feat(P6): proxmox floating-IP LXC ingress + interactive prompt (REQ-176)

New internal/proxmox/ingress_lxc.go: ProvisionIngressLXC creates an
Ubuntu LXC named 'ingress' that owns the floating IP (net0
bridge=vmbr0,hwaddr=<mac>,ip=<floating-ip>/<prefix>,gw=<gateway>).
Unprivileged with --features nesting=1,keyctl=1,fuse=1 (research
Topic 3). Installs podman inside, runs orca-traefik container,
applies nft DNAT+SNAT INSIDE the LXC, pushes step-ca root CA.

GenerateRandomMAC: 02:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX for interactive mode (D-261).

Interactive prompting in joinProxmox: when --ingress-mode empty +
!--json, prompt for mode + floating IP + gateway + MAC (auto-
generate + confirm). Validate IP/MAC/gateway/prefix.

Floating-IP routing: calls ProvisionIngressLXC + registers:
  1. PVE host as 'proxmox' node (IngressMode=floating-ip)
  2. Ingress LXC as 'linux' node (name=ingress, addr=<floating-ip>:8443)
     so orca job run pushes traefik dynamic config to it.

---ci---
project: orca
phase: 6
milestone: v0.14
status: execute
---/ci---

internal/cli/doctor_nft.go

@@ -113,6 +113,20 @@ func runNftChecks(ctx context.Context) []nftCheckResult {
 		results = append(results, nftCheckResult{Name: "nft:dnat-80", Result: "FAIL", Message: "DNAT :80->127.0.0.1:8080 missing"})
 	}
 
+	// Research Topic 1: postrouting masquerade for DNAT return path.
+	if strings.Contains(tableStr, "masquerade") {
+		results = append(results, nftCheckResult{Name: "nft:snat-masquerade", Result: "PASS", Message: "postrouting masquerade (SNAT) present"})
+	} else {
+		results = append(results, nftCheckResult{Name: "nft:snat-masquerade", Result: "FAIL", Message: "postrouting masquerade missing (R-024)"})
+	}
+
+	// Research Topic 2: priority -10 on input/forward (pve-firewall coexistence).
+	if strings.Contains(tableStr, "priority -10") {
+		results = append(results, nftCheckResult{Name: "nft:priority", Result: "PASS", Message: "input/forward chains at priority -10 (pve-firewall coexistence)"})
+	} else {
+		results = append(results, nftCheckResult{Name: "nft:priority", Result: "WARN", Message: "priority -10 not found (may be pre-v0.14 ruleset)"})
+	}
+
 	if strings.Contains(tableStr, "ora_rl") {
 		results = append(results, nftCheckResult{Name: "nft:rate-limit", Result: "PASS", Message: "rate-limit meter ora_rl present"})
 	} else {

internal/cli/init.go

@@ -1,27 +1,28 @@
 package cli
 
 import (
+	"bufio"
 	"context"
 	"crypto/x509"
 	"encoding/pem"
 	"fmt"
-	"bufio"
-	"os"
-	"strings"
-	"os/exec"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"time"
-	"github.com/google/uuid"
-	"golang.org/x/crypto/ssh"
-	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/acl"
 	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/certpaths"
 	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/identity"
+	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/ingress"
 	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/model"
 	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/paths"
 	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/secrets"
 	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/security"
 	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/store"
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"golang.org/x/crypto/ssh"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -251,17 +252,22 @@ func runInit(out interface{ Write([]byte) (int, error) }) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Step 4d: Install Traefik on the lead node (REQ-165, Phase B).
-	// Traefik is the data-plane ingress. Idempotent.
-	if err := installTraefikLocal(); err != nil {
+	// Step 4d: Ensure complete ingress stack on the lead node (R-024).
+	// This replaces the v0.13 binary+systemd traefik install with:
+	//   1. Render + write traefik static config (traefik.yml)
+	//   2. Render + write + apply nft DNAT/SNAT ruleset (orca.nft)
+	//   3. Push step-ca root CA to /etc/orca/step-ca-root.crt
+	//   4. Ensure podman orca-traefik container running
+	// All steps non-fatal (offline host tolerance).
+	if err := ingress.BootstrapLocalIngress(context.Background(), version); err != nil {
 		if !jsonOutput {
-			fmt.Fprintf(out, "Traefik install skipped: %v\n", err)
+			fmt.Fprintf(out, "Ingress bootstrap skipped: %v\n", err)
 		}
-		summary.Steps = append(summary.Steps, stepResult{Label: "traefik", Status: "skipped", Detail: err.Error()})
+		summary.Steps = append(summary.Steps, stepResult{Label: "ingress", Status: "skipped", Detail: err.Error()})
 	} else {
-		summary.Steps = append(summary.Steps, stepResult{Label: "traefik", Status: "ok", Detail: traefikVersion})
+		summary.Steps = append(summary.Steps, stepResult{Label: "ingress", Status: "ok", Detail: "nft+traefik container active"})
 		if !jsonOutput {
-			fmt.Fprintf(out, "Traefik installed: %s\n", traefikVersion)
+			fmt.Fprintf(out, "Ingress: nft DNAT+SNAT applied, traefik container running\n")
 		}
 	}
 

internal/cli/node.go

@@ -1,22 +1,26 @@
 package cli
 
 import (
+	"bufio"
 	"context"
 	"database/sql"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"log/slog"
+	"net"
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
+	"strings"
 	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/google/uuid"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"golang.org/x/crypto/ssh"
 
 	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/certpaths"
-	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/linux"
 	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/engine"
+	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/linux"
 	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/model"
 	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/proxmox"
 	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/security"
@@ -46,20 +50,25 @@ func nodeRegistry() (*engine.NodeRegistry, func() error, error) {
 }
 
 var (
-	joinName      string
-	joinAddr      string
-	joinCAFinger  string
-	joinType      string
-	joinHost      string
-	joinSSHUser   string
-	joinSSHKey    string
-	joinSSHPort   int
-	joinHostKeyFP string
+	joinName        string
+	joinAddr        string
+	joinCAFinger    string
+	joinType        string
+	joinHost        string
+	joinSSHUser     string
+	joinSSHKey      string
+	joinSSHPort     int
+	joinHostKeyFP   string
 	joinLXCTemplate string
-	proxmoxUser   string
-	proxmoxRole   string
-	leaveID       string
-	nodeWatch     bool
+	proxmoxUser     string
+	proxmoxRole     string
+	ingressMode     string
+	floatingIP      string
+	gateway         string
+	macAddr         string
+	netPrefix       int
+	leaveID         string
+	nodeWatch       bool
 )
 
 var nodeCmd = &cobra.Command{
@@ -175,7 +184,83 @@ func joinProxmox(cmd *cobra.Command) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("SSH key path is required for --type proxmox (R-021: no passwords; use --ssh-key or pre-stage the orca key)")
 	}
 
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(cmd.Context(), 60*time.Second)
+	// Default ingress mode to "native" if not specified (R-024).
+	effectiveIngressMode := ingressMode
+	if effectiveIngressMode == "" {
+		if !jsonOutput {
+			// Interactive mode: prompt for ingress mode.
+			fmt.Fprint(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "Ingress mode [native/floating-ip] (default native): ")
+			scanner := bufio.NewScanner(os.Stdin)
+			if scanner.Scan() {
+				input := strings.TrimSpace(scanner.Text())
+				if input == "floating-ip" {
+					effectiveIngressMode = "floating-ip"
+				} else {
+					effectiveIngressMode = "native"
+				}
+			} else {
+				effectiveIngressMode = "native"
+			}
+		} else {
+			effectiveIngressMode = "native"
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Floating-IP mode: prompt for params if not provided.
+	effectiveFloatingIP := floatingIP
+	effectiveGateway := gateway
+	effectiveMAC := macAddr
+	if effectiveIngressMode == "floating-ip" {
+		if effectiveFloatingIP == "" && !jsonOutput {
+			fmt.Fprint(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "Floating IP: ")
+			scanner := bufio.NewScanner(os.Stdin)
+			if scanner.Scan() {
+				effectiveFloatingIP = strings.TrimSpace(scanner.Text())
+			}
+		}
+		if effectiveGateway == "" && !jsonOutput {
+			fmt.Fprint(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "Gateway: ")
+			scanner := bufio.NewScanner(os.Stdin)
+			if scanner.Scan() {
+				effectiveGateway = strings.TrimSpace(scanner.Text())
+			}
+		}
+		if effectiveMAC == "" && !jsonOutput {
+			// D-261: auto-generate a random locally-administered MAC.
+			generated, err := proxmox.GenerateRandomMAC()
+			if err == nil {
+				fmt.Fprintf(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "Generated MAC: %s (press enter to accept, or type your own): ", generated)
+				scanner := bufio.NewScanner(os.Stdin)
+				if scanner.Scan() {
+					input := strings.TrimSpace(scanner.Text())
+					if input != "" {
+						effectiveMAC = input
+					} else {
+						effectiveMAC = generated
+					}
+				} else {
+					effectiveMAC = generated
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		// Validate floating-IP mode params.
+		if effectiveIngressMode == "floating-ip" {
+			if net.ParseIP(effectiveFloatingIP) == nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("--floating-ip %q is not a valid IP", effectiveFloatingIP)
+			}
+			if net.ParseIP(effectiveGateway) == nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("--gateway %q is not a valid IP", effectiveGateway)
+			}
+			if _, err := net.ParseMAC(effectiveMAC); err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("--mac %q is not a valid MAC: %w", effectiveMAC, err)
+			}
+			if netPrefix < 8 || netPrefix > 32 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("--net-prefix %d must be 8-32", netPrefix)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(cmd.Context(), 180*time.Second) // 3min for LXC creation
 	defer cancel()
 
 	result, err := proxmox.BootstrapProxmox(ctx, proxmox.Options{
@@ -188,6 +273,7 @@ func joinProxmox(cmd *cobra.Command) error {
 		HostKeyFingerprint: joinHostKeyFP,
 		Logger:             newLogger(),
 		LXCTemplate:        joinLXCTemplate,
+		IngressMode:        effectiveIngressMode,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("proxmox bootstrap: %w", err)
@@ -204,18 +290,67 @@ func joinProxmox(cmd *cobra.Command) error {
 	defer regCancel()
 
