diff --git a/packaging/common/fips-dns-setup b/packaging/common/fips-dns-setup
index 2e8c059..2a6678b 100755
--- a/packaging/common/fips-dns-setup
+++ b/packaging/common/fips-dns-setup
@@ -2,23 +2,34 @@
 # fips-dns-setup — Configure DNS routing for the .fips domain.
 #
 # Detects the system's DNS resolver and configures it to forward .fips
-# queries to the FIPS DNS responder on 127.0.0.1:5354.
+# queries to the FIPS DNS responder on 127.0.0.1:5354 (or [::1]:5354
+# for the global drop-in backend).
 #
 # Backends (tried in order):
 #   1. systemd dns-delegate (systemd >= 258, declarative drop-in)
-#   2. systemd-resolved via resolvectl (most systemd distros)
-#   3. dnsmasq (standalone)
-#   4. NetworkManager with dnsmasq plugin
-#   5. Warning with manual instructions
+#   2. systemd-resolved global drop-in via /etc/systemd/resolved.conf.d/
+#      (preferred for systemd-resolved hosts — DNS=[::1]:5354 routes
+#      via standard loopback with no interface scoping, sidestepping
+#      the IPV6_PKTINFO ifindex behaviour that causes self-destined
+#      traffic to fips0's address to be silently dropped by the
+#      mesh-interface filter)
+#   3. systemd-resolved via per-link resolvectl (legacy fallback —
+#      historically failed silently due to the issue described above;
+#      kept for hosts where the global drop-in is unsuitable)
+#   4. dnsmasq (standalone)
+#   5. NetworkManager with dnsmasq plugin
+#   6. Warning with manual instructions
 
 set -e
 
-FIPS_DNS_ADDR="127.0.0.1"
 FIPS_DNS_PORT="5354"
+FIPS_DNS_LOOPBACK_V6="::1"
 FIPS_INTERFACE="fips0"
 
-DNS_DELEGATE_DIR="/etc/systemd/dns-delegate"
+DNS_DELEGATE_DIR="/etc/systemd/dns-delegate.d"
 DNS_DELEGATE_FILE="${DNS_DELEGATE_DIR}/fips.dns-delegate"
+RESOLVED_DROPIN_DIR="/etc/systemd/resolved.conf.d"
+RESOLVED_DROPIN_FILE="${RESOLVED_DROPIN_DIR}/fips.conf"
 DNSMASQ_CONF="/etc/dnsmasq.d/fips.conf"
 NM_DNSMASQ_CONF="/etc/NetworkManager/dnsmasq.d/fips.conf"
 
@@ -70,6 +81,11 @@ is_active() {
 }
 
 # Backend 1: systemd dns-delegate (>= 258)
+#
+# Targets [::1]:5354 to match the daemon's default IPv6 loopback
+# bind. v4-targeted DNS= lines do not reach a daemon bound on
+# explicit `::1` (Linux v6 sockets bound to ::1 don't accept
+# v4-mapped traffic).
 try_dns_delegate() {
     local ver
     ver=$(systemd_version)
@@ -81,7 +97,7 @@ try_dns_delegate() {
     mkdir -p "$DNS_DELEGATE_DIR"
     cat > "$DNS_DELEGATE_FILE" <<EOF
 [Delegate]
-DNS=${FIPS_DNS_ADDR}:${FIPS_DNS_PORT}
+DNS=[${FIPS_DNS_LOOPBACK_V6}]:${FIPS_DNS_PORT}
 Domains=fips
 EOF
     systemctl restart systemd-resolved
@@ -89,14 +105,53 @@ EOF
     return 0
 }
 
-# Backend 2: resolvectl
+# Backend 2: systemd-resolved global drop-in (preferred for systemd-resolved hosts)
+#
+# Writes /etc/systemd/resolved.conf.d/fips.conf with DNS=[::1]:5354 and
+# Domains=~fips. systemd-resolved routes the .fips zone via standard
+# loopback (no per-link interface scoping), which sidesteps two issues:
+#
+#   - Ubuntu 22 (systemd 249) interface-scoped routing of per-link DNS
+#     servers, which would otherwise cause `resolvectl dns fips0
+#     127.0.0.1:5354` to route through fips0 and fail.
+#   - The IPV6_PKTINFO ifindex attribution behaviour where Linux reports
+#     a packet to fips0's own IPv6 address as arriving on fips0 (despite
+#     loopback delivery), which would otherwise be silently dropped by
+#     the daemon's mesh-interface filter — see ISSUE-2026-0002 in the
+#     project tracker.
+#
+# This backend is the recommended path on every systemd-resolved host
+# that doesn't have native dns-delegate support (systemd >= 258).
+try_global_drop_in() {
+    is_active systemd-resolved.service || return 1
+
+    log "Configuring via global resolved.conf.d drop-in (DNS=[${FIPS_DNS_LOOPBACK_V6}]:${FIPS_DNS_PORT})"
+    mkdir -p "$RESOLVED_DROPIN_DIR"
+    cat > "$RESOLVED_DROPIN_FILE" <<EOF
+# Managed by fips-dns.service (fips-dns-setup, global-drop-in backend).
+# Routes .fips queries to the fips daemon's local DNS responder.
+[Resolve]
+DNS=[${FIPS_DNS_LOOPBACK_V6}]:${FIPS_DNS_PORT}
+Domains=~fips
+EOF
+    systemctl restart systemd-resolved \
+        || log "WARNING: systemd-resolved restart failed (config written, may need manual reload)"
+    save_backend "global-drop-in"
+    return 0
+}
+
+# Backend 3: resolvectl (legacy fallback)
 #
 # systemd-resolved applies interface-scoped routing to per-link DNS servers.
 # On Ubuntu 22 (systemd 249), configuring `resolvectl dns fips0 127.0.0.1:5354`
 # causes resolved to route the DNS query through fips0 and fail (127.0.0.1 is
-# not reachable via a TUN with only fd00::/8 routes). We must use fips0's own
-# global IPv6 address, which is locally delivered by the kernel regardless of
-# which interface resolved tries to route through.
+# not reachable via a TUN with only fd00::/8 routes). Using fips0's own global
+# IPv6 address (locally delivered by the kernel) sidesteps that — but on hosts
+# where the daemon binds wildcard `::`, IPV6_PKTINFO reports `ipi6_ifindex ==
+# fips0` for those packets and the daemon's mesh-interface filter drops every
+# query silently. The global-drop-in backend above avoids both issues; this
+# resolvectl path is retained only as a fallback for environments where the
+# global drop-in is unsuitable.
 try_resolvectl() {
     command -v resolvectl >/dev/null 2>&1 || return 1
     is_active systemd-resolved.service || return 1
@@ -115,7 +170,11 @@ try_resolvectl() {
     return 0
 }
 
