fix: preserve update observations for stopped LXC guests

AppImage/scripts/build_appimage.sh

@@ -144,6 +144,8 @@ cp "$SCRIPT_DIR/smartctl_resolver.py" "$APP_DIR/usr/bin/" 2>/dev/null || echo "
 cp "$SCRIPT_DIR/disk_identity.py" "$APP_DIR/usr/bin/" 2>/dev/null || echo "⚠️  disk_identity.py not found"
 cp "$SCRIPT_DIR/health_thresholds.py" "$APP_DIR/usr/bin/" 2>/dev/null || echo "⚠️  health_thresholds.py not found"
 cp "$SCRIPT_DIR/managed_installs.py" "$APP_DIR/usr/bin/" 2>/dev/null || echo "⚠️  managed_installs.py not found"
+cp "$SCRIPT_DIR/lxc_update_observation.py" "$APP_DIR/usr/bin/"
+cp "$SCRIPT_DIR/lxc_update_finalization.py" "$APP_DIR/usr/bin/"
 cp "$SCRIPT_DIR/lxc_apps.py" "$APP_DIR/usr/bin/" 2>/dev/null || echo "⚠️  lxc_apps.py not found"
 cp "$SCRIPT_DIR/custom_links.py" "$APP_DIR/usr/bin/" 2>/dev/null || echo "⚠️  custom_links.py not found"
 cp "$SCRIPT_DIR/recreate_docker_container.py" "$APP_DIR/usr/bin/" 2>/dev/null || echo "⚠️  recreate_docker_container.py not found"

AppImage/scripts/flask_server.py

@@ -14253,8 +14253,7 @@ def api_vm_apps_dismiss(vmid):
 _LXC_APPLY_UPDATES_SCRIPT = "/usr/local/share/proxmenux/scripts/lxc/apply_updates.sh"
 _LXC_UPDATE_RUN_ID_RE = re.compile(r'^[A-Za-z0-9._:-]{1,128}$')
 _LXC_UPDATE_TARGET_RE = re.compile(r'^[A-Za-z0-9._:-]{1,180}$')
-_lxc_update_finalization_lock = threading.RLock()
-_lxc_update_finalizations: dict[tuple[int, str], dict] = {}
+from lxc_update_finalization import lock as _lxc_update_finalization_lock, runs as _lxc_update_finalizations
 _LXC_UPDATE_FINALIZATION_TTL = 6 * 3600
 
 
@@ -14547,6 +14546,37 @@ def _finalize_lxc_update(
     verification_pending = _fast_guest_status(vmid, 'lxc') != 'running'
     docker_inventory = None
 
+    if verification_pending and status in {'success', 'failure', 'partial'}:
+        try:
+            import managed_installs
+            import lxc_update_observation
+            observation = lxc_update_observation.read(vmid, safe_run_id)
+            verified = managed_installs.store_lxc_update_observation(vmid, observation)
+            print(f'[ProxMenux] stopped LXC verification: vmid={vmid} '
+                  f'run_id={safe_run_id} handoff={observation is not None} '
+                  f'verified={verified}', flush=True)
+            if not verified:
+                verification_errors.append('post-update OS verification unavailable')
+            apps_persisted = True
+            if observation is not None and 'apps' in observation:
+                import lxc_apps
+                try:
+                    app_result = lxc_apps.store_installed_observations(vmid, observation['apps'])
+                    verification_errors.extend(app_result['errors'])
+                    if status == 'success':
+                        lxc_apps.mark_manual_versions_unverified(
+                            vmid, [item[4:] for item in requested if item.startswith('app:')])
+                    _publish_guest_modal_cache_revision(vmid)
+                except Exception:
+                    apps_persisted = False
+                    verification_errors.append('post-update application persistence failed')
+            # Retain a rejected handoff for diagnosis rather than silently
+            # deleting the only evidence. Capture prunes old private files.
+            if observation is not None and verified and apps_persisted:
+                lxc_update_observation.discard(vmid, safe_run_id)
+        except Exception as exc:
+            verification_errors.append(f'post-update OS verification failed: {exc}')
+
     if not verification_pending:
         try:
             import managed_installs

AppImage/scripts/lxc_apps.py

@@ -4503,6 +4503,112 @@ def emit_all_pending_updates() -> int:
     return count
 
 
+def _installed_observation_fingerprint(app: dict) -> str:
+    # Only version-probe configuration, never updater commands or credentials.
+    fields = ('installed_via', 'installed_regex', 'tag_regex') + _DETECTOR_FIELDS
+    return hashlib.sha256(json.dumps({k: app.get(k) for k in fields},
+                                    sort_keys=True).encode()).hexdigest()
+
+
+def capture_installed_observations(vmid) -> list[dict]:
+    """Probe registered automatic versions while a temporary CT still runs.
+
+    No shared writes, upstream requests, discovery or update commands. The
+    backend later merges this private handoff against the current sidecar.
+    Manual values and OCI/image registrations cannot be proven this way.
+    """
+    with _cache_lock:
+        registrations = copy.deepcopy((_read_sidecar(vmid) or {}).get('apps') or [])
+    observations = []
+    for app in registrations:
+        if app.get('installed_via') not in set(_VALID_METHODS) - {'manual', 'oci_image'}:
+            continue
+        try:
+            version, error = detect_installed_version(vmid, app)
+        except Exception:
+            version, error = None, True
+        verified = (isinstance(version, str) and 0 < len(version) <= 256
+                    and not re.search(r'[\x00-\x1f\x7f]', version) and not error)
+        observations.append({'id': app.get('id'),
+                             'fingerprint': _installed_observation_fingerprint(app),
+                             'checked_at': _now_iso(), 'verified': bool(verified),
+                             'installed_version': version if verified else None})
+    return observations
+
+
+def store_installed_observations(vmid, observations) -> dict:
+    """Merge trusted captured versions without executing anything in the CT."""
+    errors = []
+    if not isinstance(observations, list):
+        return {'applied': 0, 'errors': ['post-update application observation unavailable']}
+    seen = set()
+    parsed = []
+    for item in observations:
+        try:
+            app_id = item['id']
+            fingerprint = item['fingerprint']
+            version = item['installed_version']
+            checked = datetime.datetime.fromisoformat(item['checked_at'].replace('Z', '+00:00'))
+            age = time.time() - checked.timestamp()
+            valid = (isinstance(app_id, str) and 0 < len(app_id) <= 128
+                     and app_id not in seen and re.fullmatch(r'[a-zA-Z0-9._:-]+', app_id)
+                     and isinstance(fingerprint, str) and re.fullmatch(r'[a-f0-9]{64}', fingerprint)
+                     and checked.tzinfo is not None and 0 <= age <= 3600
+                     and type(item['verified']) is bool
+                     and ((item['verified'] and isinstance(version, str) and 0 < len(version) <= 256
+                           and not re.search(r'[\x00-\x1f\x7f]', version))
+                          or (not item['verified'] and version is None)))
+            if not valid:
+                raise ValueError('invalid observation')
+            seen.add(app_id)
+            parsed.append((item, checked))
+        except (KeyError, TypeError, ValueError, AttributeError, OverflowError):
+            # Validate the whole payload before its first shared write.
+            return {'applied': 0, 'errors': ['invalid post-update application observation']}
+    if not parsed:
+        return {'applied': 0, 'errors': []}
+    with _cache_lock:
+        sidecar = _read_sidecar(vmid)
+        applied = 0
+        for item, checked in parsed:
+            app = _find_app(sidecar or {}, item['id'])
+            if not app or _installed_observation_fingerprint(app) != item['fingerprint']:
+                errors.append('application configuration changed after capture')
+                continue
+            state = dict(app.get('state') or {})
+            try:
+                current = datetime.datetime.fromisoformat((state.get('checked_at') or '').replace('Z', '+00:00'))
+                if current >= checked:
+                    errors.append('newer application observation preserved')
+                    continue
+            except (TypeError, ValueError):
+                pass
+            if item['verified']:
+                state['installed_version'] = item['installed_version']
+                state['update_available'] = (compare(item['installed_version'], state['latest_version'])
+                                             if state.get('latest_version') else None)
+                # An installed-version probe does not recheck the upstream;
+                # preserve an existing upstream error rather than hiding it.
+                if state.get('error') == 'post-update installed version could not be verified':
+                    state['error'] = None
+                state.pop('last_known_installed_version', None)
+            else:
+                state['last_known_installed_version'] = (state.get('installed_version')
+                                                        or state.get('last_known_installed_version'))
+                state['installed_version'] = None
+                state['update_available'] = None
+                state['error'] = 'post-update installed version could not be verified'
+                errors.append(state['error'])
+            state['checked_at'] = item['checked_at']
+            app['state'] = state
+            applied += 1
+        if applied:
+            sidecar['updated_at'] = _now_iso()
+            if not _write_sidecar(vmid, sidecar):
+                raise OSError('post-update application persistence failed')
+    return {'applied': applied, 'errors': errors}
+
+
 def check_all(
     vmid, force: bool = False, notify: bool = True,
 ) -> Optional[dict]:

AppImage/scripts/lxc_update_finalization.py

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+"""One process-wide LXC completion state, independent of Flask import name.
+
+AppRun executes flask_server as __main__, while collectors import it as
+flask_server. Both completion paths must share this canonical module so
+the terminal hook and compatibility HTTP callback cannot consume a run twice.
+No guest actions, registry writes or background tasks occur on import.
+"""
+import threading
+
+lock = threading.RLock()
+runs: dict[tuple[int, str], dict] = {}

AppImage/scripts/lxc_update_observation.py

@@ -0,0 +1,180 @@
+"""Trusted, run-scoped package observation captured before a temporary CT stops.
+
+The runner only writes this private handoff, not the shared registry. The
+Monitor consumes it under its existing registry lock after the process exits.
+Never accepted as an HTTP payload and never refreshes package indexes.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import argparse
+import datetime
+import json
+import os
+from pathlib import Path
+import re
+import stat
+import subprocess
+import tempfile
+
+import managed_installs
+
+OBSERVATION_DIR = Path("/run/proxmenux/lxc-update-observations")
+MAX_AGE = 3600
+MAX_BYTES = 2 * 1024 * 1024
+
+
+def _path(vmid: int, run_id: str) -> Path:
+    if int(vmid) <= 0 or not re.fullmatch(r"[A-Za-z0-9._:-]{1,128}", run_id):
+        raise ValueError("invalid LXC update identity")
+    return OBSERVATION_DIR / f"{int(vmid)}-{run_id}.json"
+
+
+def _private_directory(*, create=True) -> None:
+    if create:
+        OBSERVATION_DIR.mkdir(mode=0o700, parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    info = OBSERVATION_DIR.lstat()
+    if (not stat.S_ISDIR(info.st_mode) or info.st_uid != os.geteuid()
+            or info.st_mode & 0o077):
+        raise OSError("unsafe LXC observation directory")
+
+
+def capture(vmid: int, run_id: str, *, refresh_indexes: bool = False,
+            include_apps: bool = False) -> dict:
+    path = _path(vmid, run_id)
+    _private_directory()
+    # Remove only obsolete private handoffs left by terminated backend runs.
+    now = datetime.datetime.now(datetime.timezone.utc)
+    for old in OBSERVATION_DIR.iterdir():
+        info = old.lstat()
+        if (re.fullmatch(r"[1-9][0-9]*-[A-Za-z0-9._:-]{1,128}\.json", old.name)
+                and stat.S_ISREG(info.st_mode) and info.st_uid == os.geteuid()
+                and now.timestamp() - info.st_mtime > MAX_AGE):
+            old.unlink()
+    entry = {"id": f"lxc:{int(vmid)}", "type": "lxc", "_vmid": str(int(vmid))}
+    native_detected = False
+    try:
+        detected = managed_installs._detect_lxc_containers(only_vmid=int(vmid))
+        if not detected:
+            raise RuntimeError("running LXC detection unavailable or disabled")
+        entry = detected[0]
+        native_detected = not (entry.get('_is_oci') or entry.get('_managed_oci_app'))
+        if refresh_indexes:
+            # This is a separate, explicitly requested maintenance action,
+            # never the read-only button or the normal post-update capture.
+            if entry.get('_is_oci') or entry.get('_managed_oci_app'):
+                raise RuntimeError('OCI containers require their own updater')
+            family = managed_installs._probe_lxc_os(str(vmid))
+            commands = {'debian': ['apt-get', 'update', '--error-on=any'],
+                        'ubuntu': ['apt-get', 'update', '--error-on=any'],
+                        'alpine': ['apk', 'update']}
+            if family not in commands:
+                raise RuntimeError('unsupported or unknown current OS')
+            refreshed = subprocess.run([managed_installs._PCT_BIN, 'exec', str(vmid),
+                '--', *commands[family]], capture_output=True, text=True,
+                timeout=managed_installs._LXC_CACHE_REFRESH_TIMEOUT_SEC)
+            if refreshed.returncode != 0:
+                raise RuntimeError('package index refresh failed; no installation was attempted')
+        result = managed_installs._check_lxc_updates(entry, refresh_package_cache=False)
+    except Exception as exc:
+        entry["_os_family"] = None
+        result = {"available": False, "last_check": managed_installs._now_iso(),
+                  "error": f"post-update package check failed: {exc}"}
+    observation = {"vmid": int(vmid), "run_id": run_id,
+                   "captured_at": now.isoformat(), "entry": entry, "result": result}
+    # Only the post-install runner requests app probes. Check-only and the
+    # maintenance preflight keep their original OS-only contract; OCI never
+    # enters the generic app probe path, even when explicitly requested.
+    if include_apps and not refresh_indexes and native_detected:
+        try:
+            import lxc_apps
+            observation['apps'] = lxc_apps.capture_installed_observations(vmid)
+        except Exception:
+            observation['apps'] = None
+    fd, temporary = tempfile.mkstemp(prefix=".observation-", dir=OBSERVATION_DIR)
+    try:
+        with os.fdopen(fd, "w", encoding="utf-8") as handle:
+            json.dump(observation, handle)
+        os.replace(temporary, path)
+        print(f"[ProxMenux] LXC observation captured: vmid={int(vmid)} "
+              f"run_id={run_id} os={entry.get('_os_family')} "
+              f"count={result.get('_count')} error={bool(result.get('error'))}", flush=True)
+    finally:
+        if os.path.exists(temporary):
+            os.unlink(temporary)
+    return observation
+
+
+def read(vmid: int, run_id: str) -> dict | None:
+    path = _path(vmid, run_id)
+    def reject(reason: str) -> None:
+        # Only identity and a fixed reason, never the guest's payload or secrets.
+        print(f"[ProxMenux] LXC observation rejected: vmid={int(vmid)} "
+              f"run_id={run_id} reason={reason}", flush=True)
+        return None
+    try:
+        _private_directory(create=False)
+        fd = os.open(path, os.O_RDONLY | os.O_NOFOLLOW | os.O_NONBLOCK)
+        with os.fdopen(fd, "r", encoding="utf-8") as handle:
+            info = os.fstat(handle.fileno())
+            if (not stat.S_ISREG(info.st_mode) or info.st_uid != os.geteuid()
+                    or info.st_mode & 0o077 or info.st_size > MAX_BYTES):
+                return reject('unsafe-file')
+            observation = json.load(handle)
+        if not isinstance(observation, dict):
+            return reject('invalid-document')
+        captured = datetime.datetime.fromisoformat(observation["captured_at"])
+        age = (datetime.datetime.now(datetime.timezone.utc) - captured).total_seconds()
+        entry, result = observation["entry"], observation["result"]
+        if (observation["vmid"] != int(vmid) or observation["run_id"] != run_id
+                or not 0 <= age <= MAX_AGE or not isinstance(entry, dict)
+                or entry.get("id") != f"lxc:{int(vmid)}" or entry.get("type") != "lxc"
+                or str(entry.get("_vmid")) != str(int(vmid)) or not isinstance(result, dict)):
+            return reject('identity-age-or-shape')
+        if not result.get("error"):
+            # An incomplete result is unknown, not an implicitly successful zero.
+            is_oci = bool(entry.get('_is_oci') or entry.get('_managed_oci_app'))
+            if ((not is_oci and entry.get("_os_family") not in managed_installs._SUPPORTED_OS_FAMILIES)
+                    or not isinstance(result.get("available"), bool)
+                    or not result.get("last_check")
+                    or any(type(result.get(key)) is not int or result[key] < 0
+                           for key in ("_count", "_security_count"))
+                    or not isinstance(result.get("_packages"), list)):
+                return reject('incomplete-success')
+            # OCI skips the generic OS probe, so no family is required. Its
+            # trusted result must nevertheless be the complete skipped zero.
+            if is_oci and (result['available'] or result['_count'] != 0
+                    or result['_security_count'] != 0 or result['_packages']):
+                return reject('invalid-oci-skip')
+        print(f"[ProxMenux] LXC observation accepted: vmid={int(vmid)} "
+              f"run_id={run_id} count={result.get('_count')} "
+              f"error={bool(result.get('error'))}", flush=True)
+        return observation
+    except (OSError, ValueError, TypeError, KeyError, OverflowError) as exc:
+        return reject(type(exc).__name__)
+
+
+def discard(vmid: int, run_id: str) -> None:
+    try:
+        _private_directory(create=False)
+        _path(vmid, run_id).unlink()
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        pass
+
+
+def main(argv=None) -> int:
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=__doc__)
+    parser.add_argument("--vmid", required=True, type=int)
+    parser.add_argument("--run-id", required=True)
+    parser.add_argument('--include-apps', action='store_true',
+                        help='Capture registered installed versions after an update')
+    args = parser.parse_args(argv)
+    try:
+        capture(args.vmid, args.run_id, include_apps=args.include_apps)
+        return 0
+    except Exception as exc:
+        print(f"Post-update package observation unavailable: {exc}")
+        return 1
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    raise SystemExit(main())

