From a7ea91f52943c23cbcaba4a9848bcb5b1d728dca Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Jack O'Sullivan <jackos1998@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2026 22:40:13 +0100
Subject: [PATCH] docs: Document the boxes

Add a top-level `README.md` mapping the boxes and per-machine docs under
`docs/boxes/` (grouped `colony/`, `home/`, `misc/`), one file per host, VM and
container documenting role, services and networking with source pointers.

Also point `AGENTS.md` at the new docs.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 AGENTS.md                             |  9 ++-
 README.md                             | 80 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 docs/boxes/colony/README.md           | 68 +++++++++++++++++++++++
 docs/boxes/colony/chatterbox.md       | 19 +++++++
 docs/boxes/colony/colony-psql.md      | 18 ++++++
 docs/boxes/colony/colony.md           | 39 +++++++++++++
 docs/boxes/colony/estuary.md          | 41 ++++++++++++++
 docs/boxes/colony/gam.md              | 17 ++++++
 docs/boxes/colony/git.md              | 38 +++++++++++++
 docs/boxes/colony/jackflix.md         | 25 +++++++++
 docs/boxes/colony/middleman.md        | 63 +++++++++++++++++++++
 docs/boxes/colony/object.md           | 24 ++++++++
 docs/boxes/colony/qclk.md             | 22 ++++++++
 docs/boxes/colony/shill.md            | 48 ++++++++++++++++
 docs/boxes/colony/toot.md             | 19 +++++++
 docs/boxes/colony/vaultwarden.md      | 15 +++++
 docs/boxes/colony/waffletail.md       | 19 +++++++
 docs/boxes/colony/whale2.md           | 27 +++++++++
 docs/boxes/home/README.md             | 44 +++++++++++++++
 docs/boxes/home/castle.md             | 19 +++++++
 docs/boxes/home/cellar.md             | 39 +++++++++++++
 docs/boxes/home/hass.md               | 18 ++++++
 docs/boxes/home/palace.md             | 21 +++++++
 docs/boxes/home/river.md              | 25 +++++++++
 docs/boxes/home/sfh.md                | 24 ++++++++
 docs/boxes/home/stream.md             | 19 +++++++
 docs/boxes/home/unifi.md              | 23 ++++++++
 docs/boxes/misc/README.md             | 21 +++++++
 docs/boxes/misc/britnet.md            | 21 +++++++
 docs/boxes/misc/britway.md            | 27 +++++++++
 docs/boxes/misc/installer.md          | 19 +++++++
 docs/boxes/misc/kelder-acquisition.md | 20 +++++++
 docs/boxes/misc/kelder-spoder.md      | 17 ++++++
 docs/boxes/misc/kelder.md             | 24 ++++++++
 docs/boxes/misc/tower.md              | 16 ++++++
 35 files changed, 986 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 README.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/colony/README.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/colony/chatterbox.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/colony/colony-psql.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/colony/colony.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/colony/estuary.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/colony/gam.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/colony/git.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/colony/jackflix.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/colony/middleman.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/colony/object.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/colony/qclk.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/colony/shill.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/colony/toot.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/colony/vaultwarden.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/colony/waffletail.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/colony/whale2.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/home/README.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/home/castle.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/home/cellar.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/home/hass.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/home/palace.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/home/river.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/home/sfh.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/home/stream.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/home/unifi.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/misc/README.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/misc/britnet.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/misc/britway.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/misc/installer.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/misc/kelder-acquisition.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/misc/kelder-spoder.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/misc/kelder.md
 create mode 100644 docs/boxes/misc/tower.md

diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index ce454eb..2163f19 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ This file provides guidance to coding agents when working with code in this repo
 
 ## Overview
 
-Personal Nix flake managing NixOS systems and home-manager configurations for a fleet of
-machines (servers, home boxes, routers). It is built around a **custom module system** layered
+Personal Nix flake managing NixOS systems and home-manager configurations for a set of
+machines ("boxes": servers, home machines, routers). It is built around a **custom module system** layered
 on top of NixOS/home-manager, not the stock flake `nixosConfigurations` pattern.
 
 ## Commands
@@ -91,6 +91,11 @@ Per-host configs live under `nixos/boxes/<host>` (some are single `.nix` files,
 with nested VMs/containers under e.g. `colony/vms`). Many "systems" are VMs or containers managed
 via the `vms` / `containers` modules and the `l2mesh` VXLAN module.
 
+For a human-readable map of what is actually deployed (per-machine roles, services and networking),
+see `README.md` and the per-machine docs under `docs/boxes/` (grouped `docs/boxes/colony/`,
+`docs/boxes/home/`, `docs/boxes/misc/`). Keep these in sync when adding, removing or repurposing
+a machine or service.
+
 ## Secrets
 
 age-encrypted secrets in `secrets/`, managed with **ragenix**. Each module declares
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..962b70d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+# nixfiles
+
+Personal Nix flake managing every machine I run: hosted servers, home
+infrastructure, routers, a remote site, VPSes and personal workstations. It is
+built around a **custom module system** layered on top of NixOS and
+home-manager rather than the stock per-host `nixosConfigurations` pattern.
+
+For day-to-day commands and a deeper explanation of the module system,
+conventions and secrets, see [`AGENTS.md`](AGENTS.md). This README is the map of
+**what is actually deployed**; the per-machine details live under [`docs/boxes/`](docs/boxes).
+
+> **Note:** This documentation (the README and everything under `docs/`) is a
+> work in progress and was **agent-generated** from the repository. It may be
+> incomplete or out of date — treat the Nix configuration as the source of truth.
+
+## The boxes at a glance
+
+Machines are grouped by deployment/location. Each group has its own directory
+under `docs/boxes/` with a `README.md` overview and one file per machine.
+
+| Group | What it is | Docs |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| **colony** | Hosted dedicated server in Amsterdam (`ams1`). A VM host running the public-facing infrastructure: routing, web, git, media, object storage, chat, game servers. | [`docs/boxes/colony/`](docs/boxes/colony) |
+| **home** | Home network: a VM host (`palace`), the home routers, storage, Home Assistant, and personal desktops. | [`docs/boxes/home/`](docs/boxes/home) |
+| **misc** | Everything else: edge VPSes (`britway`, `britnet`), the remote `kelder` site, the `tower` workstation, and the installer image. | [`docs/boxes/misc/`](docs/boxes/misc) |
+
+## The "big machine" pattern
+
+The larger sites (`colony`, `home`) all follow the same shape:
+
+```
+physical host (VM host)
+├── VM ── thing impractical to containerise (router, storage, podman host, …)
+├── VM ── container host ──┬── NixOS container ── application
+│                          ├── NixOS container ──┬── application
+│                          │                     ├── application
+│                          │                     └── application
+│                          └── …
+└── VM ── …
+```
+
+- A **physical host** (`colony`, `palace`) does little itself beyond running
+  **VMs** via the custom `my.vms` module (QEMU + systemd units, LVM-backed
+  disks).