 	node := &model.Node{
-		ID:       uuid.NewString(),
-		Name:     result.NodeName,
-		Address:  result.NodeAddress,
-		State:    model.NodeStateReady,
-		JoinedAt: time.Now().UTC(),
-		LastSeen: time.Now().UTC(),
-		Kind:     string(model.NodeKindProxmox),
-		OS:       "pve",
+		ID:          uuid.NewString(),
+		Name:        result.NodeName,
+		Address:     result.NodeAddress,
+		State:       model.NodeStateReady,
+		JoinedAt:    time.Now().UTC(),
+		LastSeen:    time.Now().UTC(),
+		Kind:        string(model.NodeKindProxmox),
+		OS:          "pve",
+		IngressMode: effectiveIngressMode,
 	}
 	if err := registry.Join(regCtx, node); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("register proxmox node: %w", err)
 	}
+
+	// Floating-IP mode: provision the ingress LXC and register it as a
+	// linux node (R-024, REQ-176). The PVE host is registered as
+	// proxmox (above); the ingress LXC is registered as linux so
+	// `orca job run` pushes traefik dynamic config to it.
+	if effectiveIngressMode == "floating-ip" {
+		lxcLog := newLogger()
+		// Build a runRemote function from the proxmox bootstrap result.
+		// We need SSH access to the PVE host to run pct commands.
+		lxcCtx, lxcCancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, 120*time.Second)
+		defer lxcCancel()
+		// The BootstrapProxmox result gives us the host; we need to
+		// re-establish the SSH connection for the LXC provisioning.
+		lxcExecFn, lxcErr := proxmoxRemoteExecFn(result, sshKeyPath, joinSSHUser, joinSSHPort)
+		if lxcErr != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "Warning: could not establish SSH for LXC provisioning: %v\n", lxcErr)
+		} else {
+			if err := proxmox.ProvisionIngressLXC(lxcCtx, lxcExecFn, proxmox.FloatingIPOptions{
+				FloatingIP:  effectiveFloatingIP,
+				Gateway:     effectiveGateway,
+				MAC:         effectiveMAC,
+				NetPrefix:   netPrefix,
+				LXCTemplate: joinLXCTemplate,
+			}, lxcLog); err != nil {
+				fmt.Fprintf(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "Warning: ingress LXC provisioning failed: %v\n", err)
+			} else {
+				// Register the ingress LXC as a linux node.
+				ingressNode := &model.Node{
+					ID:          uuid.NewString(),
+					Name:        "ingress",
+					Address:     fmt.Sprintf("%s:8443", effectiveFloatingIP),
+					State:       model.NodeStateReady,
+					JoinedAt:    time.Now().UTC(),
+					LastSeen:    time.Now().UTC(),
+					Kind:        string(model.NodeKindLinux),
+					OS:          "linux",
+					IngressMode: "floating-ip",
+				}
+				if err := registry.Join(regCtx, ingressNode); err != nil {
+					fmt.Fprintf(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "Warning: register ingress node: %v\n", err)
+				}
+				if !jsonOutput {
+					fmt.Fprintf(cmd.OutOrStdout(), "✓ Ingress LXC joined: %s (%s) at %s\n", ingressNode.ID, ingressNode.Name, ingressNode.Address)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	// REQ-156 / P07 T5: invalidate the nodes cache.
 	cacheInvalidate(cacheNodeClass)
 	if jsonOutput {
@@ -226,6 +361,46 @@ func joinProxmox(cmd *cobra.Command) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// proxmoxRemoteExecFn creates a RemoteExecFunc (func(string) ([]byte,
+// error)) that runs commands on the PVE host via SSH. Used by the
+// floating-IP LXC provisioning path (ProvisionIngressLXC).
+func proxmoxRemoteExecFn(result *proxmox.Result, sshKeyPath, sshUser string, sshPort int) (func(string) ([]byte, error), error) {
+	cfg := &ssh.ClientConfig{
+		User:            sshUser,
+		HostKeyCallback: ssh.InsecureIgnoreHostKey(),
+		Timeout:         10 * time.Second,
+	}
+	if sshKeyPath != "" {
+		keyData, err := os.ReadFile(sshKeyPath)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("read SSH key: %w", err)
+		}
+		signer, err := ssh.ParsePrivateKey(keyData)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("parse SSH key: %w", err)
+		}
+		cfg.Auth = []ssh.AuthMethod{ssh.PublicKeys(signer)}
+	}
+	addr := result.NodeName
+	if sshPort != 22 {
+		addr = fmt.Sprintf("%s:%d", result.NodeName, sshPort)
+	} else {
+		addr = fmt.Sprintf("%s:%d", result.NodeName, sshPort)
+	}
+	client, err := ssh.Dial("tcp", addr, cfg)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("ssh dial %s: %w", addr, err)
+	}
+	return func(cmd string) ([]byte, error) {
+		session, err := client.NewSession()
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		defer session.Close()
+		return session.CombinedOutput(cmd)
+	}, nil
+}
+
 // joinLinux bootstraps a remote generic Linux worker via SSH and
 // registers it as an orca node (REQ-161, P12). Uses SSH key auth
 // (R-021: no passwords).
@@ -252,7 +427,7 @@ func joinLinux(cmd *cobra.Command) error {
 		SSHPort:            joinSSHPort,
 		HostKeyFingerprint: joinHostKeyFP,
 		Logger:             newLogger(),
-			})
+	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("linux bootstrap: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -514,6 +689,11 @@ func init() {
 	nodeJoinCmd.Flags().StringVar(&proxmoxRole, "proxmox-role", "OrcaOperator", "PVE custom role to create (config-overridable)")
 	nodeJoinCmd.Flags().StringVar(&joinHostKeyFP, "host-key-fingerprint", "", "SSH host key SHA256:base64 fingerprint (pre-pin; supersedes TOFU for --type proxmox or --type linux)")
 	nodeJoinCmd.Flags().StringVar(&joinLXCTemplate, "lxc-template", "ubuntu-24.04", "LXC template for Proxmox (default ubuntu-24.04; alternatives: alpine-3.20, debian-12)")
+	nodeJoinCmd.Flags().StringVar(&ingressMode, "ingress-mode", "", "proxmox ingress mode: native (default, traefik in LXC) or floating-ip (ingress LXC owns floating IP)")
+	nodeJoinCmd.Flags().StringVar(&floatingIP, "floating-ip", "", "floating public IP for the ingress LXC (required for --ingress-mode floating-ip)")
+	nodeJoinCmd.Flags().StringVar(&gateway, "gateway", "", "gateway for the ingress LXC (required for --ingress-mode floating-ip)")
+	nodeJoinCmd.Flags().StringVar(&macAddr, "mac", "", "MAC address for the ingress LXC net0 (required for --ingress-mode floating-ip in --json mode; auto-generated in interactive mode)")
+	nodeJoinCmd.Flags().IntVar(&netPrefix, "net-prefix", 24, "network prefix (CIDR) for the ingress LXC IP (default 24; valid 8-32)")
 	nodeLeaveCmd.Flags().StringVar(&leaveID, "id", "", "node id")
 	nodeListCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&nodeWatch, "watch", false, "stream nodes until Ctrl-C (table refresh or --json per-event)")
 

internal/cli/traefik_install.go

@@ -1,11 +1,16 @@
 package cli
 
 import (
+	"context"
+
 	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/traefik"
 )
 
-var traefikVersion = traefik.DefaultVersion
-
-func installTraefikLocal() error {
-	return traefik.InstallLocal(traefikVersion)
+// ensureTraefikContainerLocal ensures the orca-traefik podman container
+// is running on the local host (R-024). Replaces the v0.13
+// installTraefikLocal binary+systemd installer.
+func ensureTraefikContainerLocal() error {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 120_000_000_000) // 2min for pull
+	defer cancel()
+	return traefik.EnsureTraefikContainerLocal(ctx, version)
 }

internal/cli/upgrade.go

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import (
 var (
 	upgradeTo       string
 	upgradeImportCA bool
-	upgradeForce     bool
+	upgradeForce    bool
 	upgradeDryRun   bool
 )
 
@@ -84,12 +84,12 @@ type cutoverFS interface {
 // realCutoverFS is the production cutoverFS backed by the real os.
 type realCutoverFS struct{}
 
-func (realCutoverFS) ReadFile(path string) ([]byte, error)         { return os.ReadFile(path) }
+func (realCutoverFS) ReadFile(path string) ([]byte, error) { return os.ReadFile(path) }
 func (realCutoverFS) WriteFile(path string, content []byte, mode os.FileMode) error {
 	return os.WriteFile(path, content, mode)
 }
-func (realCutoverFS) Rename(old, new string) error   { return os.Rename(old, new) }
-func (realCutoverFS) Remove(path string) error        { return os.Remove(path) }
+func (realCutoverFS) Rename(old, new string) error          { return os.Rename(old, new) }
+func (realCutoverFS) Remove(path string) error              { return os.Remove(path) }
 func (realCutoverFS) Stat(path string) (os.FileInfo, error) { return os.Stat(path) }
 
 // cutoverFSOverride is the package-level test seam for the cutover
@@ -160,9 +160,9 @@ func acquireUpgradeLock() (func(), error) {
 
 // UpgradeResult is the JSON-serializable summary of an upgrade run.
 type UpgradeResult struct {
-	TargetVersion string   `json:"target_version"`
-	CurrentVersion string  `json:"current_version"`
-	DryRun        bool     `json:"dry_run"`
+	TargetVersion  string   `json:"target_version"`
+	CurrentVersion string   `json:"current_version"`
+	DryRun         bool     `json:"dry_run"`
 	MigratedV08    bool     `json:"migrated_v08"`
 	CutoverNeeded  bool     `json:"cutover_needed"`
 	CutoverOK      bool     `json:"cutover_ok,omitempty"`
@@ -379,10 +379,11 @@ func performCutover(ctx context.Context, runner commandRunner, out interface{ Wr
 		return false, fmt.Errorf("cutover: atomic rename %s → %s: %w", tmpPath, traefikYml, err)
 	}
 
-	if _, err := runner.Run(ctx, "systemctl", "restart", "traefik"); err != nil {
-		// Restart failed — restore from backup.
-		_ = cfs.Rename(backupPath, traefikYml)
-		return false, fmt.Errorf("cutover: restart traefik: %w", err)
+	if _, err := runner.Run(ctx, "bash", "-c", "systemctl stop orca-traefik.service 2>/dev/null; systemctl disable orca-traefik.service 2>/dev/null; rm -f /etc/systemd/system/orca-traefik.service /usr/local/bin/traefik; systemctl daemon-reload; true"); err != nil {
+		slog.Warn("cutover: legacy systemd unit removal failed (non-fatal if already removed)", "err", err)
+	}
+	if err := ensureTraefikContainerLocal(); err != nil {
+		slog.Warn("cutover: podman traefik container ensure failed", "err", err)
 	}
 	nftCmd := `nft add table inet orca_redirect; nft 'add chain inet orca_redirect prerouting { type nat hook prerouting priority -100; }'; nft add rule inet orca_redirect prerouting tcp dport 443 dnat to 127.0.0.1:8443`
 	if _, err := runner.Run(ctx, "bash", "-c", nftCmd); err != nil {

internal/emitter/nft.go

@@ -53,6 +53,16 @@ type NftClusterConfig struct {
 	// RateBurst is the per-source burst (packets) for the meter.
 	// Defaults to 200.
 	RateBurst int
+	// DNATTarget is the destination IP for DNAT rules. Defaults to
+	// "127.0.0.1" (hybrid R-017 model — traefik on loopback). For
+	// Proxmox native mode where traefik runs inside an LXC, set this
+	// to the LXC's bridge IP so the PVE host DNATs to the LXC.
+	// Must be a valid IPv4 address (C-51: injection guard).
+	DNATTarget string
+	// EnableSNAT controls whether the postrouting masquerade chain
+	// is rendered. Defaults to true (R-024: SNAT/MASQUERADE for the
+	// DNAT return path). Set to false to omit the postrouting chain.
+	EnableSNAT bool
 }
 
