diff --git a/docs/conventions.md b/docs/conventions.md
index 3282cffd..cbd3e46b 100644
--- a/docs/conventions.md
+++ b/docs/conventions.md
@@ -365,6 +365,7 @@ that allows the underlying resource access.
 | `manage_root_agent` | may lifecycle-manage the root/manager agent via `kill`/`start`/`restart` |
 | `read_host_journal` | `get_host_journal` MCP tool is registered + `GET /journal-host` requests are served |
 | `query_agent_state` | may call `get_loose_ends` / `CountPendingReminders` targeting non-child agents |
+| `infra_admin` | may call `restart(name)` on hive infrastructure containers (`hive-ci`, `hive-forge`, `hive-matrix` — **not** `hive-gateway`, which is the host's nginx and is operator-only); each restart is logged to the dashboard AUDIT trail |
 
 **Config storage** — per-agent capabilities live in
 `/var/lib/hyperhive/meta/capabilities.json` alongside `tool-groups.json`.
diff --git a/docs/web-ui/dashboard.md b/docs/web-ui/dashboard.md
index 6cad964d..eaca8607 100644
--- a/docs/web-ui/dashboard.md
+++ b/docs/web-ui/dashboard.md
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ Passive / rare-interaction state. No longer a dashboard tab — it's a
 standalone page reached from the **Core** tile on the H0M3 hub (served at
 `/core.html`), with the same minimal chrome as `/logs.html`: a `← home`
 back-link + a `createTabStrip` sub-tab nav (**K3PT ST4T3** default,
-then **C0NT41N3R L04D**). The page is its own esbuild bundle (`core.js`)
+then **C0NT41N3R L04D**, then **1NFR4**). The page is its own esbuild bundle (`core.js`)
 that cold-loads `/api/state` and subscribes to `/api/dashboard/stream` for
 `tombstones_changed`, `capabilities_changed`, and `tool_groups_changed`
 (the latter two re-render the stale-perms sub-section when permission
@@ -159,10 +159,27 @@ omitted — agents share the host netns, so there is no per-container net
 counter (per-agent network needs the netns-isolation roadmap in
 `docs/network.md`).
 
-Hive infrastructure services (`hive-ci`, `hive-forge`, `hive-gateway`,
-`hive-matrix`) have no dashboard panel — `hivectl stop`/`start`/`restart`
-is the only control surface, a separate host-admin-socket path with no
-HTTP route and no agent-facing equivalent.
+**1NFR4** — start / stop / restart the four hive infrastructure services
+(`hive-ci`, `hive-forge`, `hive-gateway`, `hive-matrix`) directly from the
+dashboard, without needing an `infra_admin` agent's `restart` MCP tool.
+Three are containers; `hive-gateway` is the host's `nginx.service`, and is
+the one an agent may **not** restart — this panel is the way it gets
+bounced. One row per service: name, a `badge-ok`/`badge-fail`
+running/stopped dot, and `↺ R3ST4RT` + `■ ST0P` (running) or `▶ ST4RT`
+(stopped) buttons, same themed-confirm pattern as the K3PT ST4T3
+tombstone actions. Backed by
+`POST /api/infra-container/{name}/{action}` (`action` ∈
+`start|stop|restart`), which calls the same
+`priv_client::control_infra_container` helper the agent-facing
+`infra_admin` path uses — no new privileged-helper surface, no
+capability check (the dashboard is already operator-authenticated).
+Every attempt is written to the audit log (actor `"operator"`, action
+`start_infra`/`stop_infra`/`restart_infra`) alongside agent-driven infra
+restarts. Status rows ride the `infra_containers` field on
+`GET /api/state`'s `StateSnapshot` (`{name, running}`, live
+`systemctl is-active container@<unit>.service` read); `core.js` polls
+`/api/state` every 5 s only while the 1NFR4 sub-tab is active, same
+cadence/lifecycle as C0NT41N3R L04D's polling.
 
 ## BU1LDS page (`/builds.html`)
 
@@ -423,6 +440,7 @@ The current capabilities are:
 | `manage_root_agent` | allows the `set_status` / lifecycle tools on the root agent |
 | `read_host_journal` | unlocks `get_host_journal` to read journald from inside a container |
 | `query_agent_state` | allows `get_loose_ends(agent: "<name>")` calls targeting other agents |
+| `infra_admin` | allows `restart` on hive infrastructure containers (`hive-ci`, `hive-forge`, `hive-matrix`; the gateway is operator-only); each restart is logged to the AUDIT trail |
 
 Each row is one agent. Columns are the capability names returned by
 `GET /api/capabilities` as `caps: Vec<String>`. Checking or unchecking
@@ -712,7 +730,7 @@ navigation.
 A dedicated log-viewer page (not a tab pane — a separate HTML page),
 reachable from the Logs tile on the H0M3 hub. Minimal chrome:
 a `← home` back link and a three-item sub-tab strip. Tab
-routing is hash-based (`#agent`, `#infra`, `#system`); default is
+routing is hash-based (`#agent`, `#system`, `#audit`); default is
 `#agent`. (Build log history has moved to the BU1LDS page — see above.)
 
 **AGENT sub-tab** — per-container journald viewer. Two selects: agent
@@ -728,16 +746,6 @@ deep-link directly to a specific agent's journal. A "fetched N ago"
 chip appears after the `↻ refresh` button following each successful
 fetch and ticks every 30 s.
 
-**INFRA sub-tab** — journald viewer for the four hive infrastructure
-containers (`hive-ci`, `hive-forge`, `hive-gateway`, `hive-matrix`), a
-fixed client-side list (`INFRA_NAMES` in `logs.js` — no dashboard API
-exposes just the name list). No unit filter (infra containers don't run
-the per-agent hive daemons) — always the full machine journal (or, for
-the gateway, the host journal filtered to its own unit). Fetches
-`GET /api/journal/{name}?lines=500`, same "fetched N ago" ticker as
-AGENT. A `?agent=<name>` deep-link routes here instead of AGENT when
-the name is one of the four infra containers.
-
 **SYSTEM sub-tab** — host-side service logs. Unit selector
 (`hive-c0re.service` / `hive-priv.service`). Fetches
 `GET /api/journal-host?unit=<unit>&lines=500` on activation
@@ -746,6 +754,24 @@ chip ticks every 30 s. Available to the operator unconditionally (not
 capability-gated — the endpoint lives on the hive-c0re dashboard,
 behind the gateway).
 
+**AUDIT sub-tab** — operator-visible trail of agent-initiated
+privileged actions (e.g. infra-container restarts via `infra_admin`).
+Lazy-fetched on tab show (like SYSTEM) from `GET /api/audit-log`, which
+returns `{ entries, total }` — `entries` newest-first, server-clamped to
+the latest 500; `total` drives a "latest 500 of N" count so the clamp is
+never silent. Rendered as a filterable table (when / agent / action /
+target / outcome / detail); the filter box is a client-side substring
+match over the cached rows. The outcome badge colours `ok` green and
+`err` red, with an `err` whose `detail` starts `denied:` (a capability
+refusal) shown amber and labelled `denied` so it reads apart from an
+execution failure. `ts_unix` is an RFC 3339 string; a 30 s ticker keeps the
+relative "ago" column honest while the tab is in view. The backing
+`audit_log` store records every privileged-action attempt (ok / err /
+denied). New entries live-append without a refresh: an `audit_entry_added`
+event on `/api/dashboard/stream` (the flattened row) is prepended to the table
+and the "latest N of M" count bumped, de-duped by id against the cold
+fetch.
+
 ## Container row
 
 A full-height **square agent icon** (5em, capped) on the left. The
@@ -1182,6 +1208,12 @@ below — some endpoints aren't in it yet.
   build logs.
 - `GET /api/journal/{name}?unit=&lines=` — journalctl viewer for
   a managed container; rendered in the side panel.
+- `GET /api/audit-log` — agent-initiated privileged-action audit
+  trail. Returns `{ entries, total }`: `entries` is a `Vec<AuditEntry>`
+  (`id`, `ts_unix` as RFC 3339, `agent`, `action`, `target`, `outcome`
+  `"ok"`/`"err"`, `detail` nullable), newest first, server-clamped to
+  500; `total` is the full row count for a "latest 500 of N" header.
+  Backs the LOGS page AUDIT sub-tab.
 - `GET /static/marked.js` serves the vendored `marked` bundle used
   for markdown previews.
 - `GET /api/state-file?path=<host-or-container-path>` — bounded
@@ -1222,6 +1254,16 @@ below — some endpoints aren't in it yet.
   a background `du -sxb` of the agent's state dir + container writable
   rootfs every ~5 min, `-x` excluding the shared read-only nix store.
   `null` until the first sample lands.
+- `POST /api/infra-container/{name}/{action}` — start / stop / restart a
+  hive infra service (C0R3 › 1NFR4 panel). `name` parses into the
+  `InfraContainer` allowlist (`hive-ci`/`hive-forge`/`hive-gateway`/
+  `hive-matrix`, 400 on unknown), and the variant decides the unit —
+  `container@<name>.service`, or `nginx.service` for the gateway.
+  `action` ∈ `start|stop|restart`. Calls
+  the same `priv_client::control_infra_container` helper the
+  `infra_admin` agent path uses; records an `audit_log` entry
+  (`start_infra`/`stop_infra`/`restart_infra`, actor `"operator"`) either
+  way.
 - `POST /api/cancel-reminder/{id}` — hard-delete a pending reminder.
 - `POST /api/retry-reminder/{id}` — re-arm a reminder whose delivery
   failed (clears the failure state so the scheduler retries).
@@ -1387,6 +1429,10 @@ payload):
 - `meta_update_running` (running: bool) — emitted when a
   `nix flake update` ripple starts or completes. BU1LDS M3T4 1NPUTS
   tab uses this to show/hide the "⏳ meta-update running" banner.
+- `audit_entry_added` (flattened `AuditEntry` fields: id, ts_unix,
+  agent, action, target, outcome, detail) — a single new audit-log
+  row. L0GS AUDIT sub-tab live-prepends the row and bumps the
+  "latest N of M" count, de-duped by id against the cold fetch.
 