+- **VMs** exist for things that are impractical to put in a container — kernel
+  features, separate networking, podman/OCI workloads, foreign OSes.
+- One VM is usually a **container host** (`shill` on colony, `sfh` on home; and
+  `kelder` directly). It runs **NixOS containers** via the custom `my.containers`
+  module (systemd-nspawn based, each with its own address on a bridge).
+- **Most applications live in those NixOS containers.** A container isn't limited
+  to a single application — it commonly hosts a **group of related applications**
+  that belong together (e.g. `jackflix` runs Jellyfin, the *arr stack,
+  Transmission, PhotoPrism and copyparty; `object` runs MinIO, Harmonia, HedgeDoc
+  and wastebin). Each container is a first-class entry in `docs/boxes/`.
+
+Networking between everything is largely defined by per-system `assignments`
+(IPs/prefixes) plus an L2 VXLAN mesh (`my.vpns.l2`, AS211024) that ties the edge
+routers together. See [`AGENTS.md`](AGENTS.md) for the mechanics.
+
+## Repo layout
+
+```
+README.md           <- you are here
+nixos/
+  boxes/            per-machine configuration ("boxes")
+    colony/         colony host + its VMs (vms/) + shill's containers
+    home/           palace host + its VMs, plus stream, castle
+    britway/        britnet.nix, kelder/, tower/, installer.nix …
+  modules/          shared NixOS modules (my.* options); registered in _list.nix
+home-manager/       home-manager modules + configs
+lib/                lib.my helpers, constants (lib.my.c), net/dns helpers
+pkgs/               custom packages (overlays.default)
+secrets/            age-encrypted secrets (ragenix)
+devshell/           devshell commands (build/deploy/check/ssh helpers)
+docs/boxes/         per-machine documentation (colony/, home/, misc/)
+```
+
+A machine is wired into the flake by adding its box file to the `configs` list
+in `flake.nix`. See [`AGENTS.md`](AGENTS.md#architecture) for how `evalModules`
+turns these into `nixosConfigurations`, `homeConfigurations` and `deploy` nodes.
diff --git a/docs/boxes/colony/README.md b/docs/boxes/colony/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..94ee605
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/colony/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+# colony
+
+The hosted dedicated server in Amsterdam (`ams1`). This is the public-facing
+half of the boxes: almost everything reachable from the internet lives here.
+
+- **Internal domain:** `ams1.int.nul.ie`
+- **Public domain:** `nul.ie` (public services are published as `*.nul.ie`)
+- **Source:** [`nixos/boxes/colony/`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony)
+
+## Shape
+
+`colony` is the physical VM host. It runs the VMs below; one of them (`shill`)
+is itself a NixOS container host where most applications run.
+
+```
+colony (physical VM host)
+├── estuary ── edge router / firewall / DNS / BGP
+├── shill ──── NixOS container host ──┬── middleman    (reverse proxy, ACME, SSO)
+│                                     ├── colony-psql  (shared PostgreSQL)
+│                                     ├── vaultwarden  (password manager)
+│                                     ├── chatterbox   (Matrix + bridges)
+│                                     ├── toot         (Mastodon)
+│                                     ├── jackflix     (media stack)
+│                                     ├── object       (MinIO, Nix cache, …)
+│                                     ├── waffletail   (Tailscale subnet router)
+│                                     ├── qclk         (clock service)
+│                                     └── gam          (game servers)
+├── whale2 ─── podman/OCI host (game servers)
+├── git ────── Gitea + Actions runner
+├── mail ───── Debian VM running Mailcow (not NixOS — configured out of repo)
+└── darts ──── third-party/customer VM (opaque to this repo)
+```
+
+## Machines
+
+| Machine | Role | Docs |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `colony` | Physical VM host (AMD, LVM-thin, borgthin backups → rsync.net) | [colony.md](colony.md) |
+| `estuary` | Edge router: WAN, firewall/NAT, DNS, BGP, IXP peering, WireGuard | [estuary.md](estuary.md) |
+| `shill` | NixOS container host (see containers below) | [shill.md](shill.md) |
+| `whale2` | podman/OCI host for game servers | [whale2.md](whale2.md) |
+| `git` | Gitea + Gitea Actions runner | [git.md](git.md) |
+
+### shill containers
+
+| Container | Role | Docs |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `middleman` | Front-end nginx reverse proxy, ACME certs, nginx-sso, librespeed | [middleman.md](middleman.md) |
+| `colony-psql` | Shared PostgreSQL (14) for colony services | [colony-psql.md](colony-psql.md) |
+| `vaultwarden` | Vaultwarden (Bitwarden-compatible password manager) | [vaultwarden.md](vaultwarden.md) |
+| `chatterbox` | Matrix homeserver + bridges (heisenbridge, mautrix-*) | [chatterbox.md](chatterbox.md) |
+| `toot` | Bluesky PDS (Mastodon disabled) | [toot.md](toot.md) |
+| `jackflix` | Media: Jellyfin, *arr stack, Transmission, PhotoPrism, copyparty | [jackflix.md](jackflix.md) |
+| `object` | MinIO (S3), Harmonia (Nix cache), HedgeDoc, wastebin | [object.md](object.md) |
+| `waffletail` | Tailscale subnet router (advertises colony prefixes into the tailnet) | [waffletail.md](waffletail.md) |
+| `qclk` | `qclk` clock service (reachable over WireGuard) | [qclk.md](qclk.md) |
+| `gam` | Game servers (Terraria, …) | [gam.md](gam.md) |
+
+## Non-NixOS VMs
+
+These run on `colony` but are **not** managed by this repo (no NixOS config). The
+QEMU instances are still declared in `colony`'s `my.vms.instances`, and colony's
+networking routes/firewalls traffic to them:
+
+- **`mail`** — a Debian VM running [Mailcow](https://mailcow.email/) (`mail.nul.ie`).
+  ACME certs are pushed to it from `middleman` (see [middleman.md](middleman.md)).
+- **`darts`** — a third-party/customer VM; opaque to this repo, given a routed
+  prefix and otherwise left alone.
diff --git a/docs/boxes/colony/chatterbox.md b/docs/boxes/colony/chatterbox.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1dec117
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/colony/chatterbox.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# chatterbox
+
+The Matrix homeserver (`nul.ie`) and its chat-network bridges.
+
+- **Source:** [`shill/containers/chatterbox.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/shill/containers/chatterbox.nix)
+- **Host:** NixOS container on `shill`
+
+## Role
+
+- **Matrix homeserver** for `server_name = "nul.ie"`.
+- **Bridges** to other chat networks:
+  - `heisenbridge` (IRC),
+  - `mautrix-whatsapp` (WhatsApp),
+  - `mautrix-meta` / `mautrix-messenger` (Facebook Messenger / Instagram).
+- Fronted by `middleman` (federation on `:8448`).