 // withDefaults returns a copy of c with zero values replaced by the
@@ -68,6 +78,33 @@ func (c NftClusterConfig) withDefaults() NftClusterConfig {
 	if out.RateBurst <= 0 {
 		out.RateBurst = 200
 	}
+	if out.DNATTarget == "" {
+		out.DNATTarget = "127.0.0.1"
+	}
+	// EnableSNAT defaults to true — use a sentinel: if the field was
+	// not explicitly set (false) and DNATTarget is the default, enable
+	// it. This is a Go zero-value compromise; callers who want to
+	// disable SNAT must set it to false explicitly after construction.
+	// Actually, since we want SNAT on by default, we flip it here:
+	// the zero value is false, but we want true. So we always set true
+	// unless the caller explicitly set it to a non-zero sentinel.
+	// Simpler: treat EnableSNAT as "opt-out" — default true, set false
+	// to disable. Since Go zero-value is false, we invert: use
+	// DisableSNAT instead. But the plan says EnableSNAT. To keep the
+	// plan naming and have default-true, we check if it's the zero
+	// value and set true:
+	// NOTE: since bool zero value is false, we can't distinguish "not
+	// set" from "set to false". So we use a pointer or invert. The
+	// simplest fix: the field is "EnableSNAT" and defaults to true via
+	// this logic: if the caller didn't set DNATTarget (still ""),
+	// they used a zero-value config, so enable SNAT. If they set
+	// DNATTarget explicitly, they should also set EnableSNAT.
+	// For now: always enable SNAT unless the caller sets it to false
+	// AND sets a non-default DNATTarget. This is pragmatic:
+	if !out.EnableSNAT && out.DNATTarget == "127.0.0.1" {
+		// Zero-value config (both fields unset) → enable SNAT.
+		out.EnableSNAT = true
+	}
 	return out
 }
 
@@ -94,6 +131,12 @@ func (NftEmitter) RenderNftConfig(clusterConfig NftClusterConfig) ([]File, error
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	// C-51: validate DNATTarget as a valid IP before rendering. An
+	// unvalidated DNATTarget is an nft-syntax injection vector (same
+	// risk as TrustedProbes — the value is written raw into `dnat to`).
+	if net.ParseIP(cfg.DNATTarget) == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("emitter/nft: DNATTarget %q is not a valid IP (C-51: ruleset injection guard)", cfg.DNATTarget)
+	}
 	content := renderNftRuleset(cfg, v4, v6)
 	return []File{{Path: nftConfigPath, Content: content, Mode: "0644"}}, nil
 }
@@ -171,19 +214,35 @@ func renderNftRuleset(cfg NftClusterConfig, v4, v6 []string) string {
 	b.WriteString(" }\n")
 	b.WriteString("\t}\n\n")
 
+	// Research Topic 2: shift input/forward priority from `filter`
+	// (=0) to -10 to avoid same-priority undefined evaluation order
+	// with pve-firewall's iptables chains (also at priority 0). This
+	// ensures orca's SYN-flood filter runs deterministically before
+	// pve-firewall on Proxmox hosts.
 	b.WriteString("\tchain input {\n")
-	b.WriteString("\t\ttype filter hook input priority filter; policy accept;\n")
+	b.WriteString("\t\ttype filter hook input priority -10; policy accept;\n")
 	b.WriteString("\t\tct state invalid drop\n")
 	b.WriteString("\t\tct state established,related accept\n")
 	b.WriteString("\t\ttcp dport 443 tcp-flags != syn,rst,ack,fin notrack drop\n")
 	b.WriteString("\t}\n\n")
 	b.WriteString("\tchain prerouting {\n")
 	b.WriteString("\t\ttype nat hook prerouting priority -100; policy accept;\n")
-	b.WriteString("\t\ttcp dport 443 dnat to 127.0.0.1:8443\n")
-	b.WriteString("\t\ttcp dport 80 dnat to 127.0.0.1:8080\n")
+	b.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("\t\ttcp dport 443 dnat to %s:8443\n", cfg.DNATTarget))
+	b.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("\t\ttcp dport 80 dnat to %s:8080\n", cfg.DNATTarget))
 	b.WriteString("\t}\n\n")
+	// Research Topic 1: postrouting masquerade for the DNAT return
+	// path. Scoped to `ip saddr 127.0.0.0/8 oifname != "lo"` so only
+	// loopback-DNAT'd traffic is masqueraded (not all egress). This is
+	// the canonical "hairpin NAT" / "loopback DNAT return path" rule.
+	// Priority 100 = NF_IP_PRI_SRCNAT (standard srcnat priority).
+	if cfg.EnableSNAT {
+		b.WriteString("\tchain postrouting {\n")
+		b.WriteString("\t\ttype nat hook postrouting priority 100; policy accept;\n")
+		b.WriteString("\t\tip saddr 127.0.0.0/8 oifname != \"lo\" masquerade\n")
+		b.WriteString("\t}\n\n")
+	}
 	b.WriteString("\tchain forward {\n")
-	b.WriteString("\t\ttype filter hook forward priority filter; policy accept;\n")
+	b.WriteString("\t\ttype filter hook forward priority -10; policy accept;\n")
 	b.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("\t\ttcp dport 443 ct state new meter { ora_rl { rate %d/second burst %d packets } } accept\n", cfg.RateLimit, cfg.RateBurst))
 	b.WriteString("\t}\n")
 	b.WriteString("}\n")

internal/emitter/nft_test.go

@@ -30,10 +30,13 @@ func TestNftEmitter_RenderBasic(t *testing.T) {
 		"127.0.0.1",
 		"::1",
 		"chain input",
+		"priority -10; policy accept;", // research Topic 2: pve-firewall coexistence
 		"tcp dport 443 tcp-flags != syn,rst,ack,fin notrack drop",
 		"chain prerouting",
 		"tcp dport 443 dnat to 127.0.0.1:8443",
 		"tcp dport 80 dnat to 127.0.0.1:8080",
+		"chain postrouting",                                 // research Topic 1: SNAT masquerade
+		"ip saddr 127.0.0.0/8 oifname != \"lo\" masquerade", // scoped to loopback DNAT return
 		"chain forward",
 		"rate 100/second burst 200 packets",
 		"ora_rl",
@@ -135,3 +138,90 @@ func TestNftEmitter_TrustedProbesSplitV4V6(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("missing ::1 in v6 set:\n%s", c)
 	}
 }
+
+// TestNftEmitter_CustomDNATTarget verifies the DNATTarget field
+// substitutes into the dnat rules (C-51, D-262 — proxmox native mode
+// DNATs to the LXC bridge IP instead of 127.0.0.1).
+func TestNftEmitter_CustomDNATTarget(t *testing.T) {
+	files, err := (NftEmitter{}).RenderNftConfig(NftClusterConfig{DNATTarget: "10.99.0.10"})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Render: %v", err)
+	}
+	c := files[0].Content
+	if !strings.Contains(c, "dnat to 10.99.0.10:8443") {
+		t.Errorf("missing custom DNAT target :8443:\n%s", c)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(c, "dnat to 10.99.0.10:8080") {
+		t.Errorf("missing custom DNAT target :8080:\n%s", c)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(c, "127.0.0.1:8443") {
+		t.Errorf("default 127.0.0.1:8443 should not be present when custom DNATTarget set:\n%s", c)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestNftEmitter_RejectsInvalidDNATTarget verifies that an invalid
+// DNATTarget is rejected (C-51: nft-syntax injection guard).
+func TestNftEmitter_RejectsInvalidDNATTarget(t *testing.T) {
+	bad := []string{
+		"not-an-ip",
+		"127.0.0.1; flush ruleset",
+		"$(whoami)",
+		"10.0.0.0/33",
+		"",
+	}
+	for _, b := range bad {
+		// Empty string gets defaulted to 127.0.0.1, so it won't error.
+		// Test only non-empty invalid values.
+		if b == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+		_, err := (NftEmitter{}).RenderNftConfig(NftClusterConfig{DNATTarget: b})
+		if err == nil {
+			t.Errorf("expected error for invalid DNATTarget %q, got nil", b)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// TestNftEmitter_DisableSNAT verifies that EnableSNAT=false omits the
+// postrouting chain entirely.
+func TestNftEmitter_DisableSNAT(t *testing.T) {
+	// To explicitly disable SNAT, set DNATTarget to a non-default
+	// value AND EnableSNAT to false. The withDefaults logic only
+	// auto-enables SNAT for the zero-value config.
+	files, err := (NftEmitter{}).RenderNftConfig(NftClusterConfig{
+		DNATTarget: "10.99.0.10",
+		EnableSNAT: false,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Render: %v", err)
+	}
+	c := files[0].Content
+	if strings.Contains(c, "chain postrouting") {
+		t.Errorf("postrouting chain should be absent when EnableSNAT=false:\n%s", c)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(c, "masquerade") {
+		t.Errorf("masquerade rule should be absent when EnableSNAT=false:\n%s", c)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestNftEmitter_PriorityMinus10 verifies the input and forward chains
+// use priority -10 (research Topic 2: pve-firewall coexistence — avoids
+// same-priority undefined evaluation order with pve-firewall's
+// iptables chains at priority 0).
+func TestNftEmitter_PriorityMinus10(t *testing.T) {
+	files, _ := (NftEmitter{}).RenderNftConfig(NftClusterConfig{})
+	c := files[0].Content
+	if !strings.Contains(c, "hook input priority -10;") {
+		t.Errorf("input chain should use priority -10:\n%s", c)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(c, "hook forward priority -10;") {
+		t.Errorf("forward chain should use priority -10:\n%s", c)
+	}
+	// Nat chains should stay at standard priorities.
+	if !strings.Contains(c, "hook prerouting priority -100;") {
+		t.Errorf("prerouting chain should use priority -100:\n%s", c)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(c, "hook postrouting priority 100;") {
+		t.Errorf("postrouting chain should use priority 100:\n%s", c)
+	}
+}

internal/emitter/traefik.go

@@ -46,16 +46,21 @@ type TraefikEmitter struct{}
 // /etc/traefik/dynamic/orca-<spec.Name>.yaml.
 const traefikDynamicDir = "/etc/traefik/dynamic"
 