 `/api/state` is **only fetched on cold-load and on the few
 forms that mutate non-event-derived state** (PURG3 +
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/build.mjs b/frontend/packages/dashboard/build.mjs
index f4e16c3b..b18e14ea 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/build.mjs
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/build.mjs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 //   dist/dashboard.html           the operator dashboard SPA — served
 //                                  at GET /dashboard.html
 //   dist/flow.html                served at GET /flow.html
-//   dist/logs.html                served at GET /logs.html (AGENT/INFRA/SYSTEM)
+//   dist/logs.html                served at GET /logs.html (AGENT/SYSTEM/AUDIT)
 //   dist/core.html                served at GET /core.html (C0R3: kept
 //                                  state / container load)
 //   dist/builds.html              served at GET /builds.html (BU1LDS:
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 //                                  tab routing + refreshState
 //   dist/static/flow.js           /flow.html entry — broker terminal +
 //                                  @-mention composer
-//   dist/static/logs.js           /logs.html entry — agent/infra/system
+//   dist/static/logs.js           /logs.html entry — agent/system/audit
 //                                  log viewer sub-tabs
 //   dist/static/builds.js         /builds.html entry — rebuild queue,
 //                                  meta inputs, build log history
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/core.css b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/core.css
index df95e008..15fad5e8 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/core.css
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/core.css
@@ -22,11 +22,11 @@ body.core-shell {
    panes; ensure it wins over any inherited display. */
 .core-pane[hidden] { display: none; }
 
-/* ─── K3PT ST4T3 container cards ────────────────────────────────────
+/* ─── K3PT ST4T3 + 1NFR4 container cards ────────────────────────────
    core.html doesn't load dashboard.css (that's the operator SPA),
    so the .container-row card styles aren't inherited. Redefine them
-   here so tombstone entries look like proper cards (similar to agent
-   cards on the main dashboard) rather than bare list items. */
+   here so tombstone and infra entries look like proper cards (similar
+   to agent cards on the main dashboard) rather than bare list items. */
 .containers {
   list-style: none;
   padding: 0;
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/core.html b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/core.html
index e2dcaf1a..b1ee18c8 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/core.html
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/core.html
@@ -16,14 +16,12 @@
        /core.html) carved out of the dashboard's old SYST3M tab so the
        dashboard tab strip stays lean. Same minimal chrome as
        /logs.html — a `← home` back-link to the H0M3 hub + a
-       <hive-tab-strip> sub-tab nav. Two sub-tabs: kept state (tombstones)
-       and container load. Rebuild queue + meta inputs have moved to
+       <hive-tab-strip> sub-tab nav. Three sub-tabs: kept state (tombstones),
+       container load, and infra containers (start/stop/restart the four
+       hive infra containers). Rebuild queue + meta inputs have moved to
        /builds.html (the build lifecycle hub). Default tab: K3PT ST4T3.
-       The section <div> ids (tombstones-section, container-load-section)
-       match what core.js's renderers target. Hive infra containers
-       (`hive-ci`, `hive-forge`, `hive-gateway`, `hive-matrix`) have no
-       dashboard panel — `hivectl stop`/`start`/`restart` is the only
-       control surface. -->
+       The section <div> ids (tombstones-section, container-load-section,
+       infra-containers-section) match what core.js's renderers target. -->
   <header class="page-header">
     <a class="page-back" href="/">← home</a>
     <hive-tab-strip class="hive-tabbar core-tabbar" id="core-tabbar" prefix="core"
@@ -57,6 +55,19 @@
       </div>
     </section>
 
+    <!-- 1NFR4: start / stop / restart the four hive infrastructure
+         containers (hive-ci, hive-forge, hive-gateway, hive-matrix)
+         directly from the dashboard, mirroring what an infra_admin
+         agent's `restart` tool already reaches. Status polled every 5s
+         while this sub-tab is open, same cadence as C0NT41N3R L04D. -->
+    <section class="core-pane" id="core-pane-infra" data-tab-pane="infra"
+             role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="core-tab-infra">
+      <p class="meta">hive infrastructure containers — ci, forge, gateway, matrix. actions are logged to the AUDIT log same as agent-driven restarts.</p>
+      <div id="infra-containers-section">
+        <p class="meta">loading…</p>
+      </div>
+    </section>
+
   </main>
 
   <script type="module" src="/static/core.js" defer></script>
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/core.js b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/core.js
index 3c9f4b39..2fd5489a 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/core.js
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/core.js
@@ -381,6 +381,68 @@ function stopContainerLoadPolling() {
   if (containerLoadTimer) { clearInterval(containerLoadTimer); containerLoadTimer = null; }
 }
 
+// ─── infra containers (start/stop/restart the 4 hive infra containers) ────
+let infraTimer = null;
+
+function renderInfraContainers(rows) {
+  const root = $('infra-containers-section');
+  if (!root) return;
+  root.replaceChildren();
+  if (!Array.isArray(rows) || !rows.length) {
+    root.append(el('p', { class: 'meta' }, 'no infra container data'));
+    return;
+  }
+  const ul = el('ul', { class: 'containers' });
+  for (const c of rows) {
+    const li = el('li', { class: 'container-row' });
+    const head = el('div', { class: 'head' });
+    head.append(
+      el('span', { class: 'name' }, c.name),
+      el('span', { class: 'hive-pill-sm ' + (c.running ? 'badge-ok' : 'badge-fail') },
+        c.running ? 'running' : 'stopped'),
+    );
+    li.append(head);
+
+    const actions = el('div', { class: 'actions' });
+    const base = '/api/infra-container/' + encodeURIComponent(c.name) + '/';
+    if (c.running) {
+      actions.append(form(base + 'restart', 'btn-restart', '↺ R3ST4RT',
+        'restart ' + c.name + '?'));
+      actions.append(form(base + 'stop', 'btn-stop', '■ ST0P',
+        'stop ' + c.name + '?'));
+    } else {
+      actions.append(form(base + 'start', 'btn-start', '▶ ST4RT',
+        'start ' + c.name + '?'));
+    }
+    li.append(actions);
+    ul.append(li);
+  }
+  root.append(ul);
+}
+
+async function refreshInfraContainers() {
+  try {
+    const resp = await fetch('/api/state');
+    if (!resp.ok) throw new Error('http ' + resp.status);
+    const s = await resp.json();
+    renderInfraContainers(s.infra_containers || []);
+  } catch (e) {
+    const root = $('infra-containers-section');
+    if (root) {
+      root.replaceChildren();
+      root.append(el('p', { class: 'meta' }, 'infra container fetch failed: ' + e));
+    }
+  }
+}
+function startInfraPolling() {
+  refreshInfraContainers();
+  if (infraTimer) return;
+  infraTimer = setInterval(refreshInfraContainers, 5000);
+}
+function stopInfraPolling() {
+  if (infraTimer) { clearInterval(infraTimer); infraTimer = null; }
+}
+
 // ─── render-all (cold load + any full re-render) ──────────────────────────
 function renderAll() {
   renderTombstones({ tombstones: tombstonesState });
@@ -445,11 +507,14 @@ async function init() {
     tabs: [
       { id: 'kept', label: 'K3PT ST4T3' },
       { id: 'load', label: 'C0NT41N3R L04D' },
+      { id: 'infra', label: '1NFR4' },
     ],
     defaultId: 'kept',
     onShow: (id) => {
       if (id === 'load') startContainerLoadPolling();
       else stopContainerLoadPolling();
+      if (id === 'infra') startInfraPolling();
+      else stopInfraPolling();
       // Lazy-load stale-perms on first K3PT ST4T3 activation; always
       // re-fetch on subsequent visits in case perms changed.
       if (id === 'kept') fetchAndRenderStalePerms();
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/credentials.html b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/credentials.html
index 0109f3aa..d4d14f26 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/credentials.html
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/credentials.html
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 <body class="cred-shell">
 
   <!-- Minimal chrome: back link + sub-tab strip, same pattern as
-       logs.html (MATRIX / GITHUB instead of AGENT/INFRA/SYSTEM). Back
+       logs.html (MATRIX / GITHUB instead of AGENT/SYSTEM/AUDIT). Back
        link points to the H0M3 hub (served at /). -->
   <header class="page-header">
     <a class="page-back" href="/">← home</a>
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/index.html b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/index.html
index ad4d0428..1a15ecf5 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/index.html
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/index.html
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
           <span class="home-tile-icon" aria-hidden="true">📜</span>
           <span class="home-tile-label">Logs</span>
         </span>
-        <span class="home-tile-desc">agent · infra · system logs</span>
+        <span class="home-tile-desc">agent · system logs · privileged-action audit</span>
       </a>
 
       <a class="home-tile" href="/stats.html">
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/logs.css b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/logs.css
index ae3a090d..2afd794e 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/logs.css
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/logs.css
@@ -41,6 +41,14 @@ body.logs-shell {
   flex-direction: column;
   padding-bottom: 1.2em;
 }
+/* The AUDIT tab uses a <div> for its list instead of a <pre>, so give
+   it the same flex-grow + internal scroll that .journal-output already has. */
+#audit-list {
+  flex: 1 1 0;
+  min-height: 0;
+  overflow-y: auto;
+}
+
 .logs-toolbar {
   display: flex;
   gap: 0.6em;
@@ -194,3 +202,65 @@ body.logs-shell {
 
 .build-logs-runtime { font-size: 0.85em; color: var(--muted); }
 
+/* ─── AUDIT tab — privileged-actions audit trail table ──────────────── */
+.audit-filter {
+  flex: 1 1 18em;
+  min-width: 0;
+  padding: 0.35em 0.6em;
+  background: var(--bg-elev);
+  color: var(--fg);
+  border: 1px solid var(--border);
+  border-radius: 4px;
+  font-family: inherit;
+  font-size: 0.9em;
+}
+.audit-table-wrap { overflow-x: auto; }
+.audit-table {
+  width: 100%;
+  border-collapse: collapse;
+  font-size: 0.88em;
+}
+.audit-table th,
+.audit-table td {
+  text-align: left;
+  padding: 0.4em 0.7em;
+  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border);
+  vertical-align: top;
+}
+.audit-table th {
+  color: var(--muted);
+  font-weight: bold;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.06em;
+  font-size: 0.82em;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+}
+.audit-table tbody tr:hover {
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--bg-elev) 45%, transparent);
+}
+.audit-when, .audit-when-th { white-space: nowrap; }
+.audit-agent { font-weight: bold; white-space: nowrap; }
+.audit-action { font-family: monospace; white-space: nowrap; }
+.audit-target { white-space: nowrap; }
+.audit-detail { word-break: break-word; }
+.audit-outcome-th, .audit-outcome-td { white-space: nowrap; }
+.audit-outcome {
+  display: inline-block;
+  padding: 0 0.5em;
+  border-radius: 999px;
+  font-size: 0.82em;
+  font-weight: bold;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+}
+.audit-outcome-ok {
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--green) 22%, transparent);
+  color: var(--green);
+}
+.audit-outcome-err {
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--red) 22%, transparent);
+  color: var(--red);
+}
+.audit-outcome-denied {
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--yellow) 22%, transparent);
+  color: var(--yellow);
+}
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/logs.html b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/logs.html
index ac9827da..ba1b08f7 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/logs.html
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/logs.html
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
   <!-- Minimal chrome: back link + sub-tab strip.
        Same pattern as flow.html — no full dashboard tabbar. Back link
        points to the H0M3 hub (served at /), not the dashboard.
-       Three sub-tabs: AGENT, INFRA, SYSTEM. Build log history has
+       Four sub-tabs: AGENT, INFRA, SYSTEM, AUDIT. Build log history has
        moved to /builds.html (the build lifecycle hub). -->
   <header class="page-header">
     <a class="page-back" href="/">← home</a>
@@ -75,6 +75,21 @@
       <pre id="system-output" class="journal-output">loading…</pre>
     </section>
 
