From 7530c2aeaccd793342524776bfee4b3fa2e54bbf Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: mesh-admin <mesh-admin@localhost>
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:41:06 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 1/6] Read placement from a layer's Placement, never from its
 config values (issue 651)

ADR 0348 clause 11: places, accesses and kept networks are placement, not config.
Today's mergeable files still take them as said, so nothing composes differently.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 internal/catalogue/placement.go        | 67 +++++++++++++++++++++++++-
 internal/catalogue/setting_defaults.go |  3 +-
 internal/catalogue/settings.go         | 16 ++++--
 3 files changed, 80 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-)

diff --git a/internal/catalogue/placement.go b/internal/catalogue/placement.go
index 400c5b3f..bc8bf03d 100644
--- a/internal/catalogue/placement.go
+++ b/internal/catalogue/placement.go
@@ -34,6 +34,69 @@ const PlacesSetting = "places"
 // AccessesSetting is the settings key that says where a module's accesses are on this node, by id.
 const AccessesSetting = "accesses"
 
+// **Placement is not config** (novox/hq ADR 0348 clause 11, issue 651). `places`, `accesses` and
+// `networks` are facts of an assignment the controller decides, held beside the assignment and apart
+// from its settings: a Layer carries them in Placement, never in Values, and only Places, AccessPlaces
+// and KeptNetworks read them. A person still says them as keys of a layer through `settings`; LayerOf
+// splits such a layer, so what they type is routed to the placement and nothing they do changes.
+
+// placementKeys are the keys of a layer that are placement, not config.
+var placementKeys = map[string]bool{PlacesSetting: true, AccessesSetting: true, NetworksSetting: true}
+
+// SplitPlacement divides a layer as a person says it into its config values and its placement. Each is
+// nil when it holds nothing; the values themselves are not copied.
+func SplitPlacement(values map[string]any) (config, placement map[string]any) {
+	for key, value := range values {
+		if placementKeys[key] {
+			if placement == nil {
+				placement = map[string]any{}
+			}
+			placement[key] = value
+			continue
+		}
+		if config == nil {
+			config = map[string]any{}
+		}
+		config[key] = value
+	}
+	return config, placement
+}
+
+// LayerOf is a layer as a person says it — config values and placement in one map — split into the two.
+func LayerOf(from string, values map[string]any) Layer {
+	config, placement := SplitPlacement(values)
+	if config == nil {
+		config = map[string]any{}
+	}
+	return Layer{From: from, Values: config, Placement: placement}
+}
+
+// Whole is the layer as a person says it: its values and its placement in one map, a new map.
+func (l Layer) Whole() map[string]any {
+	out := make(map[string]any, len(l.Values)+len(l.Placement))
+	for k, v := range l.Values {
+		out[k] = v
+	}
+	for k, v := range l.Placement {
+		out[k] = v
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// asSaid is the layers with placement folded back into the values, for what reads a layer whole as it
+// did while placement was kept in it: today's mergeable file, which takes every key (ADR 0326 §3), and
+// the judgement that no value holds a line end.
+func asSaid(layers []Layer) []Layer {
+	out := make([]Layer, len(layers))
+	for i, l := range layers {
+		out[i] = l
+		if len(l.Placement) > 0 {
+			out[i] = Layer{From: l.From, Values: l.Whole(), Default: l.Default}
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
 // Placement is what an assignment says about one of a module's directories.
 type Placement struct {
 	// Path is where the directory is on this machine. Absolute.
@@ -208,7 +271,7 @@ func Places(m Manifest, layers []Layer) (map[string]Placement, error) {
 	}
 	out := map[string]Placement{}
 	for _, layer := range layers {
-		raw, ok := layer.Values[PlacesSetting]
+		raw, ok := layer.Placement[PlacesSetting]
 		if !ok {
 			continue
 		}
@@ -278,7 +341,7 @@ func AccessPlaces(m Manifest, layers []Layer) (map[string]string, error) {
 	}
 	out := map[string]string{}
 	for _, layer := range layers {
-		raw, ok := layer.Values[AccessesSetting]
+		raw, ok := layer.Placement[AccessesSetting]
 		if !ok {
 			continue
 		}
diff --git a/internal/catalogue/setting_defaults.go b/internal/catalogue/setting_defaults.go
index 1bc72f67..3f158e02 100644
--- a/internal/catalogue/setting_defaults.go
+++ b/internal/catalogue/setting_defaults.go
@@ -207,7 +207,8 @@ func Effective(m Manifest, layers []Layer) []SettingSource {
 			Default: d.Default, HasDefault: true}
 	}
 	for _, layer := range layers {
-		for key, v := range layer.Values {
+		// As the layer is said, placement too: `settings` answers it as a person set it.
+		for key, v := range layer.Whole() {
 			s, ok := byKey[key]
 			if !ok {
 				s = &SettingSource{Key: key}
diff --git a/internal/catalogue/settings.go b/internal/catalogue/settings.go
index e20b61a2..45c992e8 100644
--- a/internal/catalogue/settings.go
+++ b/internal/catalogue/settings.go
@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@ type Layer struct {
 	// Default marks the layer a module's own defaults make (novox/hq ADR 0262). Marked rather than
 	// recognised by From, which is a node's name for a node's layer, and a node may be called anything.
 	Default bool
+	// Placement is the assignment's placement at this layer's scope — `places`, `accesses`, `networks`
+	// — which the controller holds apart from settings (novox/hq ADR 0348 clause 11, issue 651): read
+	// by Places, AccessPlaces and KeptNetworks, and never from Values. LayerOf splits a layer as a person
+	// says it into the two.
+	Placement map[string]any
 }
 
 // ApplySettings produces a resource's final content from the module's own and the layers over it.
@@ -45,6 +50,10 @@ type Layer struct {
 // module first, then this node's. A node that differs from the rest is expressed by differing,
 // rather than by repeating everything the rest already say.
 func ApplySettings(resource map[string]any, layers []Layer) (map[string]any, error) {
+	// Today's form reaches a mergeable file with every key of the layer as it was said, placement too
+	// (novox/hq ADR 0326 §3, ADR 0348 clause 11: a module not yet moved keeps it), so a file composes
+	// byte for byte as it did while placement was kept in the layer.
+	layers = asSaid(layers)
 	how, _ := resource["merge"].(string)
 	taken, names := takenKeys(resource)
 	if how == "" {
@@ -395,7 +404,7 @@ func UnusedSettings(m Manifest, layers []Layer) []string {
 	}
 	var unused []string
 	for _, layer := range layers {
-		for key := range layer.Values {
+		for key := range layer.Whole() {
 			if lands[key] {
 				continue
 			}
@@ -483,7 +492,7 @@ func KeptNetworks(m Manifest, layers []Layer, adopted bool) (map[string][]string
 	}
 	out := map[string][]string{}
 	for _, layer := range layers {
-		raw, ok := layer.Values[NetworksSetting]
+		raw, ok := layer.Placement[NetworksSetting]
 		if !ok {
 			continue
 		}
@@ -543,7 +552,8 @@ var networkName = regexp.MustCompile(`^[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9_.-]*$`)
 // refused where it is stored (SetSettings, with UnusedSettings) and said where a plan is read,
 // and never costs a module its place.
 func JudgeSettings(m Manifest, layers []Layer, adopted bool) error {
-	if err := settingsHoldOneLine(m.Module, layers); err != nil {
+	// Placement is judged for line ends as it always was: a path is written into files as well.
+	if err := settingsHoldOneLine(m.Module, asSaid(layers)); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	// Which keys each mergeable file takes is the definition's to say right (novox/hq ADR 0326);
-- 
2.54.0