+
+## Networking
+
+- `internal` assignment on the `ctrs` network (alt name `chatterbox-ctr`).
diff --git a/docs/boxes/colony/colony-psql.md b/docs/boxes/colony/colony-psql.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9451196
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/colony/colony-psql.md
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# colony-psql
+
+The shared PostgreSQL instance for colony. Several other containers
+(`middleman`, `chatterbox`, `toot`, `git`, …) connect here rather than each
+running their own database.
+
+- **Source:** [`shill/containers/colony-psql.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/shill/containers/colony-psql.nix)
+- **Host:** NixOS container on `shill`
+
+## Role
+
+- **PostgreSQL 14** serving the other colony services over the `ctrs` network.
+  Consumers wait for it to be ready via the `systemdAwaitPostgres` helper.
+- netdata for monitoring.
+
+## Networking
+
+- `internal` assignment on the `ctrs` network (alt name `colony-psql-ctr`).
diff --git a/docs/boxes/colony/colony.md b/docs/boxes/colony/colony.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..58c6a31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/colony/colony.md
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+# colony (host)
+
+The physical dedicated server in Amsterdam and the VM host for everything in
+this group.
+
+- **Source:** [`nixos/boxes/colony/default.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/default.nix)
+  (VM instances in [`nixos/boxes/colony/vms/default.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/default.nix))
+- **nixpkgs:** `mine-stable`
+
+## Role
+
+Bare-metal AMD host. It does little application work itself — its job is to run
+the VMs and provide them with storage, networking and backups.
+
+- **Virtualisation:** QEMU/KVM (`kvm-amd`, IOMMU on) via the `my.vms` module. VM
+  disks are LVM logical volumes (`vm-<name>-<disk>`) in the `main` volume group;
+  `estuary` additionally gets a WAN NIC by PCI passthrough.
+- **Storage:** LVM-thin (`services.lvm.boot.thin`), `/persist` for state,
+  `/mnt/backup` for the local borg repo. `smartd` + `rasdaemon` for health.
+- **Backups:** `my.borgthin` snapshots the persist/data LVs of the host and its
+  VMs into `/mnt/backup/main`, which is then `rsync`'d (along with LVM metadata)
+  to rsync.net (`zh2855.rsync.net`).
+- **Monitoring:** netdata (with freeipmi), smartd.
+
+## Networking
+
+- Two bridges: `base` (the colony "base" network, shared with `estuary`) and
+  `vms` (the VM network). Dummy interfaces keep the bridges up so dependent VMs
+  can start.
+- Default gateway / edge is `estuary`; `colony` itself holds the `routing` and
+  `internal` (a.k.a. `vm`) assignments and routes container/OCI/Tailscale
+  prefixes to `shill` and `whale2`.
+- `my.firewall` trusts the `vms` interface and forwards customer prefixes
+  (`vm-mail`, `vm-darts`) through.
+
+## VMs hosted here
+
+`estuary`, `shill`, `whale2`, `git` (all NixOS, documented in this directory),
+plus the non-NixOS `mail` and `darts` (see [README](README.md#non-nixos-vms)).
diff --git a/docs/boxes/colony/estuary.md b/docs/boxes/colony/estuary.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f7161aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/colony/estuary.md
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+# estuary
+
+The colony edge router and firewall — the machine that holds colony's public
+IPs and connects everything else to the internet.
+
+- **Source:** [`nixos/boxes/colony/vms/estuary/`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/estuary)
+  (`default.nix`, `bgp.nix`, `dns.nix`, `bandwidth.nix`)
+- **nixpkgs:** `mine`
+- **Host:** VM on `colony` (gets the WAN NIC by PCI passthrough)
+
+## Role
+
+- **Edge routing / firewall / NAT:** owns the colony public IPv4/IPv6
+  (`94.142.241.x` / `2a02:898:0:20::`), does NAT and port-forwarding for the
+  internal services (`my.firewall.nat.forwardPorts` driven by
+  `firewallForwards`). Forwards HTTP/S to `middleman`, git to `git`, game ports
+  to the OCI game servers on `whale2`, etc.
+- **BGP:** runs BIRD2 ([`bgp.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/estuary/bgp.nix))
+  announcing AS211024, over VLANs on the WAN link:
+  - peers at the IXPs **Frys-IX**, **NL-ix** and **FogIXP**;
+  - plus **iFog transit** (`ifog-transit`) — an upstream transit provider from
+    iFog, **not** an IXP.
+- **DNS:** authoritative/recursive DNS ([`dns.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/estuary/dns.nix)),
+  redirected to port 5353 locally.
+- **VPNs:**
+  - Part of the AS211024 **L2 VXLAN mesh** (`my.vpns.l2`) with `river`, `stream`
+    and `britway`.
+  - WireGuard endpoints for the remote `kelder` site, `hillcrest`, and
+    `john-valorant`.
+- **Misc:** iperf3 server. (A bandwidth-accounting script,
+  [`bandwidth.py`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/estuary/bandwidth.py), exists but
+  is **legacy and not currently used**.)
+
+## Networking
+
+- `wan` — the passed-through igb NIC (9000 MTU), carrying the upstream uplink and
+  tagged IXP VLANs (`ifog` 409 → `frys-ix`/`nl-ix`/`fogixp`/`ifog-transit`).
+- `base` — colony base network; sends RAs and provides DNS to the base prefix,
+  routes the VM/container/OCI/Tailscale prefixes back to `colony`.
+- `as211024` — the L2 mesh interface.
+- Assignments: `internal` (public, alt name `fw`), `base`, `as211024`.
diff --git a/docs/boxes/colony/gam.md b/docs/boxes/colony/gam.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c4c325d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/colony/gam.md
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# gam
+
+A game-server container (the lightweight counterpart to the OCI game servers on
+`whale2`).
+
+- **Source:** [`shill/containers/gam.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/shill/containers/gam.nix)
+- **Host:** NixOS container on `shill`
+
+## Role
+
+- Hosts game servers run directly as NixOS services — currently **Terraria**
+  (config/world from secrets). Exposed to the internet via `estuary`'s port
+  forwards (`:7777`).
+
+## Networking
+
+- `internal` assignment on the `ctrs` network (alt name `gam-ctr`).
diff --git a/docs/boxes/colony/git.md b/docs/boxes/colony/git.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f61fcec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/colony/git.md
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+# git
+
+The Gitea VM — source hosting and CI for the boxes (`git.nul.ie`).
+
+- **Source:** [`nixos/boxes/colony/vms/git/`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/git)
+  (`default.nix`, `gitea.nix`, `gitea-actions.nix`)
+- **nixpkgs:** `mine`
+- **Host:** VM on `colony`
+
+## Role
+
+- **Gitea** ([`gitea.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/git/gitea.nix)) — the Git
+  forge (`git.nul.ie`). PostgreSQL-backed (the shared `colony-psql`), LFS
+  enabled, with object storage backed by MinIO on `object` (a MinIO secret is
+  spliced into `app.ini` at startup).