+    <!-- AUDIT: operator-visible trail of agent-initiated privileged
+         actions (infra-container restarts, etc.). Filterable table backed
+         by GET /api/audit-log ({ entries, total }), newest first, server
+         clamped to the latest 500. -->
+    <section class="logs-pane" id="logs-pane-audit" data-tab-pane="audit"
+             role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="logs-tab-audit">
+      <div class="logs-toolbar">
+        <input type="text" id="audit-filter" class="audit-filter"
+               placeholder="filter agent / action / target / detail…" autocomplete="off">
+        <button type="button" class="btn btn-restart" id="audit-refresh">↻ refresh</button>
+        <span id="audit-count" class="meta"></span>
+      </div>
+      <div id="audit-list"><p class="meta">loading…</p></div>
+    </section>
+
   </main>
 
   <script type="module" src="/static/logs.js" defer></script>
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/logs.js b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/logs.js
index 3bdefc15..81e081ad 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/logs.js
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/logs.js
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
-// /logs.html entry point: log viewer with three sub-tabs (AGENT, INFRA,
-// SYSTEM). Build log history has moved to /builds.html.
+// /logs.html entry point: log viewer with four sub-tabs (AGENT, INFRA,
+// SYSTEM, AUDIT). Build log history has moved to /builds.html.
 // AGENT  — per-container journald viewer, backed by GET /api/journal/{name}
 // INFRA  — infra-container journald viewer (hive-ci, hive-forge, …),
 //          same API but full machine journal only (no unit filter)
 // SYSTEM — host service logs, backed by GET /api/journal-host
+// AUDIT  — agent-initiated privileged-action trail, GET /api/audit-log;
+//          live-appends via the `audit_entry_added` /dashboard/stream event
 //
-// Tab routing via URL hash (#agent, #infra, #system). Default: #agent.
+// Tab routing via URL hash (#agent, #infra, #system, #audit). Default: #agent.
 //
 // URL params `?agent=name` and `?unit=svc` pre-select the agent + unit.
 // When `?agent=` names an infra container the INFRA tab is activated instead.
@@ -13,9 +15,10 @@
 // INFRA, and SYSTEM tabs so the operator knows how stale the output is.
 
 import {
-  $, fmtAgeSecs, initServerWarnings,
+  $, fmtAgeSecs, openStream, initServerWarnings,
 } from './common.js';
 import { el } from '@hive/shared/dom.js';
+import { epochSec } from './util.js';
 import '@hive/shared/hive-tab-strip.js';
 
 (() => {
@@ -124,25 +127,12 @@ import '@hive/shared/hive-tab-strip.js';
   if (infraSelect)  infraSelect.addEventListener('change', fetchInfra);
   if (infraRefresh) infraRefresh.addEventListener('click', fetchInfra);
 
-  // Fixed allowlist — the four hive infra services never change at
-  // runtime, and there's no dashboard API exposing just the name list
-  // (the one that used to, `/api/state`'s `infra_containers` field, was
-  // start/stop-panel-only and is gone). Mirrors `hive_priv_sock::InfraContainer::ALL`.
-  const INFRA_NAMES = ['hive-ci', 'hive-forge', 'hive-gateway', 'hive-matrix'];
-
   // ─── container list init ──────────────────────────────────────────────
-  // Fetch /api/state once to populate the AGENT selector (agents only);
-  // INFRA is a fixed list (see INFRA_NAMES). Also handles the ?agent= /
-  // ?unit= deep-link, routing to the INFRA tab when the named container
-  // is an infra container.
+  // Fetch /api/state once and populate both the AGENT selector (agents only)
+  // and the INFRA selector (infra containers only). Also handles the
+  // ?agent= / ?unit= deep-link, routing to the INFRA tab when the named
+  // container is an infra container.
   async function loadContainerLists() {
-    if (infraSelect) {
-      infraSelect.replaceChildren();
-      infraSelect.append(el('option', { value: '' }, '— select container —'));
-      for (const name of INFRA_NAMES) {
-        infraSelect.append(el('option', { value: name }, name));
-      }
-    }
     try {
       const resp = await fetch('/api/state');
       if (!resp.ok) return;
@@ -157,11 +147,21 @@ import '@hive/shared/hive-tab-strip.js';
         }
       }
 
+      // Populate INFRA selector.
+      const infraNames = new Set((state.infra_containers || []).map((c) => c.name));
+      if (infraSelect) {
+        infraSelect.replaceChildren();
+        infraSelect.append(el('option', { value: '' }, '— select container —'));
+        for (const name of infraNames) {
+          infraSelect.append(el('option', { value: name }, name));
+        }
+      }
+
       // Deep-link: honour ?agent= and ?unit= URL params.
       const urlAgent = new URLSearchParams(location.search).get('agent');
       const urlUnit  = new URLSearchParams(location.search).get('unit');
       if (urlAgent) {
-        if (INFRA_NAMES.includes(urlAgent)) {
+        if (infraNames.has(urlAgent)) {
           // Route to INFRA tab.
           logTabs.show('infra');
           if (infraSelect) {
@@ -225,25 +225,180 @@ import '@hive/shared/hive-tab-strip.js';
   if (systemUnitSelect) systemUnitSelect.addEventListener('change', fetchSystem);
   if (systemRefresh)    systemRefresh.addEventListener('click', fetchSystem);
 
+  // ─── AUDIT tab ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+  // Operator-visible trail of agent-initiated privileged actions, backed
+  // by GET /api/audit-log → { entries: [...], total: N } (entries
+  // newest-first, server-clamped to 500; `total` drives "latest 500 of N").
+  // Per-entry: { id, ts_unix (secs), agent, action, target, outcome, detail }.
+  // outcome is 'ok' | 'err'; a capability denial is 'err' with detail
+  // starting "denied:" — coloured amber to read apart from an execution
+  // failure. Lazy-fetched on tab show (like SYSTEM); filter is a
+  // client-side substring on the cached rows.
+
+  const auditList    = $('audit-list');
+  const auditFilter  = $('audit-filter');
+  const auditRefresh = $('audit-refresh');
+  const auditCount   = $('audit-count');
+
+  let auditEntries = [];
+  let auditTotal   = 0;
+  let auditFetching = false;
+
+  // ts_unix arrives as an RFC 3339 string — fmtAgeSecs wants an age
+  // in seconds, so normalize via epochSec first.
+  function auditFmtWhen(ts) {
+    if (!ts) return '';
+    const age = Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000) - epochSec(ts);
+    return fmtAgeSecs(Math.max(0, age)) + ' ago';
+  }
+
+  // outcome → badge. 'ok' green; an 'err' whose detail starts "denied:" is a
+  // capability refusal (amber, labelled "denied"); other 'err' red. The
+  // literal outcome is the fallback label so a new value still renders.
+  function auditOutcomeBadge(outcome, detail) {
+    const denied = outcome === 'err'
+      && typeof detail === 'string' && detail.startsWith('denied:');
+    const cls = outcome === 'ok'
+      ? 'audit-outcome audit-outcome-ok'
+      : denied
+        ? 'audit-outcome audit-outcome-denied'
+        : 'audit-outcome audit-outcome-err';
+    return el('span', { class: cls }, denied ? 'denied' : (outcome || '?'));
+  }
+
+  function auditMatches(e, q) {
+    if (!q) return true;
+    return `${e.agent || ''} ${e.action || ''} ${e.target || ''} ${e.detail || ''}`
+      .toLowerCase().includes(q);
+  }
+
+  function renderAudit() {
+    if (!auditList) return;
+    const q = (auditFilter ? auditFilter.value : '').trim().toLowerCase();
+    const rows = auditEntries.filter((e) => auditMatches(e, q));
+
+    if (auditCount) {
+      const shown = auditEntries.length;
+      const clamped = auditTotal > shown;
+      let txt = clamped
+        ? `latest ${shown} of ${auditTotal}`
+        : `${shown} entr${shown === 1 ? 'y' : 'ies'}`;
+      if (q) txt += ` · ${rows.length} match${rows.length === 1 ? '' : 'es'}`;
+      auditCount.textContent = txt;
+    }
+
+    auditList.replaceChildren();
+    if (rows.length === 0) {
+      auditList.append(el('p', { class: 'meta' },
+        q ? '(no matching entries)' : '(no privileged actions recorded yet)'));
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const table = el('table', { class: 'audit-table' });
+    table.append(el('thead', {},
+      el('tr', {},
+        el('th', { class: 'audit-when-th' }, 'when'),
+        el('th', {}, 'agent'),
+        el('th', {}, 'action'),
+        el('th', {}, 'target'),
+        el('th', { class: 'audit-outcome-th' }, 'outcome'),
+        el('th', {}, 'detail'),
+      )));
+    const tbody = el('tbody', {});
+    for (const e of rows) {
+      tbody.append(el('tr', {},
+        el('td', {
+          class: 'audit-when meta',
+          title: e.ts_unix ? new Date(e.ts_unix).toISOString() : '',
+        }, auditFmtWhen(e.ts_unix)),
+        el('td', { class: 'audit-agent' }, e.agent || ''),
+        el('td', { class: 'audit-action' }, e.action || ''),
+        el('td', { class: 'audit-target' }, e.target || ''),
+        el('td', { class: 'audit-outcome-td' }, auditOutcomeBadge(e.outcome, e.detail)),
+        el('td', { class: 'audit-detail meta' }, e.detail || ''),
+      ));
+    }
+    table.append(tbody);
+    const wrap = el('div', { class: 'audit-table-wrap' });
+    wrap.append(table);
+    auditList.append(wrap);
+  }
+
+  async function fetchAudit() {
+    if (!auditList || auditFetching) return;
+    auditFetching = true;
+    try {
+      const resp = await fetch('/api/audit-log');
+      if (!resp.ok) throw new Error('http ' + resp.status);
+      const data = await resp.json();
+      auditEntries = Array.isArray(data.entries) ? data.entries : [];
+      auditTotal = typeof data.total === 'number' ? data.total : auditEntries.length;
+      renderAudit();
+    } catch (err) {
+      auditList.replaceChildren();
+      auditList.append(el('p', { class: 'meta' }, 'fetch failed: ' + err));
+    } finally {
+      auditFetching = false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (auditRefresh) auditRefresh.addEventListener('click', fetchAudit);
+  if (auditFilter)  auditFilter.addEventListener('input', renderAudit);
+
+  // Live-append: an `audit_entry_added` event on /dashboard/stream carries a
+  // new row flattened at the top level ({ kind, seq, id, ts_unix, agent,
+  // action, target, outcome, detail }). Prepend it (newest-first), de-duped
+  // by id against whatever the cold fetch already returned, and bump the
+  // total so the "latest N of M" header stays right. Re-render only while
+  // the AUDIT tab is in view; otherwise the next tab-show fetch is
+  // authoritative anyway. Wired into the shared stream onmessage above.
+  function onAuditEntryAdded(ev) {
+    if (auditEntries.some((e) => e.id === ev.id)) return;
+    auditEntries.unshift({
+      id: ev.id, ts_unix: ev.ts_unix, agent: ev.agent, action: ev.action,
+      target: ev.target, outcome: ev.outcome, detail: ev.detail,
+    });
+    auditTotal += 1;
+    if (logTabs.active() === 'audit') renderAudit();
+  }
+
   // ─── init ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
   // Wire the shared tab strip now that fetchSystem + the element refs it
   // needs are defined. Its initial show() paints the active pane and, if
-  // the deep-linked tab is SYSTEM, kicks off the lazy fetch via onShow.
+  // the deep-linked tab is SYSTEM/AUDIT, kicks off the lazy fetch via onShow.
   // Default: AGENT (build logs moved to /builds.html).
   logTabs = document.getElementById('logs-tabbar').configure({
     tabs: [
       { id: 'agent', label: 'AGENT' },
       { id: 'infra', label: 'INFRA' },
       { id: 'system', label: 'SYSTEM' },
+      { id: 'audit', label: 'AUDIT' },
     ],
     defaultId: 'agent',
     onShow: (id) => {
       if (id === 'system') fetchSystem();
+      else if (id === 'audit') fetchAudit();
     },
   });
   loadContainerLists();
 