From 02b542a0592eaadbeb3c123858d1846dc692c744 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: mesh-admin <mesh-admin@localhost>
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:42:37 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 2/6] Keep a layer's placement beside it, and say the layer
 whole (issue 651)

The settings verb's path splits a layer it is given into its config values and
its placement, so what a person types still works; a layer reads back and goes
into the history whole.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 internal/inventory/catalogue.go | 97 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++-------
 internal/inventory/unseen.go    | 28 +++++++---
 2 files changed, 99 insertions(+), 26 deletions(-)

diff --git a/internal/inventory/catalogue.go b/internal/inventory/catalogue.go
index 6ce3740c..31cc597f 100644
--- a/internal/inventory/catalogue.go
+++ b/internal/inventory/catalogue.go
@@ -839,7 +839,18 @@ func (i *Inventory) KeepSettings(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string, v
 }
 
 func (i *Inventory) setSettings(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string, values map[string]any, judge bool, setBy string) error {
-	raw, err := json.Marshal(values)
+	// **Placement is not config** (novox/hq ADR 0348 clause 11, issue 651): the layer is said whole, as
+	// it always was, and its placement keys are kept beside the assignment, never in the settings row.
+	// Both are written in one transaction, and the layer a set replaces is the whole of both.
+	config, placement := catalogue.SplitPlacement(values)
+	if config == nil {
+		config = map[string]any{}
+	}
+	raw, err := json.Marshal(config)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	placed, err := placementJSON(placement)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -881,6 +892,9 @@ func (i *Inventory) setSettings(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string, va
 			 do update set values = excluded.values, set_at = now(), set_by = excluded.set_by`, module, raw, nullable(setBy)); err != nil {
 			return wrapModule(err, module)
 		}
+		if err := keepPlacement(ctx, tx, nil, module, placed, setBy); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 		return tx.Commit(ctx)
 	}
 	node, err := i.NodeByName(ctx, nodeName)
@@ -912,6 +926,9 @@ func (i *Inventory) setSettings(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string, va
 	if err != nil {
 		return wrapModule(err, module)
 	}
+	if err := keepPlacement(ctx, tx, &node.ID, module, placed, setBy); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	// A given port replaces what the mesh assigned for that port: the assignment is given back,
 	// so the number is free for the next module rather than held for ever in the name of a port
 	// that now lives elsewhere.
@@ -942,21 +959,15 @@ func (i *Inventory) judgeSettings(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string,
 			return err
 		}
 		where, from, adopted = nodeName, nodeName, node.Adopted
-		var meshWide []byte
-		err = i.store.Pool().QueryRow(ctx,
-			`select values from settings where module = $1 and node is null`, module).Scan(&meshWide)
-		if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, pgx.ErrNoRows) {
+		under, has, err := i.Layer(ctx, "", module)
+		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		if len(meshWide) > 0 {
-			var under map[string]any
-			if err := json.Unmarshal(meshWide, &under); err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
-			layers = append(layers, catalogue.Layer{From: catalogue.MeshWideLayer, Values: under})
+		if has {
+			layers = append(layers, catalogue.LayerOf(catalogue.MeshWideLayer, under))
 		}
 	}
-	layers = append(layers, catalogue.Layer{From: from, Values: values})
+	layers = append(layers, catalogue.LayerOf(from, values))
 	if err := catalogue.JudgeSettings(m, layers, adopted); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("refused: %s on %s cannot compose with the layer %q — %w", module, where, from, err)
 	}
@@ -1089,7 +1100,8 @@ func refuseGivenCollisions(ctx context.Context, tx pgx.Tx, nodeID any, node, mod
 }
 
 func wrapModule(err error, module string) error {
-	if err != nil && strings.Contains(err.Error(), "settings_module_fkey") {
+	if err != nil && (strings.Contains(err.Error(), "settings_module_fkey") ||
+		strings.Contains(err.Error(), "placement_module_fkey")) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrNoSuchModule, module)
 	}
 	return err
@@ -1130,6 +1142,11 @@ func (i *Inventory) ClearSettingsBy(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module, clear
 		`delete from settings where module = $1 and node is not distinct from $2::uuid`, module, nodeID); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	// And its placement, which is the same layer as a person says it (novox/hq ADR 0348 clause 11).
+	if _, err := tx.Exec(ctx,
+		`delete from placement where module = $1 and node is not distinct from $2::uuid`, module, nodeID); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	return tx.Commit(ctx)
 }
 
@@ -1142,10 +1159,13 @@ func (i *Inventory) SettingsFor(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string) ([
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	// Each layer's placement beside it, from the placement the controller holds (novox/hq ADR 0348
+	// clause 11): a layer's Values hold its config values only, its Placement where things are.
 	rows, err := i.store.Pool().Query(ctx,
-		`select node is null, values from settings
-		  where module = $1 and (node is null or node = $2)
-		  order by node is null desc`, module, node.ID)
+		`select s.node is null, s.values, p.values from settings s
+		   left join placement p on p.module = s.module and p.node is not distinct from s.node
+		  where s.module = $1 and (s.node is null or s.node = $2)
+		  order by s.node is null desc`, module, node.ID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -1154,23 +1174,62 @@ func (i *Inventory) SettingsFor(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string) ([
 	var layers []catalogue.Layer
 	for rows.Next() {
 		var meshWide bool
-		var raw []byte
-		if err := rows.Scan(&meshWide, &raw); err != nil {
+		var raw, placed []byte
+		if err := rows.Scan(&meshWide, &raw, &placed); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		values := map[string]any{}
 		if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &values); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
+		var placement map[string]any
+		if len(placed) > 0 {
+			if err := json.Unmarshal(placed, &placement); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+		}
 		from := nodeName
 		if meshWide {
 			from = catalogue.MeshWideLayer
 		}
-		layers = append(layers, catalogue.Layer{From: from, Values: values})
+		layers = append(layers, catalogue.Layer{From: from, Values: values, Placement: placement})
 	}
 	return layers, rows.Err()
 }
 
+// placementJSON is a layer's placement as the placement table keeps it, or nil when it has none.
+func placementJSON(placement map[string]any) ([]byte, error) {
+	if len(placement) == 0 {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	return json.Marshal(placement)
+}
+
+// keepPlacement writes one layer's placement beside its settings row, in the write's transaction: the
+// placement the layer says, or none when it says none — a set replaces the layer whole, placement too.
+func keepPlacement(ctx context.Context, tx pgx.Tx, nodeID *string, module string, placed []byte, setBy string) error {
+	if placed == nil {
+		_, err := tx.Exec(ctx,
+			`delete from placement where module = $1 and node is not distinct from $2::uuid`, module, nodeID)
+		return err
+	}
+	var err error
+	if nodeID == nil {
+		_, err = tx.Exec(ctx,
+			`insert into placement (node, module, values, set_by) values (null, $1, $2, $3)
+			 on conflict (module) where node is null
+			 do update set values = excluded.values, set_at = now(), set_by = excluded.set_by`,
+			module, placed, nullable(setBy))
+	} else {
+		_, err = tx.Exec(ctx,
+			`insert into placement (node, module, values, set_by) values ($1, $2, $3, $4)
+			 on conflict (node, module) where node is not null
+			 do update set values = excluded.values, set_at = now(), set_by = excluded.set_by`,
+			*nodeID, module, placed, nullable(setBy))
+	}
+	return wrapModule(err, module)
+}
+
 // PinProvision records which provider a machine gets a provision from: a module, and the node it
 // runs on — both, always (novox/hq #258). A provision comes from a module, and the same module on
 // two machines is two answers, so neither half alone says which.
diff --git a/internal/inventory/unseen.go b/internal/inventory/unseen.go
index 8acbf13b..023fa315 100644
--- a/internal/inventory/unseen.go
+++ b/internal/inventory/unseen.go
@@ -20,9 +20,11 @@ func (i *Inventory) Layer(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string) (map[str
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, false, err
 	}
+	// Said whole, as it was set: its config values and the placement kept beside them (novox/hq ADR 0348
+	// clause 11), so a person reading it before setting it sees every key they may keep or remove.
 	var raw []byte
-	err = i.store.Pool().QueryRow(ctx,
-		`select values from settings where module = $1 and node is not distinct from $2::uuid`,
+	err = i.store.Pool().QueryRow(ctx, `select `+layerWhole+` from settings s
+		  where s.module = $1 and s.node is not distinct from $2::uuid`,
 		module, nodeID).Scan(&raw)
 	if errors.Is(err, pgx.ErrNoRows) {
 		return nil, false, nil
@@ -46,6 +48,9 @@ type PastLayer struct {
 	ReplacedBy string
 	// SetBy is who had set the layer, when it was kept (novox/hq ADR 0277); empty for one set before that was kept.
 	SetBy string
+	// Why is why it went, where that was said: "moved to placement, ADR 0348 clause 11" for a layer whose
+	// placement keys migration 0097 moved out of it (ReplacedBy "moved").
+	Why string
 }
 