AppImage/scripts/managed_installs.py

@@ -520,10 +520,11 @@ def _lxc_updates_notification_enabled() -> bool:
         return False
 
 
-def _list_pve_lxcs() -> list[dict]:
+def _list_pve_lxcs(*, strict: bool = False) -> list[dict]:
     """Return basic info per LXC on this node via ``pct list``. Each
     item is ``{vmid, status, name}``. Empty list on any failure — never
-    raises so the detector caller can continue.
+    raises by default. Strict callers distinguish a failed read from a
+    verified empty inventory before removing persisted observations.
     """
     try:
         r = subprocess.run(
@@ -531,16 +532,27 @@ def _list_pve_lxcs() -> list[dict]:
             capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5,
         )
     except (subprocess.TimeoutExpired, FileNotFoundError, OSError):
+        if strict:
+            raise RuntimeError('LXC inventory could not be read') from None
         return []
     if r.returncode != 0:
+        if strict:
+            raise RuntimeError('LXC inventory could not be read')
         return []
+    lines = r.stdout.splitlines()
+    if strict and (not lines or not lines[0].strip().startswith('VMID') or 'Status' not in lines[0]):
+        raise RuntimeError('LXC inventory is incomplete')
 
     out: list[dict] = []
-    for line in r.stdout.splitlines()[1:]:  # skip header row
+    for line in lines[1:]:  # skip header row
+        if not line.strip():
+            continue
         # `pct list` columns: VMID  Status  Lock  Name
         # `Lock` is empty most of the time, so split max 4 ways
         parts = line.split(None, 3)
         if len(parts) < 2:
+            if strict:
+                raise RuntimeError('LXC inventory is incomplete')
             continue
         vmid = parts[0]
         status = parts[1]
@@ -548,6 +560,8 @@ def _list_pve_lxcs() -> list[dict]:
         # be the name itself if Lock was omitted by the formatter.
         name = parts[-1] if len(parts) >= 3 else ""
         if not vmid.isdigit():
+            if strict:
+                raise RuntimeError('LXC inventory is incomplete')
             continue
         out.append({"vmid": vmid, "status": status, "name": name})
     return out
@@ -888,7 +902,7 @@ def _probe_lxc_os(vmid: str, *, raise_on_read_error: bool = False) -> Optional[s
 
 
 def _detect_lxc_containers(only_vmid: Optional[int] = None) -> list[dict]:
-    """Enumerate running Debian/Ubuntu CTs as registry entries.
+    """Detect running supported CTs and retain known stopped CTs by presence.
 
     OS detection is cached in the registry entry (`_os_family`), so the
     expensive ``pct exec cat /etc/os-release`` only runs during detection
@@ -920,7 +934,7 @@ def _detect_lxc_containers(only_vmid: Optional[int] = None) -> list[dict]:
         if isinstance(it, dict) and it.get("type") == "lxc"
     }
 
-    cts = _list_pve_lxcs()
+    cts = _list_pve_lxcs(strict=True)
     # Set of CTs currently managed by oci_manager (Secure Gateway etc).
     # Their update path is the OCI app's own updater — we mark them so
     # the LXC row in the UI redirects the user there instead of running
@@ -931,11 +945,17 @@ def _detect_lxc_containers(only_vmid: Optional[int] = None) -> list[dict]:
     for ct in cts:
         if only_vmid is not None and str(ct.get("vmid")) != str(int(only_vmid)):
             continue
-        if ct["status"] != "running":
-            continue
         vmid = ct["vmid"]
         cid = f"lxc:{vmid}"
         prior = existing_by_id.get(cid) or {}
+        if ct["status"] != "running":
+            # A stopped CT still exists. Only the full detection sweep keeps
+            # its registry identity; targeted refresh requires a running CT.
+            # Do not copy cached probe metadata back over a newer observation.
+            if only_vmid is None and prior:
+                out.append({'id': cid, 'type': 'lxc', '_vmid': vmid,
+                            'name': ct.get('name') or prior.get('name') or f'CT-{vmid}'})
+            continue
 
         # OCI-image marker is cached — the CT origin doesn't change
         # over its lifetime, and reading the pct config file is cheap
@@ -1085,11 +1105,14 @@ def detect_and_register() -> dict:
     Returns the new registry.
     """
     discovered: dict[str, dict] = {}
+    failed_types: set[str] = set()
     for detector in _DETECTORS:
         try:
             result = detector()
         except Exception as e:
             print(f"[ProxMenux] managed_installs detector {detector.__name__} failed: {e}")
+            if detector is _detect_lxc_containers:
+                failed_types.add('lxc')
             continue
         for entry in _normalise_detector_result(result):
             if not entry.get("id"):
@@ -1115,7 +1138,7 @@ def detect_and_register() -> dict:
         for it in items:
             if not it.get("id") or it.get("removed_at"):
                 continue
-            if it["id"] not in discovered:
+            if it["id"] not in discovered and it.get('type') not in failed_types:
                 it["removed_at"] = now
 
         reg["items"] = items
@@ -1810,9 +1833,20 @@ def check_for_updates(force: bool = False) -> list[dict]:
     with _lock:
         reg = _read_registry()
         items = reg.get("items", [])
+        lxc_states: dict[str, str] = {}
+        if any(it.get('type') == 'lxc' and not it.get('removed_at') for it in items):
+            try:
+                lxc_states = {str(ct['vmid']): ct['status'] for ct in _list_pve_lxcs(strict=True)}
+            except RuntimeError:
+                # Do not overwrite an observation or attempt guest probes
+                # when presence could not be verified by the host.
+                print('[ProxMenux] LXC inventory unavailable; stored checks retained')
         for it in items:
             if it.get("removed_at"):
                 continue
+            if (it.get('type') == 'lxc'
+                    and lxc_states.get(str(it.get('_vmid') or it.get('id', '').removeprefix('lxc:'))) != 'running'):
+                continue
             checker = _CHECKERS.get(it.get("type"))
             if not checker:
                 continue
@@ -1836,6 +1870,48 @@ def check_for_updates(force: bool = False) -> list[dict]:
     return updates_available
 
 
+def store_lxc_update_observation(vmid: int, observation: Optional[dict]) -> bool:
+    """Store a trusted host-runner observation in the backend's registry lock.
+
+    Missing verification clears the old counts, never fabricates a fresh zero.
+    This does not start a guest or run a package-manager command.
+    """
+    vmid = int(vmid)
+    now = _now_iso()
+    with _lock:
+        # A trusted targeted observation must never replace unrelated rows
+        # with an empty registry merely because the old file is unreadable.
+        try:
+            with open(_REGISTRY_PATH, encoding='utf-8') as handle:
+                existing = json.load(handle)
+            if (not isinstance(existing, dict) or not isinstance(existing.get('items'), list)
+                    or any(not isinstance(item, dict) for item in existing['items'])):
+                raise OSError('could not verify existing LXC update registry')
+        except FileNotFoundError:
+            pass
+        reg = _read_registry()
+        items = reg.setdefault("items", [])
+        target = next((it for it in items if it.get("id") == f"lxc:{vmid}"
+                       and it.get("type") == "lxc" and not it.get("removed_at")), None)
+        if target is None:
+            if observation is None:
+                return False
+            target = _new_detected_entry(observation["entry"], now)
+            items.append(target)
+        if observation is not None:
+            _merge_detected_entry(target, observation["entry"], now)
+            result = observation["result"]
+        else:
+            target["_os_family"] = None
+            result = {"available": False, "last_check": now,
+                      "error": "post-update package verification unavailable while LXC is stopped"}
+        _store_update_result(target, result)
+        reg["version"] = _SCHEMA_VERSION
+        if not _write_registry(reg):
+            raise OSError("could not persist post-update LXC observation")
+        return not bool(result.get("error"))
+
+
 def refresh_lxc(vmid: int, *, refresh_package_cache: bool = True) -> Optional[dict]:
     """Detect and refresh exactly one running LXC.
 