+  // Subscribe to the dashboard SSE stream for audit live-appends.
+  // kinds= narrows this from all 17 wire kinds down to the 1 this page
+  // acts on. This page was one of 4 unfiltered `/api/dashboard/stream`
+  // subscribers before this (subscription discipline, part 1 of the
+  // dashboard-event-stream-split issue).
+  {
+    const es = openStream('/api/dashboard/stream?kinds=audit_entry_added');
+    if (es) {
+      es.onmessage = (e) => {
+        let ev;
+        try { ev = JSON.parse(e.data); } catch { return; }
+        if (ev.kind === 'audit_entry_added') onAuditEntryAdded(ev);
+      };
+    }
+  }
+
   // Tick the last-fetched timestamps every 30s so "fetched 1m ago" stays
   // accurate without a manual refresh.
   setInterval(() => {
@@ -256,6 +411,8 @@ import '@hive/shared/hive-tab-strip.js';
     if (systemLastFetch && systemFetchTs && !systemFetchTs.hidden) {
       systemFetchTs.textContent = fmtFetchTs(systemLastFetch);
     }
+    // Keep the audit "ago" column honest while that tab is in view.
+    if (auditEntries.length && logTabs.active() === 'audit') renderAudit();
   }, 30_000);
 
 })();
diff --git a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/tabs.js b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/tabs.js
index 08fa8b0a..c3de4e24 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/tabs.js
+++ b/frontend/packages/dashboard/src/tabs.js
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ window.marked = marked;
     //
     // kinds= matches MUTATION_HANDLERS below verbatim, plus `sent`
     // (checked separately, just above, for the operator inbox) —
-    // narrows this from all 15 wire kinds down to the 11 this page
+    // narrows this from all 17 wire kinds down to the 11 this page
     // actually acts on. This page was one of 4 unfiltered
     // `/api/dashboard/stream` subscribers before this (subscription
     // discipline, part 1 of the dashboard-event-stream-split issue).
diff --git a/hive-agent-mcp/src/mcp/mod.rs b/hive-agent-mcp/src/mcp/mod.rs
index ee94c465..193eec35 100644
--- a/hive-agent-mcp/src/mcp/mod.rs
+++ b/hive-agent-mcp/src/mcp/mod.rs
@@ -564,7 +564,11 @@ impl AgentServer {
     #[tool(
         description = "Restart a direct child sub-agent container (stop + start). \
             Only succeeds if `name` is a direct child of this agent in the topology \
-            tree — the server enforces this. No approval required."
+            tree — the server enforces this. No approval required. \
+            Agents holding the `infra_admin` capability may also pass a hive \
+            infrastructure container name (`hive-ci`, `hive-forge`, `hive-matrix`) \
+            to restart it directly via the privileged helper. The gateway is \
+            not restartable by an agent — ask the operator."
     )]
     async fn restart(&self, Parameters(args): Parameters<RestartArgs>) -> String {
         let log = format!("{args:?}");
diff --git a/hive-agent/src/mcp_config.rs b/hive-agent/src/mcp_config.rs
index 8304d173..fb7b92cc 100644
--- a/hive-agent/src/mcp_config.rs
+++ b/hive-agent/src/mcp_config.rs
@@ -59,6 +59,13 @@ fn allowed_capability_tools() -> Vec<String> {
         let t = token.trim().to_ascii_lowercase();
         match t.as_str() {
             "read_host_journal" => tools.push("get_host_journal".to_owned()),
+            // infra_admin lets an agent restart hive infrastructure
+            // containers (hive-ci / hive-forge / hive-matrix — not the
+            // gateway) through the existing `restart` tool. Unlock it here so agents that hold
+            // the capability without the full `lifecycle` group can still
+            // call it; c0re re-checks the capability server-side and only
+            // honours infra-container names via this path.
+            "infra_admin" => tools.push("restart".to_owned()),
             // manage_root_agent / query_agent_state don't expose new MCP
             // tools: manage_root_agent gates existing lifecycle tools via
             // topology enforcement; query_agent_state unlocks the `agent`
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/coordinator.rs b/hive-c0re/src/coordinator.rs
index e2ff80ce..83a7543e 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/coordinator.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/coordinator.rs
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ pub struct Coordinator {
     /// `get_full` for the per-card chip + side-panel viewer. See
     /// `build_logs.rs` for retention.
     pub build_logs: Arc<crate::build_logs::BuildLogs>,
+    /// Audit trail of agent-initiated privileged actions (infra restart,
+    /// …). See `audit_log.rs`. Same dir as `build_logs`.
+    pub audit_log: Arc<crate::audit_log::AuditLog>,
     /// URL of the hyperhive flake (no fragment). Inlined into per-agent
     /// `flake.nix` files as `inputs.hyperhive.url`.
     pub hyperhive_flake: String,
@@ -477,6 +480,13 @@ impl Coordinator {
         // to thread an `Arc<BuildLogs>` through every public entry
         // point in the lifecycle surface.
         crate::build_logs::install(build_logs.clone());
+        // Audit log shares the same db dir; install its process-wide
+        // handle so privileged-action recording sites (e.g.
+        // `socket_server::handle_restart_infra`) write without threading an
+        // `Arc<AuditLog>` through the agent-request surface.
+        let audit_log =
+            Arc::new(crate::audit_log::AuditLog::open(build_logs_dir).context("open audit_log")?);
+        crate::audit_log::install(audit_log.clone());
         let power = Arc::new(crate::power::PowerStore::open(db_path).context("open agent_power")?);
         let (dashboard_events, _) = broadcast::channel(DASHBOARD_CHANNEL);
         let (shutdown_tx, _) = watch::channel(false);
@@ -485,6 +495,7 @@ impl Coordinator {
             approvals: Arc::new(approvals),
             scheduled_prompts: Arc::new(scheduled_prompts),
             build_logs,
+            audit_log,
             hyperhive_flake,
             hyperhive_docs_flake,
             nixpkgs_flake,
@@ -740,6 +751,18 @@ impl Coordinator {
         self.meta_updates_active.load(Ordering::SeqCst) > 0
     }
 
+    /// Emit `AuditEntryAdded` immediately after a privileged-action row
+    /// is recorded, so the dashboard audit view live-appends it off
+    /// `/dashboard/stream`. Pass the [`AuditEntry`](crate::audit_log::AuditEntry)
+    /// returned by `audit_log::record` so the streamed event is the same
+    /// canonical row that was stored.
+    pub fn emit_audit_entry(&self, entry: crate::audit_log::AuditEntry) {
+        self.emit_dashboard_event(DashboardEvent::AuditEntryAdded {
+            seq: self.next_seq(),
+            entry,
+        });
+    }
+
     /// Emit `ApprovalAdded` immediately after the row is inserted in
     /// sqlite.
     pub fn emit_approval_added(&self, ev: ApprovalAdded<'_>) {
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/dashboard/infra_containers.rs b/hive-c0re/src/dashboard/infra_containers.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..572adce8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/dashboard/infra_containers.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+//! Dashboard endpoint for operator-driven infra lifecycle (start / stop /
+//! restart on `hive-ci`, `hive-forge`, `hive-gateway`, `hive-matrix`).
+//! Parallels the `infra_admin`-gated agent path in
+//! `socket_server/lifecycle_handlers.rs::handle_restart_infra`, but this one
+//! is reached from the dashboard — already fully operator-authenticated —
+//! so no capability check is needed here, just the same audit trail.
+//!
+//! The two surfaces cover different sets: this endpoint takes all four,
+//! while the agent path refuses the gateway — nginx on the host fronts
+//! every hive service, so bouncing it is the operator's call.
+
+use axum::{
+    extract::{Path as AxumPath, State},
+    http::StatusCode,
+    response::{IntoResponse, Response},
+};
+use hive_priv_sock::{InfraAction, InfraContainer};
+
+use super::{AppState, error_response};
+
+/// Start / stop / restart a
+/// hive infrastructure container from the dashboard.
+///
+/// `name` parses into [`InfraContainer`] (the allowlist; unrecognised
+/// names 400), `action` into `start` / `stop` / `restart`. Every attempt
+/// lands in the audit log (actor `"operator"`, action `start_infra` /
+/// `stop_infra` / `restart_infra`) and streams as an `AuditEntryAdded`
+/// event, so operator-driven and agent-driven (`infra_admin`) infra
+/// actions show up in the same AUDIT view.
+#[utoipa::path(
+    post,
+    path = "/api/infra-container/{name}/{action}",
+    params(
+        ("name" = String, Path, description = "infra service name (hive-ci/hive-forge/hive-gateway/hive-matrix)"),
+        ("action" = String, Path, description = "start | stop | restart"),
+    ),
+    responses(
+        (status = 200, description = "action completed", body = String),
+        (status = 500, description = "unknown container/action, or the systemd action failed"),
+    ),
+    tag = "infra_containers"
+)]
+pub(super) async fn post_infra_container(
+    State(state): State<AppState>,
+    AxumPath((name, action)): AxumPath<(String, String)>,
+) -> Response {
+    let Ok(container) = name.parse::<InfraContainer>() else {
+        return error_response(&format!("unknown infra container: {name}"));
+    };
+    let (infra_action, action_label) = match action.as_str() {
+        "start" => (InfraAction::Start, "start_infra"),
+        "stop" => (InfraAction::Stop, "stop_infra"),
+        "restart" => (InfraAction::Restart, "restart_infra"),
+        other => {
+            return error_response(&format!(
+                "unknown action: {other} (want start|stop|restart)"
+            ));
+        }
+    };
+    let target = container.name();
+    tracing::info!(%target, %action, "dashboard: infra container action");
+    let result = crate::priv_client::control_infra_container(container, infra_action).await;
+    let outcome = if result.is_ok() {
+        crate::audit_log::AuditOutcome::Ok
+    } else {
+        crate::audit_log::AuditOutcome::Err
+    };
+    let detail = result.as_ref().err().map(|e| format!("{e:#}"));
+    if let Some(entry) =
+        state
+            .coord
+            .audit_log
+            .record("operator", action_label, target, outcome, detail.as_deref())
+    {
+        state.coord.emit_audit_entry(entry);
+    }
+    match result {
+        Ok(()) => (StatusCode::OK, "ok").into_response(),
+        Err(e) => error_response(&format!("{target}: {e:#}")),
+    }
+}
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/dashboard/misc_api.rs b/hive-c0re/src/dashboard/misc_api.rs
index a9a627ba..51695b9a 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/dashboard/misc_api.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/dashboard/misc_api.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 //! Remaining single-endpoint dashboard handlers: the operator inbox
 //! (`Y3R C4LL`) + mark-all-read, operator compose (`op-send`),
-//! spawn-request, hive-wide turn stats, and container resources.
+//! spawn-request, hive-wide turn stats, container resources, and the
+//! audit log.
 