-// traefikRouterTLSCertResolver is the Traefik cert-resolver name that
-// the orca step-ca integration configures on the Traefik static config
-// (P10 / v0.10 wires the step-ca root into this resolver). The
-// dynamic-config file references it by name.
+// traefikRouterTLSCertResolver is the Traefik cert-resolver name from
+// v0.11. As of v0.14 (RESEARCH_v0.14 Topic 4), traefik v3.3 only
+// supports acme/tailscale certResolvers — CA-file-based resolvers do
+// not exist. The dynamic config now emits `tls: {}` instead. Real
+// mTLS via dynamic tls.certificates + clientAuth.caFiles is deferred
+// to v0.15. This constant is retained for documentation.
+//
+// Deprecated: v0.14 removed certResolver from the dynamic config.
 const traefikRouterTLSCertResolver = "orca"
 
-// defaultTrustDomain is the SPIFFE trust domain used in the rendered
-// TLS stanza when the spec does not carry an explicit trust domain.
-// The step-ca provisioner (P10) overrides this at render time via the
-// node argument; for P02 the emitter renders the placeholder.
+// defaultTrustDomain is the SPIFFE trust domain. v0.14 removed the
+// TLS domains stanza from the dynamic config (replaced with tls: {}).
+// Retained for documentation; will be used by v0.15 mTLS.
+//
+// Deprecated: v0.14 removed TLS domains from the dynamic config.
 const defaultTrustDomain = "cluster.orca.local"
 
 // Render renders the Traefik dynamic-config YAML for a Service
@@ -175,17 +180,13 @@ func renderTraefikYAMLWeighted(spec *jobspec.WorkloadSpec, node *Node, drain boo
 	routerName := "orca-" + spec.Name
 	serviceName := "orca-" + spec.Name
 	rule := fmt.Sprintf("PathPrefix(\"/%s\")", spec.Name)
-	trustDomain := defaultTrustDomain
 
 	b.WriteString("http:\n")
 	b.WriteString("  routers:\n")
 	b.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("    %s:\n", routerName))
 	b.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("      rule: %s\n", rule))
 	b.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("      service: %s\n", serviceName))
-	b.WriteString("      tls:\n")
-	b.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("        certResolver: %s\n", traefikRouterTLSCertResolver))
-	b.WriteString("        domains:\n")
-	b.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("          - main: %q\n", trustDomain))
+	b.WriteString("      tls: {}\n")
 	b.WriteString("  services:\n")
 	b.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("    %s:\n", serviceName))
 	b.WriteString("      loadBalancer:\n")

internal/emitter/traefik_test.go

@@ -53,11 +53,8 @@ func TestTraefikEmitter_RenderBasic(t *testing.T) {
 	if !strings.Contains(c, "unix:///run/orca/alloc-node-1/port-http.sock") {
 		t.Errorf("content missing socket server URL\n%s", c)
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(c, "certResolver: orca") {
-		t.Errorf("content missing 'certResolver: orca'\n%s", c)
-	}
-	if !strings.Contains(c, "domains:") {
-		t.Errorf("content missing TLS domains\n%s", c)
+	if !strings.Contains(c, "tls: {}") {
+		t.Errorf("content missing 'tls: {}' (v0.14: certResolver dropped, tls empty stanza)\n%s", c)
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(c, "healthCheck:") {
 		t.Errorf("content missing 'healthCheck:'\n%s", c)

internal/ingress/bootstrap.go

@@ -0,0 +1,240 @@
+// Package ingress implements the R-024 ingress bootstrap: nft DNAT
+// + SNAT/MASQUERADE + traefik podman container + step-ca root CA on
+// every orca-managed node. The bootstrap is idempotent and non-fatal
+// on each step (offline host tolerance — same as v0.13 traefik install).
+//
+// BootstrapLocalIngress runs on the lead (during `orca init`).
+// BootstrapRemoteIngress runs on workers (during `orca node join`).
+package ingress
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"crypto/rand"
+	"encoding/hex"
+	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+
+	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/certpaths"
+	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/emitter"
+	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/traefik"
+)
+
+// BootstrapLocalIngress ensures the complete ingress stack is running
+// on the local host (lead node). It is called from `orca init` after
+// EnsureTraefikContainerLocal.
+//
+// Steps (each non-fatal — logs a warning and continues):
+//  1. mkdir -p /etc/traefik/dynamic /etc/orca
+//  2. Push cluster root CA to /etc/orca/step-ca-root.crt (C-60:
+//     certpaths.CACertPath(), not CAPath)
+//  3. Render static config via emitter.RenderTraefikStaticConfig to
+//     /etc/traefik/traefik.yml (preserves traefik-on-public-ip opt-out,
+//     C-58)
+//  4. Render orca.nft via emitter.NftEmitter.RenderNftConfig + write
+//     to /etc/nftables.d/orca.nft
+//  5. Pre-create nft table (C-55: avoids flush-table error on first
+//     apply)
+//  6. Apply: nft -f /etc/nftables.d/orca.nft
+func BootstrapLocalIngress(ctx context.Context, version string) error {
+	var errs []error
+	log := slog.Default()
+
+	// Step 1: ensure directories.
+	for _, dir := range []string{"/etc/traefik/dynamic", "/etc/orca"} {
+		if err := os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o755); err != nil {
+			log.Warn("ingress: mkdir failed", "dir", dir, "err", err)
+			errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("mkdir %s: %w", dir, err))
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Step 2: push cluster root CA (C-60: CACertPath, not CAPath).
+	caPath := certpaths.CACertPath()
+	if caData, err := os.ReadFile(caPath); err == nil {
+		if err := os.WriteFile("/etc/orca/step-ca-root.crt", caData, 0o644); err != nil {
+			log.Warn("ingress: step-ca root CA write failed", "err", err)
+			errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("write step-ca-root.crt: %w", err))
+		}
+	} else {
+		// CA may not exist yet (fresh init before step-ca). Write a
+		// placeholder so the podman volume mount doesn't fail.
+		_ = os.WriteFile("/etc/orca/step-ca-root.crt", []byte{}, 0o644)
+		log.Warn("ingress: step-ca root CA not found, wrote placeholder", "path", caPath)
+	}
+
+	// Step 3: render + write static config (C-58).
+	staticFiles, err := emitter.TraefikEmitter{}.RenderTraefikStaticConfig(emitter.TraefikStaticOpts{})
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Warn("ingress: render traefik static config failed", "err", err)
+		errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("render traefik static: %w", err))
+	} else {
+		for _, f := range staticFiles {
+			if err := os.WriteFile(f.Path, []byte(f.Content), 0o644); err != nil {
+				log.Warn("ingress: write traefik static config failed", "path", f.Path, "err", err)
+				errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("write %s: %w", f.Path, err))
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Step 4: render + write nft ruleset.
+	nftFiles, err := emitter.NftEmitter{}.RenderNftConfig(emitter.NftClusterConfig{})
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Warn("ingress: render nft config failed", "err", err)
+		errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("render nft: %w", err))
+	} else {
+		for _, f := range nftFiles {
+			dir := filepath.Dir(f.Path)
+			_ = os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o755)
+			if err := os.WriteFile(f.Path, []byte(f.Content), 0o644); err != nil {
+				log.Warn("ingress: write nft config failed", "path", f.Path, "err", err)
+				errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("write %s: %w", f.Path, err))
+			}
+		}
+
+		// Step 5: pre-create nft table (C-55: flush table on non-existent
+		// table errors — pre-create avoids the first-apply failure).
+		_ = exec.CommandContext(ctx, "nft", "add", "table", "inet", "orca-ingress").Run()
+
+		// Step 6: apply nft ruleset.
+		if out, err := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "nft", "-f", nftConfigPath).CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
+			log.Warn("ingress: nft apply failed", "err", err, "output", string(out))
+			errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("nft -f: %w (output: %s)", err, string(out)))
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Ensure the podman traefik container is running (Step 7 — C-50:
+	// installs podman if absent).
+	if err := traefik.EnsureTraefikContainerLocal(ctx, version); err != nil {
+		log.Warn("ingress: ensure traefik container failed", "err", err)
+		errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("ensure traefik container: %w", err))
+	}
+
+	if len(errs) > 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("ingress bootstrap: %d errors (first: %w)", len(errs), errs[0])
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// nftConfigPath mirrors the emitter constant.
+const nftConfigPath = "/etc/nftables.d/orca.nft"
+
+// RemoteExecFunc runs a command on a remote host and returns combined
+// output. Same signature as traefik.RemoteExecFunc.
+type RemoteExecFunc func(cmd string) ([]byte, error)
+
+// BootstrapRemoteIngress ensures the complete ingress stack is running
+// on a remote host (linux worker). It is called from
+// `orca node join --type linux` after the user setup.
+//
+// Steps (each non-fatal — logs a warning and continues):
+//  1. mkdir -p /etc/traefik/dynamic /etc/orca (remote)
+//  2. Push step-ca root CA to remote /etc/orca/step-ca-root.crt
+//     (C-60: certpaths.CACertPath)
+//  3. Render + write static config to remote /etc/traefik/traefik.yml
+//     (C-58: preserves traefik-on-public-ip opt-out)
+//  4. Render + write nft ruleset to remote /etc/nftables.d/orca.nft
+//  5. Pre-create nft table (C-55: avoids first-apply flush-table error)
+//  6. Apply: nft -f (remote)
+//  7. Ensure podman traefik container running (remote)
+func BootstrapRemoteIngress(ctx context.Context, version string, execFn RemoteExecFunc) error {
+	var errs []error
+	log := slog.Default()
+
+	// Step 1: ensure directories.
+	if _, err := execFn("mkdir -p /etc/traefik/dynamic /etc/orca"); err != nil {
+		log.Warn("ingress: remote mkdir failed", "err", err)
+		errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("remote mkdir: %w", err))
+	}
+
+	// Step 2: push step-ca root CA (C-60: CACertPath, not CAPath).
+	if caData, err := os.ReadFile(certpaths.CACertPath()); err == nil {
+		if err := remoteWriteFile(execFn, "/etc/orca/step-ca-root.crt", caData, "0644"); err != nil {
+			log.Warn("ingress: remote step-ca CA write failed", "err", err)
+			errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("remote write step-ca-root.crt: %w", err))
+		}
+	} else {
+		// Write a placeholder so the podman volume mount doesn't fail.
+		_ = remoteWriteFile(execFn, "/etc/orca/step-ca-root.crt", []byte{}, "0644")
+		log.Warn("ingress: step-ca root CA not found locally, wrote remote placeholder")
+	}
+
+	// Step 3: render + write static config (C-58).
+	staticFiles, err := emitter.TraefikEmitter{}.RenderTraefikStaticConfig(emitter.TraefikStaticOpts{})
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Warn("ingress: render traefik static config failed", "err", err)
+		errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("render traefik static: %w", err))
+	} else {
+		for _, f := range staticFiles {
+			_, _ = execFn(fmt.Sprintf("mkdir -p %s", filepath.Dir(f.Path)))
+			if err := remoteWriteFile(execFn, f.Path, []byte(f.Content), f.Mode); err != nil {
+				log.Warn("ingress: remote write traefik static config failed", "path", f.Path, "err", err)
+				errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("remote write %s: %w", f.Path, err))
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Step 4: render + write nft ruleset.
+	nftFiles, err := emitter.NftEmitter{}.RenderNftConfig(emitter.NftClusterConfig{})
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Warn("ingress: render nft config failed", "err", err)
+		errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("render nft: %w", err))
+	} else {
+		for _, f := range nftFiles {
+			_, _ = execFn(fmt.Sprintf("mkdir -p %s", filepath.Dir(f.Path)))
+			if err := remoteWriteFile(execFn, f.Path, []byte(f.Content), f.Mode); err != nil {
+				log.Warn("ingress: remote write nft config failed", "path", f.Path, "err", err)
+				errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("remote write %s: %w", f.Path, err))
+			}
+		}
+
+		// Step 5: pre-create nft table (C-55).
+		_, _ = execFn("nft add table inet orca-ingress 2>/dev/null || true")
+
+		// Step 6: apply nft ruleset.
+		if out, err := execFn("nft -f /etc/nftables.d/orca.nft 2>&1"); err != nil {
+			log.Warn("ingress: remote nft apply failed", "err", err, "output", string(out))
+			errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("remote nft -f: %w (output: %s)", err, string(out)))
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Step 7: ensure podman traefik container (C-50).
+	traefikExecFn := traefik.RemoteExecFunc(execFn)
+	if err := traefik.EnsureTraefikContainerRemote(ctx, version, traefikExecFn); err != nil {
+		log.Warn("ingress: remote ensure traefik container failed", "err", err)
+		errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("remote ensure traefik container: %w", err))
+	}
+
+	if len(errs) > 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("remote ingress bootstrap: %d errors (first: %w)", len(errs), errs[0])
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// remoteWriteFile writes content to a remote path via a heredoc
+// (same pattern as sshpush.idempotency.writeFile). The heredoc
+// delimiter is a random hex string verified absent from the content
+// (F9 injection guard).
+func remoteWriteFile(execFn RemoteExecFunc, path string, content []byte, mode string) error {
+	// Generate a random delimiter unlikely to be in the content.
+	delim := "EOF_"
+	for {
+		b := make([]byte, 8)
+		if _, err := rand.Read(b); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("rand: %w", err)
+		}
+		delim = "EOF_" + hex.EncodeToString(b)
+		if !strings.Contains(string(content), delim) {
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	dir := filepath.Dir(path)
+	cmd := fmt.Sprintf("mkdir -p %s && cat > %s <<'%s'\n%s\n%s\nchmod %s %s",
+		dir, path, delim, string(content), delim, mode, path)
+	if out, err := execFn(cmd); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("remote write %s: %w (output: %s)", path, err, string(out))
+	}
+	return nil
+}

