NATS tls:// + token and OpenBao HTTPS via the ACME wildcard cert (expose.tcp.tls),
no custom CA. civil + primer both cut over; plaintext rejected on both. Server
config + unseal.sh are instance-side (/data/castle, ~/.castle).
- SecretBackend gains write/delete/list_names; FileSecretBackend + OpenBaoBackend
implement them (vault KV-v2 POST/DELETE/LIST); castle-api/secrets.py routes all
CRUD through the active backend (dashboard writes to the vault in openbao mode)
- add systemd exec_start_post (general; '-' prefix so a hook failure can't fail
the unit); castle-openbao runs an unseal.sh on boot using OPENBAO_UNSEAL_KEY
- tests: file write/read/list/delete round-trip
Verified live: write→vault→read→list→delete against OpenBao; seal→restart→
auto-unsealed. TLS hardening remains (deferred; gates cross-network/real secrets).
- secret_backends.py: SecretBackend protocol, FileSecretBackend (historical),
OpenBaoBackend (KV-v2 read + file fallback), build_backend() env-selected
- _read_secret delegates to the active backend; default is file, so production
is unchanged until CASTLE_SECRET_BACKEND=openbao
- OpenBao token bootstraps from the file backend; missing/unreachable falls back
- tests: file hit/miss, backend selection, unreachable + empty-token fallback
Read path verified live against castle-openbao. Write path, auto-unseal-on-boot,
and TLS hardening documented as remaining for full OpenBao production use.
- add static 'role' (authority|follower) to NodeConfig/CastleConfig, wired from
castle.yaml through the registry to the mesh wire; civil pinned authority
- castle-presence: TTL KV bucket each node renews (churn signal); delete-on-stop
- castle-config: authority-gated get/put + change-watch SSE (follower reconcile
hook hangs off it)
- bound the NATS drain on stop() so shutdown can't hang
- tests: role config/registry round-trip, wire round-trip, role write-gating
Single-node verified; follower reconcile pending the second node.
Phased plan to evolve the mesh into a purpose-driven fleet: NATS (JetStream KV +
presence) replacing Mosquitto, OpenBao as the secret authority, cross-node
requires resolution + gateway circuit-breaker, static civil=authority role.
Records resolved decisions and Phase 0/1 progress.