-# Backend 3: standalone dnsmasq
+# Backend 4: standalone dnsmasq
+#
+# dnsmasq's `server=/<domain>/<addr>#<port>` syntax accepts an IPv6
+# literal directly (no brackets). Targets ::1#5354 to match the
+# daemon's default IPv6 loopback bind.
 try_dnsmasq() {
     is_active dnsmasq.service || return 1
     [ -d /etc/dnsmasq.d ] || return 1
@@ -123,14 +182,14 @@ try_dnsmasq() {
     log "Configuring via dnsmasq"
     cat > "$DNSMASQ_CONF" <<EOF
 # FIPS .fips domain forwarding (managed by fips-dns.service)
-server=/fips/${FIPS_DNS_ADDR}#${FIPS_DNS_PORT}
+server=/fips/${FIPS_DNS_LOOPBACK_V6}#${FIPS_DNS_PORT}
 EOF
     systemctl reload dnsmasq || log "WARNING: dnsmasq reload failed (config written, may need manual reload)"
     save_backend "dnsmasq"
     return 0
 }
 
-# Backend 4: NetworkManager with dnsmasq plugin
+# Backend 5: NetworkManager with dnsmasq plugin
 try_nm_dnsmasq() {
     is_active NetworkManager.service || return 1
 
@@ -144,7 +203,7 @@ try_nm_dnsmasq() {
     log "Configuring via NetworkManager dnsmasq plugin"
     cat > "$NM_DNSMASQ_CONF" <<EOF
 # FIPS .fips domain forwarding (managed by fips-dns.service)
-server=/fips/${FIPS_DNS_ADDR}#${FIPS_DNS_PORT}
+server=/fips/${FIPS_DNS_LOOPBACK_V6}#${FIPS_DNS_PORT}
 EOF
     nmcli general reload || log "WARNING: NetworkManager reload failed (config written, may need manual reload)"
     save_backend "nm-dnsmasq"
@@ -156,16 +215,17 @@ EOF
 wait_for_interface || exit 1
 
 try_dns_delegate && exit 0
+try_global_drop_in && exit 0
 try_resolvectl && exit 0
 try_dnsmasq && exit 0
 try_nm_dnsmasq && exit 0
 
 log "WARNING: No supported DNS resolver detected."
 log "To resolve .fips domains, configure your DNS resolver to forward"
-log "the .fips domain to ${FIPS_DNS_ADDR} port ${FIPS_DNS_PORT}."
+log "the .fips domain to [${FIPS_DNS_LOOPBACK_V6}]:${FIPS_DNS_PORT} (matches the daemon's default bind)."
 log ""
 log "Examples:"
 log "  systemd-resolved: sudo apt install systemd-resolved"
-log "  dnsmasq:          echo 'server=/fips/${FIPS_DNS_ADDR}#${FIPS_DNS_PORT}' | sudo tee /etc/dnsmasq.d/fips.conf"
+log "  dnsmasq:          echo 'server=/fips/${FIPS_DNS_LOOPBACK_V6}#${FIPS_DNS_PORT}' | sudo tee /etc/dnsmasq.d/fips.conf"
 save_backend "none"
 exit 0
diff --git a/packaging/common/fips-dns-teardown b/packaging/common/fips-dns-teardown
index 1a0f634..d2da6d1 100755
--- a/packaging/common/fips-dns-teardown
+++ b/packaging/common/fips-dns-teardown
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@
 set -e
 
 FIPS_INTERFACE="fips0"
-DNS_DELEGATE_FILE="/etc/systemd/dns-delegate/fips.dns-delegate"
+DNS_DELEGATE_FILE="/etc/systemd/dns-delegate.d/fips.dns-delegate"
+RESOLVED_DROPIN_FILE="/etc/systemd/resolved.conf.d/fips.conf"
 DNSMASQ_CONF="/etc/dnsmasq.d/fips.conf"
 NM_DNSMASQ_CONF="/etc/NetworkManager/dnsmasq.d/fips.conf"
 STATE_FILE="/run/fips/dns-backend"
@@ -35,6 +36,14 @@ teardown_resolvectl() {
     return 0
 }
 
+teardown_global_drop_in() {
+    [ -f "$RESOLVED_DROPIN_FILE" ] || return 0
+    log "Removing global resolved.conf.d drop-in"
+    rm -f "$RESOLVED_DROPIN_FILE"
+    is_active systemd-resolved.service && systemctl restart systemd-resolved || true
+    return 0
+}
+
 teardown_dnsmasq() {
     [ -f "$DNSMASQ_CONF" ] || return 0
     log "Removing dnsmasq config"
@@ -59,14 +68,16 @@ if [ -f "$STATE_FILE" ]; then
 fi
 
 case "$backend" in
-    dns-delegate)  teardown_dns_delegate ;;
-    resolvectl)    teardown_resolvectl ;;
-    dnsmasq)       teardown_dnsmasq ;;
-    nm-dnsmasq)    teardown_nm_dnsmasq ;;
-    none)          ;; # Nothing was configured
+    dns-delegate)    teardown_dns_delegate ;;
+    global-drop-in)  teardown_global_drop_in ;;
+    resolvectl)      teardown_resolvectl ;;
+    dnsmasq)         teardown_dnsmasq ;;
+    nm-dnsmasq)      teardown_nm_dnsmasq ;;
+    none)            ;; # Nothing was configured
     *)
         # State unknown — clean up everything
         teardown_dns_delegate
+        teardown_global_drop_in
         teardown_resolvectl
         teardown_dnsmasq
         teardown_nm_dnsmasq
diff --git a/packaging/common/fips.yaml b/packaging/common/fips.yaml
index cf8efab..209d33a 100644
--- a/packaging/common/fips.yaml
+++ b/packaging/common/fips.yaml
@@ -42,10 +42,16 @@ tun:
 
 dns:
   enabled: true
-  # bind_addr defaults to "::" (all interfaces, dual-stack). Required so
-  # systemd-resolved can reach the responder via fips0 when resolvectl
-  # configures per-interface DNS forwarding.
-  # bind_addr: "::"
+  # bind_addr defaults to "::1" (IPv6 loopback). The shipped
+  # fips-dns-setup script configures systemd-resolved with a global
+  # /etc/systemd/resolved.conf.d/fips.conf drop-in pointing at
+  # [::1]:5354.
+  #
+  # Set "::" to expose the responder to mesh peers as well (e.g. for
+  # gateway hosts that resolve .fips on behalf of LAN clients). The
+  # mesh-interface filter in src/upper/dns.rs will still defend
+  # /etc/fips/hosts aliases from cross-mesh enumeration.
+  # bind_addr: "::1"
   port: 5354
 
 transports:
@@ -85,7 +91,12 @@ transports:
 #   lan_interface: "eth0"
 #   dns:
 #     listen: "[::]:53"
-#     upstream: "127.0.0.1:5354"
+#     # upstream must match the daemon's dns.bind_addr above. The
+#     # default "[::1]:5354" matches the daemon's default. If you set
+#     # the daemon to bind on a wildcard ("::") or specific address,
+#     # update upstream to match — explicit ::1 sockets do not accept
+#     # v4 traffic.
+#     upstream: "[::1]:5354"
 #     ttl: 60
 #   pool_grace_period: 60
 #   conntrack:
diff --git a/packaging/openwrt-ipk/files/etc/fips/fips.yaml b/packaging/openwrt-ipk/files/etc/fips/fips.yaml
index bed6214..301c35f 100644
--- a/packaging/openwrt-ipk/files/etc/fips/fips.yaml
+++ b/packaging/openwrt-ipk/files/etc/fips/fips.yaml
@@ -23,8 +23,15 @@ tun:
 