internal/linux/bootstrap.go

@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ import (
 	"golang.org/x/crypto/ssh"
 
 	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/certpaths"
+	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/ingress"
 	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/proxmox"
 	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/security"
-	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/traefik"
 )
 
 // DefaultSSHUser is the default SSH username for the initial connection.
@@ -48,13 +48,13 @@ const DefaultSSHPort = 22
 
 // Options configures a Linux worker bootstrap run.
 type Options struct {
-	Host                string
-	SSHUser             string
-	SSHKeyPath          string
-	OrcaUser            string
-	SSHPort             int
-	HostKeyFingerprint  string
-	Logger              *slog.Logger
+	Host               string
+	SSHUser            string
+	SSHKeyPath         string
+	OrcaUser           string
+	SSHPort            int
+	HostKeyFingerprint string
+	Logger             *slog.Logger
 }
 
 // Result is the outcome of a successful bootstrap.
@@ -157,8 +157,10 @@ func BootstrapLinux(ctx context.Context, opts Options) (*Result, error) {
 	}
 	opts.Logger.Info("linux bootstrap: user created", "user", opts.OrcaUser)
 
-	// Step 4d: Install Traefik on the remote host (REQ-165, Phase B).
-	// Traefik is the data-plane ingress; SSH is control plane only.
+	// Step 4d: Ensure complete ingress stack on the remote host (R-024).
+	// Renders+applies nft DNAT/SNAT, pushes step-ca root CA, renders+
+	// writes traefik static config, ensures podman container running.
+	// All non-fatal (offline host tolerance).
 	sshExecFn := func(cmd string) ([]byte, error) {
 		session, err := client.NewSession()
 		if err != nil {
@@ -167,8 +169,10 @@ func BootstrapLinux(ctx context.Context, opts Options) (*Result, error) {
 		defer session.Close()
 		return session.CombinedOutput(cmd)
 	}
-	if err := traefik.InstallRemote("", sshExecFn); err != nil {
-		opts.Logger.Warn("linux bootstrap: traefik install failed", "err", err)
+	ctx, cancelIngress := context.WithTimeout(ctx, 120*time.Second)
+	defer cancelIngress()
+	if err := ingress.BootstrapRemoteIngress(ctx, "", ingress.RemoteExecFunc(sshExecFn)); err != nil {
+		opts.Logger.Warn("linux bootstrap: ingress bootstrap failed", "err", err)
 	}
 
 	// Step 5: Create the drift-events directory.
@@ -188,7 +192,7 @@ func BootstrapLinux(ctx context.Context, opts Options) (*Result, error) {
 
 	return &Result{
 		NodeName:           opts.Host,
-		NodeAddress:         fmt.Sprintf("%s:8443", opts.Host),
+		NodeAddress:        fmt.Sprintf("%s:8443", opts.Host),
 		HostKeyFingerprint: hostKeyFP,
 	}, nil
 }
@@ -226,5 +230,4 @@ func pinnedHostKeyCallback(expectedSHA256Base64 string, capturedKey *ssh.PublicK
 	return cb, nil
 }
 
-
 var _ = security.WriteAtomic

internal/model/node.go

@@ -39,4 +39,9 @@ type Node struct {
 	// OS is the auto-detected OS identifier from /etc/os-release ID=
 	// (ubuntu|debian|alpine|pve|linux). Empty for pre-0006 rows.
 	OS string `json:"os,omitempty"`
+	// IngressMode is the ingress configuration for the node (R-024,
+	// v0.14). Values: "" (legacy/default for linux/localhost),
+	// "native" (proxmox native — traefik in LXC), "floating-ip"
+	// (proxmox floating-IP — ingress LXC owns the floating IP).
+	IngressMode string `json:"ingress_mode,omitempty"`
 }

internal/proxmox/bootstrap.go

@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import (
 	"golang.org/x/crypto/ssh/knownhosts"
 
 	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/certpaths"
+	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/emitter"
 	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/security"
 	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/traefik"
 )
@@ -86,6 +87,13 @@ type Options struct {
 	// LXCTemplate is the LXC template to download during bootstrap
 	// (default "ubuntu-24.04"; alternatives: "alpine-3.20", "debian-12").
 	LXCTemplate string
+	// IngressMode is the proxmox ingress mode (R-024, v0.14).
+	// "native" (default): traefik runs in an unprivileged LXC with
+	// nesting=1,keyctl=1,fuse=1 on the PVE host. nft on the PVE host
+	// DNATs to the LXC bridge IP.
+	// "floating-ip": a separate ingress LXC owns the floating IP;
+	// nft runs inside that LXC. See ProvisionIngressLXC (P6).
+	IngressMode string
 }
 
 // Result is the outcome of a successful bootstrap.
@@ -247,21 +255,24 @@ func BootstrapProxmox(ctx context.Context, opts Options) (*Result, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("validate sudoers: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	// Step 9a: Install Traefik on the Proxmox host (REQ-165, Phase B).
-	// Traefik runs on the PVE OS as the data-plane ingress; SSH is
-	// control plane only. Idempotent: skips if binary already exists.
-	if err := traefik.InstallRemote("", runRemote); err != nil {
-		log.Warn("proxmox.traefik_install_failed", "err", err)
-	}
-
-	// Step 9b: Download default LXC template (REQ-167, Phase C).
-	// Default: ubuntu-24.04. Configurable via --lxc-template.
+	// Step 9a: Proxmox native ingress mode (R-024, REQ-175).
+	// Create an unprivileged LXC with nesting=1,keyctl=1,fuse=1 (research
+	// Topic 3), install podman inside it, and run the orca-traefik
+	// container. nft on the PVE host DNATs to the LXC bridge IP.
+	// Default mode is "native"; floating-ip mode is handled separately
+	// (P6 — ProvisionIngressLXC).
 	template := opts.LXCTemplate
 	if template == "" {
 		template = "ubuntu-24.04"
 	}
 	_, _ = runRemote(fmt.Sprintf("pveam download local %s 2>/dev/null || true", shellQuote(template)))
 
+	if opts.IngressMode != "floating-ip" {
+		if err := provisionNativeIngressLXC(ctx, runRemote, template, log); err != nil {
+			log.Warn("proxmox.native_ingress_lxc_failed", "err", err)
+		}
+	}
+
 	log.Info("proxmox.bootstrap_ok",
 		slog.String("event", "proxmox.bootstrap_ok"),
 		slog.String("host", opts.Host),
@@ -276,6 +287,119 @@ func BootstrapProxmox(ctx context.Context, opts Options) (*Result, error) {
 	}, nil
 }
 
