diff --git a/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/backup.go b/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/backup.go
index 8bf3d6fd..e8d3dfde 100644
--- a/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/backup.go
+++ b/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/backup.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
 	"os"
 	"path"
 	"sort"
@@ -46,33 +47,19 @@ type BackupFromBus struct {
 	Error string `json:"error,omitempty"`
 }
 
-// BackupFrom reads the holder of node-backup on one machine from mesh-controller.seats' answer, and the
-// paths that module keeps data in on that machine from mesh-controller.data's. A machine whose backup seat
-// nobody holds, and an answer with no data list, are errors: never an empty list read as "nothing to fear".
-func BackupFrom(machine string, seats, data json.RawMessage) (string, []string, error) {
-	var s struct {
-		Answer *struct {
-			Seats []struct {
-				Seat    string `json:"seat"`
-				Holders []struct {
-					Module string `json:"module"`
-					Node   string `json:"node"`
-				} `json:"holders"`
-			} `json:"seats"`
-		} `json:"answer"`
-	}
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(seats, &s); err != nil || s.Answer == nil {
-		return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("the controller's seats answer could not be read: %v", err)
+// BackupFrom reads the holder of node-backup on one machine from the placement seat's state of who holds which seat
+// (novox/hq ADR 0571 clause 4), and the paths that module keeps data in on that machine from mesh-controller.data's
+// answer. A machine whose backup seat nobody holds, and an answer with no data list, are errors: never an empty list
+// read as "nothing to fear".
+func BackupFrom(machine string, keys map[string][]byte, data json.RawMessage) (string, []string, error) {
+	holders, err := delivery.HoldersOf(keys, BackupSeat, machine)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", nil, err
 	}
 	holder := ""
-	for _, seat := range s.Answer.Seats {
-		if seat.Seat != BackupSeat {
-			continue
-		}
-		for _, h := range seat.Holders {
-			if h.Node == machine {
-				holder = h.Module
-			}
+	for _, h := range holders {
+		if h.Node == machine {
+			holder = h.Module
 		}
 	}
 	if holder == "" {
@@ -102,12 +89,13 @@ func BackupFrom(machine string, seats, data json.RawMessage) (string, []string,
 
 // TakeBackup asks the controller over the bus, as the module, through the runtime.
 func (m *Machine) TakeBackup(machine string) {
-	m.TakeBackupWith(machine, askBus)
+	m.TakeBackupWith(machine, askBus, seatHolderKeys)
 }
 