 dns:
   enabled: true
-  # bind_addr defaults to "::" (all interfaces, dual-stack).
-  # bind_addr: "::"
+  # bind_addr defaults to "::1" (IPv6 loopback). On OpenWrt, dnsmasq
+  # owns port 53; fips-dns-setup adds a forwarder rule pointing at
+  # 127.0.0.1#5354. Loopback bind is sufficient for that path.
+  #
+  # Set "::" to expose the responder to LAN clients directly (rare —
+  # most installs let dnsmasq forward instead). The mesh-interface
+  # filter in src/upper/dns.rs defends /etc/fips/hosts aliases from
+  # cross-mesh enumeration when bound to a wildcard.
+  # bind_addr: "::1"
   port: 5354
 
 transports:
@@ -79,6 +86,6 @@ gateway:
   lan_interface: "br-lan"       # LAN-facing interface for proxy NDP
   dns:
     listen: "[::1]:5353"        # gateway DNS listener (dnsmasq forwards here)
-    upstream: "127.0.0.1:5354"  # FIPS daemon DNS resolver
+    upstream: "[::1]:5354"      # FIPS daemon DNS resolver (matches daemon default)
     ttl: 60                     # DNS TTL and mapping lifetime (seconds)
   pool_grace_period: 60         # seconds after last session before reclaiming
diff --git a/src/config/gateway.rs b/src/config/gateway.rs
index e3f483b..4d1248f 100644
--- a/src/config/gateway.rs
+++ b/src/config/gateway.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,14 @@ use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 const DEFAULT_DNS_LISTEN: &str = "[::]:53";
 
 /// Default upstream DNS resolver (FIPS daemon).
-const DEFAULT_DNS_UPSTREAM: &str = "127.0.0.1:5354";
+///
+/// Must match the daemon's `dns.bind_addr` default (`::1`). Linux
+/// IPv6 sockets bound to explicit `::1` do not accept v4-mapped
+/// traffic — so a v4 upstream like `127.0.0.1:5354` cannot reach a
+/// daemon bound on `[::1]:5354`. Operators who set a non-default
+/// `dns.bind_addr` on the daemon must also set this field
+/// accordingly.
+const DEFAULT_DNS_UPSTREAM: &str = "[::1]:5354";
 
 /// Default DNS TTL in seconds.
 const DEFAULT_DNS_TTL: u32 = 60;
@@ -115,7 +122,8 @@ pub struct GatewayDnsConfig {
     #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
     pub listen: Option<String>,
 
-    /// Upstream FIPS daemon DNS resolver (default: `127.0.0.1:5354`).
+    /// Upstream FIPS daemon DNS resolver (default: `[::1]:5354`,
+    /// matching the daemon's `dns.bind_addr` default).
     #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
     pub upstream: Option<String>,
 
@@ -130,7 +138,7 @@ impl GatewayDnsConfig {
         self.listen.as_deref().unwrap_or(DEFAULT_DNS_LISTEN)
     }
 
-    /// Get the upstream resolver address (default: `127.0.0.1:5354`).
+    /// Get the upstream resolver address (default: `[::1]:5354`).
     pub fn upstream(&self) -> &str {
         self.upstream.as_deref().unwrap_or(DEFAULT_DNS_UPSTREAM)
     }
@@ -198,7 +206,7 @@ lan_interface: "eth0"
         assert_eq!(config.pool, "fd01::/112");
         assert_eq!(config.lan_interface, "eth0");
         assert_eq!(config.dns.listen(), "[::]:53");
-        assert_eq!(config.dns.upstream(), "127.0.0.1:5354");
+        assert_eq!(config.dns.upstream(), "[::1]:5354");
         assert_eq!(config.dns.ttl(), 60);
         assert_eq!(config.grace_period(), 60);
         assert_eq!(config.conntrack.tcp_established(), 432_000);
diff --git a/src/node/lifecycle.rs b/src/node/lifecycle.rs
index 574d3eb..defc039 100644
--- a/src/node/lifecycle.rs
+++ b/src/node/lifecycle.rs
@@ -694,14 +694,20 @@ impl Node {
 
         // Initialize DNS responder (independent of TUN).
         //
-        // The default bind_addr is "::" (all interfaces, dual-stack). This
-        // matters on Ubuntu 22 (systemd 249): systemd-resolved applies
-        // interface-scoped routing to per-link DNS servers — when resolvectl
-        // points fips0 at an address, resolved tries to reach it through
-        // fips0. Binding to "::" ensures the responder is reachable via fips0
-        // as well as loopback (v4 and v6). `IPV6_V6ONLY=0` is set explicitly
-        // so IPv4 clients on 127.0.0.1 still reach us regardless of kernel
-        // sysctl defaults.
+        // Default bind_addr is "::1" (IPv6 loopback). The shipped
+        // fips-dns-setup configures systemd-resolved via a global
+        // /etc/systemd/resolved.conf.d/fips.conf drop-in pointing at
+        // [::1]:5354, which sidesteps a Linux IPV6_PKTINFO behaviour
+        // where self-destined traffic to fips0's address is attributed
+        // to fips0 in PKTINFO and gets silently dropped by the
+        // mesh-interface filter in src/upper/dns.rs.
+        //
+        // For mesh-reachable resolution (rare), set bind_addr: "::"
+        // in fips.yaml. The mesh-interface filter remains active to
+        // prevent hosts-file alias enumeration in that mode.
+        // `IPV6_V6ONLY=0` is set explicitly so IPv4 clients on
+        // 127.0.0.1 still reach us regardless of kernel sysctl
+        // defaults — but only when bind is on a wildcard / IPv6 path.
         if self.config.dns.enabled {
             let addr_str = self.config.dns.bind_addr();
             match addr_str.parse::<std::net::IpAddr>() {
diff --git a/src/upper/config.rs b/src/upper/config.rs
index 2d2c7f2..e023292 100644
--- a/src/upper/config.rs
+++ b/src/upper/config.rs
@@ -13,10 +13,18 @@ const DEFAULT_TUN_MTU: u16 = 1280;
 
 /// Default DNS responder bind address.
 ///
-/// Binds to all interfaces so systemd-resolved (configured per-interface
-/// on fips0) can reach the responder regardless of interface scoping.
-/// See `packaging/common/fips-dns-setup` for how resolvectl is configured.
-const DEFAULT_DNS_BIND_ADDR: &str = "::";
+/// Loopback by default. The shipped `fips-dns-setup` configures
+/// systemd-resolved with a global drop-in pointing at `[::1]:5354`
+/// (instead of a per-link `resolvectl dns fips0 [<fips0_addr>]:5354`),
+/// which avoids a Linux IPV6_PKTINFO behaviour where self-destined
+/// traffic to a TUN address is attributed to the TUN's ifindex —
+/// causing the mesh-interface filter to silently drop every query.
+///
+/// To expose the responder to mesh peers, set `bind_addr: "::"` in
+/// fips.yaml. The `is_mesh_interface_query` filter in `src/upper/dns.rs`
+/// is still in place to prevent hosts-file alias enumeration in that
+/// mode. See `packaging/common/fips-dns-setup` for backend selection.
+const DEFAULT_DNS_BIND_ADDR: &str = "::1";
 