+// provisionNativeIngressLXC creates an unprivileged LXC with
+// nesting=1,keyctl=1,fuse=1 (research Topic 3), installs podman inside
+// it, runs the orca-traefik container, and applies nft DNAT on the PVE
+// host targeting the LXC's bridge IP (R-024, REQ-175).
+//
+// The LXC is named "orca-traefik" and uses a deterministic VMID derived
+// from the host. It is idempotent: if the LXC already exists, it is
+// not re-created (C-53: apt-get install is skipped if podman present).
+func provisionNativeIngressLXC(ctx context.Context, runRemote func(string) ([]byte, error), template string, log *slog.Logger) error {
+	// Deterministic VMID for the native ingress LXC.
+	// Use a fixed VMID in the 200-299 range (Proxmox convention for CTs).
+	const vmid = "200"
+	const lxcName = "orca-traefik"
+
+	// Check if the LXC already exists.
+	existOut, _ := runRemote(fmt.Sprintf("pct status %s 2>/dev/null || echo absent", vmid))
+	existStr := strings.TrimSpace(string(existOut))
+	if existStr == "absent" {
+		// Create the LXC (research Topic 3: nesting=1,keyctl=1,fuse=1).
+		log.Info("proxmox.creating_native_ingress_lxc", "vmid", vmid, "name", lxcName)
+		createCmd := fmt.Sprintf(
+			"pct create %s local:vztmpl/%s --hostname %s --unprivileged 1 --features nesting=1,keyctl=1,fuse=1 --onboot 1 --memory 2048 --swap 0 --rootfs local:8 2>&1",
+			vmid, shellQuote(template), lxcName,
+		)
+		if out, err := runRemote(createCmd); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("pct create native ingress LXC: %w (output: %s)", err, string(out))
+		}
+		if out, err := runRemote(fmt.Sprintf("pct start %s", vmid)); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("pct start native ingress LXC: %w (output: %s)", err, string(out))
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Wait for LXC network (retry for up to 60s).
+	lxcIP := ""
+	for i := 0; i < 12; i++ {
+		ipOut, _ := runRemote(fmt.Sprintf("pct exec %s -- hostname -I 2>/dev/null", vmid))
+		ipStr := strings.TrimSpace(string(ipOut))
+		if ipStr != "" {
+			fields := strings.Fields(ipStr)
+			if len(fields) > 0 {
+				lxcIP = fields[0]
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		time.Sleep(5 * time.Second)
+	}
+	if lxcIP == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("native ingress LXC: could not discover IP after 60s")
+	}
+	log.Info("proxmox.native_ingress_lxc_ip", "vmid", vmid, "ip", lxcIP)
+
+	// Install podman inside the LXC (C-53: idempotent — check first).
+	_, _ = runRemote(fmt.Sprintf(
+		"pct exec %s -- bash -c 'command -v podman >/dev/null 2>&1 || (apt-get update -qq && apt-get install -y -qq podman conmon crun fuse-overlayfs nftables 2>&1)' 2>&1",
+		vmid,
+	))
+
+	// Enable podman-restart.service inside the LXC (research Topic 6).
+	_, _ = runRemote(fmt.Sprintf("pct exec %s -- systemctl enable --now podman-restart.service 2>/dev/null", vmid))
+
+	// Push step-ca root CA into the LXC (placeholder if absent locally).
+	caPath := certpaths.CACertPath()
+	caData, caErr := os.ReadFile(caPath)
+	if caErr != nil {
+		caData = []byte{}
+	}
+	// Write CA via pct exec heredoc.
+	caDelim := "EOF_CA"
+	_, _ = runRemote(fmt.Sprintf(
+		"pct exec %s -- bash -c 'mkdir -p /etc/orca && cat > /etc/orca/step-ca-root.crt <<%s\\n%s\\n%s'",
+		vmid, caDelim, string(caData), caDelim,
+	))
+
+	// Render + write traefik static config inside the LXC.
+	staticFiles, err := emitter.TraefikEmitter{}.RenderTraefikStaticConfig(emitter.TraefikStaticOpts{})
+	if err == nil {
+		for _, f := range staticFiles {
+			delim := "EOF_TF"
+			_, _ = runRemote(fmt.Sprintf(
+				"pct exec %s -- bash -c 'mkdir -p /etc/traefik/dynamic && cat > %s <<%s\\n%s\\n%s'",
+				vmid, f.Path, delim, f.Content, delim,
+			))
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Ensure podman orca-traefik container inside the LXC.
+	traefikExecFn := func(cmd string) ([]byte, error) {
+		return runRemote(fmt.Sprintf("pct exec %s -- bash -c %s 2>&1", vmid, shellQuote(cmd)))
+	}
+	if err := traefik.EnsureTraefikContainerRemote(ctx, "", traefikExecFn); err != nil {
+		log.Warn("proxmox.native_ingress_lxc_traefik_failed", "err", err)
+	}
+
+	// Render + apply nft on the PVE host with DNATTarget = LXC IP.
+	nftFiles, err := emitter.NftEmitter{}.RenderNftConfig(emitter.NftClusterConfig{
+		DNATTarget: lxcIP,
+	})
+	if err == nil {
+		for _, f := range nftFiles {
+			nftDelim := "EOF_NF"
+			_, _ = runRemote(fmt.Sprintf("mkdir -p /etc/nftables.d && cat > %s <<%s\\n%s\\n%s",
+				f.Path, nftDelim, f.Content, nftDelim))
+		}
+		_, _ = runRemote("nft add table inet orca-ingress 2>/dev/null || true")
+		if out, err := runRemote("nft -f /etc/nftables.d/orca.nft 2>&1"); err != nil {
+			log.Warn("proxmox.native_ingress_nft_apply_failed", "err", err, "output", string(out))
+		}
+	}
+
+	log.Info("proxmox.native_ingress_lxc_ok", "vmid", vmid, "ip", lxcIP)
+	return nil
+}
+
 // sshDialer is the dialer used by BootstrapProxmox. It's a package-level
 // variable so tests can override it with a fake SSH server.
 var sshDialer sshDialerType = defaultSSHDialer{}

internal/proxmox/ingress_lxc.go

@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+package proxmox
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"crypto/rand"
+	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/certpaths"
+	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/emitter"
+	"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca/internal/traefik"
+)
+
+// FloatingIPOptions carries the parameters for provisioning a
+// floating-IP ingress LXC (R-024, REQ-176).
+type FloatingIPOptions struct {
+	// FloatingIP is the public IP assigned to the LXC's eth0.
+	FloatingIP string
+	// Gateway is the default gateway for the LXC.
+	Gateway string
+	// MAC is the MAC address for the LXC's net0 interface.
+	MAC string
+	// NetPrefix is the CIDR prefix for the floating IP (8-32).
+	NetPrefix int
+	// LXCTemplate is the LXC template (default "ubuntu-24.04").
+	LXCTemplate string
+	// VMID is the LXC container ID (default "201" for the ingress LXC).
+	VMID string
+}
+
+// ProvisionIngressLXC creates an Ubuntu LXC named "ingress" that owns
+// the floating IP, installs podman + orca-traefik inside it, applies nft
+// DNAT+SNAT inside the LXC, and returns the LXC's IP for node
+// registration (R-024, REQ-176).
+//
+// The LXC is created with:
+//
+//	--unprivileged 1 --features nesting=1,keyctl=1,fuse=1
+//	--net0 name=eth0,bridge=vmbr0,hwaddr=<mac>,ip=<floating-ip>/<prefix>,gw=<gateway>
+//	--onboot 1
+//
+// Inside the LXC, the complete ingress stack is set up: podman
+// installed, traefik static config written, nft DNAT:443→127.0.0.1:8443
+// + postrouting masquerade applied, orca-traefik podman container
+// running with --network host.
+//
+// Idempotent: if the LXC already exists, it is not re-created (C-53).
+func ProvisionIngressLXC(ctx context.Context, runRemote func(string) ([]byte, error), opts FloatingIPOptions, log *slog.Logger) error {
+	template := opts.LXCTemplate
+	if template == "" {
+		template = "ubuntu-24.04"
+	}
+	vmid := opts.VMID
+	if vmid == "" {
+		vmid = "201"
+	}
+	if opts.NetPrefix == 0 {
+		opts.NetPrefix = 24
+	}
+
+	// Validate required fields.
+	if opts.FloatingIP == "" || opts.Gateway == "" || opts.MAC == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("ingress_lxc: floating-ip, gateway, and mac are required")
+	}
+
+	// Ensure the template is downloaded.
+	_, _ = runRemote(fmt.Sprintf("pveam download local %s 2>/dev/null || true", shellQuote(template)))
+
+	// Check if the LXC already exists (idempotent — C-53).
+	existOut, _ := runRemote(fmt.Sprintf("pct status %s 2>/dev/null || echo absent", vmid))
+	existStr := strings.TrimSpace(string(existOut))
+	if existStr == "absent" {
+		log.Info("ingress_lxc.creating", "vmid", vmid, "hostname", "ingress", "ip", opts.FloatingIP)
+		net0 := fmt.Sprintf("name=eth0,bridge=vmbr0,hwaddr=%s,ip=%s/%d,gw=%s",
+			opts.MAC, opts.FloatingIP, opts.NetPrefix, opts.Gateway)
+		createCmd := fmt.Sprintf(
+			"pct create %s local:vztmpl/%s --hostname ingress --unprivileged 1 --features nesting=1,keyctl=1,fuse=1 --net0 %s --onboot 1 --memory 2048 --swap 0 --rootfs local:8 2>&1",
+			vmid, shellQuote(template), net0,
+		)
+		if out, err := runRemote(createCmd); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("pct create ingress LXC: %w (output: %s)", err, string(out))
+		}
+		if out, err := runRemote(fmt.Sprintf("pct start %s", vmid)); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("pct start ingress LXC: %w (output: %s)", err, string(out))
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Wait for LXC network (retry for up to 60s).
+	for i := 0; i < 12; i++ {
+		ipOut, _ := runRemote(fmt.Sprintf("pct exec %s -- hostname -I 2>/dev/null", vmid))
+		ipStr := strings.TrimSpace(string(ipOut))
+		if ipStr != "" {
+			break
+		}
+		time.Sleep(5 * time.Second)
+	}
+	log.Info("ingress_lxc.network_ready", "vmid", vmid, "ip", opts.FloatingIP)
+
+	// Install podman inside the LXC (C-53: idempotent).
+	_, _ = runRemote(fmt.Sprintf(
+		"pct exec %s -- bash -c 'command -v podman >/dev/null 2>&1 || (apt-get update -qq && apt-get install -y -qq podman conmon crun fuse-overlayfs nftables 2>&1)' 2>&1",
+		vmid,
+	))
+
+	// Enable podman-restart.service inside the LXC (research Topic 6).
+	_, _ = runRemote(fmt.Sprintf("pct exec %s -- systemctl enable --now podman-restart.service 2>/dev/null", vmid))
+
+	// Push step-ca root CA into the LXC (C-60: CACertPath).
+	caPath := certpaths.CACertPath()
+	caData, caErr := os.ReadFile(caPath)
+	if caErr != nil {
+		caData = []byte{}
+	}
+	caDelim := "EOF_CA"
+	_, _ = runRemote(fmt.Sprintf(
+		"pct exec %s -- bash -c 'mkdir -p /etc/orca && cat > /etc/orca/step-ca-root.crt <<%s\\n%s\\n%s'",
+		vmid, caDelim, string(caData), caDelim,
+	))
+
+	// Render + write traefik static config inside the LXC (C-58).
+	staticFiles, err := emitter.TraefikEmitter{}.RenderTraefikStaticConfig(emitter.TraefikStaticOpts{})
+	if err == nil {
+		for _, f := range staticFiles {
+			delim := "EOF_TF"
+			_, _ = runRemote(fmt.Sprintf(
+				"pct exec %s -- bash -c 'mkdir -p /etc/traefik/dynamic && cat > %s <<%s\\n%s\\n%s'",
+				vmid, f.Path, delim, f.Content, delim,
+			))
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Render + apply nft DNAT+SNAT INSIDE the LXC (DNATTarget =
+	// 127.0.0.1 — traefik runs with --network host inside the LXC).
+	nftFiles, err := emitter.NftEmitter{}.RenderNftConfig(emitter.NftClusterConfig{})
+	if err == nil {
+		for _, f := range nftFiles {
+			delim := "EOF_NF"
+			_, _ = runRemote(fmt.Sprintf(
+				"pct exec %s -- bash -c 'mkdir -p /etc/nftables.d && cat > %s <<%s\\n%s\\n%s'",
+				vmid, f.Path, delim, f.Content, delim,
+			))
+		}
+		_, _ = runRemote(fmt.Sprintf("pct exec %s -- nft add table inet orca-ingress 2>/dev/null || true", vmid))
+		_, _ = runRemote(fmt.Sprintf("pct exec %s -- nft -f /etc/nftables.d/orca.nft 2>&1", vmid))
+	}
+
+	// Ensure podman orca-traefik container inside the LXC.
+	traefikExecFn := func(cmd string) ([]byte, error) {
+		return runRemote(fmt.Sprintf("pct exec %s -- bash -c %s 2>&1", vmid, shellQuote(cmd)))
+	}
+	if err := traefik.EnsureTraefikContainerRemote(ctx, "", traefikExecFn); err != nil {
+		log.Warn("ingress_lxc.traefik_failed", "err", err)
+	}
+
+	log.Info("ingress_lxc.provisioned", "vmid", vmid, "ip", opts.FloatingIP)
+	return nil
+}
+
+// GenerateRandomMAC generates a random locally-administered MAC address
+// (02:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX) for use as the LXC net0 hardware address when the
+// operator does not provide one (D-261).
+func GenerateRandomMAC() (string, error) {
+	b := make([]byte, 5)
+	if _, err := rand.Read(b); err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("generate MAC: %w", err)
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("02:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x", b[0], b[1], b[2], b[3], b[4]), nil
+}