scripts/lxc/apply_updates.sh

@@ -142,10 +142,26 @@ fi
 #    restore their original stopped state on every exit path.
 STATE=$(pct status "$VMID" | awk '{print $2}')
 STARTED_BY_PROXMENUX=0
+OBSERVATION_ATTEMPTED=0
+capture_before_stop() {
+  if [[ "$STARTED_BY_PROXMENUX" == "1" && "$OBSERVATION_ATTEMPTED" == "0" && -z "${RUN_ID:-}" && "${EXECUTION_MODE:-}" == "web" ]]; then
+    OBSERVATION_ATTEMPTED=1
+    echo "WARNING: post-update verification has no RUN_ID; the result cannot be verified." >&2
+  fi
+  if [[ "$STARTED_BY_PROXMENUX" == "1" && "$OBSERVATION_ATTEMPTED" == "0" && -n "${RUN_ID:-}" ]]; then
+    OBSERVATION_ATTEMPTED=1
+    # Capture while pct exec works. Only the backend writes the registry.
+    if ! python3 /usr/local/share/proxmenux/monitor-app/usr/bin/lxc_update_observation.py \
+          --vmid "$VMID" --run-id "$RUN_ID" --include-apps; then
+      echo "WARNING: post-update package verification unavailable; the result will remain unverified." >&2
+    fi
+  fi
+}
 restore_original_state() {
   local rc=$?
   trap - EXIT INT TERM
   if [[ "$STARTED_BY_PROXMENUX" == "1" ]]; then
+    capture_before_stop
     echo
     echo "Restoring original state: stopping CT $VMID…"
     if ! pct shutdown "$VMID" --timeout 60; then
@@ -397,6 +413,9 @@ fi
 #    OCI-style CTs whose PID 1 is a user entrypoint (a plain `apt
 #    upgrade` doesn't restart the app; a CT reboot does).
 if [[ "$RESTART" == "1" ]]; then
+  # A reboot may return before pct exec is usable again. Keep the verified
+  # package snapshot from before reboot, then restore the original state.
+  capture_before_stop
   echo "--- Rebooting CT $VMID ---"
   if ! pct reboot "$VMID"; then
     echo "ERROR: pct reboot failed." >&2

tests/lxc_updates/test_app_observation.py

@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+"""Installed versions must survive a temporary CT's post-update shutdown."""
+import copy
+from datetime import datetime, timezone, timedelta
+import tempfile
+from pathlib import Path
+import sys
+import unittest
+from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
+
+sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2] / 'AppImage/scripts'))
+import lxc_apps as apps
+import lxc_update_observation as handoff
+
+
+class InstalledObservationTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.folder = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory()
+        self.addCleanup(self.folder.cleanup)
+        self.data = {'apps': [dict(id='docker', name='Docker', installed_via='binary',
+            binary_path='/usr/bin/docker', state=dict(installed_version='29.8.1',
+                latest_version='29.9.0', update_available=True, checked_at='2026-01-01T00:00:00Z')),
+            dict(id='manual', installed_via='manual', installed_version='1.0',
+                 state=dict(installed_version='1.0', latest_version='2.0', update_available=True))],
+            'bulk_update': {'targets': ['os', 'app:manual']}, 'schedule': {'enabled': False}}
+        self.write = Mock(return_value=True)
+        self.probe = Mock(return_value=('29.9.0', None))
+        for name, value in [('_read_sidecar', lambda _: copy.deepcopy(self.data)),
+                            ('_write_sidecar', self.write),
+                            ('detect_installed_version', self.probe)]:
+            p = patch.object(apps, name, value)
+            p.start()
+            self.addCleanup(p.stop)
+
+    def capture(self):
+        return apps.capture_installed_observations(210)
+
+    def test_new_docker_version_clears_old_pending_without_upstream_or_updater(self):
+        with patch.object(apps, 'fetch_latest_upstream_details') as upstream:
+            observations = self.capture()
+            result = apps.store_installed_observations(210, observations)
+        self.assertEqual(result['errors'], [])
+        state = self.write.call_args.args[1]['apps'][0]['state']
+        self.assertEqual(state['installed_version'], '29.9.0')
+        self.assertFalse(state['update_available'])
+        self.assertEqual(state['latest_version'], '29.9.0')
+        self.assertEqual(self.probe.call_count, 1, 'manual versions cannot be auto-proven')
+        upstream.assert_not_called()
+        self.assertEqual(self.write.call_args.args[1]['bulk_update'], self.data['bulk_update'])
+        self.assertEqual(self.write.call_args.args[1]['schedule'], self.data['schedule'])
+
+    def test_capture_never_writes_shared_sidecar_and_skips_manual_docker_oci(self):
+        self.data['apps'].extend([dict(id='oci', installed_via='oci_image'),
+                                 dict(id='image', installed_via='docker')])
+        self.assertEqual(len(self.capture()), 1)
+        self.write.assert_not_called()
+        self.assertEqual(self.probe.call_count, 1)
+
+    def test_failed_probe_preserves_last_known_separately_and_does_not_claim_current(self):
+        self.probe.return_value = (None, 'secret must never be copied to handoff')
+        observations = self.capture()
+        self.assertNotIn('secret', str(observations))
+        result = apps.store_installed_observations(210, observations)
+        self.assertTrue(result['errors'])
+        state = self.write.call_args.args[1]['apps'][0]['state']
+        self.assertEqual(state['last_known_installed_version'], '29.8.1')
+        self.assertIsNone(state['installed_version'])
+        self.assertIsNone(state['update_available'])
+        self.assertTrue(state['error'])
+
+    def test_config_edit_deletion_and_newer_check_cannot_be_overwritten(self):
+        for kind in ('config', 'deleted', 'newer'):
+            with self.subTest(kind=kind):
+                observations = self.capture()
+                original = copy.deepcopy(self.data)
+                if kind == 'config': self.data['apps'][0]['binary_path'] = '/other/docker'
+                if kind == 'deleted': self.data['apps'] = []
+                if kind == 'newer': self.data['apps'][0]['state']['checked_at'] = '9999-01-01T00:00:00Z'
+                result = apps.store_installed_observations(210, observations)
+                self.assertTrue(result['errors'])
+                self.write.assert_not_called()
+                self.data = original
+
+    def test_malformed_duplicate_future_and_expired_observations_never_write_or_probe(self):
+        observation = self.capture()[0]
+        for value in (None, {}, [{}], [observation, observation],
+                      [{**observation, 'fingerprint': '../unsafe'}],
+                      [{**observation, 'checked_at': '9999-01-01T00:00:00Z'}],
+                      [{**observation, 'checked_at': '2000-01-01T00:00:00Z'}],
+                      [{**observation, 'installed_version': ['29.9.0']}],
+                      [{**observation, 'verified': 'yes'}]):
+            with self.subTest(value=value):
+                self.assertTrue(apps.store_installed_observations(210, value)['errors'])
+                self.write.assert_not_called()
+        self.assertEqual(self.probe.call_count, 1)
+
+    def test_stale_boundary_has_margin_and_rejects_only_after_hour(self):
+        observation = self.capture()[0]
+        fixed = datetime(2026, 1, 2, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+        with patch.object(apps.time, 'time', return_value=fixed.timestamp()):
+            for age in (3599, 3600, 3601):
+                self.write.reset_mock()
+                value = {**observation, 'checked_at': (fixed - timedelta(seconds=age)).isoformat()}
+                result = apps.store_installed_observations(210, [value])
+                self.assertEqual(bool(result['errors']), age > 3600)
+                self.assertEqual(self.write.called, age <= 3600)
+
+    def test_failed_persistence_is_an_error(self):
+        self.write.return_value = False
+        with self.assertRaises(OSError):
+            apps.store_installed_observations(210, self.capture())
+
+    def test_installed_probe_does_not_hide_upstream_error(self):
+        self.data['apps'][0]['state']['error'] = 'upstream unavailable'
+        apps.store_installed_observations(210, self.capture())
+        self.assertEqual(self.write.call_args.args[1]['apps'][0]['state']['error'], 'upstream unavailable')
+
+
+class CaptureScopeTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_check_only_and_oci_never_capture_app_probes(self):
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as directory, \
+             patch.object(handoff, 'OBSERVATION_DIR', Path(directory) / 'observations'), \
+             patch.object(handoff.managed_installs, '_detect_lxc_containers',
+                          return_value=[{'_vmid': '210', '_is_oci': True}]), \
+             patch.object(handoff.managed_installs, '_check_lxc_updates', return_value={}), \
+             patch.object(apps, 'capture_installed_observations') as capture:
+            handoff.capture(210, 'check-only')
+            handoff.capture(210, 'oci', include_apps=True)
+        capture.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_missing_guest_or_maintenance_preflight_never_capture_apps(self):
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as directory, \
+             patch.object(handoff, 'OBSERVATION_DIR', Path(directory) / 'observations'), \
+             patch.object(handoff.managed_installs, '_detect_lxc_containers', return_value=[]) as detect, \
+             patch.object(handoff.managed_installs, '_probe_lxc_os', return_value='debian'), \
+             patch.object(handoff.managed_installs, '_check_lxc_updates', return_value={}), \
+             patch.object(handoff.subprocess, 'run', return_value=Mock(returncode=0)), \
+             patch.object(apps, 'capture_installed_observations') as capture:
+            handoff.capture(210, 'missing', include_apps=True)
+            detect.return_value = [{'_vmid': '210'}]
+            handoff.capture(210, 'maintenance', refresh_indexes=True, include_apps=True)
+        capture.assert_not_called()
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()