 /// Default DNS responder port.
 const DEFAULT_DNS_PORT: u16 = 5354;
@@ -60,7 +68,7 @@ impl Default for DnsConfig {
 }
 
 impl DnsConfig {
-    /// Get the bind address (default: `::`, all interfaces).
+    /// Get the bind address (default: `::1`, IPv6 loopback only).
     pub fn bind_addr(&self) -> &str {
         self.bind_addr.as_deref().unwrap_or(DEFAULT_DNS_BIND_ADDR)
     }
diff --git a/testing/deb-install/.gitignore b/testing/deb-install/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ceddaa3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing/deb-install/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+.cache/
diff --git a/testing/deb-install/test.sh b/testing/deb-install/test.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..e715a59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing/deb-install/test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,449 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Test the fips Debian package install path across target distros.
+#
+# Each scenario builds (or reuses) the .deb in a Debian 12 cargo-deb
+# builder image (cached), boots a privileged systemd container with
+# TUN access for the target distro, installs the .deb via `apt
+# install ./fips_*.deb`, waits for fips.service + fips-dns.service
+# to come up, and verifies that `dig @127.0.0.53 AAAA <npub>.fips`
+# returns a non-empty AAAA answer through the resolver backend that
+# fips-dns-setup configured. Then exercises fips-gateway against the
+# same daemon to verify the gateway/daemon default-pairing.
+#
+# This is the most thorough test surface — it exercises:
+#   - cargo deb packaging (binary stripping, dependency declaration)
+#   - dpkg conffile placement (/etc/fips/fips.yaml)
+#   - postinst maintainer scripts (systemd unit enablement,
+#     fips-dns.service running fips-dns-setup)
+#   - The fips, fips-dns, and (optionally) fips-gateway systemd units
+#   - End-to-end .fips resolution as a real user would experience it
+#
+# Usage: ./test.sh [scenario ...]
+#   No args = run all scenarios.
+#   Named args = run only those (e.g., ./test.sh ubuntu26 debian12)
+#
+# Requirements: Docker with privileged container support, /dev/net/tun
+# on the host (standard).
+
+set -uo pipefail
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
+REPO_ROOT="$(cd "$SCRIPT_DIR/../.." && pwd)"
+CACHE_DIR="$SCRIPT_DIR/.cache"
+DEB_CACHE_DIR="$CACHE_DIR/deb"
+
+# Timeouts
+BOOT_TIMEOUT=30
+SERVICE_TIMEOUT=20
+DAEMON_TIMEOUT=15
+
+PASS=0
+FAIL=0
+SKIP=0
+
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Helpers
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+log()  { echo "=== $*"; }
+pass() { echo "  PASS: $*"; PASS=$((PASS + 1)); }
+fail() { echo "  FAIL: $*"; FAIL=$((FAIL + 1)); }
+skip() { echo "  SKIP: $*"; SKIP=$((SKIP + 1)); }
+
+cleanup_container() {
+    local name="$1"
+    docker rm -f "$name" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+}
+
+build_image() {
+    local tag="$1"
+    shift
+    echo "$@" | docker build -t "$tag" -f - "$REPO_ROOT" >/dev/null 2>&1
+}
+
+start_systemd_container_with_tun() {
+    local name="$1" image="$2"
+    cleanup_container "$name"
+    docker run -d --name "$name" \
+        --privileged \
+        --cgroupns=host \
+        --device /dev/net/tun \
+        -v /sys/fs/cgroup:/sys/fs/cgroup:rw \
+        --tmpfs /run --tmpfs /run/lock \
+        "$image" >/dev/null 2>&1
+}
+
+wait_for_systemd() {
+    local name="$1"
+    for _i in $(seq 1 "$BOOT_TIMEOUT"); do
+        if docker exec "$name" systemctl is-system-running --wait 2>/dev/null | grep -qE 'running|degraded'; then
+            return 0
+        fi
+        sleep 1
+    done
+    echo "  WARNING: systemd did not reach running state in ${BOOT_TIMEOUT}s (may still work)"
+    return 0
+}
+
+wait_for_service_active() {
+    local name="$1" service="$2" timeout="${3:-$SERVICE_TIMEOUT}"
+    for _i in $(seq 1 "$timeout"); do
+        if docker exec "$name" systemctl is-active --quiet "$service" 2>/dev/null; then
+            return 0
+        fi
+        sleep 1
+    done
+    return 1
+}
+
+container_systemd_version() {
+    local name="$1"
+    docker exec "$name" systemctl --version 2>/dev/null | head -1 \
+        | grep -oE '[0-9]+' | head -1
+}
+
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Build the .deb once in a Debian 12 cargo-deb builder image (cached
+# between runs). Output cached at testing/deb-install/.cache/deb/.
+# Rebuilt if any source/Cargo/packaging file is newer than the cached
+# .deb, or if the .deb is missing.
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+build_deb() {
+    mkdir -p "$DEB_CACHE_DIR"
+
+    local cached_deb
+    cached_deb=$(ls "$DEB_CACHE_DIR"/fips_*_amd64.deb 2>/dev/null | head -1)
+
+    if [ -n "$cached_deb" ] && [ -f "$cached_deb" ]; then
+        local newest_src
+        newest_src=$(find "$REPO_ROOT/src" "$REPO_ROOT/Cargo.toml" \
+            "$REPO_ROOT/Cargo.lock" "$REPO_ROOT/packaging" \
+            -type f -printf '%T@\n' 2>/dev/null | sort -nr | head -1)
+        local cached_age
+        cached_age=$(stat -c '%Y' "$cached_deb" 2>/dev/null || echo 0)
+        if awk "BEGIN { exit !($cached_age >= $newest_src) }"; then
+            log "Using cached .deb at $cached_deb"
+            return 0
+        fi
+        log "Cached .deb is stale, rebuilding"
+    else
+        log "No cached .deb, building"
+    fi
+
+    local builder_tag="fips-deb-test:builder"
+    log "Building Debian 12 cargo-deb builder image (slow on first run)"
+    docker build -t "$builder_tag" -f - "$REPO_ROOT" <<'DOCKERFILE' >/dev/null
+FROM debian:12
+ENV DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+    build-essential pkg-config libdbus-1-dev curl ca-certificates \
+    libclang-dev clang && \
+    apt-get clean && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
+RUN curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | \
+    sh -s -- -y --default-toolchain stable --profile minimal
+ENV PATH="/root/.cargo/bin:${PATH}"
+RUN cargo install cargo-deb --version 3.6.3 --locked
+WORKDIR /src
+COPY Cargo.toml Cargo.lock build.rs LICENSE README.md ./
+COPY src ./src
+COPY packaging ./packaging
+RUN cargo build --release && cargo deb --no-build
+DOCKERFILE
+
+    if [ ! "$(docker images -q "$builder_tag" 2>/dev/null)" ]; then
+        echo "  ERROR: builder image build failed"
+        return 1
+    fi
+
+    log "Extracting .deb from builder image"
+    rm -f "$DEB_CACHE_DIR"/*.deb
+    local cid