+- **Gitea Actions runner**
+  ([`gitea-actions.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/git/gitea-actions.nix)) — a
+  Docker-mode runner (`main-docker`) using podman. Labels provide Debian/node-24
+  (Trixie) and Ubuntu 26.04 images; runner config comes from the upstream
+  module's `settings` option. The Actions cache lives on a dedicated disk
+  (`/var/cache/gitea-runner`). Runs as a fixed `gitea-runner` user (not
+  `DynamicUser`) so it can read its token.
+- **nginx** — terminates TLS for `git.nul.ie` and proxies to Gitea on `:3000`.
+  ACME certs for `nul.ie` / `*.nul.ie` via the Cloudflare DNS challenge.
+- **podman** — also hosts the OCI registry/build images; `/var/lib/containers`
+  is an XFS data disk.
+
+## Networking
+
+- `vms` interface with `routing` / `internal` assignments.
+- HTTP/HTTPS forwarded in from `estuary`; podman default subnet `10.88.0.0/16` is
+  allowed to forward.
+
+## CI
+
+This runner is what executes the repo's own `.gitea/workflows/ci.yaml`, building
+each `.#ci.x86_64-linux` attribute and pushing to the Harmonia binary cache. See
+[`AGENTS.md`](../../../AGENTS.md#commands).
diff --git a/docs/boxes/colony/jackflix.md b/docs/boxes/colony/jackflix.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..423ef1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/colony/jackflix.md
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# jackflix
+
+The media stack — acquisition, library and streaming.
+
+- **Source:** [`shill/containers/jackflix/`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/shill/containers/jackflix)
+  (`default.nix`, `networking.nix`)
+- **Host:** NixOS container on `shill`
+
+## Role
+
+- **Streaming:** Jellyfin.
+- **Acquisition (*arr stack):** Transmission, Jackett, FlareSolverr, Radarr,
+  Sonarr, and Jellyseerr (`seerr`) for requests.
+- **Photos:** PhotoPrism (`photos.nul.ie`).
+- **File sharing:** copyparty (`:3923`) serving public + private media volumes.
+- Media lives on the shared `/mnt/media` volume (bind-mounted read-write from
+  `shill`). Downloaders bind to a VPN interface
+  ([`networking.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/shill/containers/jackflix/networking.nix)),
+  so torrent traffic only flows while `systemd-networkd-wait-online@vpn` is up.
+- A shared `media` group (gid 2000) gives the apps coordinated access.
+
+## Networking
+
+- `internal` assignment on the `ctrs` network (alt name `jackflix-ctr`), plus its
+  own VPN interface for the download clients.
diff --git a/docs/boxes/colony/middleman.md b/docs/boxes/colony/middleman.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1e1c9ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/colony/middleman.md
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+# middleman
+
+The front-end reverse proxy for all public colony web services — the single
+ingress that `estuary` forwards HTTP/HTTPS to.
+
+- **Source:** [`shill/containers/middleman/`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/shill/containers/middleman)
+  (`default.nix`, `vhosts.nix`)
+- **Host:** NixOS container on `shill`
+
+## Role
+
+- **nginx** reverse proxy ([`vhosts.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/shill/containers/middleman/vhosts.nix)
+  holds the per-service vhosts) with VTS stats, fancyindex, brotli, caching, and
+  a dynamic resolver pointed at `estuary` so upstreams can be re-resolved at
+  runtime. It is the single public ingress for almost every web service — colony,
+  home, and beyond.
+- **ACME** — issues the wildcard certificates that **its own** vhosts are served
+  with (it is not a shared CA for the other boxes; `git`, `britway`, `kelder-spoder`, etc. each
+  run their own ACME):
+  - `nul.ie` / `*.nul.ie` (+ `*.s3.nul.ie`) via the Cloudflare DNS challenge,
+  - the internal `ams1.int.nul.ie` / `*` via an `exec` challenge that calls
+    `estuary`'s pdns over SSH.
+  - As a one-off consumer, it then pushes the public cert to the `mail` (Mailcow)
+    VM via `scp` + a remote `mailcow-ssl-reload`.
+- **nginx-sso** — single-sign-on (`sso.nul.ie`) with Google OAuth and a simple
+  username/password provider; protects the SSO-gated vhosts below.
+- **librespeed** — speed-test frontend + backend (`librespeed.${domain}` /
+  `speed.nul.ie`).
+
+## Published vhosts
+
+All under `*.nul.ie` with the wildcard cert unless noted. Upstreams are addressed
+by their internal container/VM hostnames. "SSO" = gated behind nginx-sso.
+
+| Host(s) | Upstream | Notes |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `nul.ie` (default `_`) | static | landing page (CV, SSH pubkey) + Matrix/atproto `.well-known` |
+| `sso.nul.ie` | nginx-sso | SSO endpoint |
+| `pass.nul.ie` | `vaultwarden` | password manager |
+| `matrix.nul.ie` (+`:8448`) | `chatterbox` | Matrix client + federation |
+| `element.nul.ie` | element-web | Matrix web client |
+| `toot.nul.ie` | `toot` :80 | Mastodon (currently disabled — see [toot.md](toot.md)) |
+| `pds.nul.ie` | `toot` :3000 | Bluesky PDS |
+| `jackflix.nul.ie` | `jackflix` Jellyfin | streaming |
+| `torrents` / `jackett` / `radarr` / `sonarr` `.nul.ie` | `jackflix` | *arr stack (**SSO**) |
+| `gib.nul.ie` | `jackflix` Jellyseerr | requests |
+| `photos.nul.ie` | `jackflix` PhotoPrism | |
+| `stuff` / `public` / `p.nul.ie` | `jackflix` copyparty + `/mnt/media` | file sharing / index |
+| `share.nul.ie` | `object` :9090 | |
+| `minio` / `s3` / `*.s3.nul.ie` | `object` MinIO | S3 + console (Docker manifest MIME hack) |
+| `nix-cache.nul.ie` | `object` Harmonia | Nix binary cache (immutable cache headers) |
+| `md.nul.ie` / `pb.nul.ie` | `object` | HedgeDoc / wastebin |
+| `mc-map` / `mc-rail` / `mc-map-kink` `.nul.ie` | `whale2` OCI | Minecraft maps |
+| `netdata-colony.nul.ie` | many hosts :19999 | netdata fan-out (**SSO**) |
+| `pront.nul.ie` | `stream-hi` (home) | print/webcam (**SSO**) |
+| `hass.nul.ie` | `hass` (home) | Home Assistant |
+| `hass-john.nul.ie` | `john-valorant-tun` | remote HASS over WireGuard tunnel |
+
+## Networking
+
+- `internal` assignment on the `ctrs` network; bind-mounts `/mnt/media` for
+  serving static/media content.
+- nginx waits for `colony-psql` before starting (DNS bootstrap hack).
diff --git a/docs/boxes/colony/object.md b/docs/boxes/colony/object.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ee37cd0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/colony/object.md
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# object
+
+Object storage and Nix binary cache, plus a couple of small self-hosted web
+apps.