 // LayerOrigin is who set a layer and when (novox/hq ADR 0277): empty words for a layer set before who set it was
@@ -79,7 +84,7 @@ func (i *Inventory) SettingsHistory(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	rows, err := i.store.Pool().Query(ctx,
-		`select values, set_at, replaced_at, replaced_by, set_by from settings_history
+		`select values, set_at, replaced_at, replaced_by, set_by, why from settings_history
 		  where module = $1 and node is not distinct from $2::uuid order by replaced_at desc`,
 		module, nodeID)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -90,13 +95,16 @@ func (i *Inventory) SettingsHistory(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string
 	for rows.Next() {
 		var raw []byte
 		var p PastLayer
-		var by *string
-		if err := rows.Scan(&raw, &p.SetAt, &p.ReplacedAt, &p.ReplacedBy, &by); err != nil {
+		var by, why *string
+		if err := rows.Scan(&raw, &p.SetAt, &p.ReplacedAt, &p.ReplacedBy, &by, &why); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		if by != nil {
 			p.SetBy = *by
 		}
+		if why != nil {
+			p.Why = *why
+		}
 		if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &p.Values); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -107,9 +115,15 @@ func (i *Inventory) SettingsHistory(ctx context.Context, nodeName, module string
 
 // keepReplacedSQL copies a layer into the history before it is replaced or cleared; run in the same
 // transaction as the write where there is one, so a write that fails leaves no history of it.
+//
+// The layer is kept whole, as it was set: its config values and its placement (novox/hq ADR 0348 clause 11).
 const keepReplacedSQL = `insert into settings_history (node, module, values, set_at, replaced_by, set_by)
-	select node, module, values, set_at, $3, set_by from settings
-	 where module = $1 and node is not distinct from $2::uuid`
+	select s.node, s.module, ` + layerWhole + `, s.set_at, $3, s.set_by from settings s
+	 where s.module = $1 and s.node is not distinct from $2::uuid`
+
+// layerWhole is a settings row `s` with the placement kept beside it folded back in: the layer as it was set.
+const layerWhole = `s.values || coalesce((select p.values from placement p
+	 where p.module = s.module and p.node is not distinct from s.node), '{}'::jsonb)`
 
 // layerNode is the node id of a layer, nil for the whole mesh's.
 func (i *Inventory) layerNode(ctx context.Context, nodeName string) (*string, error) {
-- 
2.54.0


From 85b85a3fa990e85c6703016c679d1ea2b02bf6d8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: mesh-admin <mesh-admin@localhost>
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:43:40 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 3/6] Say a layer whole where the mesh reports it, and give
 tests their placement (issue 651)

The facts snapshot, the take preview and the settings history read a layer as it
was set; tests that place give the layer through LayerOf.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 cmd/mesh-controller/adoption.go              |  5 +++--
 cmd/mesh-controller/facts.go                 |  4 ++--
 cmd/mesh-controller/mesh_for_test.go         | 16 +++++++++++++++-
 cmd/mesh-controller/modules.go               |  4 ++++
 internal/catalogue/data_test.go              |  2 +-
 internal/catalogue/setting_defaults_test.go  |  2 +-
 internal/catalogue/settings_judge_test.go    | 14 +++++++-------
 internal/catalogue/terminal_settings_test.go | 14 +++++++-------
 testdata/store-tests                         |  3 +++
 9 files changed, 43 insertions(+), 21 deletions(-)

diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/adoption.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/adoption.go
index 411ae05d..afa90a07 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/adoption.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/adoption.go
@@ -424,8 +424,9 @@ func comparisonOf(module string, c comparison, opts takeOptions) (preview string
 	}
 	// And its settings on this machine, composed against its definition (rule 1, rule 6).
 	for _, layer := range c.layers {
-		keys := make([]string, 0, len(layer.Values))
-		for k := range layer.Values {
+		said := layer.Whole()
+		keys := make([]string, 0, len(said))
+		for k := range said {
 			keys = append(keys, k)
 		}
 		sort.Strings(keys)
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/facts.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/facts.go
index 50b891cf..af04f202 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/facts.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/facts.go
@@ -348,11 +348,11 @@ func gatherFacts(ctx context.Context, open *stores, busVersion string) (snapshot
 				if layer.From == catalogue.MeshWideLayer {
 					if !meshWide[module] {
 						meshWide[module] = true
-						f.Settings = append(f.Settings, snapshot.Settings{Module: module, Values: scrub.Values(layer.Values)})
+						f.Settings = append(f.Settings, snapshot.Settings{Module: module, Values: scrub.Values(layer.Whole())})
 					}
 					continue
 				}
-				m.Settings = append(m.Settings, snapshot.Settings{Module: module, Values: scrub.Values(layer.Values)})
+				m.Settings = append(m.Settings, snapshot.Settings{Module: module, Values: scrub.Values(layer.Whole())})
 			}
 		}
 		m.Declaration = declarationFacts(ctx, open, n.Name, gens, gensErr, scrub)
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/mesh_for_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/mesh_for_test.go
index b2e76be4..eea81d13 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/mesh_for_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/mesh_for_test.go
@@ -33,7 +33,21 @@ import (
 func aMesh(t *testing.T) *stores {
 	t.Helper()
 	inventory.ForTest(t) // raises the store, migrates it, and points the environment at it
-	licences.ForTest(t)  // planning reaches this one too, by name and never by connection
+	return aMeshOnTheStore(t)
+}
+
+// aMeshBefore is aMesh on a store migrated only below migration `number`, with the function that runs the
+// rest: for a test of what a migration that moves data does to what the mesh composes (novox/hq issue 651).
+func aMeshBefore(t *testing.T, number int) (*stores, func()) {
+	t.Helper()
+	_, migrate := inventory.ForTestBefore(t, number)
+	return aMeshOnTheStore(t), migrate
+}
+
+// aMeshOnTheStore is the mesh aMesh makes, on the store the environment points at.
+func aMeshOnTheStore(t *testing.T) *stores {
+	t.Helper()
+	licences.ForTest(t) // planning reaches this one too, by name and never by connection
 