+    cid=$(docker create "$builder_tag")
+    docker cp "$cid:/src/target/debian/." "$DEB_CACHE_DIR/" >/dev/null 2>&1
+    docker rm "$cid" >/dev/null
+    # Cargo-deb leaves intermediate artifacts; keep just the .deb.
+    find "$DEB_CACHE_DIR" -mindepth 1 -not -name 'fips_*_amd64.deb' -delete 2>/dev/null || true
+    cached_deb=$(ls "$DEB_CACHE_DIR"/fips_*_amd64.deb 2>/dev/null | head -1)
+    if [ -n "$cached_deb" ]; then
+        log "Cached at $cached_deb ($(stat -c %s "$cached_deb") bytes)"
+    else
+        echo "  ERROR: no .deb produced by cargo-deb"
+        return 1
+    fi
+}
+
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Scenario runner
+#
+# Args: <distro_label> <docker_base_image>
+# distro_label: short tag for container/image names (e.g. "debian12")
+# docker_base_image: e.g. "debian:12", "ubuntu:26.04"
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_run_deb_install_scenario() {
+    local distro_label="$1"
+    local base_image="$2"
+
+    local name="fips-deb-test-${distro_label}"
+    local image="fips-deb-test:${distro_label}"
+    log ".deb install: ${base_image}"
+
+    build_deb || { fail ".deb build failed"; return; }
+
+    local cached_deb
+    cached_deb=$(ls "$DEB_CACHE_DIR"/fips_*_amd64.deb 2>/dev/null | head -1)
+    if [ -z "$cached_deb" ] || [ ! -f "$cached_deb" ]; then
+        fail "no .deb available at $DEB_CACHE_DIR"
+        return
+    fi
+    local deb_basename
+    deb_basename=$(basename "$cached_deb")
+
+    # Ubuntu 22.04 bundles systemd-resolved into systemd; other
+    # distros require it as a separate package. Compose the apt
+    # package list accordingly.
+    local apt_packages="systemd iproute2 dbus dnsutils procps"
+    if [ "$base_image" != "ubuntu:22.04" ]; then
+        apt_packages="systemd systemd-resolved iproute2 dbus dnsutils procps"
+    fi
+
+    log "Building ${base_image} runtime image"
+    cp "$cached_deb" "$CACHE_DIR/deb-for-image"
+    # Place the .deb under /opt — systemd remounts /tmp during boot
+    # (PrivateTmp / tmpfs) which would wipe a .deb COPY'd to /tmp.
+    build_image "$image" "$(cat <<DOCKERFILE
+FROM ${base_image}
+ENV DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \\
+    ${apt_packages} && \\
+    apt-get clean && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* && \\
+    systemctl enable systemd-resolved && \\
+    mkdir -p /opt/fips-deb
+COPY testing/deb-install/.cache/deb-for-image /opt/fips-deb/${deb_basename}
+CMD ["/lib/systemd/systemd"]
+DOCKERFILE
+    )" || { fail "runtime build failed"; rm -f "$CACHE_DIR/deb-for-image"; return; }
+    rm -f "$CACHE_DIR/deb-for-image"
+
+    start_systemd_container_with_tun "$name" "$image"
+    wait_for_systemd "$name"
+
+    # Install the .deb. apt handles dependencies (libc6, systemd,
+    # libdbus-1-3) and runs the maintainer scripts (postinst →
+    # systemctl enable fips.service; fips-dns.service starts and
+    # runs fips-dns-setup).
+    log "Installing .deb (apt install /opt/fips-deb/${deb_basename})"
+    local install_output
+    install_output=$(docker exec "$name" bash -c "
+        apt-get update >/dev/null 2>&1
+        cd /opt/fips-deb && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends ./${deb_basename} 2>&1
+    ") || true
+    if echo "$install_output" | grep -qE "^E:|errors? were encountered"; then
+        fail "apt install reported errors"
+        echo "$install_output" | tail -20
+        cleanup_container "$name"
+        return
+    else
+        pass "apt install completed"
+    fi
+
+    # Verify shipped files landed where expected.
+    if docker exec "$name" test -x /usr/bin/fips; then
+        pass "/usr/bin/fips installed"
+    else
+        fail "/usr/bin/fips missing"
+    fi
+    if docker exec "$name" test -x /usr/bin/fips-gateway; then
+        pass "/usr/bin/fips-gateway installed"
+    else
+        fail "/usr/bin/fips-gateway missing"
+    fi
+    if docker exec "$name" test -f /etc/fips/fips.yaml; then
+        pass "/etc/fips/fips.yaml conffile installed"
+    else
+        fail "/etc/fips/fips.yaml conffile missing"
+    fi
+
+    # Verify fips.service is enabled (postinst enables but does not
+    # start on fresh install — standard Debian convention).
+    if docker exec "$name" systemctl is-enabled --quiet fips.service; then
+        pass "fips.service enabled by postinst"
+    else
+        fail "fips.service not enabled after install"
+    fi
+    if docker exec "$name" systemctl is-enabled --quiet fips-dns.service; then
+        pass "fips-dns.service enabled by postinst"
+    else
+        fail "fips-dns.service not enabled after install"
+    fi
+
+    # Start the services as a simulated boot. (On a real system,
+    # they'd come up on next reboot.)
+    docker exec "$name" systemctl start fips.service 2>&1 || true
+    docker exec "$name" systemctl start fips-dns.service 2>&1 || true
+
+    if wait_for_service_active "$name" fips.service; then
+        pass "fips.service active after explicit start"
+    else
+        fail "fips.service did not become active in ${SERVICE_TIMEOUT}s"
+        echo "  --- fips.service status ---"
+        docker exec "$name" systemctl status fips.service --no-pager 2>&1 | tail -20
+        echo "  --- fips.service journal ---"
+        docker exec "$name" journalctl -u fips.service --no-pager 2>&1 | tail -20
+        cleanup_container "$name"
+        return
+    fi
+
+    # Wait for the DNS responder to bind on the daemon's [::1]:5354.
+    local ready=0
+    for _i in $(seq 1 "$DAEMON_TIMEOUT"); do
+        if docker exec "$name" ss -uln 2>/dev/null | grep -q ':5354'; then
+            ready=1
+            break
+        fi
+        sleep 1
+    done
+    if [ "$ready" = "1" ]; then
+        pass "fips DNS listener up on port 5354"
+    else
+        fail "fips DNS listener did not appear within ${DAEMON_TIMEOUT}s"
+        cleanup_container "$name"
+        return
+    fi
+
+    # Wait for fips-dns.service. This should have run fips-dns-setup
+    # which configures the resolver backend and writes
+    # /run/fips/dns-backend.
+    sleep 2
+    local backend
+    backend=$(docker exec "$name" cat /run/fips/dns-backend 2>/dev/null || echo "(missing)")
+    local ver
+    ver=$(container_systemd_version "$name")
+    local expected_backend
+    if [ -n "$ver" ] && [ "$ver" -ge 258 ]; then
+        expected_backend="dns-delegate"
+    else
+        expected_backend="global-drop-in"
+    fi
+    if [ "$backend" = "$expected_backend" ]; then
