-10-21--castopod-php-stop.md
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+# Castopod PHP stopped
+
+Checked 2026-10-21. Host has no php-fpm and no php package. The only PHP process was Castopod FrankenPHP in container koopa-castopod.
+
+| Item | Value |
+|------|--------|
+| image | docker.io/castopod/castopod:1 |
+| repo digest | sha256:4e4f0440520f45257bfeac7be4347defd20048b4efef8f53d73ec9ed3a4f7966 |
+| amd64 digest | sha256:757f3c2a96b31b81753c23bc092dfcf05039d9df4d13cc12c428bb752fce882b |
+| image created | 2026-02-24 |
+| hub tags 1 / latest / 1.15.5 | same digest, pushed 2026-02-24 |
+| PHP | 8.4.18 (12 Feb 2026) |
+| FrankenPHP | v2.10.2 |
+| listen | 0.0.0.0:9020 -> 8080 |
+| public | https://castopod.hacktivism.ch/ |
+
+Stable Hub tags have not moved since 2026-02-24. develop last push 2026-06-05 and is not a stable security update. php.net lists 8.4.26 (24 Sep 2026) and 8.4.27 (22 Oct 2026) after 8.4.18, with a banner to update for critical remote code execution. Pulling :1 repeats the same image. FrankenPHP ships its own PHP binary.
+
+Stopped and disabled user unit container-koopa-castopod.service. ExecStop is `podman stop -t 30 koopa-castopod`. Container status after stop: Exited (0). :9020 not listening. MariaDB and Redis units left running. Caddy vhost unchanged.
+
+Bring the web container back only when a newer image exists:
+
+ systemctl --user enable --now container-koopa-castopod.service
diff --git a/2026/2026-10-24--todo704-tor-cachyos-cookieauth.md b/2026/2026-10-24--todo704-tor-cachyos-cookieauth.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..46665b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/2026/2026-10-24--todo704-tor-cachyos-cookieauth.md
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+# TODO=704 Tor CachyOS CTR + CookieAuth (koopa)
+
+Relay was down (stale PIDFile / start-timeout on forking unit), keys intact. Recreated **same identity** on CachyOS container; CookieAuth for ControlPort; host tor disabled.
+
+## Stand after APPLY (2026-10-24 ~21:47–21:51 Europe/Zurich)
+
+| Item | Value |
+|------|--------|
+| CTR | `koopa-tor-relay` Up, image `localhost/koopa-tor-relay:latest` (=`:cachyos`) |
+| Tor | 0.4.9.14 (CachyOS/Arch extra) |
+| Unit | `container-koopa-tor-relay.service` Type=simple, active |
+| Host tor | `tor.service` disabled + failed/inactive |
+| FP | `02C7EECCDF7814FBA2DB1CBAED000D06E8A32EE8` (keys mtime 2024-11-14) |
+| ORPort | 8080 |
+| ControlPort | 127.0.0.1:9051 CookieAuthentication=1, CookieAuthFile=/var/lib/tor/control_auth_cookie |
+| Bootstrap | PROGRESS=100 done; status/circuit-established=1 |
+| Unauth ControlPort | 514 Authentication required |
+| Cookie AUTH | 250 OK |
+
+## Steps
+
+1. Dry-run `/tmp/tor.sh` on koopa → STATUS=dry-run-ok; NEXT=`sudo APPLY=1 /tmp/tor.sh` (host tor was still enabled).
+2. Human: `systemctl disable --now tor.service`, then `sudo APPLY=1 /tmp/tor.sh`.
+3. APPLY: wrote CachyOS Containerfile, pulled `docker.io/cachyos/cachyos:latest`, build (cache hit), `podman create --replace --network host --user 1000:1000 --userns keep-id`, torrc bak `torrc.bak-cookie-20261024-214720`, CookieAuth on.
+4. First APPLY hit dbus fail under sudo (`$DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS` / `$XDG_RUNTIME_DIR` unset). Unit rewrite + enable finished with XDG/DBUS set; script path re-exec as SUDO_USER for later runs.
+5. Verify from magikoopa SSH: unit active, CTR Up, FP match, circuit-established=1, unauth 514.