 	open, err := openStores(t.Context())
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/modules.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/modules.go
index 66804655..dc3ea06c 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/modules.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/modules.go
@@ -537,6 +537,10 @@ func settingsCommand(ctx context.Context, args []string) error {
 				if p.SetBy != "" {
 					by = "; " + p.SetBy
 				}
+				if p.Why != "" {
+					// A layer whose placement moved out of it (migration 0097): still the layer, as it stands.
+					by += "; " + p.Why
+				}
 				fmt.Printf("%s on %s, until %s (%s%s):\n  %s\n", positionals[0], where,
 					p.ReplacedAt.Local().Format("2006-01-02 15:04:05"), p.ReplacedBy, by, shown)
 			}
diff --git a/internal/catalogue/data_test.go b/internal/catalogue/data_test.go
index fde16ca2..d60f3356 100644
--- a/internal/catalogue/data_test.go
+++ b/internal/catalogue/data_test.go
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ func TestTheBackupHoldersLinesAreDerivedFromTheData(t *testing.T) {
 			{"id":"meta","path":"${dir:meta}","class":"rebuildable"}]},
 		"resources":[{"id":"meta","type":"directory","mode":"0700"}]}`)
 	facts := map[string]string{"account-home": "/home/op"}
-	with := Rendering{Settings: SettingsBy{"media": {{From: "node", Values: map[string]any{AccessesSetting: map[string]any{"films": "/tank/films"}}}}}}
+	with := Rendering{Settings: SettingsBy{"media": {LayerOf("node", map[string]any{AccessesSetting: map[string]any{"films": "/tank/films"}})}}}
 	backup, _, err := seatContributions([]Manifest{pg, agent, media}, Manifest{}, BackupSeat+":"+BackupKindBackup, with, facts, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
diff --git a/internal/catalogue/setting_defaults_test.go b/internal/catalogue/setting_defaults_test.go
index f23fb5e1..d5e50dad 100644
--- a/internal/catalogue/setting_defaults_test.go
+++ b/internal/catalogue/setting_defaults_test.go
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ func TestALeftOutModulesUnplaceableBackupLineCostsOnlyThatLine(t *testing.T) {
 	r := anAdoptedAnchor()
 	r.Modules = append(r.Modules, holder, media, placedBadly)
 	with := anchorRendering(false)
-	with.Settings["notes"] = []Layer{{From: "anchor", Values: map[string]any{PlacesSetting: "not a map"}}}
+	with.Settings["notes"] = []Layer{LayerOf("anchor", map[string]any{PlacesSetting: "not a map"})}
 	composed, err := r.Compose(with)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("an unplaceable line of a left-out module failed the machine: %v", err)
diff --git a/internal/catalogue/settings_judge_test.go b/internal/catalogue/settings_judge_test.go
index 50d96222..cbb494c9 100644
--- a/internal/catalogue/settings_judge_test.go
+++ b/internal/catalogue/settings_judge_test.go
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ func TestASettingThatCannotComposeIsRefusedByNameAndLeavesOnlyItsModuleOut(t *te
 		if c.name == "a mesh-wide port" {
 			from = MeshWideLayer
 		}
-		err := JudgeSettings(web, []Layer{{From: from, Values: c.layer}}, true)
+		err := JudgeSettings(web, []Layer{LayerOf(from, c.layer)}, true)
 		if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), c.refuse) {
 			t.Errorf("%s: judged %v, want %q", c.name, err, c.refuse)
 		}
@@ -69,8 +69,8 @@ func TestASettingThatCannotComposeIsRefusedByNameAndLeavesOnlyItsModuleOut(t *te
 // declaration as the networks it also joins.
 func TestAKeptNetworkReachesTheContainerOnAnAdoptedMachineOnly(t *testing.T) {
 	r := anAdoptedAnchor()
-	keep := SettingsBy{"hello-web": {{From: "anchor",
-		Values: map[string]any{NetworksSetting: map[string]any{"server": []any{"predecessor_default"}}}}}}
+	keep := SettingsBy{"hello-web": {LayerOf("anchor",
+		map[string]any{NetworksSetting: map[string]any{"server": []any{"predecessor_default"}}})}}
 
 	with := anchorRendering(true)
 	with.Settings = keep
@@ -107,13 +107,13 @@ func TestAKeptNetworkReachesTheContainerOnAnAdoptedMachineOnly(t *testing.T) {
 		layer Layer
 		want  string
 	}{
-		{"mesh-wide", Layer{From: MeshWideLayer, Values: map[string]any{NetworksSetting: map[string]any{"server": []any{"x"}}}},
+		{"mesh-wide", LayerOf(MeshWideLayer, map[string]any{NetworksSetting: map[string]any{"server": []any{"x"}}}),
 			"a found network is a fact about one machine"},
-		{"an unknown container", Layer{From: "anchor", Values: map[string]any{NetworksSetting: map[string]any{"db": []any{"x"}}}},
+		{"an unknown container", LayerOf("anchor", map[string]any{NetworksSetting: map[string]any{"db": []any{"x"}}}),
 			`names the container "db", which it does not declare`},
-		{"not a list", Layer{From: "anchor", Values: map[string]any{NetworksSetting: map[string]any{"server": "x"}}},
+		{"not a list", LayerOf("anchor", map[string]any{NetworksSetting: map[string]any{"server": "x"}}),
 			"is a list of network names"},
-		{"not a network name", Layer{From: "anchor", Values: map[string]any{NetworksSetting: map[string]any{"server": []any{"a/b"}}}},
+		{"not a network name", LayerOf("anchor", map[string]any{NetworksSetting: map[string]any{"server": []any{"a/b"}}}),
 			"which is not a network name"},
 	} {
 		_, err := KeptNetworks(web, []Layer{c.layer}, true)
diff --git a/internal/catalogue/terminal_settings_test.go b/internal/catalogue/terminal_settings_test.go
index ac767cfd..d822a896 100644
--- a/internal/catalogue/terminal_settings_test.go
+++ b/internal/catalogue/terminal_settings_test.go
@@ -13,22 +13,22 @@ func TestAPlacementOrAnAccessAtTheMachinesOwnIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, path := range []string{"/", "/etc", "/etc/", "/etc/sudoers.d", "/usr/bin", "/root", "/var", "/var/lib",
 		"/home", "/home/", "/run", "/run/user/1000", "/var/lib/mesh/x", "/var/lib/mesh-host", "/var/lib/mesh-host/identity",
 		"/srv/../etc", "//etc", "/proc/1", "/sys", "/dev", "/boot/efi", "/bin", "/sbin", "/lib", "/lib64"} {
-		layers := []Layer{{From: "laptop", Values: map[string]any{PlacesSetting: map[string]any{"data": path}}}}
+		layers := []Layer{LayerOf("laptop", map[string]any{PlacesSetting: map[string]any{"data": path}})}
 		if _, err := Places(m, layers); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "issue 339") {
 			t.Errorf("a place at %s: %v", path, err)
 		}
-		layers = []Layer{{From: "laptop", Values: map[string]any{AccessesSetting: map[string]any{"media": path}}}}
+		layers = []Layer{LayerOf("laptop", map[string]any{AccessesSetting: map[string]any{"media": path}})}
 		if _, err := AccessPlaces(m, layers); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "issue 339") {
 			t.Errorf("an access at %s: %v", path, err)
 		}
 	}
 	for _, path := range []string{"/srv/notes", "/mnt/plex/data", "/storage/media", "/services/media/movies",
 		"/var/lib/notes/data", "/home/restic/repo", "/var/lib/mesh-store"} {
-		layers := []Layer{{From: "laptop", Values: map[string]any{PlacesSetting: map[string]any{"data": path}}}}
+		layers := []Layer{LayerOf("laptop", map[string]any{PlacesSetting: map[string]any{"data": path}})}
 		if got, err := Places(m, layers); err != nil || got["data"].Path != path {
 			t.Errorf("a place at %s: %v %v", path, got, err)
 		}
-		layers = []Layer{{From: "laptop", Values: map[string]any{AccessesSetting: map[string]any{"media": path}}}}
+		layers = []Layer{LayerOf("laptop", map[string]any{AccessesSetting: map[string]any{"media": path}})}
 		if got, err := AccessPlaces(m, layers); err != nil || got["media"] != path {
 			t.Errorf("an access at %s: %v %v", path, got, err)
 		}
@@ -111,17 +111,17 @@ func TestTheRuntimesDataAndAnyHomesSSHAreTheMachinesOwn(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, path := range []string{"/var/spool", "/var/spool/cron", "/var/lib/docker", "/var/lib/docker/volumes",
 		"/var/lib/containers/storage", "/var/lib/containerd", "/var/lib/containerd/io.containerd.snapshotter.v1", "/opt", "/opt/app", "/home/alice/.ssh", "/home/alice/.ssh/keys",
 		"/srv/backup/.ssh", "/root/.ssh"} {
-		layers := []Layer{{From: "laptop", Values: map[string]any{PlacesSetting: map[string]any{"data": path}}}}
+		layers := []Layer{LayerOf("laptop", map[string]any{PlacesSetting: map[string]any{"data": path}})}
 		if _, err := Places(m, layers); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "issue 339") {
 			t.Errorf("a place at %s: %v", path, err)
 		}
-		layers = []Layer{{From: "laptop", Values: map[string]any{AccessesSetting: map[string]any{"media": path}}}}
+		layers = []Layer{LayerOf("laptop", map[string]any{AccessesSetting: map[string]any{"media": path}})}
 		if _, err := AccessPlaces(m, layers); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "issue 339") {
 			t.Errorf("an access at %s: %v", path, err)
 		}
 	}
 	for _, path := range []string{"/var/lib/dockerish", "/home/alice/ssh", "/home/alice/.sshd-notes", "/storage/media"} {
-		layers := []Layer{{From: "laptop", Values: map[string]any{PlacesSetting: map[string]any{"data": path}}}}
+		layers := []Layer{LayerOf("laptop", map[string]any{PlacesSetting: map[string]any{"data": path}})}
 		if _, err := Places(m, layers); err != nil {
 			t.Errorf("a place at %s: %v", path, err)
 		}
diff --git a/testdata/store-tests b/testdata/store-tests
index bbfc1467..d3af9659 100644
--- a/testdata/store-tests
+++ b/testdata/store-tests
@@ -61,3 +61,6 @@
 ./cmd/mesh-controller TestAProviderElsewhereServesItsOwnComposedName
 ./cmd/mesh-controller TestAReusedCheckBuildIsRegisteredByItsDigestAndGatedAsABuiltOne
 ./internal/inventory TestAReportOfABusyContainerIsKeptAndReadBack
+./internal/inventory TestPlacementMovesOutOfTheSettingsLayers
+./internal/inventory TestASettingRoutesPlacementBesideTheLayer
+./cmd/mesh-controller TestADeclarationIsTheSameAfterPlacementMoves
-- 
2.54.0