-// TakeBackupWith is TakeBackup with the ask given, for tests. A failed ask keeps the last holder and
+// TakeBackupWith is TakeBackup with the ask and the reading of the seat-holders state given, for tests. A failed ask keeps the last holder and
 // paths and adds why.
-func (m *Machine) TakeBackupWith(machine string, ask func(key string, body any) (json.RawMessage, error)) {
+func (m *Machine) TakeBackupWith(machine string, ask func(key string, body any) (json.RawMessage, error),
+	holderKeys func() (map[string][]byte, error)) {
 	var last BackupFromBus
 	if text, err := m.Read(BackupFile); err == nil {
 		_ = json.Unmarshal([]byte(text), &last)
@@ -115,7 +103,7 @@ func (m *Machine) TakeBackupWith(machine string, ask func(key string, body any)
 	next := last
 	next.Looked = m.Now().UTC().Format(time.RFC3339)
 	next.Error = ""
-	seats, err := ask("seat:mesh-controller.seats", map[string]any{})
+	seats, err := holderKeys()
 	var data json.RawMessage
 	if err == nil {
 		data, err = ask("seat:mesh-controller.data", map[string]any{"machine": machine})
diff --git a/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/backup_test.go b/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/backup_test.go
index 7ae3298b..4efe26a5 100644
--- a/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/backup_test.go
+++ b/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/backup_test.go
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ func TestWithoutTheBackupListTheExportsStayAndItIsSaid(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestBackupFromTheSeatsAndTheData(t *testing.T) {
-	seats := json.RawMessage(`{"answer":{"seats":[{"seat":"node-backup","scope":"node","holders":[{"module":"restic","node":"ace"},{"module":"borg","node":"shanks"}]}]},"ok":true}`)
+	seats := backupHolders("ace", "restic")
 	data := json.RawMessage(`{"answer":{"data":[{"machine":"ace","module":"restic","item":"repository","path":"/storage/restic"},{"machine":"ace","module":"restic","item":"state","path":"/var/lib/restic"},{"machine":"ace","module":"plex","item":"data","path":"/mnt/plex/data"}]},"ok":true}`)
 	holder, paths, err := BackupFrom("ace", seats, data)
 	if err != nil || holder != "restic" || strings.Join(paths, " ") != "/storage/restic /var/lib/restic" {
@@ -101,11 +101,11 @@ func TestAFailedAskKeepsTheLastBackupPaths(t *testing.T) {
 	m := f.machine()
 	m.TakeBackupWith("ace", func(string, any) (json.RawMessage, error) {
 		return nil, errors.New("no responders")
-	})
+	}, noHolders)
 	f.backup("restic", "/storage/restic")
 	m.TakeBackupWith("ace", func(string, any) (json.RawMessage, error) {
 		return nil, errors.New("timeout")
-	})
+	}, func() (map[string][]byte, error) { return backupHolders("ace", "restic"), nil })
 	var b BackupFromBus
 	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(f.read(BackupFile)), &b); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
@@ -153,14 +153,12 @@ func TestAStaleOrUnknownBackupListIsSaidWithItsAge(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	ok := func(key string, body any) (json.RawMessage, error) {
-		if strings.Contains(key, "seats") {
-			return json.RawMessage(`{"answer":{"seats":[{"seat":"node-backup","holders":[{"module":"restic","node":"hs"}]}]}}`), nil
-		}
 		return json.RawMessage(`{"answer":{"data":[{"machine":"hs","module":"restic","path":"/srv/restic"}]}}`), nil
 	}
-	m.TakeBackupWith("hs", ok)
+	m.TakeBackupWith("hs", ok, func() (map[string][]byte, error) { return backupHolders("hs", "restic"), nil })
 	now = now.Add(2 * time.Hour)
-	m.TakeBackupWith("hs", func(string, any) (json.RawMessage, error) { return nil, errors.New("the bus did not answer") })
+	m.TakeBackupWith("hs", func(string, any) (json.RawMessage, error) { return nil, errors.New("the bus did not answer") },
+		func() (map[string][]byte, error) { return backupHolders("hs", "restic"), nil })
 	s := m.Pass(context.Background(), nil)
 	said := strings.Join(append(append([]string{}, s.Said...), s.Warnings...), "\n")
 	if !strings.Contains(said, "2h0m0s") || !strings.Contains(said, "the bus did not answer") {
@@ -171,3 +169,11 @@ func TestAStaleOrUnknownBackupListIsSaidWithItsAge(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("the health does not say the backup list's age: %+v", h)
 	}
 }
+
+// backupHolders is the placement seat's state with one holder of node-backup on one node.
+func backupHolders(node, module string) map[string][]byte {
+	return map[string][]byte{"node-backup." + node: []byte(`{"v":1,"seat":"node-backup","scope":"node","node":"` + node +
+		`","holders":[{"module":"` + module + `","node":"` + node + `"}]}`)}
+}
+
+func noHolders() (map[string][]byte, error) { return nil, errors.New("the state is not read yet") }
diff --git a/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/guards_test.go b/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/guards_test.go
index add729ff..5ea2b715 100644
--- a/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/guards_test.go
+++ b/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/guards_test.go
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ func TestAFailedReloadIsTriedAgainWhenNothingElseAsks(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestBackupFromRefusesAnAnswerWithoutADataList(t *testing.T) {
-	seats := json.RawMessage(`{"answer":{"seats":[{"seat":"node-backup","holders":[{"module":"restic","node":"ace"}]}]}}`)
+	seats := backupHolders("ace", "restic")
 	for _, data := range []string{`{"answer":{}}`, `{"answer":{"data":null}}`} {
 		if _, paths, err := BackupFrom("ace", seats, json.RawMessage(data)); err == nil {
 			t.Errorf("%s was read as the empty list %v: never \"nothing to fear\"", data, paths)
diff --git a/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/main.go b/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/main.go
index 3406d5a8..8a9db1a1 100644
--- a/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/main.go
+++ b/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/main.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	stdio "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
 )
 
 // ExportsState is the state the exports are kept in on the bus; MountsState the `mounts` modules' state,
@@ -93,6 +94,26 @@ func askBus(key string, body any) (json.RawMessage, error) {
 	return stdio.Ask(key, body)
 }
 