+
+## Live paths
+
+- `~/koopa-tor-relay/{torrc,data,log,build/Containerfile}`
+- `~/.config/systemd/user/container-koopa-tor-relay.service`
+- Driver: `/tmp/tor.sh` (TARGET=koopa); upgrade later: `~/upgrade-containers.sh --apply --rebuild-local --only koopa-tor-relay`
+
+## Akte mirrors
+
+- `configs/tor/torrc`
+- `configs/tor/build/Containerfile`
+- `configs/systemd/user/container-koopa-tor-relay.service`
+- `host/tor/README.md` updated (was stale host `tor.service`)
+
+Sibling: firecuda brew tor CookieAuth same day (FP `52BB94DDC1292F950CF728708AC48523E018A718`, MyFamily both ways). Parent TODO=704.
diff --git a/configs/systemd/user/container-koopa-tor-relay.service b/configs/systemd/user/container-koopa-tor-relay.service
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b65e1ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/configs/systemd/user/container-koopa-tor-relay.service
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+# container-koopa-tor-relay.service — regenerated by tor.sh 2026-10-24T21:47:24+02:00
+# Prefer simple over podman-generate-systemd forking+PIDFile (stale CID storm).
+
+[Unit]
+Description=Podman koopa-tor-relay
+Wants=network-online.target
+After=network-online.target
+RequiresMountsFor=%t/containers
+
+[Service]
+Environment=PODMAN_SYSTEMD_UNIT=%n
+Restart=always
+RestartSec=5
+TimeoutStartSec=120
+TimeoutStopSec=70
+ExecStart=/usr/bin/podman start --attach koopa-tor-relay
+ExecStop=/usr/bin/podman stop -t 10 koopa-tor-relay
+Type=simple
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=default.target
diff --git a/configs/tor/build/Containerfile b/configs/tor/build/Containerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c57a137
--- /dev/null
+++ b/configs/tor/build/Containerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# koopa-tor-relay — Tor non-exit relay on CachyOS (Arch extra/tor)
+# Same pattern as koopa-meet-web:cachyos. Rootless: tor user -> uid/gid 1000.
+# Recreate: --user 1000:1000 --userns=keep-id  (see README / tor.sh)
+ARG CACHYOS_IMAGE=docker.io/cachyos/cachyos:latest
+FROM ${CACHYOS_IMAGE}
+ENV TZ=Europe/Zurich
+RUN pacman -Syu --noconfirm --needed tor nyx ca-certificates \
+ && pacman -Scc --noconfirm \
+ && rm -rf /var/cache/pacman/pkg/* /tmp/* \
+ && mkdir -p /var/lib/tor /var/log/tor \
+ && if id tor >/dev/null 2>&1; then \
+      groupmod -g 1000 tor 2>/dev/null || true; \
+      usermod -u 1000 -g 1000 tor 2>/dev/null || true; \
+    elif id debian-tor >/dev/null 2>&1; then \
+      groupmod -g 1000 debian-tor; usermod -u 1000 -g 1000 debian-tor; \
+    else \
+      groupadd -g 1000 tor; useradd -u 1000 -g 1000 -d /var/lib/tor -s /usr/bin/nologin tor; \
+    fi \
+ && chown -R 1000:1000 /var/lib/tor /var/log/tor \
+ && chmod 700 /var/lib/tor
+EXPOSE 8080 9051
+USER 1000:1000
+ENTRYPOINT ["/usr/bin/tor"]
+CMD ["-f", "/etc/tor/torrc", "--runasdaemon", "0"]
diff --git a/configs/tor/torrc b/configs/tor/torrc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f1705f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/configs/tor/torrc
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# KoopaRelay — same policy as live /etc/tor/torrc + admin-log configs/tor/torrc
+# Identity: keys in DataDirectory (migrate from host /var/lib/tor)
+Log notice file /var/log/tor/notices.log
+Nickname    KoopaRelay
+ContactInfo info+koopa@hacktivism.ch
+# dual-stack: bind all addresses on 8080 (IPv4 + IPv6), same as host tor
+ORPort      8080
+ControlPort 127.0.0.1:9051
+CookieAuthentication 1
+CookieAuthFile /var/lib/tor/control_auth_cookie
+ExitRelay   0
+SocksPort   0
+MyFamily    52BB94DDC1292F950CF728708AC48523E018A718
+BandwidthRate 2000 MBytes
+BandwidthBurst 2000 MBytes
+RelayBandwidthRate 2000 MBytes
+RelayBandwidthBurst 2000 MBytes
+DataDirectory /var/lib/tor
diff --git a/host/tor/README.md b/host/tor/README.md
index 138d11d..fa68a9c 100644
--- a/host/tor/README.md
+++ b/host/tor/README.md
@@ -1,13 +1,30 @@
 # Tor on koopa
 
-**Runtime:** host **`tor.service`** (not a podman container).  