 use axum::{
     extract::{Form, Path as AxumPath, State},
@@ -11,6 +12,7 @@ use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use utoipa::{IntoParams, ToSchema};
 
 use super::{AppState, Ident, error_response, scan_validated_paths};
+use crate::audit_log::AuditEntry;
 use crate::container_stats::ContainerResource;
 use crate::hive_stats::HiveStats;
 
@@ -127,6 +129,40 @@ pub(super) async fn api_container_resources() -> Response {
     axum::Json(crate::container_stats::gather().await).into_response()
 }
 
+#[derive(Serialize, ToSchema)]
+pub(super) struct AuditLogBody {
+    entries: Vec<AuditEntry>,
+    total: i64,
+}
+
+/// Most-recent agent-initiated privileged-action
+/// audit entries, newest first (server-clamped to 500).
+///
+/// Backs the operator dashboard's audit view. `total` lets the UI show
+/// "latest 500 of N" rather than silently capping. `ts_unix` is in
+/// **seconds**.
+#[utoipa::path(
+    get,
+    path = "/api/audit-log",
+    responses(
+        (status = 200, description = "recent audit entries + total count", body = AuditLogBody),
+        (status = 500, description = "sqlite read failed"),
+    ),
+    tag = "misc_api"
+)]
+pub(super) async fn api_audit_log(State(state): State<AppState>) -> Response {
+    const LIMIT: usize = 500;
+    let entries = match state.coord.audit_log.list_recent(LIMIT) {
+        Ok(rows) => rows,
+        Err(e) => return error_response(&format!("audit-log: {e:#}")),
+    };
+    let total = match state.coord.audit_log.count_total() {
+        Ok(n) => n,
+        Err(e) => return error_response(&format!("audit-log count: {e:#}")),
+    };
+    axum::Json(AuditLogBody { entries, total }).into_response()
+}
+
 #[derive(Serialize, ToSchema)]
 pub(super) struct MarkAllReadBody {
     marked: u64,
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/dashboard/mod.rs b/hive-c0re/src/dashboard/mod.rs
index 4f56f7c2..c0a62716 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/dashboard/mod.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/dashboard/mod.rs
@@ -38,10 +38,11 @@ use crate::lifecycle;
         (name = "approvals", description = "approve/deny pending approval rows"),
         (name = "build_logs", description = "build log headers, full rows, and raw text downloads"),
         (name = "extra_forges", description = "external (non-internal) forge account provisioning"),
+        (name = "infra_containers", description = "start/stop/restart of hive infrastructure containers"),
         (name = "lifecycle_ops", description = "agent container lifecycle: rebuild/restart/start/stop/pause/limits"),
         (name = "matrix_accounts", description = "matrix + github account provisioning for agents"),
         (name = "meta_inputs", description = "bulk flake-input update for the meta flake"),
-        (name = "misc_api", description = "operator inbox, compose, spawn-request, hive stats"),
+        (name = "misc_api", description = "operator inbox, compose, spawn-request, hive stats, audit log"),
         (name = "permissions", description = "tool-group + capability assignment for agents"),
         (name = "schedules", description = "scheduled-prompt + rebuild-queue CRUD"),
         (name = "state_files", description = "proxied reads of allow-listed per-agent state files"),
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ mod extra_forges;
 // server reach it as `crate::dashboard::Ident`.
 pub(crate) use hive_types::Ident;
 mod health;
+mod infra_containers;
 mod journal;
 mod lifecycle_ops;
 mod matrix_accounts;
@@ -152,6 +154,7 @@ pub async fn serve(
         .routes(routes!(misc_api::api_operator_inbox))
         .routes(routes!(misc_api::api_stats_hive))
         .routes(routes!(misc_api::api_container_resources))
+        .routes(routes!(misc_api::api_audit_log))
         .routes(routes!(misc_api::post_mark_all_read))
         .routes(routes!(misc_api::post_request_spawn))
         .routes(routes!(misc_api::post_op_send))
@@ -192,6 +195,7 @@ pub async fn serve(
         .routes(routes!(lifecycle_ops::post_resume))
         .routes(routes!(lifecycle_ops::post_resource_limits))
         .routes(routes!(lifecycle_ops::post_update_all))
+        .routes(routes!(infra_containers::post_infra_container))
         .routes(routes!(tombstones::post_purge_tombstone))
         .routes(routes!(meta_inputs::post_meta_update))
         .routes(routes!(build_logs::get_build_log_stream))
@@ -393,6 +397,7 @@ mod router_build_probe {
             .routes(routes!(misc_api::api_operator_inbox))
             .routes(routes!(misc_api::api_stats_hive))
             .routes(routes!(misc_api::api_container_resources))
+            .routes(routes!(misc_api::api_audit_log))
             .routes(routes!(misc_api::post_mark_all_read))
             .routes(routes!(misc_api::post_request_spawn))
             .routes(routes!(misc_api::post_op_send))
@@ -433,6 +438,7 @@ mod router_build_probe {
             .routes(routes!(lifecycle_ops::post_resume))
             .routes(routes!(lifecycle_ops::post_resource_limits))
             .routes(routes!(lifecycle_ops::post_update_all))
+            .routes(routes!(infra_containers::post_infra_container))
             .routes(routes!(tombstones::post_purge_tombstone))
             .routes(routes!(meta_inputs::post_meta_update))
             .routes(routes!(build_logs::get_build_log_stream))
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/dashboard/state_snapshot.rs b/hive-c0re/src/dashboard/state_snapshot.rs
index ee578b3b..4b806fbb 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/dashboard/state_snapshot.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/dashboard/state_snapshot.rs
@@ -117,6 +117,33 @@ pub(super) struct StateSnapshot {
     /// `host_stats::server_warnings`; the frontend renders this list
     /// generically, so new warning kinds need no frontend change.
     server_warnings: Vec<crate::host_stats::ServerWarning>,
+    /// Live running/stopped status for the four hive infra containers
+    /// (`hive-ci`, `hive-forge`, `hive-gateway`, `hive-matrix`). Feeds the
+    /// C0R3 page's 1NFR4 sub-tab so the operator can start/stop/restart
+    /// them without an `infra_admin` agent's `restart` tool.
+    infra_containers: Vec<InfraContainerView>,
+}
+
+/// One row for the C0R3 page's 1NFR4 sub-tab.
+#[derive(Serialize)]
+struct InfraContainerView {
+    /// Container / systemd-unit name (e.g. `"hive-ci"`).
+    name: &'static str,
+    running: bool,
+}
+
+/// Live running/stopped status for all four hive infra containers.
+/// Extracted out of [`api_state`] to keep it under clippy's
+/// `too_many_lines` limit.
+async fn infra_container_views() -> Vec<InfraContainerView> {
+    let mut infra_containers = Vec::with_capacity(hive_priv_sock::InfraContainer::ALL.len());
+    for container in hive_priv_sock::InfraContainer::ALL {
+        infra_containers.push(InfraContainerView {
+            name: container.name(),
+            running: crate::lifecycle::infra_is_running(container).await,
+        });
+    }
+    infra_containers
 }
 
 #[derive(Serialize)]
@@ -301,6 +328,8 @@ pub(super) async fn api_state(
         w
     };
 
+    let infra_containers = infra_container_views().await;
+
     axum::Json(StateSnapshot {
         seq,
         hostname,
@@ -339,6 +368,7 @@ pub(super) async fn api_state(
             .ok()
             .filter(|s| !s.is_empty()),
         server_warnings,
+        infra_containers,
     })
 }
 