tests/lxc_updates/test_stopped_registry_retention.py

@@ -0,0 +1,170 @@
+"""Actual registry/detection/checker consumers; PVE transports are isolated."""
+import ast
+import copy
+import datetime
+import json
+import os
+from pathlib import Path
+import subprocess
+import sys
+import tempfile
+import unittest
+from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
+
+ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
+sys.path.insert(0, str(ROOT / 'AppImage/scripts'))
+import managed_installs as managed
+
+
+class StoppedRegistryTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.temp = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory()
+        self.addCleanup(self.temp.cleanup)
+        path = Path(self.temp.name) / 'registry.json'
+        self.now = datetime.datetime.utcnow().isoformat() + 'Z'
+        self.checked = {'last_check': self.now, 'available': True, 'error': None,
+                        '_count': 1, '_packages': [{'name': 'fixture-package', 'current': '1', 'latest': '2'}]}
+        self.row = {'id': 'lxc:210', 'type': 'lxc', '_vmid': '210', 'name': 'fixture',
+                    '_os_family': 'debian', 'update_check': copy.deepcopy(self.checked)}
+        path.write_text(json.dumps({'items': [self.row]}))
+        self.inventory = [{'vmid': '210', 'status': 'stopped', 'name': 'fixture'}]
+        patches = [patch.object(managed, '_REGISTRY_PATH', str(path)),
+                   patch.object(managed, '_DB_DIR', self.temp.name),
+                   patch.object(managed, '_DETECTORS', [managed._detect_lxc_containers]),
+                   patch.object(managed, '_lxc_updates_detection_enabled', return_value=True),
+                   patch.object(managed, '_list_pve_lxcs', side_effect=lambda **_: self.inventory),
+                   patch.object(managed, '_get_oci_managed_vmids', return_value={})]
+        self.forbidden = {}
+        for name in ['_probe_lxc_os', '_probe_lxc_is_oci', '_identify_helper_slug', '_run_pct_pkg_listing']:
+            mock = Mock(side_effect=AssertionError('stopped guest probe forbidden'))
+            self.forbidden[name] = mock
+            patches.append(patch.object(managed, name, mock))
+        for p in patches:
+            p.start()
+            self.addCleanup(p.stop)
+
+    def assert_no_guest_probe(self):
+        for mock in self.forbidden.values():
+            mock.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_startup_detection_preserves_stopped_result_then_notification_check_skips_guest(self):
+        managed.detect_and_register()
+        self.assertEqual(managed.get_active_items()[0]['update_check'], self.checked)
+        checker = Mock(side_effect=AssertionError('checker must not run on stopped guest'))
+        with patch.object(managed, '_CHECKERS', {'lxc': checker}):
+            self.assertEqual(managed.check_for_updates(force=True), [])
+        checker.assert_not_called()
+        self.assertEqual(managed.get_active_items()[0]['update_check'], self.checked)
+        self.assert_no_guest_probe()
+
+    def test_monitor_status_projection_survives_process_reinitialization(self):
+        managed.detect_and_register()
+        source = ast.parse((ROOT / 'AppImage/scripts/flask_server.py').read_text())
+        function = next(n for n in source.body if isinstance(n, ast.FunctionDef)
+                        and n.name == '_get_lxc_update_status_map')
+        scope = {'os': os}
+        exec(compile(ast.Module(body=[function], type_ignores=[]), 'actual-status-map', 'exec'), scope)
+        status = scope['_get_lxc_update_status_map']()['210']
+        self.assertEqual(status['last_check'], self.now)
+        self.assertEqual(status['count'], 1)
+        self.assertTrue(status['available'])
+        self.assert_no_guest_probe()
+
+    def test_legacy_stopped_row_removed_by_startup_is_reactivated_without_new_observation(self):
+        reg = managed._read_registry()
+        reg['items'][0]['removed_at'] = self.now
+        managed._write_registry(reg)
+        managed.detect_and_register()
+        active = managed.get_active_items()
+        self.assertEqual(len(active), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(active[0]['update_check'], self.checked)
+        self.assert_no_guest_probe()
+
+    def test_genuinely_deleted_guest_and_disabled_detection_remain_removed(self):
+        for disabled in [False, True]:
+            managed._write_registry({'items': [copy.deepcopy(self.row)]})
+            self.inventory = [] if not disabled else [{'vmid': '210', 'status': 'stopped', 'name': 'fixture'}]
+            with patch.object(managed, '_lxc_updates_detection_enabled', return_value=not disabled):
+                managed.detect_and_register()
+            self.assertEqual(managed.get_active_items(), [])
+        self.assert_no_guest_probe()
+
+    def test_unknown_stopped_guest_does_not_get_a_fabricated_package_result(self):
+        self.inventory.append({'vmid': '300', 'status': 'stopped', 'name': 'new'})
+        managed.detect_and_register()
+        self.assertEqual([x['id'] for x in managed.get_active_items()], ['lxc:210'])
+        self.assert_no_guest_probe()
+
+    def test_targeted_refresh_does_not_start_or_probe_stopped_guest(self):
+        self.assertIsNone(managed.refresh_lxc(210, refresh_package_cache=False))
+        self.assertEqual(managed.get_active_items()[0]['update_check'], self.checked)
+        self.assert_no_guest_probe()
+
+    def test_inventory_failure_preserves_known_row_without_checker_or_fresh_timestamp(self):
+        with patch.object(managed, '_list_pve_lxcs', side_effect=RuntimeError('inventory unavailable')):
+            managed.detect_and_register()
+            managed.check_for_updates()
+        self.assertEqual(managed.get_active_items()[0]['update_check'], self.checked)
+        self.assert_no_guest_probe()
+
+    def test_running_guest_uses_real_checker_and_refreshes_result(self):
+        self.inventory[0]['status'] = 'running'
+        checker = Mock(return_value={'available': False, 'last_check': self.now, '_count': 0})
+        with patch.object(managed, '_CHECKERS', {'lxc': checker}):
+            managed.check_for_updates()
+        checker.assert_called_once()
+        self.assertFalse(managed.get_active_items()[0]['update_check']['available'])
+
+    def test_presence_merge_does_not_overwrite_a_newer_check_during_detection(self):
+        fresh = {'entry': {**self.row, '_os_family': 'alpine'},
+                 'result': {'available': True, 'last_check': self.now, '_count': 2}}
+        def concurrent_check():
+            self.assertTrue(managed.store_lxc_update_observation(210, fresh))
+            return {}
+        with patch.object(managed, '_get_oci_managed_vmids', side_effect=concurrent_check):
+            managed.detect_and_register()
+        row = managed.get_active_items()[0]
+        self.assertEqual(row['update_check']['_count'], 2)
+        self.assertEqual(row['_os_family'], 'alpine')
+        self.assert_no_guest_probe()
+
+    def test_retained_result_still_expires_at_existing_48_hour_boundary(self):
+        managed.detect_and_register()
+        current = managed.get_active_items()[0]['update_check']
+        now = datetime.datetime.fromisoformat(self.now.rstrip('Z'))
+        for seconds, expected in [(172799, False), (172800, True), (172801, True)]:
+            instant = (now + datetime.timedelta(seconds=seconds)).replace(tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
+            class Clock(datetime.datetime):
+                @classmethod
+                def now(cls, tz=None):
+                    return instant
+            with patch.object(managed.datetime, 'datetime', Clock):
+                self.assertEqual(managed.lxc_update_freshness(current)['stale'], expected)
+        self.assert_no_guest_probe()
+
+
+class InventoryContractTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_default_failure_contract_and_strict_detector_contract(self):
+        for result in [subprocess.CompletedProcess([], 1, '', ''), subprocess.CompletedProcess([], 0, '', '')]:
+            with patch.object(managed.subprocess, 'run', return_value=result):
+                self.assertEqual(managed._list_pve_lxcs(), [])
+                with self.assertRaises(RuntimeError):
+                    managed._list_pve_lxcs(strict=True)
+
+    def test_timeout_and_malformed_rows_are_not_confirmed_removal(self):
+        for failure in [subprocess.TimeoutExpired('pct', 5), FileNotFoundError(), OSError()]:
+            with patch.object(managed.subprocess, 'run', side_effect=failure):
+                self.assertEqual(managed._list_pve_lxcs(), [])
+                with self.assertRaises(RuntimeError):
+                    managed._list_pve_lxcs(strict=True)
+        with patch.object(managed.subprocess, 'run', return_value=subprocess.CompletedProcess([], 0, 'VMID Status Lock Name\ninvalid-row\n', '')):
+            with self.assertRaises(RuntimeError):
+                managed._list_pve_lxcs(strict=True)
+
+    def test_confirmed_empty_inventory_is_not_a_failed_read(self):
+        with patch.object(managed.subprocess, 'run', return_value=subprocess.CompletedProcess([], 0, 'VMID Status Lock Name\n', '')):
+            self.assertEqual(managed._list_pve_lxcs(strict=True), [])
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()