From f0af09cfc764f0c80c58d784a1324a7e757dd526 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: mesh-admin <mesh-admin@localhost>
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:44:20 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 4/6] Test placement read only from the placement, and raise a
 store before a migration (issue 651)

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 internal/catalogue/placement_test.go | 42 ++++++++++++-
 internal/inventory/fortest.go        | 92 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 133 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/internal/catalogue/placement_test.go b/internal/catalogue/placement_test.go
index 1b02ca8d..e75d770b 100644
--- a/internal/catalogue/placement_test.go
+++ b/internal/catalogue/placement_test.go
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ func placeable() Manifest {
 }
 
 func placedBy(values map[string]any) Rendering {
-	return Rendering{Settings: SettingsBy{"arr": {{From: "node anchor", Values: values}}}}
+	return Rendering{Settings: SettingsBy{"arr": {LayerOf("node anchor", values)}}}
 }
 
 func TestAnAssignmentPlacesDirectoriesAndAccesses(t *testing.T) {
@@ -179,3 +179,43 @@ func TestAnUnknownAccessReferenceIsRefusedAtParse(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("an access with no id and no path was accepted: %v", err)
 	}
 }
+
+// **Placement is read from the placement, never from a layer's values** (novox/hq ADR 0348 clause 11, issue
+// 651). A `places` or `accesses` among the config values places nothing; the same in Placement does. A
+// mergeable file of today's form still takes every key of the layer as it is said, placement too, so it
+// composes as it did while placement was kept in the layer.
+func TestPlacementIsReadFromThePlacementOnly(t *testing.T) {
+	m := placeable()
+	said := map[string]any{
+		PlacesSetting:   map[string]any{"config": "/services/arr/config"},
+		AccessesSetting: map[string]any{"series": "/storage/media/series", "spool": "/storage/downloads"},
+		"log":           "warn",
+	}
+	among := []Layer{{From: "anchor", Values: said}}
+	if placed, err := Places(m, among); err != nil || placed != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("a place among the config values placed %v (%v)", placed, err)
+	}
+	if _, _, err := accessesFor(m, among); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("an access among the config values placed it")
+	}
+	beside := []Layer{LayerOf("anchor", said)}
+	if beside[0].Values["log"] != "warn" || beside[0].Values[PlacesSetting] != nil || beside[0].Placement[PlacesSetting] == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("LayerOf split %+v", beside[0])
+	}
+	if placed, err := Places(m, beside); err != nil || placed["config"].Path != "/services/arr/config" {
+		t.Fatalf("the placement did not place: %v (%v)", placed, err)
+	}
+
+	file := map[string]any{"id": "runtime", "type": "file", "path": "/x", "content": `{"a":1}`, "merge": "json"}
+	whole, err := ApplySettings(file, among)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	split, err := ApplySettings(file, beside)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if whole["content"] != split["content"] || !strings.Contains(split["content"].(string), `"places"`) {
+		t.Fatalf("today's mergeable file composes %q, was %q", split["content"], whole["content"])
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/inventory/fortest.go b/internal/inventory/fortest.go
index 77aec9cc..cbd7f73a 100644
--- a/internal/inventory/fortest.go
+++ b/internal/inventory/fortest.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package inventory
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
@@ -75,3 +76,94 @@ func (i *Inventory) RemoveNodeForTest(ctx context.Context, name string) (bool, e
 	}
 	return tag.RowsAffected() == 1, nil
 }
+
+// ForTestBefore is ForTest with the store migrated only below migration `number`, and a function that runs the
+// rest: for a test of a migration that moves data, which seeds the store as the mesh holds it before the
+// migration, migrates, and reads what the migration made of it (novox/hq issue 651).
+func ForTestBefore(t *testing.T, number int) (*Inventory, func()) {
+	t.Helper()
+	admin := os.Getenv("MESH_TEST_POSTGRES")
+	if admin == "" {
+		t.Skip("no MESH_TEST_POSTGRES; run `make check` to raise one")
+	}
+	name := fmt.Sprintf("invb_%d_%s", time.Now().UnixNano()%1_000_000,
+		strings.ToLower(strings.NewReplacer("/", "", "-", "").Replace(t.Name())))
+	if len(name) > 60 {
+		name = name[:60]
+	}
+	all, err := Migrations()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	var before []store.Migration
+	for _, m := range all {
+		if m.Number < number {
+			before = append(before, m)
+		}
+	}
+	store.CreateMigratedForTest(t, admin, name, before)
+	busPasswordCostForTest.Store(int32(bcrypt.MinCost))
+	cut := strings.LastIndex(admin, "/")
+	t.Setenv(store.Variable(Name), admin[:cut]+"/"+name+"?sslmode=disable")
+	inv, err := Open(t.Context())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		inv.Close()
+		c, err := pgx.Connect(context.Background(), admin)
+		if err != nil {
+			return
+		}
+		defer c.Close(context.Background())
+		_, _ = c.Exec(context.Background(), "drop database if exists "+name+" with (force)")
+	})
+	if err := inv.Ready(t.Context(), 20*time.Second); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return inv, func() {
+		t.Helper()
+		if _, err := inv.store.Migrate(t.Context(), all); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// ExecForTest runs one statement against a test's store, for a fixture no verb of the mesh writes: a row as an
+// older migration left it.
+func (i *Inventory) ExecForTest(t *testing.T, sql string, args ...any) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if _, err := i.store.Pool().Exec(t.Context(), sql, args...); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("%s: %v", sql, err)
+	}
+}
+
+// QueryForTest reads rows of a test's store, each row's columns as JSON text, for a test that checks what a
+// migration left.
+func (i *Inventory) QueryForTest(t *testing.T, sql string, args ...any) [][]string {
+	t.Helper()
+	rows, err := i.store.Pool().Query(t.Context(), sql, args...)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("%s: %v", sql, err)
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+	var out [][]string
+	for rows.Next() {
+		values, err := rows.Values()
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		row := make([]string, len(values))
+		for k, v := range values {
+			row[k] = fmt.Sprint(v)
+			if b, err := json.Marshal(v); err == nil {
+				row[k] = string(b)
+			}
+		}
+		out = append(out, row)
+	}
+	if err := rows.Err(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return out
+}
-- 
2.54.0