-**Ports:** ORPort **8080** · ControlPort **9051** (loopback).  
-**Non-exit** relay (`ExitRelay 0`).
+**Runtime:** rootless podman container **`koopa-tor-relay`** (CachyOS base, Arch `extra/tor`), managed by user unit **`container-koopa-tor-relay.service`** (`Type=simple`, `podman start --attach`).  
+**Host `tor.service`:** disabled / must stay off (port clash on ORPort 8080 + ControlPort 9051).  
+**Ports:** ORPort **8080** · ControlPort **127.0.0.1:9051** (CookieAuthentication + CookieAuthFile).  
+**Non-exit** relay (`ExitRelay 0`). Nickname **KoopaRelay**.  
+**Fingerprint (stable keys under `~/koopa-tor-relay/data/keys/`):** `02C7EECCDF7814FBA2DB1CBAED000D06E8A32EE8`  
+**Family:** firecuda FireCudaRelay `52BB94DDC1292F950CF728708AC48523E018A718`
+
+Live tree: `~/koopa-tor-relay/` (`torrc`, `data/`, `log/`, `build/Containerfile`).  
+Mirrors in this repo: `configs/tor/torrc`, `configs/tor/build/Containerfile`, `configs/systemd/user/container-koopa-tor-relay.service`.
 
 ```bash
-systemctl status tor
-ss -lntp | grep -E '8080|9051'
+# status
+systemctl --user status container-koopa-tor-relay.service
+podman ps --filter name=koopa-tor-relay
+# ControlPort cookie auth (hex)
+COOKIE=$(xxd -p -c 256 ~/koopa-tor-relay/data/control_auth_cookie)
+printf 'AUTHENTICATE %s\r\nGETINFO fingerprint\r\nGETINFO status/circuit-established\r\nQUIT\r\n' "$COOKIE" | nc -w 3 127.0.0.1 9051
 ```
 
-login-health: WARN if `tor.service` not active.  
-Legacy `koopa-tor-relay` / `configs/tor/` removed from live inventory (git history keeps them).
+Apply / recreate (after host tor off):
+
+```bash
+sudo APPLY=1 /tmp/tor.sh
+# later upgrades:
+~/upgrade-containers.sh --apply --rebuild-local --only koopa-tor-relay
+```
+
+login-health: expect user unit active + CTR Up; host `tor.service` inactive. Parent TODO=704.
diff --git a/scripts/pepsi/ensure-mon-users.sh b/scripts/pepsi/ensure-mon-users.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..661edaa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/pepsi/ensure-mon-users.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Idempotent: ensure mon-* OS users + Maildir inside koopa-pepsi.
+# Needed after every container recreate: /home is not in the image and is
+# not a volume by default → useradd state vanishes while DB login_assignment
+# survives.
+#
+# UIDs fixed 1000–1004 (match login_assignment / prior live).
+# STATUS= only; no secrets. Run on koopa as hernani (rootless podman exec).