tests/lxc_updates/test_stopped_update_observation.py

@@ -0,0 +1,476 @@
+"""Real update runner -> trusted handoff -> real completion/API, fake CT only."""
+import ast
+from contextlib import redirect_stdout
+from datetime import datetime
+import io
+import json
+import os
+from pathlib import Path
+import re
+import shlex
+import subprocess
+import sys
+import threading
+import time
+from types import SimpleNamespace
+import unittest
+from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
+import uuid
+
+import test_observed_state as observed
+import managed_installs as managed
+import lxc_update_observation as handoff
+from flask import request
+
+ROOT = observed.ROOT
+RUNNER = ROOT / "scripts/lxc/apply_updates.sh"
+REAL_RUN = subprocess.run
+
+
+class StoppedUpdateObservationTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.real_run = REAL_RUN
+        self.fixture = observed.ObservedStateRoutesTests()
+        self.fixture.setUp()
+        self.addCleanup(self.fixture.doCleanups)
+        self.folder = Path(self.fixture.temp.name)
+        self.state = self.folder / "state"
+        self.state.write_text("stopped")
+        self.log = self.folder / "commands"
+        self.log.write_text("")
+        self.bin = self.folder / "bin"
+        self.bin.mkdir()
+        self.observations = self.folder / "observations"
+        ctx = patch.object(handoff, "OBSERVATION_DIR", self.observations)
+        ctx.start()
+        self.addCleanup(ctx.stop)
+        registry = managed.get_registry()
+        registry["items"][0]["update_check"]["_count"] = 20
+        managed._write_registry(registry)
+        self.env = {**os.environ, "PATH": f"{self.bin}:{os.environ['PATH']}",
+                    "PYTHONPATH": str(ROOT / "AppImage/scripts"),
+                    "FIXTURE_DIR": str(self.folder), "VMID": "100", "TARGET": "os",
+                    "BACKUP": "0", "RESTART": "0", "RUN_HELPER": "0",
+                    "UPDATE_COMMAND": "", "RUN_ID": "manual-fixture",
+                    "PROXMENUX_LOCK_DIR": str(self.folder), "REMAINING": "0"}
+        self.write("pct", f"#!{sys.executable}\n" + '''
+import json, os, pathlib, sys
+root = pathlib.Path(os.environ['FIXTURE_DIR'])
+args = sys.argv[1:]
+with (root/'commands').open('a') as log: log.write(json.dumps(args)+'\\n')
+state = root/'state'
+if args[0] == 'list': print('VMID Status Name\\n100 '+state.read_text()+' fixture')
+elif args[0] == 'status': print('status: '+state.read_text())
+elif args[0] == 'start': state.write_text('running')
+elif args[0] == 'shutdown':
+    if os.environ.get('SHUTDOWN_FAIL') == '1': sys.exit(1)
+    state.write_text('stopped')
+elif args[0] == 'reboot':
+    if os.environ.get('REBOOT_FAIL') == '1': sys.exit(1)
+    if os.environ.get('REBOOT_TRANSITION') == '1': state.write_text('restarting')
+elif args[0] == 'exec':
+    if state.read_text() != 'running': sys.exit(1)
+    command = ' '.join(args[3:])
+    if '/etc/os-release' in command: print('ID=debian')
+    elif 'dist-upgrade' in command:
+        if os.environ.get('UPDATE_FAIL') == '1': sys.exit(4)
+        if os.environ.get('CLEAR_AFTER_UPGRADE') == '1': (root/'remaining').write_text('0')
+    elif 'apt-get update' in command:
+        if os.environ.get('INDEX_FAIL') == '1': sys.exit(3)
+    elif 'apt list --upgradable' in command:
+        if os.environ.get('PROBE_FAIL') == '1': sys.exit(1)
+        print('Listing...')
+        pending = (root/'remaining').read_text() if (root/'remaining').exists() else os.environ['REMAINING']
+        for n in range(int(pending)):
+            print(f'pkg{n}/stable 2.0 amd64 [upgradable from: 1.0]')
+    elif command == '/usr/bin/docker --version':
+        if os.environ.get('DOCKER_PROBE_FAIL') == '1': sys.exit(1)
+        print('Docker version 29.9.0')
+    else: sys.exit(91)
+else: sys.exit(92)
+''')
+        driver = self.folder / "capture.py"
+        driver.write_text('''
+import os, pathlib
+import managed_installs as m
+import lxc_update_observation as h
+import lxc_apps as apps
+root = pathlib.Path(os.environ['FIXTURE_DIR'])
+m._DB_DIR = str(root)
+m._REGISTRY_PATH = str(root/'registry.json')
+m._PCT_BIN = str(root/'bin/pct')
+h.OBSERVATION_DIR = root/'observations'
+apps._APPS_DIR = str(root/'apps')
+apps._PCT_BIN = str(root/'bin/pct')
+with (root/'commands').open('a') as log: log.write('CAPTURE\\n')
+if os.environ.get('CAPTURE_FAIL') == '1': raise SystemExit(1)
+m._detect_lxc_containers = lambda **_: ([{'id':'lxc:100','type':'lxc','_vmid':'100',
+    '_is_oci':os.environ.get('OCI') == '1'}] if (root/'state').read_text() == 'running' else [])
+raise SystemExit(h.main())
+''')
+        self.write("python3", "#!/bin/bash\n"
+                   f"exec {shlex.quote(sys.executable)} {shlex.quote(str(driver))} \"${{@:2}}\"\n")
+        self.write("sleep", "#!/bin/sh\nexit 0\n")
+        self.write("flock", "#!/bin/sh\nexit 0\n")
+        names = {"_finalize_lxc_update", "_terminal_lxc_update_completed",
+                 "api_lxc_updates_applied", "_run_scheduled_update"}
+        nodes = [n for n in ast.parse(observed.SERVER.read_text()).body
+                 if isinstance(n, ast.FunctionDef) and n.name in names]
+        self.scope = self.fixture.scope
+        self.scope.update({
+            "os": os, "re": re, "time": time, "uuid": uuid, "datetime": datetime, "json": json,
+            "request": request, "_LXC_APPLY_UPDATES_SCRIPT": str(RUNNER),
+            "_LXC_INSTALL_CHECKED_OS_SCRIPT": str(ROOT / 'scripts/lxc/install_checked_os_updates.sh'),
+            "_APPLY_UPDATES_SCRIPT": str(RUNNER),
+            "_normalise_lxc_update_run_id": lambda value, **_: value or "manual-fixture",
+            "_normalise_lxc_update_targets": lambda values, target: values or [target],
+            "_normalise_lxc_update_labels": lambda values: values or [],
+            "_json_list": lambda value: json.loads(value or '[]'),
+            "_lxc_update_finalizations": {}, "_lxc_update_finalization_lock": threading.RLock(),
+            "_LXC_UPDATE_FINALIZATION_TTL": 3600,
+            "_fast_guest_status": lambda *_: self.state.read_text(),
+            "_lxc_update_snapshot": lambda *_: {"ct_name": "fixture"},
+            "_lxc_update_target_labels": lambda *_: ["OS"],
+            "_lxc_update_details": lambda **kwargs: str(kwargs),
+            "_publish_guest_modal_cache_revision": Mock(),
+            "notification_manager": Mock(),
+            "_create_lxc_update_log": lambda *_: (None, None),
+            "_append_lxc_update_log": lambda *_: None,
+            "_prune_lxc_update_logs": lambda *_: None,
+            "_normalise_schedule_targets": lambda sched: sched.get('targets') or ['os'],
+            "_scheduled_helper_enabled": lambda *_: False,
+            "_compose_scheduled_update_command": lambda *_, **__: '',
+            "_inspect_lxc_reboot_requirement": lambda *_, **__: (False, [], None),
+        })
+        exec(compile(ast.Module(body=nodes, type_ignores=[]), 'update-completion', 'exec'), self.scope)
+
+    def write(self, name, content):
+        path = self.bin / name
+        path.write_text(content)
+        path.chmod(0o755)
+
+    def run_manual(self, **extra):
+        env = {**self.env, **extra}
+        result = self.real_run(['/bin/bash', str(RUNNER)], env=env, text=True,
+                               capture_output=True, timeout=20)
+        # The runner's separate process has not modified the shared registry.
+        self.assertEqual(managed.get_registry()['items'][0]['update_check']['_count'], 20)
+        self.scope['_terminal_lxc_update_completed'](script_path=str(RUNNER),
+            params={'RUN_ID': env.get('RUN_ID'), 'VMID': '100', 'TARGET': 'os'},
+            exit_code=result.returncode, duration_seconds=1)
+        return result
+
+    def test_manual_hook_stores_verified_zero_after_shutdown_without_restart(self):
+        result = self.run_manual()
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, result.stdout + result.stderr)
+        self.assertEqual(self.state.read_text(), 'stopped')
+        row = self.fixture.row()['update_check']
+        self.assertEqual(row['count'], 0)
+        self.assertIsNone(row['error'])
+        self.assertEqual(row['os_family'], 'debian')
+        log = self.log.read_text()
+        self.assertLess(log.index('CAPTURE'), log.index('shutdown'))
+        self.assertLess(log.index('apt list --upgradable'), log.index('shutdown'))
+        self.assertNotIn('apt-get update', log)
+        self.assertEqual(log.count('dist-upgrade'), 1)
+        self.assertFalse(list(self.observations.glob('*.json')))
+        self.assertEqual(managed.get_registry()['items'][1]['update_check']['_count'], 7)