+        pass "fips-dns.service picked $expected_backend backend (systemd $ver)"
+    else
+        fail "expected $expected_backend (systemd $ver), got: $backend"
+        echo "  --- fips-dns.service journal ---"
+        docker exec "$name" journalctl -u fips-dns.service --no-pager 2>&1 | tail -20
+    fi
+
+    # Get the daemon's npub via fipsctl. Works for both ephemeral
+    # and persistent identity (no need to override the conffile).
+    local npub
+    npub=$(docker exec "$name" fipsctl show status 2>/dev/null \
+        | grep -oE 'npub1[a-z0-9]+' | head -1)
+    if [ -z "$npub" ]; then
+        fail "could not read npub from fipsctl show status"
+        cleanup_container "$name"
+        return
+    fi
+    echo "  daemon npub: $npub"
+
+    # The actual end-to-end test: a stock dpkg-installed deployment
+    # must successfully resolve a .fips query through the system
+    # resolver. This covers the full path: maintainer scripts ran,
+    # service started, DNS responder bound, resolver backend
+    # configured, query routed and answered.
+    sleep 1
+    local stub_output
+    stub_output=$(docker exec "$name" dig +tries=1 +time=3 @127.0.0.53 AAAA "${npub}.fips" 2>&1)
+    if echo "$stub_output" | grep -qE '^[a-zA-Z0-9].*\sAAAA\s+[0-9a-f:]+'; then
+        pass "end-to-end dig @127.0.0.53 returns AAAA on stock .deb install"
+    else
+        fail "end-to-end dig @127.0.0.53 did not return AAAA"
+        echo "  --- dig output ---"
+        echo "$stub_output" | tail -15
+        echo "  --- resolved status ---"
+        docker exec "$name" resolvectl status 2>&1 | tail -25 || true
+        echo "  --- fips journal ---"
+        docker exec "$name" journalctl -u fips.service --no-pager 2>&1 | tail -10
+    fi
+
+    # Verify fips-gateway can run against the installed daemon. Tests
+    # the gateway/daemon default-pairing on a real .deb install (no
+    # custom config). Requires enabling the unit (it's not in the
+    # default preset) and ipv6 forwarding (gateway checks before
+    # the DNS upstream check).
+    docker exec "$name" sysctl -w net.ipv6.conf.all.forwarding=1 >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+    docker exec "$name" bash -c '
+        systemctl unmask fips-gateway.service 2>/dev/null
+        # Patch in a minimal gateway config since the shipped fips.yaml
+        # has gateway disabled by default.
+        cp /etc/fips/fips.yaml /etc/fips/fips.yaml.orig
+        cat >> /etc/fips/fips.yaml <<EOF
+gateway:
+  enabled: true
+  pool: "fd01::/112"
+  lan_interface: "eth0"
+EOF
+        systemctl restart fips.service
+    ' >/dev/null 2>&1
+
+    sleep 3
+    if wait_for_service_active "$name" fips.service 5; then
+        :
+    else
+        fail "fips.service did not stay up after gateway-enable restart"
+    fi
+
+    docker exec "$name" systemctl start fips-gateway.service >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+    sleep 3
+    if docker exec "$name" journalctl -u fips-gateway.service --no-pager 2>/dev/null \
+            | grep -q "DNS upstream is reachable"; then
+        pass "fips-gateway reaches DNS upstream at [::1]:5354 via .deb install"
+    else
+        fail "fips-gateway DNS upstream check failed against installed daemon"
+        echo "  --- fips-gateway journal ---"
+        docker exec "$name" journalctl -u fips-gateway.service --no-pager 2>&1 | tail -15
+    fi
+
+    cleanup_container "$name"
+}
+
+# Per-distro wrappers
+test_debian12() { _run_deb_install_scenario debian12 debian:12;     }
+test_debian13() { _run_deb_install_scenario debian13 debian:trixie; }
+test_ubuntu22() { _run_deb_install_scenario ubuntu22 ubuntu:22.04;  }
+test_ubuntu24() { _run_deb_install_scenario ubuntu24 ubuntu:24.04;  }
+test_ubuntu26() { _run_deb_install_scenario ubuntu26 ubuntu:26.04;  }
+
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Main
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+ALL_SCENARIOS="debian12 debian13 ubuntu22 ubuntu24 ubuntu26"
+
+if [ $# -eq 0 ]; then
+    scenarios="$ALL_SCENARIOS"
+else
+    scenarios="$*"
+fi
+
+for scenario in $scenarios; do
+    case "$scenario" in
+        debian12) test_debian12 ;;
+        debian13) test_debian13 ;;
+        ubuntu22) test_ubuntu22 ;;
+        ubuntu24) test_ubuntu24 ;;
+        ubuntu26) test_ubuntu26 ;;
+        *)
+            echo "Unknown scenario: $scenario"
+            echo "Available: $ALL_SCENARIOS"
+            exit 1
+            ;;
+    esac
+    echo
+done
+
+echo "═══════════════════════════════════════"
+echo "Results: $PASS passed, $FAIL failed, $SKIP skipped"
+echo "═══════════════════════════════════════"
+
+[ "$FAIL" -eq 0 ]
diff --git a/testing/dns-resolver/.gitignore b/testing/dns-resolver/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ceddaa3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing/dns-resolver/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+.cache/
diff --git a/testing/dns-resolver/test.sh b/testing/dns-resolver/test.sh
index a435f1e..887d56b 100755
--- a/testing/dns-resolver/test.sh
+++ b/testing/dns-resolver/test.sh
@@ -1,15 +1,25 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-# Test fips-dns-setup across different Linux resolver backends.
+# Test fips-dns-setup across different Linux resolver backends, plus
+# an end-to-end scenario that verifies a real fips answers .fips
+# queries through the configured backend.
 #
 # Each scenario runs a systemd-based Docker container, creates a dummy
-# fips0 interface, runs the setup script, verifies the detected backend
-# and generated config, runs teardown, and verifies cleanup.
+# fips0 interface (or a real one for the e2e scenario), runs the setup
+# script, verifies the detected backend and generated config, runs
+# teardown, and verifies cleanup.
+#
+# The end-to-end scenario additionally builds fips in a Debian 12
+# builder image (cached between runs) so the binary is glibc-compatible
+# across all target distros. It then starts the daemon, configures DNS
+# via the script, and confirms `dig @127.0.0.53 AAAA <npub>.fips`
+# returns a non-empty AAAA answer.
 #
 # Usage: ./test.sh [scenario ...]
 #   No args = run all scenarios.
-#   Named args = run only those (e.g., ./test.sh debian12-resolved dnsmasq)
+#   Named args = run only those (e.g., ./test.sh debian12-resolved e2e-debian12)
 #
-# Requirements: Docker with privileged container support.
+# Requirements: Docker with privileged container support. The e2e
+# scenario also needs /dev/net/tun on the host (standard).
 