+
+- **Source:** [`shill/containers/object.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/shill/containers/object.nix)
+- **Host:** NixOS container on `shill`
+
+## Role
+
+- **MinIO** — S3-compatible object storage (`s3.nul.ie` / `*.s3.nul.ie`). Backs
+  several other services (Gitea LFS/artifacts, social-media uploads, …). Stored on the
+  `/mnt/minio` volume (XFS, bind-mounted from `shill`).
+- **Harmonia** — serves the Nix binary cache for all the boxes (`nix-cache.nul.ie`), backed
+  by the `/mnt/nix-cache` volume.
+- **atticd** — an alternative Nix cache (stores into MinIO/S3). **Currently
+  disabled** — present in the config but not running.
+- **HedgeDoc** — collaborative markdown notes.
+- **wastebin** — pastebin.
+
+## Networking
+
+- `internal` assignment on the `ctrs` network (alt name `object-ctr`).
+- `/mnt/minio` and `/mnt/nix-cache` bind-mounted read-write from `shill`.
diff --git a/docs/boxes/colony/qclk.md b/docs/boxes/colony/qclk.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8f0819c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/colony/qclk.md
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# qclk
+
+The `qclk` service container.
+
+- **Source:** [`shill/containers/qclk/`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/shill/containers/qclk)
+- **Host:** NixOS container on `shill`
+
+## Role
+
+- Runs the custom `qclk` service, exposing an API that is reached over a
+  dedicated WireGuard **`management`** network. Managed devices are configured as
+  WireGuard peers (each gets an address in the `qclk` prefix), and AS211024
+  trusted hosts are allowed to reach the API.
+- `shill` routes the `qclk` prefix to this container.
+
+## Networking
+
+- `internal` assignment on the `ctrs` network (alt name `qclk-ctr`), plus the
+  `management` WireGuard interface carrying the `qclk` prefix.
+
+> Check `qclk/default.nix` for the current peer list and exactly what the service
+> does — this entry intentionally stays high-level.
diff --git a/docs/boxes/colony/shill.md b/docs/boxes/colony/shill.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6a1fec7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/colony/shill.md
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+# shill
+
+The colony **NixOS container host**. Most colony applications run as
+systemd-nspawn containers on `shill`.
+
+- **Source:** [`nixos/boxes/colony/vms/shill/`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/shill)
+  (`default.nix`, `containers-ext.nix`, `hercules.nix`, `containers/`)
+- **nixpkgs:** `mine`
+- **Host:** VM on `colony` (large: 12 cores, 40 GiB RAM)
+
+## Role
+
+- Runs the colony NixOS containers via `my.containers.instances`, each attached
+  to the `ctrs` bridge with its own address.
+- Provides shared data volumes to those containers via bind mounts from
+  LVM-backed disks: `/mnt/media` (→ `middleman`, `jackflix`), `/mnt/minio` and
+  `/mnt/nix-cache` (→ `object`).
+- Acts as the router between the `vms` network and the `ctrs` container network
+  (sends RAs on `ctrs`, routes Tailscale prefixes via `waffletail` and the
+  `qclk` prefix via `qclk`). Includes an nftables `ct mark` hack to make
+  internal DNAT return paths work.
+- Tuned sysctls for high connection counts / torrent traffic; netdata.
+
+## Containers
+
+Defined in [`shill/containers/`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/shill/containers)
+and wired up in `shill`'s `my.containers.instances`:
+
+| Container | Role |
+| --- | --- |
+| [`middleman`](middleman.md) | Front-end nginx reverse proxy, ACME, nginx-sso, librespeed |
+| [`colony-psql`](colony-psql.md) | Shared PostgreSQL |
+| [`vaultwarden`](vaultwarden.md) | Password manager |
+| [`chatterbox`](chatterbox.md) | Matrix homeserver + bridges |
+| [`toot`](toot.md) | Bluesky PDS (Mastodon disabled) |
+| [`jackflix`](jackflix.md) | Media stack |
+| [`object`](object.md) | MinIO / Harmonia / HedgeDoc / wastebin |
+| [`waffletail`](waffletail.md) | Tailscale subnet router |
+| [`qclk`](qclk.md) | Clock service |
+| [`gam`](gam.md) | Game servers |
+
+## Notes
+
+- Container systems set `my.deploy.enable = false` (they are deployed as part of
+  `shill`'s container profiles, not as standalone deploy nodes) and render via
+  `my.asContainer`.
+- `hercules.nix` configures Hercules CI agent bits;
+  `containers-ext.nix` holds extra per-container host wiring.
diff --git a/docs/boxes/colony/toot.md b/docs/boxes/colony/toot.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..58a67af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/colony/toot.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# toot
+
+A federated-social container. Despite the name (Mastodon = "toots"), it currently
+hosts a **Bluesky PDS**; the Mastodon instance is disabled.
+
+- **Source:** [`shill/containers/toot.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/shill/containers/toot.nix)
+- **Host:** NixOS container on `shill`
+
+## Role
+
+- **Bluesky PDS** (Personal Data Server) — the active service, published as
+  `pds.nul.ie` (proxied by `middleman` to `:3000`).
+- **Mastodon** — **currently disabled**. The config is still present and
+  `toot.nul.ie` still maps to `:80`, but the instance is not running. (It was
+  backed by the shared `colony-psql` and MinIO/S3 on `object`.)
+
+## Networking
+
+- `internal` assignment on the `ctrs` network (alt name `toot-ctr`).
diff --git a/docs/boxes/colony/vaultwarden.md b/docs/boxes/colony/vaultwarden.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..37ef99a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/colony/vaultwarden.md
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# vaultwarden
+
+[Vaultwarden](https://github.com/dani-garcia/vaultwarden), a Bitwarden-compatible
+password manager.
+
+- **Source:** [`shill/containers/vaultwarden.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/shill/containers/vaultwarden.nix)
+- **Host:** NixOS container on `shill`
+
+## Role
+
+- Runs Vaultwarden, fronted by `middleman` and published under `nul.ie`.
+
+## Networking
+
+- `internal` assignment on the `ctrs` network (alt name `vaultwarden-ctr`).
diff --git a/docs/boxes/colony/waffletail.md b/docs/boxes/colony/waffletail.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2adea3f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/colony/waffletail.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# waffletail
+
+The colony Tailscale node / subnet router.
+
+- **Source:** [`shill/containers/waffletail.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/shill/containers/waffletail.nix)
+- **Host:** NixOS container on `shill`
+
+## Role
+
+- Joins the Tailscale tailnet (auth key from secrets) and **advertises the colony
+  prefixes** into it, acting as the subnet router so tailnet clients can reach
+  colony services and vice-versa.
+- nftables rules SNAT/forward between `host0` and `tailscale0` for the colony
+  v4/v6 ranges. `shill` routes the Tailscale prefixes here.
+
+## Networking
+
+- `internal` assignment on the `ctrs` network (alt name `waffletail-ctr`); owns
+  the `tailscale0` interface.
diff --git a/docs/boxes/colony/whale2.md b/docs/boxes/colony/whale2.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..802f0f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/colony/whale2.md
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# whale2
+
+A podman/OCI host on colony dedicated to game servers (kept off `shill` so the
+container churn and resource use stay isolated).