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/dashboard_events.rs b/hive-c0re/src/dashboard_events.rs
index 12639d19..b2112f01 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/dashboard_events.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/dashboard_events.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,17 @@ use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "snake_case", tag = "kind")]
 pub enum DashboardEvent {
+    /// A new agent-initiated privileged action was recorded in the audit
+    /// log. The audit view (`/audit.html`) prepends `entry` live off
+    /// `/dashboard/stream` instead of polling. The `AuditEntry` fields
+    /// are flattened alongside the `kind` tag + `seq`, so the wire shape
+    /// matches one row of the `/api/audit-log` `entries` array exactly
+    /// (`{kind, seq, id, ts_unix, agent, action, target, outcome, detail}`).
+    AuditEntryAdded {
+        seq: u64,
+        #[serde(flatten)]
+        entry: crate::audit_log::AuditEntry,
+    },
     /// Broker `Sent` event mirrored onto the dashboard channel.
     /// `file_refs` carries every path-shaped token in `body` that
     /// hive-c0re verified is a regular file under the allow-listed
@@ -259,6 +270,7 @@ impl DashboardEvent {
             DashboardEvent::SchedulesChanged { .. } => "schedules_changed",
             DashboardEvent::CapabilitiesChanged { .. } => "capabilities_changed",
             DashboardEvent::ToolGroupsChanged { .. } => "tool_groups_changed",
+            DashboardEvent::AuditEntryAdded { .. } => "audit_entry_added",
         }
     }
 }
@@ -373,6 +385,18 @@ mod tests {
                 agents: Vec::new(),
                 effective: std::collections::BTreeMap::new(),
             },
+            DashboardEvent::AuditEntryAdded {
+                seq: 1,
+                entry: crate::audit_log::AuditEntry {
+                    id: 1,
+                    ts_unix: hive_sh4re::wire_time::from_secs(0),
+                    agent: "atlas".into(),
+                    action: "restart_infra".into(),
+                    target: "hive-ci".into(),
+                    outcome: "ok".into(),
+                    detail: None,
+                },
+            },
         ];
         for ev in samples {
             let v: serde_json::Value = serde_json::to_value(&ev).expect("serialise");
@@ -383,4 +407,34 @@ mod tests {
             assert_eq!(ev.kind_tag(), serde_kind, "kind_tag() drift on {ev:?}");
         }
     }
+
+    /// The flattened `AuditEntry` fields must sit alongside `kind`/`seq`
+    /// at the top level (not nested under `entry`) so the wire shape
+    /// matches one `/api/audit-log` row — the audit view prepends it
+    /// directly.
+    #[test]
+    fn audit_entry_added_flattens_to_top_level() {
+        let ev = DashboardEvent::AuditEntryAdded {
+            seq: 7,
+            entry: crate::audit_log::AuditEntry {
+                id: 42,
+                ts_unix: hive_sh4re::wire_time::from_secs(1_700_000_000),
+                agent: "atlas".into(),
+                action: "restart_infra".into(),
+                target: "hive-gateway".into(),
+                outcome: "err".into(),
+                detail: Some("denied: missing infra_admin capability".into()),
+            },
+        };
+        let v: serde_json::Value = serde_json::to_value(&ev).expect("serialise");
+        assert_eq!(v["kind"], "audit_entry_added");
+        assert_eq!(v["seq"], 7);
+        assert_eq!(v["id"], 42);
+        assert_eq!(v["agent"], "atlas");
+        assert_eq!(v["target"], "hive-gateway");
+        assert_eq!(v["outcome"], "err");
+        assert_eq!(v["detail"], "denied: missing infra_admin capability");
+        // Not nested — there must be no `entry` sub-object.
+        assert!(v.get("entry").is_none());
+    }
 }
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/lifecycle/mod.rs b/hive-c0re/src/lifecycle/mod.rs
index 8f20525d..606fc414 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/lifecycle/mod.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/lifecycle/mod.rs
@@ -680,6 +680,21 @@ pub async fn is_running(name: &str) -> bool {
         .is_ok_and(|s| s.success())
 }
 
+/// True when a hive infrastructure service's systemd unit is active.
+/// Sibling of [`is_running`] for sub-agents, but infra names (`hive-ci`, …)
+/// have no `h-` prefix to strip and are not all containers, so the unit
+/// comes from the variant itself rather than from [`container_name`]. Used
+/// by the dashboard C0R3 page's 1NFR4 sub-tab to show each one's live
+/// status dot.
+pub async fn infra_is_running(container: hive_priv_sock::InfraContainer) -> bool {
+    let unit = container.service_unit();
+    Command::new("systemctl")
+        .args(["is-active", "--quiet", &unit])
+        .status()
+        .await
+        .is_ok_and(|s| s.success())
+}
+
 /// Fully tear down a sub-agent's container: stop + remove via `nixos-container
 /// destroy`, then clean our own systemd drop-in. Leaves it to the caller to
 /// wipe `/var/lib/hyperhive/...` state and the per-agent runtime dir.
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/main.rs b/hive-c0re/src/main.rs
index e3436613..9477bf2a 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/main.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/main.rs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ pub(crate) use agent_config::{capabilities, limits, resource_limits, tool_groups
 pub(crate) use stats::{
     container_stats, hive_stats, host_stats, otel_metrics, sweep_health, warnings,
 };
-pub(crate) use stores::{approvals, broker, build_logs, db, power, scheduled_prompts};
+pub(crate) use stores::{approvals, audit_log, broker, build_logs, db, power, scheduled_prompts};
 pub(crate) use workers::{
     agent_sockets, auto_update, crash_watch, knowledge, mcp_sockets, scheduled_prompts_worker,
 };
@@ -518,6 +518,9 @@ async fn cmd_serve(
     // build_logs.sqlite vacuum: c0re-side (single db). Failures kept
     // 30d, successes 24h — see `build_logs::vacuum` for the rule.
     crate::build_logs::spawn_vacuum(&coord);
+    // audit_log.sqlite vacuum: agent-initiated privileged-action trail,
+    // 90d retention — see `audit_log::vacuum`.
+    crate::audit_log::spawn_vacuum(&coord);
     // Container crash watcher: emits HelperEvent::ContainerCrash
     // when a previously-running container goes away without an
     // operator-initiated transient state.
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/priv_client.rs b/hive-c0re/src/priv_client.rs
index dae34209..ec56567f 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/priv_client.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/priv_client.rs
@@ -477,13 +477,21 @@ pub async fn register_ci_runner(token: &str) -> Result<()> {
     .await?)
 }
 
-/// Start / stop a hive infrastructure service (`hive-ci`, `hive-gateway`,
-/// `hive-forge`, `hive-matrix`) on the host via `systemctl <action> <unit>`,
-/// where the unit is derived root-side from the variant
+/// Restart a hive infrastructure service on the host (thin wrapper over
+/// [`control_infra_container`] with `action = Restart`). Callers must
+/// already have checked that the requesting agent holds the `infra_admin`
+/// capability *and* that the target is
+/// [`agent_restartable`](InfraContainer::agent_restartable).
+pub async fn restart_infra_container(container: InfraContainer) -> Result<()> {
+    control_infra_container(container, InfraAction::Restart).await
+}
+
+/// Start / stop / restart a hive infrastructure service (`hive-ci`,
+/// `hive-gateway`, `hive-forge`, `hive-matrix`) on the host via `systemctl
+/// <action> <unit>`, where the unit is derived root-side from the variant
 /// (`container@<name>.service`, or `nginx.service` for the gateway). The
 /// [`InfraContainer`] enum is the allowlist — hive-priv needs no name
-/// re-validation. Used by the hive-wide `hivectl stop` / `start` flow and
-/// the dashboard's operator-only infra panel. No agent-facing path exists.
+/// re-validation. Used by the hive-wide `hivectl stop` / `start` flow.
 pub async fn control_infra_container(container: InfraContainer, action: InfraAction) -> Result<()> {
     ok(call(&PrivRequest::ControlInfraContainer { container, action }).await?)
 }
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/socket_server/lifecycle_handlers.rs b/hive-c0re/src/socket_server/lifecycle_handlers.rs
index e08f2c6b..e7b497b8 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/socket_server/lifecycle_handlers.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/socket_server/lifecycle_handlers.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 //! Container-lifecycle request handlers (`Start` / `Restart` / `Kill` /
-//! `Update` / `ListDescendants`). All are topology-guarded via
+//! `Update` / `ListDescendants`), including the capability-gated
+//! infra-container restart path. All are topology-guarded via
 //! `super::require_descendant`.
 
 use std::sync::Arc;
@@ -26,10 +27,20 @@ pub(super) async fn handle_start(coord: &Arc<Coordinator>, agent: &str, name: &s
 }
 
 /// `Restart` — enqueue a restart for a container. The caller must be an
-/// ancestor of `name` in the topology. Agents have no infra-container
-/// restart path: an infra name here just falls through to the topology
-/// guard like any other non-descendant name.
+/// ancestor of `name` in the topology. The infra-container branch is
+/// orthogonal: it is gated on the `infra_admin` capability and audited, so it
+/// stays ahead of the topology guard.
 pub(super) async fn handle_restart(coord: &Arc<Coordinator>, agent: &str, name: &str) -> Response {
+    // Infra restart: an agent holding the `infra_admin` capability can
+    // restart a hive infrastructure service (hive-ci / hive-forge /
+    // hive-matrix) by passing its name to the same restart tool. The
+    // `InfraContainer` enum parse both recognises these (never agent
+    // children, so disjoint from the child path below) and yields the typed
+    // value the restart path needs. It recognises `hive-gateway` too, which
+    // is then refused — a name the agent surface knows but may not act on.
+    if let Ok(container) = name.parse::<hive_priv_sock::InfraContainer>() {
+        return handle_restart_infra(coord, agent, container).await;
+    }
     if let Some(err) = require_descendant(agent, name, "restart") {
         return err;
     }
@@ -40,6 +51,73 @@ pub(super) async fn handle_restart(coord: &Arc<Coordinator>, agent: &str, name:
     Response::Ok
 }
 