From 3048dccd0e51a3c864c50323dc015ead354b4e07 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: mesh-admin <mesh-admin@localhost>
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:44:51 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 5/6] Keep the declarations the controller composed before
 placement moved (issue 651)

Written by the integration branch's controller at bfc79c6 from the seed of
TestADeclarationIsTheSameAfterPlacementMoves.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 .../testdata/placement-moved/anchor.json      | 46 +++++++++++++++++++
 .../testdata/placement-moved/laptop.json      | 37 +++++++++++++++
 2 files changed, 83 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 cmd/mesh-controller/testdata/placement-moved/anchor.json
 create mode 100644 cmd/mesh-controller/testdata/placement-moved/laptop.json

diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/testdata/placement-moved/anchor.json b/cmd/mesh-controller/testdata/placement-moved/anchor.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f8f56655
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/testdata/placement-moved/anchor.json
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+[
+  {
+    "id": "found.server",
+    "image": "registry.invalid:5000/library@sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
+    "networks": [
+      "predecessor_default"
+    ],
+    "type": "container"
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "library.access-storage/downloads",
+    "mode": "read",
+    "path": "/storage/downloads",
+    "type": "access"
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "library.access-storage/media/series",
+    "mode": "read",
+    "path": "/storage/media/series",
+    "type": "access"
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "library.config",
+    "mode": "0750",
+    "owner": "1001:2000",
+    "path": "/var/lib/library/config",
+    "type": "directory"
+  },
+  {
+    "content": "{\n  \"accesses\": {\n    \"downloads\": \"/storage/downloads\",\n    \"series\": \"/storage/media/series\"\n  },\n  \"log\": \"warn\",\n  \"places\": {\n    \"config\": {\n      \"owner\": \"1001:2000\",\n      \"path\": \"/var/lib/library/config\"\n    }\n  },\n  \"workers\": 4\n}\n",
+    "id": "library.runtime-config",
+    "mode": "0640",
+    "path": "/var/lib/library/config/runtime.json",
+    "type": "file"
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "library.server",
+    "image": "registry.invalid:5000/library@sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
+    "type": "container",
+    "volumes": [
+      "/var/lib/library/config:/config",
+      "/storage/media/series:/series",
+      "/storage/downloads:/downloads:ro"
+    ]
+  }
+]
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/testdata/placement-moved/laptop.json b/cmd/mesh-controller/testdata/placement-moved/laptop.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..47884c49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/testdata/placement-moved/laptop.json
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+[
+  {
+    "id": "library.access-home/media/series",
+    "mode": "read",
+    "path": "/home/media/series",
+    "type": "access"
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "library.access-storage/downloads",
+    "mode": "read",
+    "path": "/storage/downloads",
+    "type": "access"
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "library.config",
+    "mode": "0750",
+    "path": "/var/lib/library/config",
+    "type": "directory"
+  },
+  {
+    "content": "{\n  \"accesses\": {\n    \"downloads\": \"/storage/downloads\",\n    \"series\": \"/home/media/series\"\n  },\n  \"log\": \"warn\"\n}\n",
+    "id": "library.runtime-config",
+    "mode": "0640",
+    "path": "/var/lib/library/config/runtime.json",
+    "type": "file"
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "library.server",
+    "image": "registry.invalid:5000/library@sha256:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa",
+    "type": "container",
+    "volumes": [
+      "/var/lib/library/config:/config",
+      "/home/media/series:/series",
+      "/storage/downloads:/downloads:ro"
+    ]
+  }
+]
-- 
2.54.0


From 912d76df25f858f52902d734cc9559eb65de75b1 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: mesh-admin <mesh-admin@localhost>
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:45:58 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 6/6] Move every layer's placement out with migration 0097, and
 prove no machine is told anything new (issue 651)

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
---
 cmd/mesh-controller/placement_moved_test.go   | 113 +++++++++
 .../0097-placement-is-not-config.sql          |  46 ++++
 internal/inventory/placement_test.go          | 222 ++++++++++++++++++
 3 files changed, 381 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 cmd/mesh-controller/placement_moved_test.go
 create mode 100644 internal/inventory/migrations/0097-placement-is-not-config.sql
 create mode 100644 internal/inventory/placement_test.go

diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/placement_moved_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/placement_moved_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5831cc56
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/placement_moved_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
+)
+
+// **Placement leaves the settings layers and no machine is told anything new** (novox/hq ADR 0348 clause
+// 11, issue 651). A mesh is seeded as the store holds it before migration 0097 — `places`, `accesses` and a
+// kept network among the settings, at the mesh's level and a machine's, one layer of placement only — then
+// migrated, and every machine's declaration is composed. What each machine is told of the seeded modules is
+// byte for byte what the controller before this change composed from the same seed: the golden files were
+// written by the integration branch's controller at bfc79c6 running this same test (MESH_WRITE_GOLDEN=1),
+// where there was no migration 0097 to run.
+func TestADeclarationIsTheSameAfterPlacementMoves(t *testing.T) {
+	open, migrate := aMeshBefore(t, 97)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	inv := open.inventory
+	image := "registry.invalid:5000/library@sha256:" + strings.Repeat("a", 64)
+	register(t, open, catalogue.Manifest{Module: "library", Version: "1",
+		Accesses: []catalogue.Access{{ID: "series"}, {ID: "downloads", Mode: catalogue.AccessRead}},
+		Resources: []map[string]any{
+			{"id": "config", "type": "directory", "mode": "0750"},
+			{"id": "server", "type": "container", "image": image,
+				"volumes": []any{"${dir:config}:/config", "${access:series}:/series", "${access:downloads}:/downloads:ro"}},
+			// Today's form: a mergeable file naming no keys takes every key of the layer (ADR 0326 §3).
+			{"id": "runtime-config", "type": "file", "path": "${dir:config}/runtime.json", "mode": "0640",
+				"content": `{"log":"info"}`, "merge": "json"},
+		}})
+	register(t, open, catalogue.Manifest{Module: "found", Version: "1",
+		Resources: []map[string]any{{"id": "server", "type": "container", "image": image}}})
+	if err := inv.SetAdopted(ctx, "anchor", true); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for _, l := range []struct{ node, module, values string }{
+		{"", "library", `{"accesses": {"downloads": "/storage/downloads"}, "log": "warn"}`},
+		{"anchor", "library", `{"places": {"config": {"path": "/var/lib/library/config", "owner": "1001:2000"}},
+			"accesses": {"series": "/storage/media/series"}, "workers": 4}`},
+		{"laptop", "library", `{"accesses": {"series": "/home/media/series"}}`},
+		{"anchor", "found", `{"networks": {"server": ["predecessor_default"]}}`},
+	} {
+		if l.node == "" {
+			inv.ExecForTest(t, `insert into settings (node, module, values) values (null, $1, $2)`, l.module, l.values)
+			continue
+		}
+		inv.ExecForTest(t, `insert into settings (node, module, values) select id, $2, $3 from node where name = $1`,
+			l.node, l.module, l.values)
+	}
+
+	migrate()
+	// Assigned once the store is migrated: an assignment reads the layers, as this controller holds them.
+	for _, a := range [][]string{{"anchor", "library", "found"}, {"laptop", "library"}} {
+		if _, err := assign(ctx, open, a[0], a[1:]...); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("assign %v: %v", a, err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	gens, err := generators(ctx, open)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for _, node := range []string{"anchor", "laptop"} {
+		plan, settings, err := planFor(ctx, open, node)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		with, _, err := renderingFor(ctx, open, node, plan, settings, gens, Allocating)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		composed, err := plan.Compose(with)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if len(composed.LeftOut) > 0 {
+			t.Fatalf("%s leaves out %v", node, composed.LeftOut)
+		}
+		var told []map[string]any
+		for _, r := range composed.Resources {
+			if owner := composed.Owner[r["id"].(string)]; owner == "library" || owner == "found" {
+				told = append(told, r)
+			}
+		}
+		sort.Slice(told, func(i, j int) bool { return told[i]["id"].(string) < told[j]["id"].(string) })
+		got, err := json.MarshalIndent(told, "", "  ")
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		golden := filepath.Join("testdata", "placement-moved", node+".json")
+		if os.Getenv("MESH_WRITE_GOLDEN") != "" {
+			if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(golden), 0o755); err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			if err := os.WriteFile(golden, append(got, '\n'), 0o644); err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			continue
+		}
+		want, err := os.ReadFile(golden)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if string(want) != string(got)+"\n" {
+			t.Errorf("%s is told something else after placement moved:\n%s\nwas:\n%s", node, got, want)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/inventory/migrations/0097-placement-is-not-config.sql b/internal/inventory/migrations/0097-placement-is-not-config.sql
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..553cf6d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/inventory/migrations/0097-placement-is-not-config.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+-- Placement is not config (novox/hq ADR 0348 clause 11, issue 651).
+--
+-- Where a module's directories are on a machine (`places`), where the operator's data it reads is
+-- (`accesses`) and which found networks a taken container keeps (`networks`) were kept as keys of a
+-- settings layer. They are facts of an assignment that the controller decides, never config values, and
+-- the config values are leaving for the mesh-config module (ADR 0348 clause 9) while placement stays with
+-- the controller. So they get a table of their own beside the assignment, and every settings layer's
+-- placement keys move into it, unchanged.
+--
+-- Scoped exactly as the layer they came from: one machine's, or the whole mesh's (node null) for a
+-- module's every assignment, which is how a mesh-wide `places` or `accesses` layer composes today. The
+-- composer reads placement from here only; the `settings` verb still takes the three keys and routes
+-- them here, so nothing a person types changes.
+create table placement (
+    node   uuid        references node(id) on delete cascade,
+    module text        not null references module(name) on delete cascade,
+    -- Only `places`, `accesses` and `networks`, as the settings layer held them.
+    values jsonb       not null,
+    set_at timestamptz not null default now(),
+    set_by text
+);
+create unique index placement_for_the_mesh on placement (module) where node is null;
+create unique index placement_for_a_node   on placement (node, module) where node is not null;
+
+-- Why a layer went into the history, beside how (`replaced_by`): said for a layer this migration moved.
+alter table settings_history add column why text;
+
+-- Each layer that held a placement key is kept whole in the history first, as a `settings history` reads it.
+insert into settings_history (node, module, values, set_at, replaced_by, set_by, why)
+select node, module, values, set_at, 'moved', set_by, 'moved to placement, ADR 0348 clause 11'
+  from settings
+ where values ?| array['places', 'accesses', 'networks'];
+
+insert into placement (node, module, values, set_at, set_by)
+select node, module,
+       (select jsonb_object_agg(e.key, e.value) from jsonb_each(values) as e
+         where e.key in ('places', 'accesses', 'networks')),
+       set_at, set_by
+  from settings
+ where values ?| array['places', 'accesses', 'networks'];
+
+-- The layer keeps its other keys, when it was set and who set it; a layer that held only placement stays,
+-- empty, so a layer that existed still exists.
+update settings
+   set values = values - 'places' - 'accesses' - 'networks'
+ where values ?| array['places', 'accesses', 'networks'];
diff --git a/internal/inventory/placement_test.go b/internal/inventory/placement_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0483fe7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/inventory/placement_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,222 @@
+package inventory
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/catalogue"
+)
+
+// placedLibrary is a module with each kind of placement: a directory to place, two accesses, a container that
+// may keep a found network.
+func placedLibrary() catalogue.Manifest {
+	return catalogue.Manifest{Module: "library", Version: "1",
+		Accesses: []catalogue.Access{{ID: "series"}, {ID: "downloads"}},
+		Resources: []map[string]any{
+			{"id": "config", "type": "directory", "mode": "0750"},
+			{"id": "server", "type": "container",
+				"image":   "registry.invalid:5000/library@sha256:" + strings.Repeat("a", 64),
+				"volumes": []any{"${dir:config}:/config", "${access:series}:/series", "${access:downloads}:/downloads"}},
+			{"id": "runtime-config", "type": "file", "path": "${dir:config}/runtime.json", "mode": "0640",
+				"content": `{"log":"info"}`, "merge": "json"},
+		}}
+}
+
+// The layers of the issue (651): a mesh-wide layer with an access and a config value, a node's layer with a
+// place, an access and a kept network beside a config value, a node's layer of placement only, and one with
+// none.
+var placementLayers = []struct {
+	node   string
+	values string
+}{
+	{"", `{"accesses": {"downloads": "/storage/downloads"}, "log": "warn"}`},