+
+- **Source:** [`nixos/boxes/colony/vms/whale2/`](../../../nixos/boxes/colony/vms/whale2)
+  (`default.nix`, `valheim.nix`, `minecraft/`, `enshrouded.nix`)
+- **nixpkgs:** `mine`
+- **Host:** VM on `colony`
+
+## Role
+
+- Runs OCI containers via **podman** (`virtualisation.oci-containers`, netavark
+  backend) on a dedicated `colony` bridge network (`oci`) with both IPv4 and
+  IPv6, so each game server gets its own routable address.
+- Game servers configured in-repo: **Valheim**, **Minecraft** (several worlds —
+  see `extraAssignments`: `simpcraft`, `simpcraft-staging`, `kevcraft`,
+  `kinkcraft`, `graeme`), and **Enshrouded** (currently commented out).
+- `/var/lib/containers` is an XFS data disk (project quotas).
+
+## Networking
+
+- `vms` interface with `routing` / `internal` (alt name `oci`) assignments.
+- An `oci` bridge carrying the `prefixes.oci` v4/v6 ranges; per-game addresses
+  are handed out via `extraAssignments` (`valheim-oci`, `simpcraft-oci`, …) and
+  exposed to the internet through `estuary`'s port forwards.
+- Firewall trusts the `oci` interface and forwards `vms → oci`.
diff --git a/docs/boxes/home/README.md b/docs/boxes/home/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c891cd7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/home/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+# home
+
+The home network. A VM host (`palace`), a redundant pair of routers, a storage
+server, Home Assistant, and personal desktops.
+
+- **Domain:** `h.nul.ie`
+- **Source:** [`nixos/boxes/home/`](../../../nixos/boxes/home)
+
+## Shape
+
+```
+palace (physical VM host)
+├── river ──── home router (HA pair with stream)
+├── cellar ── NVMe-oF storage server (SPDK)
+└── sfh ───── NixOS container host ──┬── hass   (Home Assistant)
+                                     └── unifi  (UniFi controller — defined, currently disabled)
+
+stream ── standalone home router (HA pair with river)
+castle ── desktop workstation (boots its disks over NVMe-oF from cellar)
+```
+
+The two routers `river` (a VM on `palace`) and `stream` (standalone hardware)
+share the [`routing-common`](../../../nixos/boxes/home/routing-common) config and
+form a **keepalived/VRRP high-availability pair**: DHCP (kea), router
+advertisements (radvd), DNS with blocklists, NAT, and the AS211024 L2 mesh link
+back to colony.
+
+## Machines
+
+| Machine | Role | Docs |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `palace` | Physical VM host | [palace.md](palace.md) |
+| `river` | Home router (VM; VRRP pair with `stream`) | [river.md](river.md) |
+| `cellar` | NVMe-oF storage server (SPDK) | [cellar.md](cellar.md) |
+| `sfh` | NixOS container host | [sfh.md](sfh.md) |
+| `stream` | Home router (standalone hardware; VRRP pair with `river`) | [stream.md](stream.md) |
+| `castle` | Desktop workstation | [castle.md](castle.md) |
+
+### sfh containers
+
+| Container | Role | Docs |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `hass` | Home Assistant | [hass.md](hass.md) |
+| `unifi` | UniFi network controller (defined, **currently not imported**) | [unifi.md](unifi.md) |
diff --git a/docs/boxes/home/castle.md b/docs/boxes/home/castle.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..75088c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/home/castle.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# castle
+
+A desktop workstation.
+
+- **Source:** [`nixos/boxes/home/castle/default.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/home/castle/default.nix)
+
+## Role
+
+- AMD desktop running the GUI environment (`my.gui.enable`, Sway / Wayland via
+  home-manager).
+- **Diskless-style boot:** its `/nix`, `/persist` and `/home` are NVMe-oF volumes
+  served by [`cellar`](cellar.md) (`/dev/nvmeof/{nix,persist,home}`). The
+  networking is careful not to drop the IP used for the NVMe-oF connection.
+- Uses the `my.nvme` module for the NVMe-oF client setup.
+
+## Networking
+
+- Sits on the home network; depends on the high-speed link to `cellar` for its
+  root storage.
diff --git a/docs/boxes/home/cellar.md b/docs/boxes/home/cellar.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..df80c17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/home/cellar.md
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+# cellar
+
+The home storage server. Exports fast NVMe storage over the network so other
+machines (notably `castle`) can boot and run from it.
+
+- **Source:** [`nixos/boxes/home/palace/vms/cellar/`](../../../nixos/boxes/home/palace/vms/cellar)
+  (`default.nix`, `spdk.nix`)
+- **Host:** VM on `palace` (NVMe drives passed through)
+- **Deploy address:** `192.168.68.80`
+
+## Role
+
+- Runs **SPDK** ([`spdk.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/home/palace/vms/cellar/spdk.nix)) as
+  a userspace storage target. The kernel `nvme` driver is blacklisted so SPDK can
+  drive the NVMe devices directly (attached by PCI BDF).
+- Builds a **RAID0** (`NVMeRaid`) across three NVMe drives, partitioned into three
+  namespaces, and exports each as an **NVMe-oF target over RDMA** (port 4420) on
+  the high-speed home network — one namespace per consumer:
+
+  | Namespace | NQN | Consumer |
+  | --- | --- | --- |
+  | `NVMeRaidp1` | `nqn.2016-06.io.spdk:river` | [`river`](river.md) |
+  | `NVMeRaidp2` | `nqn.2016-06.io.spdk:castle` | [`castle`](castle.md) |
+  | `NVMeRaidp3` | `nqn.2016-06.io.spdk:sfh` | [`sfh`](sfh.md) |
+
+  Each client is pinned by `hostnqn`, so `river`, `castle` and `sfh` all run their
+  storage off `cellar` over the network.
+
+## Networking
+
+- Exports on the high-speed home network (`lan-hi` / the `hi` assignment) over
+  RDMA; the SPDK target waits for that link to be online before starting.
+
+## Notes
+
+- The `ublk_*` calls in `my.spdk.debugCommands` are **only a debugging script** —
+  they let you create a local ublk block device to mount and inspect the RAID on
+  `cellar` itself. They are **not** how storage is exported to clients; that is the
+  `nvmf` config above.
diff --git a/docs/boxes/home/hass.md b/docs/boxes/home/hass.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5a82af1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/home/hass.md
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# hass
+
+[Home Assistant](https://www.home-assistant.io/) — home automation.
+
+- **Source:** [`sfh/containers/hass.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/home/palace/vms/sfh/containers/hass.nix)
+- **Host:** NixOS container on `sfh`
+
+## Role
+
+- Runs Home Assistant plus supporting services in the container. The `hass-cli`
+  is wired up against the local server for convenience.
+- Integrations/automations are configured here (see commit history for things
+  like the "West Wood" integration).