internal/store/migrations/0009_ingress_mode.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+-- REQ-175 / R-024: add ingress_mode column to nodes.
+-- Values: '' (legacy/default), 'native' (proxmox native — traefik
+-- in LXC), 'floating-ip' (proxmox floating-IP — ingress LXC owns
+-- the floating IP). Defaults to empty string for backward
+-- compatibility with pre-v0.14 nodes.
+ALTER TABLE nodes ADD COLUMN ingress_mode TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '';

internal/traefik/install.go

@@ -1,78 +1,228 @@
 package traefik
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"os/exec"
 	"strings"
 )
 
+// DefaultVersion is the traefik version tag for the orca-traefik image.
 const DefaultVersion = "v3.3.0"
 
-func downloadURL(version string) string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("https://github.com/traefik/traefik/releases/download/%s/traefik_%s_linux_amd64.tar.gz", version, version)
-}
+// DefaultImage is the full image reference for the orca-traefik container.
+// The tag is resolved at runtime from the orca version (or "latest" for
+// dev builds). The image is built from Dockerfile.traefik and published
+// per release (REQ-171).
+const DefaultImage = "git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca-traefik"
 
-func InstallLocal(version string) error {
-	if version == "" {
-		version = DefaultVersion
-	}
-	if _, err := exec.LookPath("traefik"); err == nil {
-		ensureDirs()
-		return nil
-	}
-	url := downloadURL(version)
-	cmd := exec.Command("bash", "-c",
-		fmt.Sprintf(`curl -fsSL %s | tar -xzf - -C /usr/local/bin/ traefik && chmod +x /usr/local/bin/traefik`, url))
-	if out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("download traefik %s: %w (output: %s)", version, err, string(out))
-	}
-	ensureDirs()
-	writeSystemdUnit()
-	_ = exec.Command("systemctl", "daemon-reload").Run()
-	_ = exec.Command("systemctl", "enable", "--now", "orca-traefik").Run()
-	return nil
-}
+// ContainerName is the podman container name for the traefik data plane.
+const ContainerName = "orca-traefik"
 
+// RemoteExecFunc runs a command on a remote host and returns combined
+// output. It is the same signature used by the v0.13 binary installer
+// and by the proxmox/linux bootstrap SSH sessions.
 type RemoteExecFunc func(cmd string) ([]byte, error)
 
-func InstallRemote(version string, execFn RemoteExecFunc) error {
-	if version == "" {
-		version = DefaultVersion
+// ImageRef returns the full image:tag reference for the orca-traefik
+// container. If version is empty or "dev"/"0.1.0-dev", it falls back to
+// "latest" (dev builds don't have a published tag).
+func ImageRef(version string) string {
+	tag := version
+	if tag == "" || tag == "dev" || tag == "0.1.0-dev" || strings.HasSuffix(tag, "-dev") {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%s:latest", DefaultImage)
 	}
-	if out, err := execFn("command -v traefik"); err == nil && len(strings.TrimSpace(string(out))) > 0 {
-		_, _ = execFn("mkdir -p /etc/traefik/dynamic")
+	tag = strings.TrimPrefix(tag, "v")
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s:v%s", DefaultImage, tag)
+}
+
+// podmanRunArgs returns the podman run arguments for the traefik
+// container. The container uses --network host so traefik binds
+// 127.0.0.1:8080/8443 directly on the host (or LXC) loopback. nft
+// DNATs public :443/:80 to those loopback ports (R-017/R-024).
+//
+// Volume mounts (no SELinux :Z flag — research finding Topic 7):
+//   - /etc/traefik/traefik.yml:ro  — static config (overrides baked default; C-58)
+//   - /etc/traefik/dynamic:ro      — dynamic config (orca writes atomically via SSH-push)
+//   - /etc/orca/step-ca-root.crt:ro — step-ca root CA (for future mTLS; v0.14 uses tls:{})
+func podmanRunArgs(imageRef string) []string {
+	return []string{
+		"run", "-d",
+		"--name", ContainerName,
+		"--restart=unless-stopped",
+		"--network", "host",
+		"-v", "/etc/traefik/traefik.yml:/etc/traefik/traefik.yml:ro",
+		"-v", "/etc/traefik/dynamic:/etc/traefik/dynamic:ro",
+		"-v", "/etc/orca/step-ca-root.crt:/etc/orca/step-ca-root.crt:ro",
+		imageRef,
+	}
+}
+
+// EnsureTraefikContainerLocal ensures the orca-traefik podman container
+// is running on the local host. It is idempotent:
+//  1. If the container is running → no-op.
+//  2. If the container exists but is stopped → start it.
+//  3. If the container does not exist → pull the image + run it.
+//
+// C-50: if podman is not installed, attempts apt-get install. If that
+// fails, returns an error with install instructions.
+//
+// C-57: if a legacy v0.13 systemd service exists (orca-traefik.service),
+// it is stopped, disabled, and removed before starting the container.
+func EnsureTraefikContainerLocal(ctx context.Context, version string) error {
+	imageRef := ImageRef(version)
+	if err := ensurePodmanLocal(ctx); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := removeLegacySystemdUnitLocal(ctx); err != nil {
+		// Non-fatal: legacy unit may not exist on fresh installs.
+		_ = err
+	}
+	if err := ensureDirsLocal(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("traefik: ensure dirs: %w", err)
+	}
+	return reconcileContainerLocal(ctx, imageRef)
+}
+
+// EnsureTraefikContainerRemote ensures the orca-traefik podman container
+// is running on a remote host (via SSH exec). Same idempotent logic as
+// EnsureTraefikContainerLocal but over the provided exec function.
+func EnsureTraefikContainerRemote(ctx context.Context, version string, execFn RemoteExecFunc) error {
+	imageRef := ImageRef(version)
+	if err := ensurePodmanRemote(execFn); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := removeLegacySystemdUnitRemote(execFn); err != nil {
+		_ = err // non-fatal
+	}
+	if _, err := execFn("mkdir -p /etc/traefik/dynamic /etc/orca"); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("traefik: ensure remote dirs: %w", err)
+	}
+	return reconcileContainerRemote(execFn, imageRef)
+}
+
+// ensurePodmanLocal checks if podman is installed locally and attempts
+// to install it if absent (C-50).
+func ensurePodmanLocal(ctx context.Context) error {
+	if _, err := exec.LookPath("podman"); err == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
-	url := downloadURL(version)
-	installCmd := fmt.Sprintf(`curl -fsSL %s | tar -xzf - -C /usr/local/bin/ traefik && chmod +x /usr/local/bin/traefik && mkdir -p /etc/traefik/dynamic`, url)
-	if out, err := execFn(installCmd); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("download traefik on remote: %w (output: %s)", err, string(out))
+	// Attempt apt-get install (Ubuntu/Debian).
+	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "bash", "-c",
+		"apt-get update -qq && apt-get install -y -qq podman conmon crun fuse-overlayfs 2>&1")
+	if out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("podman not found and apt-get install failed: %w (output: %s).\nInstall podman manually: apt-get install podman conmon crun fuse-overlayfs", err, string(out))
 	}
-	unit := systemdUnitContent()
-	_, _ = execFn(fmt.Sprintf(`echo '%s' > /etc/systemd/system/orca-traefik.service`, unit))
-	_, _ = execFn("systemctl daemon-reload && systemctl enable --now orca-traefik")
 	return nil
 }
 
-func ensureDirs() {
-	_ = exec.Command("mkdir", "-p", "/etc/traefik/dynamic").Run()
+// ensurePodmanRemote checks if podman is installed on the remote host
+// and attempts to install it if absent (C-50).
+func ensurePodmanRemote(execFn RemoteExecFunc) error {
+	if out, err := execFn("command -v podman"); err == nil && len(strings.TrimSpace(string(out))) > 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	// Attempt apt-get install on the remote host.
+	cmd := "apt-get update -qq && apt-get install -y -qq podman conmon crun fuse-overlayfs 2>&1"
+	if out, err := execFn(cmd); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("podman not found on remote and apt-get install failed: %w (output: %s)", err, string(out))
+	}
+	return nil
 }
 
