Prepare fleet configuration changes for manual activation

Why use this

1. A shared configuration repository can hide the reach of a small edit: a common module may affect several machines, and an apparently local option may change network exposure or service permissions. A readable diff is not enough to establish safe activation.

2. A fleet-change review packet could list affected hosts, inherited settings and operator questions before activation. The owner could evaluate the proposed intent and recovery requirements while retaining exclusive control of the live configuration switch.

Why an agent / simpler alternative

Useful judgment

Trace configuration reuse and identify where a proposed setting may affect more hosts or services than intended.

Simpler alternative

Edit a small host-specific configuration manually when dependencies are clear and the change is routine.

Unsuitable when

The workflow cannot prevent activation or lacks an operator-owned recovery path.

Proposed inputs

1. Name

   Configuration excerpt

   Owner

   Fleet administrator

   Minimum scope

   Selected modules, host mappings and proposed change intent

   Quality check

   Remove secrets and mark inherited security-sensitive settings.

2. Name

   Operator constraints

   Owner

   Responsible operator

   Minimum scope

   Authorized hosts, preserved services and manual activation boundary

   Quality check

   Identify access paths that must remain recoverable.

Access and setup — proposed or unknown

Proposed minimum

1. Read-only fictional module descriptions and a proposed impact manifest.

Compatibility unknowns

1. Unknown: current runtime, configuration evaluation, module dependencies and rollback availability.

External actions requiring approval

1. Repository edits and security-sensitive settings require review; activation remains a separate manual operator action.

Expected deliverable and review checks

Proposed artifact

Host-by-host configuration impact proposal with security questions and operator activation checklist.

Critical checks

1. Shared-module effects are mapped to all in-scope hosts.

2. No activation or service restart is included in the proposed editing scope.

Missing output evidence

No new workflow run or output inspection was performed for this overlay; use the canonical source-outcome references.

Failure signals and proposed responses

1. Signal

   A shared networking option changes more hosts than the request names.

   Why it matters

   The edit could disrupt unrelated machines.

   Proposed response

   Narrow the change or request explicit operator review of the broader impact.

2. Signal

   The proposed change removes the only documented remote-access path.

   Why it matters

   A failed activation could leave the operator unable to recover remotely.

   Proposed response

   Stop the proposal until the operator supplies a credible recovery arrangement.

Effort and cost — unknown

Setup work

1. Map host inheritance and document manual activation ownership.

Ongoing review

1. Inspect diffs and later operator-supplied evaluation evidence.

Unknowns

1. Unknown: evaluation effort, recovery cost and service-specific consequences.

First check — proposed, unexecuted

Status

proposed_unexecuted

Synthetic fixture

A fictional shared module affects three hosts although only one is requested, and the change removes a documented access path.

Acceptance checks

1. Expose the unintended host scope.

2. Flag recovery risk without evaluating or activating configuration.

Stop conditions

1. Real system access, commands, security changes or activation is required.

Limits

1. The manifest review is not a configuration evaluation or safety check; manual activation remains an enforced task boundary in the proposal.