+
+## Networking
+
+- `internal` assignment (alt name `hass-ctr`), plus a loopback assignment
+  (`hass-ctr-lo`) used internally.
diff --git a/docs/boxes/home/palace.md b/docs/boxes/home/palace.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3fc8b45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/home/palace.md
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+# palace (host)
+
+The physical VM host for the home network — the home equivalent of `colony`.
+
+- **Source:** [`nixos/boxes/home/palace/default.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/home/palace/default.nix)
+  (VM instances in [`palace/vms/default.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/home/palace/vms/default.nix))
+
+## Role
+
+- Bare-metal host whose job is to run the home VMs via the `my.vms` module:
+  `river` (router), `cellar` (storage), `sfh` (container host).
+- Provides the bridged networking those VMs sit on and passes through hardware
+  where needed (e.g. NVMe drives to `cellar`, NICs to `river`).
+
+## VMs hosted here
+
+| VM | Role | Docs |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `river` | Home router (VRRP pair with `stream`) | [river.md](river.md) |
+| `cellar` | NVMe-oF storage server | [cellar.md](cellar.md) |
+| `sfh` | NixOS container host (Home Assistant, …) | [sfh.md](sfh.md) |
diff --git a/docs/boxes/home/river.md b/docs/boxes/home/river.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d1f108
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/home/river.md
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# river
+
+One of the two home routers. `river` is a VM on `palace`; it forms a
+high-availability pair with the standalone `stream`.
+
+- **Source:** [`nixos/boxes/home/palace/vms/river.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/home/palace/vms/river.nix),
+  built from [`routing-common`](../../../nixos/boxes/home/routing-common) (instance `0`)
+- **Host:** VM on `palace`
+- **Deploy address:** `192.168.68.1`
+
+## Role
+
+Everything in [`routing-common`](../../../nixos/boxes/home/routing-common):
+
+- **VRRP/keepalived** failover with `stream` (`keepalived.nix`) — one router is
+  master at a time, sharing virtual IPs.
+- **DHCP** via kea (`kea.nix`), **router advertisements** via radvd
+  (`radvd.nix`).
+- **DNS** (`dns.nix`) — local resolver with a blocklist
+  (`dns-blocklist.txt`) and a periodic update script.
+- **NAT / firewall** for the home LAN, with policy routing.
+- **AS211024 L2 mesh** link back to colony/`estuary` (and the other edge
+  routers), so home and colony networks interconnect.
+
+See [stream.md](stream.md) for the other half of the pair.
diff --git a/docs/boxes/home/sfh.md b/docs/boxes/home/sfh.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1c514dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boxes/home/sfh.md
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# sfh
+
+The home **NixOS container host** ("smart from home" / home services).
+
+- **Source:** [`nixos/boxes/home/palace/vms/sfh/`](../../../nixos/boxes/home/palace/vms/sfh)
+  (`default.nix`, `containers/`)
+- **Host:** VM on `palace`
+
+## Role
+
+- Runs the home NixOS containers via `my.containers.instances`, in the same way
+  `shill` does on colony.
+- Sits on the home network and connects to NVMe-oF storage (`cellar`) where
+  needed.
+
+## Containers
+
+Defined in [`sfh/containers/`](../../../nixos/boxes/home/palace/vms/sfh/containers)
+and imported from its `containers/default.nix`:
+
+| Container | Role | Docs |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `hass` | Home Assistant | [hass.md](hass.md) |
+| `unifi` | UniFi controller — **defined but currently commented out** of `containers/default.nix` | [unifi.md](unifi.md) |
diff --git a/docs/boxes/home/stream.md b/docs/boxes/home/stream.md
new file mode 100644
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@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# stream
+
+One of the two home routers. `stream` is standalone hardware; it forms a
+high-availability pair with `river` (a VM on `palace`).
+
+- **Source:** [`nixos/boxes/home/stream.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/home/stream.nix),
+  built from [`routing-common`](../../../nixos/boxes/home/routing-common) (instance `1`)
+- **Deploy address:** `192.168.68.2`
+
+## Role
+
+- Same [`routing-common`](../../../nixos/boxes/home/routing-common) role as
+  [`river`](river.md): keepalived/VRRP, kea DHCP, radvd, DNS + blocklist, NAT and
+  the AS211024 L2 mesh link to colony.
+- Additionally pulls in `mstpd` (`routing-common/mstpd.nix`) for spanning-tree on
+  its bridged ports — `stream` is the one wired into the physical switching, so
+  it manages the L2 topology.
+
+See [river.md](river.md) for the other half of the pair.
diff --git a/docs/boxes/home/unifi.md b/docs/boxes/home/unifi.md
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@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+# unifi
+
+The UniFi network controller.
+
+- **Source:** [`sfh/containers/unifi.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/home/palace/vms/sfh/containers/unifi.nix)
+- **Host:** NixOS container on `sfh`
+
+## Status
+
+> **Currently disabled.** The system is still defined (`nixos.systems.unifi`),
+> but its import is commented out in
+> [`sfh/containers/default.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/home/palace/vms/sfh/containers/default.nix),
+> so it is not deployed as a container right now. Re-enable by uncommenting
+> `./unifi.nix` there.
+
+## Role
+
+- Runs the UniFi controller (`services.unifi`) to manage the home UniFi network
+  gear.
+
+## Networking
+
+- `internal` assignment (alt name `unifi-ctr`).
diff --git a/docs/boxes/misc/README.md b/docs/boxes/misc/README.md
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/docs/boxes/misc/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+# misc
+
+Everything that isn't part of the `colony` or `home` sites: the edge VPSes, the
+remote `kelder` site, a workstation, and the installer image.
+
+| Machine | What it is | Docs |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `britway` | Vultr VPS (London, `lon1`): Headscale, Tailscale exit node, BGP edge, nginx | [britway.md](britway.md) |
+| `britnet` | VPS (Birmingham, `bhx1`): Tailscale/WireGuard gateway | [britnet.md](britnet.md) |
+| `kelder` | Remote site host (`hentai.engineer`): NixOS container host | [kelder.md](kelder.md) |
+| `tower` | Framework Laptop 13 (12th-gen Intel) workstation | [tower.md](tower.md) |
+| `installer` | Custom NixOS installer image | [installer.md](installer.md) |
+
+## kelder containers
+
+`kelder` is itself a container host (like `shill`/`sfh`):
+
+| Container | Role | Docs |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `kelder-acquisition` | Media stack (Jellyfin + *arr + Transmission) | [kelder-acquisition.md](kelder-acquisition.md) |
+| `kelder-spoder` | nginx web host | [kelder-spoder.md](kelder-spoder.md) |
diff --git a/docs/boxes/misc/britnet.md b/docs/boxes/misc/britnet.md
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@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+# britnet
+
+A VPS in Birmingham (`bhx1`) acting as a Tailscale/WireGuard gateway node.
+
+- **Source:** [`nixos/boxes/britnet.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/britnet.nix)
+- **Internal domain:** `bhx1.int.nul.ie`
+
+## Role
+
+- **Tailscale node** + **WireGuard** (`wg0`) gateway: provides a second egress /
+  entry point into the boxes' overlay networks.