+set -euo pipefail
+
+CTR="${PEPSI_CTR:-koopa-pepsi}"
+USERS=(
+  "mon-smtp:1000"
+  "mon-maildir:1001"
+  "mon-dkim:1002"
+  "mon-bounce:1003"
+  "mon-local:1004"
+)
+
+echo "STATUS=start CTR=$CTR HOST=$(hostname -s)"
+
+if ! podman container exists "$CTR" 2>/dev/null; then
+  echo "STATUS=missing_ctr CTR=$CTR"
+  exit 2
+fi
+if [[ "$(podman inspect -f '{{.State.Running}}' "$CTR" 2>/dev/null || echo false)" != "true" ]]; then
+  echo "STATUS=ctr_not_running CTR=$CTR"
+  exit 3
+fi
+
+created=0
+present=0
+for entry in "${USERS[@]}"; do
+  u="${entry%%:*}"
+  uid="${entry##*:}"
+  if podman exec "$CTR" getent passwd "$u" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "USER=$u STATE=present"
+    present=$((present + 1))
+  else
+    podman exec -u root "$CTR" useradd -u "$uid" -U -m -d "/home/$u" -s /usr/sbin/nologin "$u"
+    echo "USER=$u STATE=created UID=$uid"
+    created=$((created + 1))
+  fi
+  # Maildir skeleton (cur/new/tmp) — safe if already present
+  podman exec -u root "$CTR" bash -c "
+    set -e
+    home=/home/$u
+    mkdir -p \"\$home/Maildir\"/{cur,new,tmp}
+    chown -R $u:$u \"\$home\"
+    chmod 700 \"\$home\"
+  "
+  echo "MAILDIR=$u OK=1"
+done
+
+echo "STATUS=done CREATED=$created PRESENT_BEFORE=$present EXPECT=${#USERS[@]}"
+podman exec "$CTR" getent passwd | grep '^mon-' || true
+exit 0
diff --git a/scripts/pepsi/firewalld-pepsi-highports.sh b/scripts/pepsi/firewalld-pepsi-highports.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..1387fa1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/pepsi/firewalld-pepsi-highports.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Open rootless pepsi high-ports on koopa (firewalld).
+# Compose map (LAN bind 192.168.100.95):
+#   1025→25  1465→465  1587→587  1993→993  18443→443
+# Freigabe: human this session. Run on koopa as root / sudo.
+set -euo pipefail
+
+PORTS=(1025/tcp 1465/tcp 1587/tcp 1993/tcp 18443/tcp)
+ZONE="${FIREWALLD_ZONE:-}"
+
+if [[ ${EUID:-$(id -u)} -ne 0 ]]; then
+  echo "STATUS=need_root HINT='sudo $0'"
+  exit 2
+fi
+
+if ! command -v firewall-cmd >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "STATUS=no_firewalld"
+  exit 3
+fi
+
+if ! firewall-cmd --state >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "STATUS=firewalld_down"
+  exit 4
+fi
+
+if [[ -z "$ZONE" ]]; then
+  # Prefer the zone that owns the LAN NIC; else default.
+  ZONE=$(firewall-cmd --get-zone-of-interface=eno1 2>/dev/null || true)
+  if [[ -z "$ZONE" ]]; then
+    ZONE=$(firewall-cmd --get-default-zone)
+  fi
+fi
+
+echo "STATUS=start ZONE=$ZONE HOST=$(hostname -s)"
+
+added=0
+present=0
+for p in "${PORTS[@]}"; do
+  if firewall-cmd --zone="$ZONE" --query-port="$p" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "PORT=$p STATE=present"
+    present=$((present + 1))
+  else
+    firewall-cmd --zone="$ZONE" --add-port="$p" --permanent
+    echo "PORT=$p STATE=added_permanent"
+    added=$((added + 1))
+  fi
+done
+
+firewall-cmd --reload
+echo "STATUS=reloaded"
+
+ok=0
+for p in "${PORTS[@]}"; do
+  if firewall-cmd --zone="$ZONE" --query-port="$p" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "VERIFY=$p OK=1"
+    ok=$((ok + 1))
+  else
+    echo "VERIFY=$p OK=0"
+  fi
+done
+
+echo "STATUS=done ZONE=$ZONE ADDED=$added PRESENT_BEFORE=$present VERIFY_OK=$ok EXPECT=${#PORTS[@]}"
+if [[ "$ok" -eq "${#PORTS[@]}" ]]; then
+  exit 0
+fi
+exit 1
diff --git a/scripts/pepsi/hostnet-pepsi-highports.sh b/scripts/pepsi/hostnet-pepsi-highports.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..aeacc55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/pepsi/hostnet-pepsi-highports.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,204 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Switch koopa-pepsi to network_mode:host on high ports so SMTP client IP
+# is preserved (rootlessport SNAT otherwise forces 10.89.16.4 → SPF fail).
+#
+# Vecigate stays pure DNAT (25/465/587 → 1025/1465/1587). No mail on router.
+# DB stays bridged; publish 127.0.0.1:15432→5432 for host-net pepsi.
+#
+# Freigabe: human this session (Script hinlegen + apply+restart).
+# Run on koopa as hernani (rootless podman). Never echoes DB secrets.