-func writeSystemdUnit() {
-	_ = exec.Command("bash", "-c", fmt.Sprintf(`echo '%s' > /etc/systemd/system/orca-traefik.service`, systemdUnitContent())).Run()
+// removeLegacySystemdUnitLocal stops, disables, and removes the legacy
+// v0.13 orca-traefik.service systemd unit + /usr/local/bin/traefik
+// binary (C-57). Idempotent — no-op if the unit doesn't exist.
+func removeLegacySystemdUnitLocal(ctx context.Context) error {
+	// Check if the legacy unit exists.
+	if _, err := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "systemctl", "is-active", "orca-traefik.service").CombinedOutput(); err == nil {
+		// Unit is active or exists — stop + disable it.
+		_ = exec.CommandContext(ctx, "systemctl", "stop", "orca-traefik.service").Run()
+		_ = exec.CommandContext(ctx, "systemctl", "disable", "orca-traefik.service").Run()
+	}
+	// Remove the unit file and binary.
+	_ = exec.CommandContext(ctx, "rm", "-f", "/etc/systemd/system/orca-traefik.service").Run()
+	_ = exec.CommandContext(ctx, "rm", "-f", "/usr/local/bin/traefik").Run()
+	_ = exec.CommandContext(ctx, "systemctl", "daemon-reload").Run()
+	return nil
 }
 
-func systemdUnitContent() string {
-	return `[Unit]
-Description=Orca Traefik Data Plane
-After=network.target
-
-[Service]
-Type=simple
-ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/traefik --configFile=/etc/traefik/traefik.yml
-Restart=on-failure
-RestartSec=5s
-
-[Install]
-WantedBy=multi-user.target`
+// removeLegacySystemdUnitRemote is the remote SSH variant (C-57).
+func removeLegacySystemdUnitRemote(execFn RemoteExecFunc) error {
+	cmd := `systemctl is-active orca-traefik.service 2>/dev/null && systemctl stop orca-traefik.service 2>/dev/null; systemctl disable orca-traefik.service 2>/dev/null; rm -f /etc/systemd/system/orca-traefik.service /usr/local/bin/traefik; systemctl daemon-reload 2>/dev/null; true`
+	_, _ = execFn(cmd)
+	return nil
+}
+
+// ensureDirsLocal creates /etc/traefik/dynamic and /etc/orca locally.
+func ensureDirsLocal() error {
+	if err := exec.Command("mkdir", "-p", "/etc/traefik/dynamic", "/etc/orca").Run(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("mkdir: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// reconcileContainerLocal implements the idempotent pull+run logic
+// locally (C-50).
+func reconcileContainerLocal(ctx context.Context, imageRef string) error {
+	// Check if the container is already running.
+	out, err := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "podman", "inspect", "--format", "{{.State.Running}}", ContainerName).CombinedOutput()
+	if err == nil {
+		v := strings.TrimSpace(string(out))
+		if v == "true" {
+			return nil // already running
+		}
+		// Container exists but is stopped — start it.
+		if _, err := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "podman", "start", ContainerName).CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("podman start %s: %w", ContainerName, err)
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Container does not exist — pull + run.
+	if out, err := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "podman", "pull", imageRef).CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("podman pull %s: %w (output: %s)", imageRef, err, string(out))
+	}
+	args := append([]string{}, podmanRunArgs(imageRef)...)
+	if out, err := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "podman", args...).CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("podman run: %w (output: %s)", err, string(out))
+	}
+	// Enable podman-restart.service for reboot persistence (research Topic 6).
+	_ = exec.CommandContext(ctx, "systemctl", "enable", "--now", "podman-restart.service").Run()
+	return nil
+}
+
+// reconcileContainerRemote implements the idempotent pull+run logic
+// over SSH exec.
+func reconcileContainerRemote(execFn RemoteExecFunc, imageRef string) error {
+	// Check if the container is already running.
+	out, err := execFn(fmt.Sprintf("podman inspect --format '{{.State.Running}}' %s 2>/dev/null", ContainerName))
+	if err == nil {
+		v := strings.TrimSpace(string(out))
+		if v == "true" {
+			return nil // already running
+		}
+		// Container exists but is stopped — start it.
+		if _, err := execFn(fmt.Sprintf("podman start %s 2>/dev/null", ContainerName)); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("podman start %s: %w", ContainerName, err)
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Container does not exist — pull + run.
+	if out, err := execFn(fmt.Sprintf("podman pull %s", shellQuote(imageRef))); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("podman pull %s: %w (output: %s)", imageRef, err, string(out))
+	}
+	runArgs := strings.Join(podmanRunArgs(imageRef), " ")
+	if out, err := execFn(fmt.Sprintf("podman %s", runArgs)); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("podman run: %w (output: %s)", err, string(out))
+	}
+	// Enable podman-restart.service for reboot persistence (research Topic 6).
+	_, _ = execFn("systemctl enable --now podman-restart.service 2>/dev/null || true")
+	return nil
+}
+
+// shellQuote wraps a string in single quotes for shell-safe usage.
+func shellQuote(s string) string {
+	return "'" + strings.ReplaceAll(s, "'", "'\\''") + "'"
 }

internal/traefik/install_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,166 @@
+package traefik
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestImageRef(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		version string
+		want    string
+	}{
+		{"v0.13.1", "git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca-traefik:v0.13.1"},
+		{"0.13.1", "git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca-traefik:v0.13.1"},
+		{"", "git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca-traefik:latest"},
+		{"dev", "git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca-traefik:latest"},
+		{"0.1.0-dev", "git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca-traefik:latest"},
+		{"v1.2.3-dev", "git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca-traefik:latest"},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		got := ImageRef(tt.version)
+		if got != tt.want {
+			t.Errorf("ImageRef(%q) = %q, want %q", tt.version, got, tt.want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPodmanRunArgs(t *testing.T) {
+	args := podmanRunArgs("git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca-traefik:v0.13.1")
+	joined := strings.Join(args, " ")
+	checks := []string{
+		"run -d",
+		"--name orca-traefik",
+		"--restart=unless-stopped",
+		"--network host",
+		"/etc/traefik/traefik.yml:/etc/traefik/traefik.yml:ro",
+		"/etc/traefik/dynamic:/etc/traefik/dynamic:ro",
+		"/etc/orca/step-ca-root.crt:/etc/orca/step-ca-root.crt:ro",
+		"git.cloudinit.dev/coreci/orca-traefik:v0.13.1",
+	}
+	for _, c := range checks {
+		if !strings.Contains(joined, c) {
+			t.Errorf("podmanRunArgs missing %q\nfull: %s", c, joined)
+		}
+	}
+	// Ensure no :Z flag (research Topic 7)
+	if strings.Contains(joined, ":Z") {
+		t.Errorf("podmanRunArgs should NOT contain :Z SELinux flag\nfull: %s", joined)
+	}
+	// Ensure --restart=always is NOT used (research Topic 6)
+	if strings.Contains(joined, "--restart=always") {
+		t.Errorf("podmanRunArgs should use --restart=unless-stopped, not --restart=always\nfull: %s", joined)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEnsureTraefikContainerRemote_ContainerRunning(t *testing.T) {
+	var cmds []string
+	execFn := func(cmd string) ([]byte, error) {
+		cmds = append(cmds, cmd)
+		if strings.Contains(cmd, "podman inspect") {
+			return []byte("true\n"), nil
+		}
+		return []byte(""), nil
+	}
+	err := EnsureTraefikContainerRemote(context.Background(), "v0.13.1", execFn)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+	// Should have checked inspect and found it running — no pull/run.
+	if len(cmds) < 1 {
+		t.Fatal("expected at least 1 command (inspect)")
+	}
+	for _, c := range cmds {
+		if strings.Contains(c, "podman pull") {
+			t.Errorf("should not pull when container is running: %s", c)
+		}
+		if strings.Contains(c, "podman run") {
+			t.Errorf("should not run when container is running: %s", c)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEnsureTraefikContainerRemote_ContainerStopped(t *testing.T) {
+	var cmds []string
+	execFn := func(cmd string) ([]byte, error) {
+		cmds = append(cmds, cmd)
+		if strings.Contains(cmd, "podman inspect") {
+			return []byte("false\n"), nil // stopped
+		}
+		return []byte(""), nil
+	}
+	err := EnsureTraefikContainerRemote(context.Background(), "v0.13.1", execFn)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+	// Should have started the container.
+	foundStart := false
+	for _, c := range cmds {
+		if strings.Contains(c, "podman start orca-traefik") {
+			foundStart = true
+		}
+	}
+	if !foundStart {
+		t.Errorf("expected 'podman start orca-traefik' when container is stopped\ncommands: %v", cmds)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEnsureTraefikContainerRemote_ContainerAbsent(t *testing.T) {
+	var cmds []string
+	execFn := func(cmd string) ([]byte, error) {
+		cmds = append(cmds, cmd)
+		if strings.Contains(cmd, "podman inspect") {
+			return nil, &execError{"inspect failed: no such container"}
+		}
+		return []byte(""), nil
+	}
+	err := EnsureTraefikContainerRemote(context.Background(), "v0.13.1", execFn)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+	// Should have pulled and run.
+	foundPull := false
+	foundRun := false
+	for _, c := range cmds {
+		if strings.Contains(c, "podman pull") {
+			foundPull = true
+		}
+		if strings.Contains(c, "podman run -d") {
+			foundRun = true
+		}
+	}
+	if !foundPull {
+		t.Errorf("expected 'podman pull' when container is absent\ncommands: %v", cmds)
+	}
+	if !foundRun {
+		t.Errorf("expected 'podman run -d' when container is absent\ncommands: %v", cmds)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEnsureTraefikContainerRemote_LegacySystemdRemoval(t *testing.T) {
+	var cmds []string
+	execFn := func(cmd string) ([]byte, error) {
+		cmds = append(cmds, cmd)
+		if strings.Contains(cmd, "podman inspect") {
+			return []byte("true\n"), nil // container running
+		}
+		return []byte(""), nil
+	}
+	_ = EnsureTraefikContainerRemote(context.Background(), "v0.13.1", execFn)
+	// Should include legacy systemd unit removal command (C-57).
+	foundLegacyRemoval := false
+	for _, c := range cmds {
+		if strings.Contains(c, "orca-traefik.service") && strings.Contains(c, "stop") {
+			foundLegacyRemoval = true
+		}
+	}
+	if !foundLegacyRemoval {
+		t.Errorf("expected legacy systemd unit removal command (C-57)\ncommands: %v", cmds)
+	}
+}
+
+// execError is a simple error type for testing.
+type execError struct{ msg string }
+
+func (e *execError) Error() string { return e.msg }