+/// Restart a hive infrastructure container on behalf of an agent that
+/// holds the `infra_admin` capability. The `container` is already a valid
+/// [`hive_priv_sock::InfraContainer`] (the caller parsed it); this gates on the capability
+/// and routes the systemctl restart through hive-priv. Direct, not
+/// approval-gated.
+async fn handle_restart_infra(
+    coord: &Arc<Coordinator>,
+    agent: &str,
+    container: hive_priv_sock::InfraContainer,
+) -> Response {
+    let name = container.name();
+    // Record the attempt in the operator-visible privileged-action audit
+    // trail, then emit a live `AuditEntryAdded` so the dashboard audit view
+    // appends it off `/dashboard/stream`. Best-effort: `record` returns the
+    // canonical row (or `None` on a sqlite blip), and we stream exactly that
+    // row so the stored + streamed views can't drift. `action` is stable so
+    // the dashboard can group/filter.
+    let audit = |outcome: crate::audit_log::AuditOutcome, detail: Option<&str>| {
+        if let Some(entry) = coord
+            .audit_log
+            .record(agent, "restart_infra", name, outcome, detail)
+        {
+            coord.emit_audit_entry(entry);
+        }
+    };
+    // Some targets are off-limits to agents regardless of capability — the
+    // gateway, because nginx fronts every hive service from the host and an
+    // agent bouncing it takes out the forge, the dashboard and matrix at
+    // once, including the route its own fix would have to travel. Checked
+    // before the capability so the refusal doesn't read as "ask for
+    // infra_admin"; no capability grants this.
+    if !container.agent_restartable() {
+        tracing::warn!(%agent, %name, "agent: infra restart denied (not agent-restartable)");
+        audit(
+            crate::audit_log::AuditOutcome::Err,
+            Some("denied: target is not agent-restartable"),
+        );
+        return Response::Err {
+            message: format!("`{name}` cannot be restarted by an agent; ask the operator"),
+        };
+    }
+    if !crate::capabilities::has_cap(agent, hive_sh4re::permissions::Capability::InfraAdmin) {
+        tracing::warn!(%agent, %name, "agent: infra restart denied (no infra_admin capability)");
+        audit(
+            crate::audit_log::AuditOutcome::Err,
+            Some("denied: missing infra_admin capability"),
+        );
+        return Response::Err {
+            message: format!(
+                "restarting infra container `{name}` requires the `infra_admin` capability"
+            ),
+        };
+    }
+    tracing::info!(%agent, %name, "agent: restart infra container");
+    match crate::priv_client::restart_infra_container(container).await {
+        Ok(()) => {
+            audit(crate::audit_log::AuditOutcome::Ok, None);
+            Response::Ok
+        }
+        Err(e) => {
+            let msg = format!("{e:#}");
+            audit(crate::audit_log::AuditOutcome::Err, Some(&msg));
+            Response::Err { message: msg }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// `Kill` — kill a container, unregister it, notify the swarm. The caller
 /// must be an ancestor of `name` in the topology.
 pub(super) async fn handle_kill(coord: &Arc<Coordinator>, agent: &str, name: &str) -> Response {
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/stores/audit_log.rs b/hive-c0re/src/stores/audit_log.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b1de06e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/stores/audit_log.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,325 @@
+//! Sqlite-backed audit trail of agent-initiated privileged actions.
+//!
+//! Surfaces, durably and operator-visibly, the privileged operations
+//! hive-c0re performs *on behalf of an agent* — the ones that cross the
+//! agent/operator trust boundary and so warrant a who/what/when record
+//! beyond hive-priv's low-level journal trace. First entry: infra
+//! container restarts via the `infra_admin`-gated `restart` tool (the
+//! follow-up audit trail for that capability).
+//!
+//! Deliberately scoped to *agent-initiated* privileged actions. The bulk
+//! of `PrivRequest` traffic (token writes, nspawn-flag edits) fires
+//! constantly during normal lifecycle and is hive-c0re's own bookkeeping,
+//! not an agent crossing the boundary — logging all of it would drown the
+//! signal the operator actually wants.
+//!
+//! Same process-singleton handle pattern as `build_logs`: installed once
+//! at `Coordinator::open`, and fetched by recording sites (e.g.
+//! `socket_server::handle_restart_infra`) so they don't have to thread an
+//! `Arc<AuditLog>` through every call path. Recording is best-effort: a
+//! sqlite blip must never fail the underlying privileged action.
+
+use std::path::Path;
+use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex, OnceLock};
+
+use anyhow::{Context, Result};
+
+use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
+use rusqlite::{Connection, params};
+use serde::Serialize;
+use utoipa::ToSchema;
+
+/// Process-singleton handle, set once at coordinator startup. Mirrors
+/// `build_logs::GLOBAL` — lets recording sites write without threading an
+/// `Arc<AuditLog>` through every entry point.
+static GLOBAL: OnceLock<Arc<AuditLog>> = OnceLock::new();
+
+/// Install the process-wide `AuditLog` handle. Idempotent: a second call
+/// silently keeps the first handle.
+pub fn install(handle: Arc<AuditLog>) {
+    let _ = GLOBAL.set(handle);
+}
+
+/// Retain audit rows for 90 days. Longer than build-log retention — this
+/// is a security/accountability record, not debug noise; the operator may
+/// want to review "who restarted what" well after the fact.
+const KEEP_SECS: i64 = 90 * 24 * 3600;
+
+const SCHEMA: &str = "
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS audit_log (
+    id        INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
+    ts_unix   INTEGER NOT NULL,
+    agent     TEXT    NOT NULL,
+    action    TEXT    NOT NULL,
+    target    TEXT    NOT NULL,
+    outcome   TEXT    NOT NULL,
+    detail    TEXT
+);
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_audit_log_ts ON audit_log (ts_unix DESC);
+";
+
+/// Outcome of a recorded privileged action. Stored as the literal string
+/// in the `outcome` column.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "snake_case")]
+pub enum AuditOutcome {
+    /// The privileged action succeeded.
+    Ok,
+    /// The privileged action was attempted but failed (e.g. the
+    /// underlying systemctl call errored). Denied-by-capability attempts
+    /// are recorded too — see the recording site.
+    Err,
+}
+
+impl AuditOutcome {
+    fn as_str(self) -> &'static str {
+        match self {
+            Self::Ok => "ok",
+            Self::Err => "err",
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// One audit row as returned to the dashboard.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, ToSchema)]
+pub struct AuditEntry {
+    pub id: i64,
+    pub ts_unix: DateTime<Utc>,
+    /// Agent on whose behalf the action was taken.
+    pub agent: String,
+    /// What was done (e.g. `restart_infra`).
+    pub action: String,
+    /// What it acted on (e.g. `hive-ci`).
+    pub target: String,
+    /// `"ok"` | `"err"`.
+    pub outcome: String,
+    /// Optional free-text detail (e.g. the error message on failure).
+    pub detail: Option<String>,
+}
+
+/// Sqlite-backed audit-log store. `Arc<AuditLog>`-friendly: all methods
+/// take `&self`, an internal `Mutex<Connection>` serializes access.
+pub struct AuditLog {
+    conn: Mutex<Connection>,
+}
+
+impl AuditLog {
+    /// Open (creating if absent) the `audit_log.sqlite` store under
+    /// `db_dir` and apply the schema. `db_dir` is shared with
+    /// `build_logs` (the broker db's parent directory).
+    ///
+    /// # Errors
+    /// Returns an error if the directory can't be created, the sqlite
+    /// file can't be opened, or applying the schema fails.
+    pub fn open(db_dir: &Path) -> Result<Self> {
+        let path = db_dir.join("audit_log.sqlite");
+        let conn = crate::db::open(&path, "audit_log")?;
+        conn.execute_batch(SCHEMA)
+            .context("apply audit_log schema")?;
+        Ok(Self {
+            conn: Mutex::new(conn),
+        })
+    }
+
+    /// Record one privileged action. Best-effort: a sqlite error is logged
+    /// but never returned, so a transient blip never fails the underlying
+    /// privileged action (the action already happened — losing its audit
+    /// row is strictly less bad than failing the action retroactively).
+    ///
+    /// Returns the inserted [`AuditEntry`] (with its assigned id +
+    /// timestamp) on success, or `None` if the insert failed. The
+    /// returned row is the canonical record — callers that also push a
+    /// live event (e.g. the dashboard stream) emit *this* rather than
+    /// re-deriving the fields, so the stored row and the streamed event
+    /// can't drift.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn record(
+        &self,
+        agent: &str,
+        action: &str,
+        target: &str,
+        outcome: AuditOutcome,
+        detail: Option<&str>,
+    ) -> Option<AuditEntry> {
+        let now = Utc::now().timestamp();
+        let conn = self.conn.lock().unwrap();
+        match conn.execute(
+            "INSERT INTO audit_log (ts_unix, agent, action, target, outcome, detail)
+             VALUES (?1, ?2, ?3, ?4, ?5, ?6)",
+            params![now, agent, action, target, outcome.as_str(), detail],
+        ) {
+            Ok(_) => Some(AuditEntry {
+                id: conn.last_insert_rowid(),
+                ts_unix: hive_sh4re::wire_time::from_secs(now),
+                agent: agent.to_owned(),
+                action: action.to_owned(),
+                target: target.to_owned(),
+                outcome: outcome.as_str().to_owned(),
+                detail: detail.map(str::to_owned),
+            }),
+            Err(e) => {
+                tracing::warn!(
+                    %agent, %action, %target,
+                    error = ?e,
+                    "audit_log: record failed (dropping entry)"
+                );
+                None
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Return the most recent `limit` rows, newest first. Limit is
+    /// hard-clamped to 500 to bound the worst-case payload.
+    ///
+    /// # Errors
+    /// Returns an error if the query fails to prepare or a row fails to
+    /// deserialize.
+    pub fn list_recent(&self, limit: usize) -> Result<Vec<AuditEntry>> {
+        let limit = limit.min(500);
+        let conn = self.conn.lock().unwrap();
+        let mut stmt = conn.prepare(
+            "SELECT id, ts_unix, agent, action, target, outcome, detail
+             FROM audit_log
+             ORDER BY ts_unix DESC, id DESC
+             LIMIT ?1",
+        )?;
+        let rows = stmt.query_map(params![i64::try_from(limit).unwrap_or(500)], row_to_entry)?;
+        let mut out = Vec::new();
+        for r in rows {
+            out.push(r?);
+        }
+        Ok(out)
+    }
+
+    /// Total row count, regardless of the `list_recent` clamp. Lets the
+    /// dashboard show "latest N of TOTAL" instead of silently capping.
+    ///
+    /// # Errors
+    /// Returns an error if the `COUNT(*)` query fails.
+    pub fn count_total(&self) -> Result<i64> {
+        let conn = self.conn.lock().unwrap();
+        let n: i64 = conn.query_row("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM audit_log", [], |r| r.get(0))?;
+        Ok(n)
+    }
+
+    /// Drop rows older than the retention window. Returns the number of
+    /// rows deleted. Called from the hourly vacuum loop.
+    ///
+    /// # Errors
+    /// Returns an error if the `DELETE` query fails.
+    pub fn vacuum(&self) -> Result<u64> {
+        let cutoff = Utc::now().timestamp() - KEEP_SECS;
+        let conn = self.conn.lock().unwrap();
+        let removed = conn.execute("DELETE FROM audit_log WHERE ts_unix < ?1", params![cutoff])?;
+        Ok(u64::try_from(removed).unwrap_or(0))
+    }
+}
+
+/// Spawn the hourly retention sweep. Mirrors `build_logs::spawn_vacuum`
+/// in cadence + shutdown handling.
+pub fn spawn_vacuum(coord: &Arc<crate::coordinator::Coordinator>) {
+    use std::time::Duration;
+    let audit = coord.audit_log.clone();
+    let mut shutdown = coord.shutdown_rx();
+    let interval = Duration::from_hours(1);
+    tokio::spawn(async move {
+        loop {
+            match audit.vacuum() {
+                Ok(0) => {}
+                Ok(n) => tracing::info!(removed = n, "audit_log vacuum"),
+                Err(e) => tracing::warn!(error = ?e, "audit_log vacuum failed"),
+            }
+            tokio::select! {
+                () = tokio::time::sleep(interval) => {}
+                _ = shutdown.changed() => {
+                    tracing::info!("audit_log vacuum: shutdown signal received");
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    });
+}
+
+fn row_to_entry(r: &rusqlite::Row) -> rusqlite::Result<AuditEntry> {
+    Ok(AuditEntry {
+        id: r.get(0)?,
+        ts_unix: hive_sh4re::wire_time::from_secs(r.get(1)?),
+        agent: r.get(2)?,
+        action: r.get(3)?,
+        target: r.get(4)?,
+        outcome: r.get(5)?,
+        detail: r.get(6)?,
+    })
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    fn tmpdb() -> (tempfile::TempDir, AuditLog) {
+        let dir = tempfile::tempdir().expect("tempdir");
+        let db = AuditLog::open(dir.path()).expect("open");
+        (dir, db)
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn record_and_list_newest_first() {
+        let (_d, db) = tmpdb();
+        // record() returns the canonical inserted row (id + ts assigned).
+        let entry = db
+            .record("atlas", "restart_infra", "hive-ci", AuditOutcome::Ok, None)
+            .expect("record returns the inserted entry");
+        assert!(entry.id > 0);
+        assert_eq!(entry.target, "hive-ci");
+        assert_eq!(entry.outcome, "ok");
+        assert!(entry.detail.is_none());
+        let _ = db.record(
+            "atlas",
+            "restart_infra",
+            "hive-gateway",
+            AuditOutcome::Err,
+            Some("systemctl failed"),
+        );
+        let rows = db.list_recent(10).expect("list");
+        assert_eq!(rows.len(), 2);
+        // Newest first: the gateway/err row was inserted last.
+        assert_eq!(rows[0].target, "hive-gateway");
+        assert_eq!(rows[0].outcome, "err");
+        assert_eq!(rows[0].detail.as_deref(), Some("systemctl failed"));
+        assert_eq!(rows[1].target, "hive-ci");
+        assert_eq!(rows[1].outcome, "ok");
+        assert!(rows[1].detail.is_none());
+        assert_eq!(rows[0].agent, "atlas");
+        assert_eq!(rows[0].action, "restart_infra");
+        assert_eq!(db.count_total().expect("count"), 2);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn list_clamps_to_500() {
+        let (_d, db) = tmpdb();
+        let _ = db.record("a", "x", "t", AuditOutcome::Ok, None);
+        let rows = db.list_recent(999_999).expect("list");
+        assert!(rows.len() <= 500);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn vacuum_drops_only_old_rows() {
+        let (_d, db) = tmpdb();
+        let _ = db.record("a", "restart_infra", "hive-ci", AuditOutcome::Ok, None);
+        // Backdate it past the retention window.
+        {
+            let conn = db.conn.lock().unwrap();
+            conn.execute(
+                "UPDATE audit_log SET ts_unix = ?1",
+                params![Utc::now().timestamp() - KEEP_SECS - 60],
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+        }
+        let _ = db.record("a", "restart_infra", "hive-forge", AuditOutcome::Ok, None);
+        let removed = db.vacuum().expect("vacuum");
+        assert_eq!(removed, 1, "only the backdated row should be reaped");
+        let rows = db.list_recent(10).expect("list");
+        assert_eq!(rows.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(rows[0].target, "hive-forge");
+    }
+}
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/stores/mod.rs b/hive-c0re/src/stores/mod.rs
index fb05ed2a..2a27af28 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/stores/mod.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/stores/mod.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 //! Sqlite-backed host-side stores (broker, approval / schedule queues,
-//! build logs, power intent) plus the shared connection open/migration
-//! helper (`db`). Each submodule is re-exported at the crate root, so
-//! `crate::broker::…` etc. keep working unchanged.
+//! build logs, audit trail, power intent) plus the shared connection
+//! open/migration helper (`db`). Each submodule is re-exported at the
+//! crate root, so `crate::broker::…` etc. keep working unchanged.
 