+// seatHolderKeys reads the placement seat's state of who holds which seat, every key.
+func seatHolderKeys() (map[string][]byte, error) {
+	state := stdio.State(delivery.SeatHoldersRead)
+	names, err := state.Keys()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	keys := map[string][]byte{}
+	for _, k := range names {
+		e, err := state.Get(k)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		if e != nil {
+			keys[k] = e.Value
+		}
+	}
+	return keys, nil
+}
+
 // TakeWants reads every node's `mounts` state from the bus and writes what is asked of this machine to
 // the wants file, for the root process. When the bus does not answer, the last wants stay.
 func (m *Machine) TakeWants(machine string) {
diff --git a/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/manifest_test.go b/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/manifest_test.go
index d43d5776..c4bbedfb 100644
--- a/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/manifest_test.go
+++ b/modules/nfs-server/cmd/nfs-server/manifest_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
 	"os"
 	"regexp"
 	"sort"
@@ -137,7 +138,7 @@ func TestTheManifestCarriesGrantsTheRosterTheWantsAndTheRemovalOrder(t *testing.
 	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(raw), &full); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	if len(full.Reads) != 1 || full.Reads[0] != MountsState {
+	if len(full.Reads) != 2 || full.Reads[0] != delivery.SeatHoldersRead || full.Reads[1] != MountsState {
 		t.Errorf("reads: %v", full.Reads)
 	}
 	roster := full.Facts["machines"]
diff --git a/modules/nfs-server/go.mod b/modules/nfs-server/go.mod
index 6e122025..833e932c 100644
--- a/modules/nfs-server/go.mod
+++ b/modules/nfs-server/go.mod
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 module nfsserver
 
-go 1.22
+go 1.26.0
 
-require git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.7
+require git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261029220947-f9a496d3e121
diff --git a/modules/nfs-server/go.sum b/modules/nfs-server/go.sum
index b474419e..05839926 100644
--- a/modules/nfs-server/go.sum
+++ b/modules/nfs-server/go.sum
@@ -1,2 +1,14 @@
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.7 h1:C0sTQmtTiyYH7bnqZb7PusXnqA37gKuT7Nqjn9gG47w=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.7/go.mod h1:GFuZUElBZ9A++mxgIKo97aXXo+kV0uJ/UkbhQPPIbrY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261029220947-f9a496d3e121 h1:OsA1v6n736a7RqEV8Nkip8pf5ILMbzj0PWuKqcBOhK0=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261029220947-f9a496d3e121/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+github.com/klauspost/compress v1.20.0 h1:a3C1ke2ohxFymNlb2HWAHjDeKCI90scRskErZkR0ezA=
+github.com/klauspost/compress v1.20.0/go.mod h1:LUdAzn7YLVvxLpc7y3V1m40wESHTgc1422pwwBSKYuI=
+github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0 h1:vsXoOxjHp/GmPUN+EcI7uOf/uB+iAP+kEsAFNQN0yzA=
+github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0/go.mod h1:y+DZoD1oBOYfZTU681eTUiUjI0vbqYGixNVFHcjHJ0k=
+github.com/nats-io/nkeys v0.4.16 h1:rd5oAuLOb8mnAycB0xleuEBNS1pVVnN0fv/FF34Eypg=
+github.com/nats-io/nkeys v0.4.16/go.mod h1:llLgWoI0o4z/Q57q2R1kHfmocyhGV6VG/U18Glg1Afs=
+github.com/nats-io/nuid v1.0.1 h1:5iA8DT8V7q8WK2EScv2padNa/rTESc1KdnPw4TC2paw=
+github.com/nats-io/nuid v1.0.1/go.mod h1:19wcPz3Ph3q0Jbyiqsd0kePYG7A95tJPxeL+1OSON2c=
+golang.org/x/crypto v0.57.0 h1:3ZVCjf8Ggz7zneR/EHRVx68Ctf+2pmIMP2UFhh9cC6M=
+golang.org/x/crypto v0.57.0/go.mod h1:Fdz0i5U6CoizGwLda9DttjSk6qlZo25zYNtR+ycvuZA=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.48.0 h1:bbX/i/6MgT9BVLM9RT1thmxL04yeTAhbEz4SyadbXoo=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.48.0/go.mod h1:hNLxWAXmnKAxqDtdwIYC4bM9oQPEecfsnNMuSxOs3og=
diff --git a/modules/nfs-server/module.json b/modules/nfs-server/module.json
index d9210c12..a33fb88f 100644
--- a/modules/nfs-server/module.json
+++ b/modules/nfs-server/module.json
@@ -48,10 +48,10 @@
     }
   ],
   "reads": [
+    "mesh-delivery-assigner.seat-holders",
     "mounts.shares"
   ],
   "invokes": [
-    "seat:mesh-controller.seats",
     "seat:mesh-controller.data"
   ],
   "config": {