 set -uo pipefail
 
@@ -17,10 +27,16 @@ SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
 REPO_ROOT="$(cd "$SCRIPT_DIR/../.." && pwd)"
 SETUP_SCRIPT="$REPO_ROOT/packaging/common/fips-dns-setup"
 TEARDOWN_SCRIPT="$REPO_ROOT/packaging/common/fips-dns-teardown"
+CACHE_DIR="$SCRIPT_DIR/.cache"
+FIPS_BIN_CACHE="$CACHE_DIR/fips"
+FIPS_GATEWAY_BIN_CACHE="$CACHE_DIR/fips-gateway"
 
 # Timeout for systemd boot inside container
 BOOT_TIMEOUT=30
 
+# Timeout for fips to start serving DNS in the e2e scenario
+DAEMON_TIMEOUT=15
+
 PASS=0
 FAIL=0
 SKIP=0
@@ -58,6 +74,19 @@ start_systemd_container() {
         "$image" >/dev/null 2>&1
 }
 
+# Same, but with TUN device for the e2e scenario.
+start_systemd_container_with_tun() {
+    local name="$1" image="$2"
+    cleanup_container "$name"
+    docker run -d --name "$name" \
+        --privileged \
+        --cgroupns=host \
+        --device /dev/net/tun \
+        -v /sys/fs/cgroup:/sys/fs/cgroup:rw \
+        --tmpfs /run --tmpfs /run/lock \
+        "$image" >/dev/null 2>&1
+}
+
 # Wait for systemd to reach a bootable state inside the container.
 wait_for_systemd() {
     local name="$1"
@@ -104,14 +133,158 @@ file_exists() {
     docker exec "$name" test -f "$path" 2>/dev/null
 }
 
+file_contains() {
+    local name="$1" path="$2" needle="$3"
+    docker exec "$name" grep -qF "$needle" "$path" 2>/dev/null
+}
+
+# Get the major systemd version inside a container.
+container_systemd_version() {
+    local name="$1"
+    docker exec "$name" systemctl --version 2>/dev/null | head -1 \
+        | grep -oE '[0-9]+' | head -1
+}
+
+# Verify the expected systemd-resolved-flavoured backend was picked
+# and that its config file targets the new [::1]:5354 daemon bind.
+# On systemd >= 258 the dns-delegate backend wins; otherwise
+# global-drop-in. Either way the daemon target must be ::1 — that's
+# the regression we're locking in.
+verify_resolved_backend() {
+    local name="$1"
+    local ver
+    ver=$(container_systemd_version "$name")
+    local backend
+    backend=$(get_backend "$name")
+
+    local expected_backend expected_path
+    if [ -n "$ver" ] && [ "$ver" -ge 258 ]; then
+        expected_backend="dns-delegate"
+        expected_path="/etc/systemd/dns-delegate.d/fips.dns-delegate"
+    else
+        expected_backend="global-drop-in"
+        expected_path="/etc/systemd/resolved.conf.d/fips.conf"
+    fi
+
+    if [ "$backend" = "$expected_backend" ]; then
+        pass "detected backend: $expected_backend (systemd $ver)"
+    else
+        fail "expected $expected_backend (systemd $ver), got: $backend"
+    fi
+
+    if file_exists "$name" "$expected_path"; then
+        pass "config file written at $expected_path"
+    else
+        fail "config file missing at $expected_path"
+        return
+    fi
+
+    # All systemd-flavoured backends must target [::1]:5354 to match
+    # the daemon's default bind. If they don't, queries silently fail
+    # — Linux IPv6 sockets bound to ::1 do not accept v4 traffic.
+    if file_contains "$name" "$expected_path" "[::1]:5354"; then
+        pass "config DNS target is [::1]:5354 (matches daemon default)"
+    else
+        fail "config DNS target wrong — must be [::1]:5354"
+        echo "  contents: $(docker exec "$name" cat "$expected_path")"
+    fi
+
+    # Domain forwarding line: dns-delegate uses 'Domains=fips',
+    # global-drop-in uses 'Domains=~fips' (wildcard prefix).
+    local expected_domain_line
+    if [ "$expected_backend" = "dns-delegate" ]; then
+        expected_domain_line="Domains=fips"
+    else
+        expected_domain_line="Domains=~fips"
+    fi
+    if file_contains "$name" "$expected_path" "$expected_domain_line"; then
+        pass "config Domains line correct ($expected_domain_line)"
+    else
+        fail "config Domains line incorrect — expected $expected_domain_line"
+    fi
+
+    run_teardown "$name" >/dev/null 2>&1
+    if ! file_exists "$name" "$expected_path"; then
+        pass "teardown removed config file"
+    else
+        fail "config file still exists after teardown"
+    fi
+    if ! file_exists "$name" /run/fips/dns-backend; then
+        pass "teardown cleaned state file"
+    else
+        fail "state file still exists after teardown"
+    fi
+}
+
 # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-# Scenarios
+# Build the fips binary once in a Debian 12 builder image so it's
+# glibc-compatible with every target distro (Debian 12/13, Ubuntu 22/24).
+# Cached at testing/dns-resolver/.cache/fips between runs; rebuild if
+# any source file is newer than the cached binary.
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+build_fips_for_e2e() {
+    mkdir -p "$CACHE_DIR"
+
+    if [ -f "$FIPS_BIN_CACHE" ] && [ -f "$FIPS_GATEWAY_BIN_CACHE" ]; then
+        local newest_src
+        newest_src=$(find "$REPO_ROOT/src" "$REPO_ROOT/Cargo.toml" "$REPO_ROOT/Cargo.lock" \
+            -type f -printf '%T@\n' 2>/dev/null | sort -nr | head -1)
+        local cached_age
+        cached_age=$(stat -c '%Y' "$FIPS_BIN_CACHE" 2>/dev/null || echo 0)
+        local cached_gateway_age
+        cached_gateway_age=$(stat -c '%Y' "$FIPS_GATEWAY_BIN_CACHE" 2>/dev/null || echo 0)
+        local oldest_cached=$((cached_age < cached_gateway_age ? cached_age : cached_gateway_age))
+        if awk "BEGIN { exit !($oldest_cached >= $newest_src) }"; then
+            log "Using cached fips + fips-gateway binaries at $CACHE_DIR"
+            return 0
+        fi
+        log "Cached binaries are stale, rebuilding"
+    else
+        log "No cached binaries, building"
+    fi
+
+    local builder_tag="fips-dns-test:builder"
+    log "Building Debian 12 builder image (this may take a few minutes on first run)"
+    docker build -t "$builder_tag" -f - "$REPO_ROOT" <<'DOCKERFILE' >/dev/null
+FROM debian:12
+ENV DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+    build-essential pkg-config libdbus-1-dev curl ca-certificates \
+    libclang-dev clang && \
+    apt-get clean && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
+RUN curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | \
+    sh -s -- -y --default-toolchain stable --profile minimal
+ENV PATH="/root/.cargo/bin:${PATH}"
+WORKDIR /src
+COPY Cargo.toml Cargo.lock build.rs ./
+COPY src ./src
+RUN cargo build --release --bin fips --bin fips-gateway
+DOCKERFILE
+
+    if [ ! "$(docker images -q "$builder_tag" 2>/dev/null)" ]; then
+        echo "  ERROR: builder image build failed"
+        return 1
+    fi
+
+    log "Extracting fips + fips-gateway binaries from builder image"
+    local cid
+    cid=$(docker create "$builder_tag")
+    docker cp "$cid:/src/target/release/fips" "$FIPS_BIN_CACHE" >/dev/null 2>&1
+    docker cp "$cid:/src/target/release/fips-gateway" "$FIPS_GATEWAY_BIN_CACHE" >/dev/null 2>&1
+    docker rm "$cid" >/dev/null
+    chmod +x "$FIPS_BIN_CACHE" "$FIPS_GATEWAY_BIN_CACHE"
+    log "Cached fips ($(stat -c %s "$FIPS_BIN_CACHE") bytes) + fips-gateway ($(stat -c %s "$FIPS_GATEWAY_BIN_CACHE") bytes)"
+}
+
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# Scenarios — script-behavior tests across distros (no daemon)
 # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 test_debian12_resolved() {
     local name="fips-dns-test-deb12-resolved"
     local image="fips-dns-test:debian12-resolved"
-    log "Debian 12 + systemd-resolved"
+    log "Debian 12 + systemd-resolved (expects global-drop-in)"
 