 pub mod approvals;
+pub mod audit_log;
 pub mod broker;
 pub mod build_logs;
 pub mod db;
diff --git a/hive-priv-sock/src/lib.rs b/hive-priv-sock/src/lib.rs
index af15605b..0aaa9793 100644
--- a/hive-priv-sock/src/lib.rs
+++ b/hive-priv-sock/src/lib.rs
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ pub const SIBLING_CONTAINERS: &[&str] = &["hive-forge", "hive-matrix", "hive-ci"
 pub enum InfraAction {
     Start,
     Stop,
+    Restart,
 }
 
 impl InfraAction {
@@ -65,6 +66,7 @@ impl InfraAction {
         match self {
             InfraAction::Start => "start",
             InfraAction::Stop => "stop",
+            InfraAction::Restart => "restart",
         }
     }
 }
@@ -148,13 +150,28 @@ impl InfraContainer {
             InfraTarget::HostUnit(unit) => unit.to_owned(),
         }
     }
+
+    /// Whether an agent holding `infra_admin` may restart this target.
+    ///
+    /// The gateway is excluded by operator ruling: nginx now fronts every
+    /// hive service from the host, so an agent restarting it can take the
+    /// forge, dashboard and matrix down with it — including the path its
+    /// own PR would have to travel to fix it. The operator surface
+    /// (`hivectl`, dashboard) is unaffected.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn agent_restartable(self) -> bool {
+        !matches!(self, InfraContainer::Gateway)
+    }
 }
 
 impl std::str::FromStr for InfraContainer {
     type Err = ();
 
-    /// Parse an infra name (`hive-ci`, …) into a variant. `Err(())` for
-    /// anything that isn't one.
+    /// Parse an infra name (`hive-ci`, …) into a variant. Recognition
+    /// only — it says the name denotes a hive service, *not* that the
+    /// caller may act on it. The agent restart path additionally checks
+    /// [`agent_restartable`](InfraContainer::agent_restartable).
+    /// `Err(())` for anything that isn't one.
     fn from_str(s: &str) -> Result<Self, ()> {
         Self::ALL.into_iter().find(|c| c.name() == s).ok_or(())
     }
@@ -584,13 +601,13 @@ pub enum PrivRequest {
         token: String,
     },
 
-    /// Start / stop a hive infrastructure container on the host via
-    /// `systemctl <action> container@<container>.service`. The
+    /// Start / stop / restart a hive infrastructure container on the host
+    /// via `systemctl <action> container@<container>.service`. The
     /// [`InfraContainer`] enum is the allowlist — serde rejects unknown /
     /// unsafe names (notably `hive-c0re`, which has no variant) at the wire
-    /// boundary, so no root-side `.contains()` check is needed. Serves the
-    /// hive-wide `hivectl stop` / `hivectl start` flow and the dashboard's
-    /// operator-only infra panel. No agent-facing path exists.
+    /// boundary, so no root-side `.contains()` check is needed. Serves both
+    /// the hive-wide `hivectl stop` / `hivectl start` flow and an
+    /// `infra_admin` agent's `restart` (with `action = Restart`).
     ControlInfraContainer {
         container: InfraContainer,
         action: InfraAction,
@@ -939,4 +956,15 @@ mod tests {
         );
         assert_eq!(InfraContainer::Gateway.service_unit(), "nginx.service");
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn only_the_gateway_is_off_limits_to_agents() {
+        // Recognising a name and being allowed to restart it are separate
+        // questions — the gateway parses fine and is still refused.
+        assert!("hive-gateway".parse::<InfraContainer>().is_ok());
+        assert!(!InfraContainer::Gateway.agent_restartable());
+        for c in InfraContainer::ALL {
+            assert_eq!(c.agent_restartable(), c != InfraContainer::Gateway, "{c:?}");
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/hive-priv/src/main.rs b/hive-priv/src/main.rs
index 686b5455..6d0799b3 100644
--- a/hive-priv/src/main.rs
+++ b/hive-priv/src/main.rs
@@ -1318,13 +1318,13 @@ async fn register_ci_runner(token: &str) -> Result<(String, String)> {
     ))
 }
 
-/// `ControlInfraContainer` — start/stop a hive infrastructure service via
-/// `systemctl <verb> <unit>`. The [`InfraContainer`] enum is the allowlist:
-/// serde already rejected any unknown / unsafe name (hive-c0re has no
-/// variant, so a stop can't sever the daemon socket) at deserialisation, so
-/// no root-side `.contains()` check is needed here. Serves the hive-wide
-/// `hivectl stop`/`start` flow and the dashboard's operator-only infra
-/// panel. No agent-facing path exists.
+/// `ControlInfraContainer` — start/stop/restart a hive infrastructure
+/// service via `systemctl <verb> <unit>`. The [`InfraContainer`] enum is
+/// the allowlist: serde already rejected any unknown / unsafe name
+/// (hive-c0re has no variant, so a stop can't sever the daemon socket) at
+/// deserialisation, so no root-side `.contains()` check is needed here.
+/// Serves both the hive-wide `hivectl stop`/`start` flow and an
+/// `infra_admin` agent's `restart` (action = Restart).
 ///
 /// ⚠️ The unit is derived from the variant, never sent by the caller —
 /// which is what keeps this from being a general `systemctl` pass-through.
diff --git a/hive-sh4re/src/permissions.rs b/hive-sh4re/src/permissions.rs
index 9fc6ba53..42a35878 100644
--- a/hive-sh4re/src/permissions.rs
+++ b/hive-sh4re/src/permissions.rs
@@ -223,6 +223,19 @@ pub enum Capability {
     /// available on the agent socket even with this capability — use the
     /// manager socket for swarm-wide scans.
     QueryAgentState,
+    /// Agent can restart hive infrastructure containers (hive-ci,
+    /// hive-forge, hive-matrix) via the `restart` MCP tool. hive-c0re
+    /// checks this capability before routing the restart through
+    /// hive-priv; the concrete service allowlist lives root-side in
+    /// hive-priv. Deliberately generic ("infra admin") so future
+    /// privileged infra ops can hang off the same grant.
+    ///
+    /// ⚠️ The gateway is **not** in reach of this capability, by operator
+    /// ruling — it is the host's nginx and fronts the forge, dashboard and
+    /// matrix, so an agent restarting it can cut the path its own fix
+    /// travels. That refusal is a property of the target, not of the
+    /// grant: no capability re-opens it.
+    InfraAdmin,
 }
 
 impl Capability {
@@ -232,6 +245,7 @@ impl Capability {
         Self::ManageRootAgent,
         Self::ReadHostJournal,
         Self::QueryAgentState,
+        Self::InfraAdmin,
     ];
 
     /// Canonical `snake_case` name for this capability (matches serde).
@@ -241,6 +255,7 @@ impl Capability {
             Self::ManageRootAgent => "manage_root_agent",
             Self::ReadHostJournal => "read_host_journal",
             Self::QueryAgentState => "query_agent_state",
+            Self::InfraAdmin => "infra_admin",
         }
     }
 
@@ -255,6 +270,9 @@ impl Capability {
             Self::QueryAgentState => {
                 "query non-child agents' loose ends and reminder state via get_loose_ends"
             }
+            Self::InfraAdmin => {
+                "restart hive infrastructure containers (hive-ci, hive-forge, hive-matrix; not the gateway) via the restart tool"
+            }
         }
     }
 }