+	{"anchor", `{"places": {"config": {"path": "/var/lib/library/config", "owner": "1001:2000"}},
+		"accesses": {"series": "/storage/media/series"}, "networks": {"server": ["predecessor_default"]}, "workers": 4}`},
+	{"laptop", `{"accesses": {"series": "/home/media/series"}}`},
+	{"spare", `{"log": "debug"}`},
+}
+
+// **Placement moves out of the settings layers, and every layer reads as it did** (novox/hq ADR 0348 clause
+// 11, issue 651). Migration 0097 moves each layer's places, accesses and kept networks beside it: no settings
+// row holds a placement key after, every layer the settings verb and composition read is what it was, each
+// moved layer is kept whole in the history with why, and a layer without placement is not touched.
+func TestPlacementMovesOutOfTheSettingsLayers(t *testing.T) {
+	inv, migrate := ForTestBefore(t, 97)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	if err := inv.RegisterModule(ctx, placedLibrary(), Source{}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for _, n := range []string{"anchor", "laptop", "spare"} {
+		if _, err := inv.AddNode(ctx, n); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	if err := inv.SetAdopted(ctx, "anchor", true); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// As the mesh holds them before the migration: placement among the settings.
+	for _, l := range placementLayers {
+		if l.node == "" {
+			inv.ExecForTest(t, `insert into settings (node, module, values, set_by) values (null, 'library', $1, 'the operator')`, l.values)
+			continue
+		}
+		inv.ExecForTest(t, `insert into settings (node, module, values) select id, 'library', $2 from node where name = $1`,
+			l.node, l.values)
+	}
+	setAt := inv.QueryForTest(t, `select coalesce(n.name, ''), s.set_at from settings s left join node n on n.id = s.node order by 1`)
+
+	migrate()
+
+	if held := inv.QueryForTest(t, `select module from settings where values ?| array['places', 'accesses', 'networks']`); len(held) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("a settings layer still holds a placement key: %v", held)
+	}
+	if after := inv.QueryForTest(t, `select coalesce(n.name, ''), s.set_at from settings s left join node n on n.id = s.node order by 1`); !reflect.DeepEqual(after, setAt) {
+		t.Fatalf("the layers or when they were set changed: %v, was %v", after, setAt)
+	}
+	for _, l := range placementLayers {
+		var want map[string]any
+		if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(l.values), &want); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		got, has, err := inv.Layer(ctx, l.node, "library")
+		if err != nil || !has || !reflect.DeepEqual(roundTrip(t, got), want) {
+			t.Errorf("the layer on %q reads %v (%v, %v), was %v", l.node, got, has, err, want)
+		}
+	}
+	// Composition's view: the config values in Values, the placement in Placement, together the layer.
+	layers, err := inv.SettingsFor(ctx, "anchor", "library")
+	if err != nil || len(layers) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("anchor's layers: %v, %v", layers, err)
+	}
+	if layers[1].Values["workers"] == nil || layers[1].Values["places"] != nil || layers[1].Placement["places"] == nil ||
+		layers[1].Placement["networks"] == nil || layers[0].Placement["accesses"] == nil || layers[0].Values["log"] != "warn" {
+		t.Fatalf("anchor's layers split wrong: %+v", layers)
+	}
+	for i, l := range layers {
+		var want map[string]any
+		_ = json.Unmarshal([]byte(placementLayers[i].values), &want)
+		if !reflect.DeepEqual(roundTrip(t, l.Whole()), want) {
+			t.Errorf("anchor's layer %s is %v whole, was %v", l.From, l.Whole(), want)
+		}
+	}
+	// Judged as composition judges them, as before: anchor is adopted, so its kept network composes.
+	if err := catalogue.JudgeSettings(placedLibrary(), layers, true); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("the moved layers no longer compose: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	moved := inv.QueryForTest(t, `select coalesce(n.name, ''), h.replaced_by, h.why, h.set_by from settings_history h
+		left join node n on n.id = h.node order by 1`)
+	want := [][]string{
+		{`""`, `"moved"`, `"moved to placement, ADR 0348 clause 11"`, `"the operator"`},
+		{`"anchor"`, `"moved"`, `"moved to placement, ADR 0348 clause 11"`, `null`},
+		{`"laptop"`, `"moved"`, `"moved to placement, ADR 0348 clause 11"`, `null`},
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(moved, want) {
+		t.Fatalf("the history of what moved: %v, want %v", moved, want)
+	}
+	past, err := inv.SettingsHistory(ctx, "anchor", "library")
+	if err != nil || len(past) != 1 || past[0].Why != "moved to placement, ADR 0348 clause 11" || past[0].Values["places"] == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("settings history on anchor: %+v, %v", past, err)
+	}
+}
+
+// **The settings verb's path still takes a placement key, and routes it** (issue 651): a set keeps the
+// placement beside the layer and the rest in it, reads back whole, is refused as before when the placement
+// cannot compose (nothing written), and a set or a clear replaces the placement with the layer.
+func TestASettingRoutesPlacementBesideTheLayer(t *testing.T) {
+	inv := ForTest(t)
+	ctx := t.Context()
+	if err := inv.RegisterModule(ctx, placedLibrary(), Source{}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, err := inv.AddNode(ctx, "anchor"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	// Placement alone is a layer as well: the whole mesh's says where both accesses are.
+	meshWide := map[string]any{"accesses": map[string]any{
+		"downloads": "/storage/downloads", "series": "/storage/series"}}
+	if err := inv.SetSettings(ctx, "", "library", meshWide); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if got, has, _ := inv.Layer(ctx, "", "library"); !has || !reflect.DeepEqual(roundTrip(t, got), roundTrip(t, meshWide)) {
+		t.Fatalf("the mesh-wide layer of placement only reads %v (%v)", got, has)
+	}
+	set := map[string]any{"log": "warn",
+		"places":   map[string]any{"config": map[string]any{"path": "/var/lib/library/config"}},
+		"accesses": map[string]any{"series": "/storage/media/series"}}
+	if err := inv.SetSettings(ctx, "anchor", "library", set); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	stored := inv.QueryForTest(t, `select s.values, p.values from settings s join placement p using (module, node)
+		where s.node is not null`)
+	if len(stored) != 1 || stored[0][0] != `{"log":"warn"}` ||
+		!strings.Contains(stored[0][1], `"places"`) || !strings.Contains(stored[0][1], `"accesses"`) {
+		t.Fatalf("the layer and its placement are kept as %v", stored)
+	}
+	if got, _, _ := inv.Layer(ctx, "anchor", "library"); !reflect.DeepEqual(roundTrip(t, got), roundTrip(t, set)) {
+		t.Fatalf("the layer reads %v, was set %v", got, set)
+	}
+
+	// Refused as before, by the same judgement, and nothing changes.
+	for name, bad := range map[string]map[string]any{
+		"an undeclared directory": {"places": map[string]any{"cache": "/var/lib/library/cache"}},
+		"the machine's own":       {"accesses": map[string]any{"series": "/etc"}},
+		"a kept network on a converged machine": {
+			"networks": map[string]any{"server": []any{"predecessor_default"}}},
+	} {
+		if err := inv.SetSettings(ctx, "anchor", "library", bad); err == nil {
+			t.Errorf("%s was kept", name)
+		}
+	}
+	if err := inv.SetSettings(ctx, "", "library", map[string]any{"accesses": meshWide["accesses"],
+		"networks": map[string]any{"server": []any{"x"}}}); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "per node") {
+		t.Errorf("a mesh-wide kept network: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got, _, _ := inv.Layer(ctx, "anchor", "library"); !reflect.DeepEqual(roundTrip(t, got), roundTrip(t, set)) {
+		t.Fatalf("a refused set changed the layer to %v", got)
+	}
+
+	// A set without placement replaces it too, and the history keeps the layer whole.
+	if err := inv.SetSettings(ctx, "anchor", "library", map[string]any{"log": "debug"}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if rows := inv.QueryForTest(t, `select module from placement where node is not null`); len(rows) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("a set without placement left it: %v", rows)
+	}
+	past, err := inv.SettingsHistory(ctx, "anchor", "library")
+	if err != nil || len(past) != 1 || past[0].Values["places"] == nil || past[0].Values["log"] != "warn" {
+		t.Fatalf("the replaced layer is not kept whole: %+v, %v", past, err)
+	}
+
+	// The merge gate's way in keeps a layer as the facts carry it, whole: split the same way.
+	if err := inv.KeepSettings(ctx, "anchor", "library", map[string]any{"log": "info",
+		"places": map[string]any{"config": "/var/lib/library/config"}}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if rows := inv.QueryForTest(t, `select values from settings where values ? 'places'`); len(rows) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("a kept layer put placement among the settings: %v", rows)
+	}
+	for _, node := range []string{"", "anchor"} {
+		if err := inv.ClearSettings(ctx, node, "library"); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	if rows := inv.QueryForTest(t, `select module from placement`); len(rows) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("a clear left the placement: %v", rows)
+	}
+}
+
+func roundTrip(t *testing.T, v map[string]any) map[string]any {
+	t.Helper()
+	b, err := json.Marshal(v)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	out := map[string]any{}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(b, &out); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return out
+}
-- 
2.54.0