+        self.assertEqual(self.fixture.commands, [], 'GET and stopped finalization run no guest probes')
+
+    def test_partial_update_keeps_verified_remaining_packages(self):
+        result = self.run_manual(REMAINING='3', UPDATE_FAIL='1')
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 4)
+        self.assertEqual(self.state.read_text(), 'stopped')
+        self.assertEqual(self.fixture.row()['update_check']['count'], 3)
+
+    def assert_unverified(self, flag):
+        result = self.run_manual(**{flag: '1'})
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, 'verification failure is not updater failure')
+        self.assertEqual(self.state.read_text(), 'stopped')
+        stored = managed.get_registry()['items'][0]['update_check']
+        self.assertTrue(stored['error'])
+        self.assertNotIn('_count', stored)
+        self.assertTrue(self.fixture.row()['update_check']['error'])
+
+    def test_failed_probe_does_not_present_old_count_or_fresh_zero(self):
+        self.assert_unverified('PROBE_FAIL')
+
+    def test_missing_capture_does_not_present_old_count_or_fresh_zero(self):
+        self.assert_unverified('CAPTURE_FAIL')
+
+    def test_web_runner_without_identity_reports_unverified_instead_of_silent_skip(self):
+        env = {**self.env, 'EXECUTION_MODE': 'web'}
+        env.pop('RUN_ID')
+        result = self.real_run(['/bin/bash', str(RUNNER)], env=env,
+                               capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=20)
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0)
+        self.assertEqual(self.state.read_text(), 'stopped')
+        self.assertIn('verification has no RUN_ID', result.stderr)
+        self.assertNotIn('CAPTURE', self.log.read_text())
+
+    def test_rejected_handoff_is_retained_with_safe_diagnostic_and_no_false_zero(self):
+        self.observations.mkdir(mode=0o700)
+        path = self.observations / '100-manual-fixture.json'
+        path.write_text(json.dumps({'private_payload': 'must-not-be-logged'}))
+        path.chmod(0o600)
+        output = io.StringIO()
+        with redirect_stdout(output):
+            self.scope['_finalize_lxc_update'](100, run_id='manual-fixture',
+                status='success', source='manual', target='os')
+        self.assertTrue(path.exists())
+        self.assertIn('reason=KeyError', output.getvalue())
+        self.assertIn('handoff=False verified=False', output.getvalue())
+        self.assertNotIn('must-not-be-logged', output.getvalue())
+        self.assertTrue(self.fixture.row()['update_check']['error'])
+        self.assertNotIn('_count', managed.get_registry()['items'][0]['update_check'])
+
+    def test_frontend_completion_route_deduplicates_authoritative_hook(self):
+        self.run_manual()
+        class InlineThread:
+            def __init__(self, target, args, kwargs, **_):
+                self.callback = lambda: target(*args, **kwargs)
+            def start(self):
+                self.callback()
+        self.scope['threading'] = SimpleNamespace(Thread=InlineThread)
+        response = self.fixture.client.post('/api/lxc-updates/100/applied', json={
+            'success': True, 'run_id': 'manual-fixture', 'target': 'os'})
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 202)
+        self.assertEqual(self.fixture.row()['update_check']['count'], 0)
+        self.scope['notification_manager'].emit_event.assert_called_once()
+
+    def test_entrypoint_and_imported_server_share_finalization_for_same_run(self):
+        # AppRun executes flask_server as __main__; health collectors later
+        # import flask_server by name. Those namespaces must not own separate
+        # finalization maps when the terminal hook and HTTP callback collide.
+        tree = ast.parse(observed.SERVER.read_text())
+        state_names = {'_lxc_update_finalization_lock', '_lxc_update_finalizations'}
+        initializers = []
+        for node in tree.body:
+            if isinstance(node, ast.ImportFrom) and node.module == 'lxc_update_finalization':
+                initializers.append(node)
+            elif isinstance(node, ast.Assign) and any(
+                    isinstance(target, ast.Name) and target.id in state_names for target in node.targets):
+                initializers.append(node)
+            elif isinstance(node, ast.AnnAssign) and isinstance(node.target, ast.Name) and node.target.id in state_names:
+                initializers.append(node)
+        hook_scope = dict(self.scope)
+        exec(compile(ast.Module(body=initializers, type_ignores=[]), 'entrypoint-state', 'exec'), hook_scope)
+        exec(compile(ast.Module(body=initializers, type_ignores=[]), 'imported-state', 'exec'), self.scope)
+        for scope in (hook_scope, self.scope):
+            scope['_lxc_update_finalizations'].clear()
+            self.addCleanup(scope['_lxc_update_finalizations'].clear)
+        functions = [node for node in tree.body if isinstance(node, ast.FunctionDef)
+                     and node.name in {'_finalize_lxc_update', '_terminal_lxc_update_completed'}]
+        exec(compile(ast.Module(body=functions, type_ignores=[]), 'entrypoint-hook', 'exec'), hook_scope)
+        self.scope['_terminal_lxc_update_completed'] = hook_scope['_terminal_lxc_update_completed']
+        self.run_manual()
+        self.assertEqual(self.fixture.row()['update_check']['count'], 0)
+        class InlineThread:
+            def __init__(self, target, args, kwargs, **_):
+                self.callback = lambda: target(*args, **kwargs)
+            def start(self):
+                self.callback()
+        self.scope['threading'] = SimpleNamespace(Thread=InlineThread)
+        response = self.fixture.client.post('/api/lxc-updates/100/applied', json={
+            'success': True, 'run_id': 'manual-fixture', 'target': 'os'})
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 202)
+        result = self.fixture.row()['update_check']
+        self.assertEqual(result['count'], 0)
+        self.assertIsNone(result['error'])
+        self.scope['notification_manager'].emit_event.assert_called_once()
+
+    def test_scheduled_path_executes_real_runner_and_real_finalization(self):
+        def run(command, **kwargs):
+            kwargs['env'].update({key: value for key, value in self.env.items()
+                                  if key != 'RUN_ID'})
+            return self.real_run(command, **kwargs)
+        self.scope['subprocess'] = SimpleNamespace(run=run, TimeoutExpired=subprocess.TimeoutExpired)
+        result = self.scope['_run_scheduled_update'](100, {'targets': ['os'], 'target': 'os'})
+        self.assertEqual(result['status'], 'success', result)
+        self.assertEqual(self.state.read_text(), 'stopped')
+        self.assertEqual(self.fixture.row()['update_check']['count'], 0)
+
+    def test_legacy_cli_without_run_id_preserves_update_and_original_state(self):
+        env = dict(self.env)
+        env.pop('RUN_ID')
+        result = self.real_run(['/bin/bash', str(RUNNER)], env=env,
+                               capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=20)
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0)
+        self.assertEqual(self.state.read_text(), 'stopped')
+        self.assertNotIn('CAPTURE', self.log.read_text())
+
+    def test_appimage_packaging_copies_the_actual_observation_helper(self):
+        builder = (ROOT / 'AppImage/scripts/build_appimage.sh').read_text()
+        copies = [line for line in builder.splitlines()
+                  if line.startswith('cp ') and '$SCRIPT_DIR/lxc_update_observation.py' in line]
+        self.assertEqual(len(copies), 1)
+        appdir = self.folder / 'AppDir'
+        (appdir / 'usr/bin').mkdir(parents=True)
+        result = self.real_run(['/bin/bash', '-ec', copies[0]], env={**os.environ,
+            'SCRIPT_DIR': str(ROOT / 'AppImage/scripts'), 'APP_DIR': str(appdir)},
+            capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5)
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, result.stderr)
+        self.assertEqual((appdir / 'usr/bin/lxc_update_observation.py').read_bytes(),
+                         (ROOT / 'AppImage/scripts/lxc_update_observation.py').read_bytes())
+        shared = [line for line in builder.splitlines()
+                  if line.startswith('cp ') and '$SCRIPT_DIR/lxc_update_finalization.py' in line]
+        self.assertEqual(len(shared), 1)
+        result = self.real_run(['/bin/bash', '-ec', shared[0]], env={**os.environ,
+            'SCRIPT_DIR': str(ROOT / 'AppImage/scripts'), 'APP_DIR': str(appdir)},
+            capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5)
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, result.stderr)