+set -euo pipefail
+
+PEPSI_DIR="${PEPSI_DIR:-$HOME/koopa-pepsi}"
+TS="$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)"
+BAK="${PEPSI_DIR}/bak-hostnet-${TS}"
+COMPOSE_BIN=""
+
+echo "STATUS=start HOST=$(hostname -s) DIR=$PEPSI_DIR"
+
+if [[ ! -d "$PEPSI_DIR" ]]; then
+  echo "STATUS=missing_dir PATH=$PEPSI_DIR"
+  exit 2
+fi
+cd "$PEPSI_DIR"
+
+if command -v podman-compose >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  COMPOSE_BIN="podman-compose"
+elif podman compose version >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  COMPOSE_BIN="podman compose"
+else
+  echo "STATUS=no_compose"
+  exit 3
+fi
+
+if [[ ! -f compose.yml || ! -f conf/pepsi.conf ]]; then
+  echo "STATUS=missing_files"
+  exit 4
+fi
+
+already=0
+if grep -q 'network_mode:[[:space:]]*host' compose.yml \
+  && grep -qE '^PORT = 1025$' conf/pepsi.conf \
+  && grep -qE '@127\.0\.0\.1:15432/' conf/pepsi.conf; then
+  already=1
+  echo "STATUS=already_hostnet HINT=skip_patch"
+fi
+
+if [[ "$already" -eq 0 ]]; then
+  mkdir -p "$BAK"
+  cp -a compose.yml conf/pepsi.conf "$BAK/"
+  echo "STATUS=bak PATH=$BAK"
+
+  python3 - <<'PY'
+from pathlib import Path
+import re
+import sys
+
+root = Path(".")
+compose_path = root / "compose.yml"
+conf_path = root / "conf" / "pepsi.conf"
+compose = compose_path.read_text()
+conf = conf_path.read_text()
+
+# Split services crudely on "\n  pepsi:" / "\n  db:"
+def patch_compose(text: str) -> str:
+    # Retarget env DB URLs first (password stays ${VAR})
+    text = text.replace("@db:5432/", "@127.0.0.1:15432/")
+
+    # Ensure db publishes 127.0.0.1:15432:5432
+    if "15432:5432" not in text:
+        text = re.sub(
+            r"(container_name: koopa-pepsi-db\n)",
+            r'\1    ports:\n      - "127.0.0.1:15432:5432"\n',
+            text,
+            count=1,
+        )
+
+    # pepsi service: add network_mode host; remove its ports: block
+    # Match from "  pepsi:" until next top-level service or "volumes:"
+    m = re.search(r"(?ms)^  pepsi:\n(.*?)(?=^volumes:|^  [a-z])", text)
+    if not m:
+        print("STATUS=pepsi_service_not_found")
+        sys.exit(5)
+    body = m.group(1)
+    # drop ports block inside pepsi
+    body2 = re.sub(r"(?m)^    ports:\n(?:      [^\n]*\n)+", "", body)
+    if "network_mode:" not in body2:
+        body2 = re.sub(
+            r"(container_name: koopa-pepsi\n)",
+            r"\1    network_mode: host\n",
+            body2,
+            count=1,
+        )
+    text = text[: m.start(1)] + body2 + text[m.end(1) :]
+    return text
+
+
+def set_port(text: str, section: str, port: int) -> str:
+    pat = rf"(\[{re.escape(section)}\]\n(?:.*\n)*?PORT = )\d+"
+    new, n = re.subn(pat, rf"\g<1>{port}", text, count=1)
+    if n != 1:
+        print(f"STATUS=port_patch_fail SECTION={section} N={n}")
+        sys.exit(6)
+    return new
+
+
+compose = patch_compose(compose)
+conf = conf.replace("@db:5432/", "@127.0.0.1:15432/")
+conf = set_port(conf, "pepsi-ingress-listener-mx", 1025)
+conf = set_port(conf, "pepsi-ingress-listener-submissions", 1465)
+conf = set_port(conf, "pepsi-ingress-listener-submission", 1587)
+conf = set_port(conf, "pepsi-httpd-listener-https", 18443)
+
+compose_path.write_text(compose)