+- nftables SNATs traffic arriving on `tailscale0` / `wg0` out of the provider
+  interface (`veth0`), using the `allhost` assignment addresses.
+
+## Networking
+
+- Provider uplink with gateways `77.74.199.1` (v4) / `2a12:ab46:5344::1` (v6).
+- `tailscale0` and `wg0` overlay interfaces; `allhost` assignment for SNAT.
+
+> `britnet` is a separate machine from [`britway`](britway.md) — different
+> provider/site, narrower role (gateway rather than control plane + BGP edge).
diff --git a/docs/boxes/misc/britway.md b/docs/boxes/misc/britway.md
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/docs/boxes/misc/britway.md
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# britway
+
+A Vultr VPS in London (`lon1`) acting as a network edge node: the Tailscale
+control plane, an exit node, and a BGP speaker in the AS211024 mesh.
+
+- **Source:** [`nixos/boxes/britway/`](../../../nixos/boxes/britway)
+  (`default.nix`, `bgp.nix`, `nginx.nix`, `tailscale.nix`)
+- **Internal domain:** `lon1.int.nul.ie`
+
+## Role
+
+- **Headscale** ([`tailscale.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/britway/tailscale.nix)) — the
+  self-hosted Tailscale control server (`hs.nul.ie`) the rest of the boxes log
+  into.
+- **Tailscale node** — advertises itself as an **exit node** and advertises the
+  tailnet routes, so tailnet clients can egress / reach internal prefixes via
+  britway.
+- **BGP** ([`bgp.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/britway/bgp.nix)) — part of the AS211024
+  L2 VXLAN mesh (`my.vpns.l2`) alongside `estuary`, `river` and `stream`.
+- **nginx** ([`nginx.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/britway/nginx.nix)) — reverse proxy /
+  web front-end with ACME certs.
+
+## Networking
+
+- `vultr` assignment on the provider interface; `as211024` on the mesh.
+- A `veth0`/`tailscale0` setup with SNAT so tailnet traffic egresses via the VPS
+  public IP.
diff --git a/docs/boxes/misc/installer.md b/docs/boxes/misc/installer.md
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/docs/boxes/misc/installer.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# installer
+
+The custom NixOS installer image used to bootstrap new boxes.
+
+- **Source:** [`nixos/installer.nix`](../../../nixos/installer.nix)
+
+## Role
+
+- Defines `nixos.systems.installer`, a minimal system whose `my.buildAs.*`
+  outputs produce installable artifacts — primarily a bootable **ISO**
+  (`isoImage`), and the same base is reused for kexec/netboot trees.
+- Build it with the devshell commands (see [`AGENTS.md`](../../../AGENTS.md#commands)):
+  - `build-iso installer`
+  - `build-kexec installer` / `build-netboot installer`
+- A released ISO is what `colony`'s VM definitions reference as install media; the
+  `update-installer` devshell command tags a release to trigger a rebuild.
+
+This is a build target rather than a deployed machine — there is no running
+`installer` host.
diff --git a/docs/boxes/misc/kelder-acquisition.md b/docs/boxes/misc/kelder-acquisition.md
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/docs/boxes/misc/kelder-acquisition.md
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# kelder-acquisition
+
+The media stack for the `kelder` site — a slimmer cousin of colony's
+[`jackflix`](../colony/jackflix.md).
+
+- **Source:** [`kelder/containers/acquisition/`](../../../nixos/boxes/kelder/containers/acquisition)
+  (`default.nix`, `networking.nix`)
+- **Host:** NixOS container on `kelder`
+
+## Role
+
+- **Jellyfin** for streaming (with hardware transcoding — the `jellyfin` user is
+  in the `render` group, `jellyfin-ffmpeg`).
+- **Acquisition:** Transmission, Jackett, Radarr, Sonarr.
+- Runs under the site's shared `kontent` user.
+
+## Networking
+
+- `internal` assignment (alt name `acquisition-ctr`) on the kelder container
+  network; download client networking in `networking.nix`.
diff --git a/docs/boxes/misc/kelder-spoder.md b/docs/boxes/misc/kelder-spoder.md
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/docs/boxes/misc/kelder-spoder.md
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# kelder-spoder
+
+An nginx web host on the `kelder` site.
+
+- **Source:** [`kelder/containers/spoder/`](../../../nixos/boxes/kelder/containers/spoder)
+  (`default.nix`, `nginx.nix`)
+- **Host:** NixOS container on `kelder`
+
+## Role
+
+- Serves web content via **nginx** ([`nginx.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/kelder/containers/spoder/nginx.nix)),
+  with ACME-managed certificates (nginx in the `acme` group, reloads on renewal).
+- Runs under the site's shared `kontent` user.
+
+## Networking
+
+- `internal` assignment (alt name `spoder-ctr`) on the kelder container network.
diff --git a/docs/boxes/misc/kelder.md b/docs/boxes/misc/kelder.md
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/docs/boxes/misc/kelder.md
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# kelder
+
+A host at a remote site ("kelder" = cellar/basement), linked back to the rest of
+the other boxes over WireGuard. It is itself a **NixOS container host**.
+
+- **Source:** [`nixos/boxes/kelder/`](../../../nixos/boxes/kelder)
+  (`default.nix`, `boot.nix`, `containers/`, `plymouth/`)
+- **Domain:** `hentai.engineer`
+
+## Role
+
+- **Site uplink:** connects to colony's `estuary` over **WireGuard**
+  (`kelder` peer; see [estuary.md](../colony/estuary.md)), so the remote site is
+  reachable through the colony edge. A periodic `dns_update.py` keeps DNS current.
+- **Container host:** runs NixOS containers via `my.containers.instances`
+  (`acquisition`, `spoder`).
+- Custom boot/splash (`boot.nix`, Plymouth theme in `plymouth/`).
+
+## Containers
+
+| Container | Role | Docs |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `kelder-acquisition` | Media stack (Jellyfin + *arr + Transmission) | [kelder-acquisition.md](kelder-acquisition.md) |
+| `kelder-spoder` | nginx web host | [kelder-spoder.md](kelder-spoder.md) |
diff --git a/docs/boxes/misc/tower.md b/docs/boxes/misc/tower.md
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/docs/boxes/misc/tower.md
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# tower
+
+A laptop workstation — a Framework Laptop 13 (12th-gen Intel).
+
+- **Source:** [`nixos/boxes/tower/default.nix`](../../../nixos/boxes/tower/default.nix)
+
+## Role
+
+- Framework Laptop 13 (12th-gen Intel) running the GUI environment
+  (`my.gui.enable`) with home-manager on the `mine` channel.
+- Joins the tailnet via the self-hosted Headscale on [`britway`](britway.md)
+  (`tailscale up --login-server=https://hs.nul.ie --accept-routes`).
+- Local virtualisation enabled (`kvm-intel`, IOMMU on).
+
+> Unlike [`castle`](../home/castle.md), `tower` lives outside the `home/` box
+> tree and boots from local disks rather than NVMe-oF.