+        self.assertEqual((appdir / 'usr/bin/lxc_update_finalization.py').read_bytes(),
+                         (ROOT / 'AppImage/scripts/lxc_update_finalization.py').read_bytes())
+
+    def test_bad_or_untrusted_handoffs_are_not_accepted(self):
+        self.run_manual()
+        self.observations.mkdir(exist_ok=True)
+        path = self.observations / '100-manual-fixture.json'
+        for body in ('{}', '[]', '{bad'):
+            path.write_text(body)
+            path.chmod(0o600)
+            self.assertIsNone(handoff.read(100, 'manual-fixture'))
+        path.unlink()
+        path.symlink_to(self.folder / 'registry.json')
+        self.assertIsNone(handoff.read(100, 'manual-fixture'))
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+            handoff.read(100, '../../escape')
+
+    def test_wrong_run_expired_incomplete_and_public_observations_are_rejected(self):
+        handoff.capture(100, 'manual-fixture')
+        original = handoff.read(100, 'manual-fixture')
+        self.assertIsNotNone(original)
+        path = self.observations / '100-manual-fixture.json'
+        cases = []
+        for key, value in (('vmid', 200), ('run_id', 'wrong-run'),
+                           ('captured_at', '2020-01-01T00:00:00+00:00'),
+                           ('captured_at', '2999-01-01T00:00:00+00:00')):
+            cases.append({**original, key: value})
+        cases.append({**original, 'result': {'available': False, 'last_check': 'now'}})
+        for data in cases:
+            path.write_text(json.dumps(data))
+            self.assertIsNone(handoff.read(100, 'manual-fixture'))
+        path.write_text(json.dumps(original))
+        path.chmod(0o644)
+        self.assertIsNone(handoff.read(100, 'manual-fixture'))
+        path.unlink()
+        os.mkfifo(path, mode=0o600)
+        self.assertIsNone(handoff.read(100, 'manual-fixture'))
+
+    def test_oci_observation_never_runs_a_generic_package_listing(self):
+        result = self.run_manual(OCI='1')
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0)
+        self.assertNotIn('apt list --upgradable', self.log.read_text())
+        self.assertTrue(self.fixture.row()['update_check']['is_oci_lxc'])
+
+    def test_oci_handoff_without_family_accepts_only_complete_skipped_zero(self):
+        with patch.object(managed, '_probe_lxc_is_oci', return_value=True):
+            observation = handoff.capture(100, 'manual-fixture')
+        observation['entry']['_os_family'] = None
+        path = self.observations / '100-manual-fixture.json'
+        path.write_text(json.dumps(observation))
+        self.assertIsNotNone(handoff.read(100, 'manual-fixture'))
+        for patch_result in ({'available': True}, {'_count': 1},
+                             {'_security_count': 1}, {'_packages': [{'name': 'unexpected'}]}):
+            path.write_text(json.dumps({**observation, 'result': {**observation['result'], **patch_result}}))
+            self.assertIsNone(handoff.read(100, 'manual-fixture'))
+        observation['entry']['_is_oci'] = False
+        path.write_text(json.dumps(observation))
+        self.assertIsNone(handoff.read(100, 'manual-fixture'), 'non-OCI still needs a verified supported family')
+
+    def test_reboot_failure_preserves_exit_code_and_still_verifies_before_stop(self):
+        result = self.run_manual(RESTART='1', REBOOT_FAIL='1')
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 6)
+        self.assertEqual(self.state.read_text(), 'stopped')
+        self.assertEqual(self.fixture.row()['update_check']['count'], 0)
+
+    def test_capture_precedes_reboot_and_is_not_retried_in_transitional_guest(self):
+        result = self.run_manual(RESTART='1', REBOOT_TRANSITION='1')
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0)
+        self.assertEqual(self.state.read_text(), 'stopped')
+        self.assertEqual(self.fixture.row()['update_check']['count'], 0)
+        log = self.log.read_text()
+        self.assertLess(log.index('CAPTURE'), log.index('reboot'))
+        self.assertEqual(log.count('CAPTURE'), 1)
+
+    def test_registry_failure_does_not_discard_the_valid_observation(self):
+        result = self.real_run(['/bin/bash', str(RUNNER)], env=self.env,
+                               capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=20)
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0)
+        with patch.object(managed, '_write_registry', return_value=False):
+            outcome = self.scope['_finalize_lxc_update'](100, run_id='manual-fixture',
+                status='success', source='manual', target='os')
+        self.assertTrue(outcome['verification_errors'])
+        self.assertIsNotNone(handoff.read(100, 'manual-fixture'))
+        self.assertEqual(managed.get_registry()['items'][0]['update_check']['_count'], 20)
+
+    def test_originally_running_guest_keeps_existing_finalization_path(self):
+        self.state.write_text('running')
+        import lxc_apps
+        with patch.object(lxc_apps, 'mark_manual_versions_unverified'), \
+                patch.object(lxc_apps, 'check_all'):
+            result = self.run_manual()
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0)
+        self.assertEqual(self.state.read_text(), 'running')
+        self.assertNotIn('CAPTURE', self.log.read_text())
+        self.assertEqual(self.fixture.row()['update_check']['count'], 0)
+
+    def test_stopped_finalizer_consumes_captured_app_versions_without_guest_probes(self):
+        import lxc_apps
+        self.state.write_text('running')
+        observation = handoff.capture(100, 'manual-fixture')
+        observation['apps'] = [{'id': 'docker', 'installed_version': '29.9.0'}]
+        self.state.write_text('stopped')
+        with patch.object(handoff, 'read', return_value=observation), \
+             patch.object(lxc_apps, 'store_installed_observations', create=True,
+                          return_value={'errors': [], 'applied': 1}) as store, \
+             patch.object(lxc_apps, 'check_all') as check, \
+             patch.object(lxc_apps, 'mark_manual_versions_unverified') as manual:
+            self.scope['_finalize_lxc_update'](100, run_id='manual-fixture',
+                status='success', source='manual', target='both',
+                requested_targets=['os', 'app:ghstats'])
+        store.assert_called_once_with(100, observation['apps'])
+        manual.assert_called_once_with(100, ['ghstats'])
+        check.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_real_os_runner_updates_registered_docker_before_shutdown_and_backend_merge(self):
+        import lxc_apps
+        folder = self.folder / 'apps'
+        folder.mkdir()
+        sidecar = folder / '100.json'
+        original = {'apps': [{'id': 'docker', 'installed_via': 'binary',
+            'binary_path': '/usr/bin/docker', 'state': {'installed_version': '29.8.1',
+            'latest_version': '29.9.0', 'checked_at': '2026-01-01T00:00:00Z',
+            'update_available': True}}], 'schedule': {'enabled': False}}
+        sidecar.write_text(json.dumps(original))
+        with patch.object(lxc_apps, '_APPS_DIR', str(folder)), \
+             patch.object(lxc_apps, 'check_all') as check:
+            result = self.run_manual()
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, result.stdout + result.stderr)
+        self.assertEqual(self.state.read_text(), 'stopped')
+        saved = json.loads(sidecar.read_text())
+        self.assertEqual(saved['apps'][0]['state']['installed_version'], '29.9.0')
+        self.assertFalse(saved['apps'][0]['state']['update_available'])
+        self.assertEqual(saved['schedule'], original['schedule'])
+        commands = self.log.read_text()
+        self.assertLess(commands.index('/usr/bin/docker'), commands.index('shutdown'))
+        self.assertEqual(commands.count('/usr/bin/docker'), 1)
+        check.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_failed_app_write_retains_handoff_and_does_not_claim_verified(self):
+        import lxc_apps
+        self.state.write_text('running')
+        observation = handoff.capture(100, 'manual-fixture')
+        observation['apps'] = []
+        path = handoff._path(100, 'manual-fixture')
+        path.write_text(json.dumps(observation))
+        self.state.write_text('stopped')
+        with patch.object(lxc_apps, 'store_installed_observations', side_effect=OSError):
+            outcome = self.scope['_finalize_lxc_update'](100, run_id='manual-fixture',
+                status='success', source='manual', target='os')
+        self.assertTrue(path.exists())
+        self.assertIn('post-update application persistence failed', outcome['verification_errors'])
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()