+conf_path.write_text(conf)
+
+# sanity STATUS (no secrets)
+checks = [
+    ("network_mode_host", bool(re.search(r"(?m)^    network_mode:\s*host\s*$", compose))),
+    ("db_pub_15432", "15432:5432" in compose),
+    ("no_db_hostname", "@db:5432/" not in compose and "@db:5432/" not in conf),
+    ("port_1025", bool(re.search(r"(?m)^PORT = 1025\s*$", conf))),
+    ("port_1465", bool(re.search(r"(?m)^PORT = 1465\s*$", conf))),
+    ("port_1587", bool(re.search(r"(?m)^PORT = 1587\s*$", conf))),
+    ("port_18443", bool(re.search(r"(?m)^PORT = 18443\s*$", conf))),
+    ("pepsi_ports_gone", "192.168.100.95:1025" not in compose),
+]
+for k, v in checks:
+    print(f"CHECK={k} OK={int(v)}")
+if not all(v for _, v in checks):
+    print("STATUS=patch_sanity_fail")
+    sys.exit(7)
+print("STATUS=patched")
+PY
+fi
+
+echo "STATUS=compose_up BIN=$COMPOSE_BIN"
+# shellcheck disable=SC2086
+$COMPOSE_BIN up -d --force-recreate
+sleep 4
+
+echo "STATUS=verify"
+ss_out="$(ss -lntp 2>/dev/null | grep -E ':1025|:1465|:1587|:18443|:15432' || true)"
+# redact pid/user clutter lightly
+echo "$ss_out" | sed -E 's/users:\(\("([^"]+)".*/users=(("\1"…)/' || true
+
+rootless_hit=0
+if echo "$ss_out" | grep -q rootlessport; then
+  rootless_hit=1
+fi
+db_pub=0
+if echo "$ss_out" | grep -qE '127\.0\.0\.1:15432'; then
+  db_pub=1
+fi
+mx_ok=0
+if echo "$ss_out" | grep -qE ':1025\b'; then
+  mx_ok=1
+fi
+
+podman ps --format '{{.Names}} {{.Status}}' | grep pepsi || true
+
+if command -v pg_isready >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  if pg_isready -h 127.0.0.1 -p 15432 -d pepsi >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "STATUS=db_ready HOST=127.0.0.1 PORT=15432"
+  else
+    echo "STATUS=db_not_ready HOST=127.0.0.1 PORT=15432"
+  fi
+else
+  if timeout 2 bash -c 'echo >/dev/tcp/127.0.0.1/15432' 2>/dev/null; then
+    echo "STATUS=db_tcp_open HOST=127.0.0.1 PORT=15432"
+  else
+    echo "STATUS=db_tcp_closed HOST=127.0.0.1 PORT=15432"
+  fi
+fi
+
+# recent log lines (strip any postgres URLs)
+podman logs --tail 40 koopa-pepsi 2>/dev/null \
+  | grep -Ei 'listen|error|fatal|spf|client|1025|postgres|ready' \
+  | sed -E 's#postgres://[^[:space:]]+#postgres://*#g' \
+  | tail -12 || true
+
+echo "STATUS=done MX_1025=$mx_ok DB_PUB=$db_pub ROOTLESSPORT_ON_HIGH=$rootless_hit BAK=${BAK:-none}"
+echo "HINT=next ensure-mon-users.sh after recreate; then taler-mail send --expect-pong"
+echo "HINT=Vecigate DNAT unchanged (no mail on router); /home ephemeral unless volume+ensure"
+# Optional: run ensure if sibling script present (same dir or PEPSI_DIR/scripts)
+ENSURE=""
+here="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+for cand in "$here/ensure-mon-users.sh" "$PEPSI_DIR/scripts/ensure-mon-users.sh" "$PEPSI_DIR/ensure-mon-users.sh"; do
+  if [[ -x "$cand" ]]; then
+    ENSURE="$cand"
+    break
+  fi
+done
+if [[ -n "$ENSURE" ]]; then
+  echo "STATUS=ensure_mon_users SCRIPT=$ENSURE"
+  PEPSI_CTR=koopa-pepsi "$ENSURE" || echo "STATUS=ensure_warn"
+fi
+if [[ "$mx_ok" -eq 1 && "$rootless_hit" -eq 0 && "$db_pub" -eq 1 ]]; then
+  exit 0
+fi
+if [[ "$mx_ok" -eq 1 && "$db_pub" -eq 1 ]]; then
+  echo "STATUS=warn_rootlessport_still_present"
+  exit 0
+fi
+exit 1