     build_image "$image" "$(cat <<'DOCKERFILE'
 FROM debian:12
@@ -132,29 +305,14 @@ DOCKERFILE
     output=$(run_setup "$name" 2>&1)
     echo "  output: $output"
 
-    local backend
-    backend=$(get_backend "$name")
-    if [ "$backend" = "resolvectl" ]; then
-        pass "detected backend: resolvectl"
-    else
-        fail "expected resolvectl, got: $backend"
-    fi
-
-    # Teardown
-    run_teardown "$name" >/dev/null 2>&1
-    if ! file_exists "$name" /run/fips/dns-backend; then
-        pass "teardown cleaned state file"
-    else
-        fail "state file still exists after teardown"
-    fi
-
+    verify_resolved_backend "$name"
     cleanup_container "$name"
 }
 
 test_debian13_resolved() {
     local name="fips-dns-test-deb13-resolved"
     local image="fips-dns-test:debian13-resolved"
-    log "Debian 13 (trixie) + systemd-resolved"
+    log "Debian 13 (trixie) + systemd-resolved (expects global-drop-in)"
 
     build_image "$image" "$(cat <<'DOCKERFILE'
 FROM debian:trixie
@@ -175,21 +333,93 @@ DOCKERFILE
     output=$(run_setup "$name" 2>&1)
     echo "  output: $output"
 
-    local backend
-    backend=$(get_backend "$name")
-    if [ "$backend" = "resolvectl" ]; then
-        pass "detected backend: resolvectl"
-    else
-        fail "expected resolvectl, got: $backend"
-    fi
+    verify_resolved_backend "$name"
+    cleanup_container "$name"
+}
 
-    run_teardown "$name" >/dev/null 2>&1
-    if ! file_exists "$name" /run/fips/dns-backend; then
-        pass "teardown cleaned state file"
-    else
-        fail "state file still exists after teardown"
-    fi
+test_ubuntu22_resolved() {
+    local name="fips-dns-test-u22-resolved"
+    local image="fips-dns-test:ubuntu22-resolved"
+    log "Ubuntu 22.04 + systemd-resolved (expects global-drop-in)"
 
+    # On Ubuntu 22.04 systemd-resolved is bundled with systemd (not a
+    # separate package). Just enable the service.
+    build_image "$image" "$(cat <<'DOCKERFILE'
+FROM ubuntu:22.04
+ENV DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+    systemd iproute2 dbus && \
+    apt-get clean && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* && \
+    systemctl enable systemd-resolved
+CMD ["/lib/systemd/systemd"]
+DOCKERFILE
+    )" || { fail "build failed"; return; }
+
+    start_systemd_container "$name" "$image"
+    wait_for_systemd "$name"
+    create_fips0 "$name"
+
+    local output
+    output=$(run_setup "$name" 2>&1)
+    echo "  output: $output"
+
+    verify_resolved_backend "$name"
+    cleanup_container "$name"
+}
+
+test_ubuntu24_resolved() {
+    local name="fips-dns-test-u24-resolved"
+    local image="fips-dns-test:ubuntu24-resolved"
+    log "Ubuntu 24.04 + systemd-resolved (expects global-drop-in)"
+
+    build_image "$image" "$(cat <<'DOCKERFILE'
+FROM ubuntu:24.04
+ENV DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+    systemd systemd-resolved iproute2 dbus && \
+    apt-get clean && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* && \
+    systemctl enable systemd-resolved
+CMD ["/lib/systemd/systemd"]
+DOCKERFILE
+    )" || { fail "build failed"; return; }
+
+    start_systemd_container "$name" "$image"
+    wait_for_systemd "$name"
+    create_fips0 "$name"
+
+    local output
+    output=$(run_setup "$name" 2>&1)
+    echo "  output: $output"
+
+    verify_resolved_backend "$name"
+    cleanup_container "$name"
+}
+
+test_ubuntu26_resolved() {
+    local name="fips-dns-test-u26-resolved"
+    local image="fips-dns-test:ubuntu26-resolved"
+    log "Ubuntu 26.04 + systemd-resolved (expects global-drop-in)"
+
+    build_image "$image" "$(cat <<'DOCKERFILE'
+FROM ubuntu:26.04
+ENV DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+    systemd systemd-resolved iproute2 dbus && \
+    apt-get clean && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* && \
+    systemctl enable systemd-resolved
+CMD ["/lib/systemd/systemd"]
+DOCKERFILE
+    )" || { fail "build failed"; return; }
+
+    start_systemd_container "$name" "$image"
+    wait_for_systemd "$name"
+    create_fips0 "$name"
+
+    local output
+    output=$(run_setup "$name" 2>&1)
+    echo "  output: $output"
+
+    verify_resolved_backend "$name"
     cleanup_container "$name"
 }
 
@@ -234,6 +464,15 @@ DOCKERFILE
         fail "dnsmasq config not found"
     fi
 
+    # Verify config targets ::1#5354 (the daemon's default IPv6
+    # loopback bind). Drift from this constant would silently break
+    # resolution on hosts using this backend.
+    if file_contains "$name" /etc/dnsmasq.d/fips.conf "server=/fips/::1#5354"; then
+        pass "dnsmasq config targets ::1#5354 (matches daemon default)"
+    else
+        fail "dnsmasq config target wrong — must be server=/fips/::1#5354"
+    fi
+
     # Teardown
     run_teardown "$name" >/dev/null 2>&1
     if ! file_exists "$name" /etc/dnsmasq.d/fips.conf; then
@@ -291,6 +530,12 @@ DOCKERFILE
         fail "NM dnsmasq config not found"
     fi
 
+    if file_contains "$name" /etc/NetworkManager/dnsmasq.d/fips.conf "server=/fips/::1#5354"; then
+        pass "NM dnsmasq config targets ::1#5354 (matches daemon default)"
+    else
+        fail "NM dnsmasq config target wrong — must be server=/fips/::1#5354"
+    fi
+
     # Teardown
     run_teardown "$name" >/dev/null 2>&1
     if ! file_exists "$name" /etc/NetworkManager/dnsmasq.d/fips.conf; then
@@ -355,11 +600,259 @@ DOCKERFILE
     cleanup_container "$name"
 }
 
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+# End-to-end scenarios — run a real fips + fips-gateway, configure
+# DNS via the script, dig through systemd-resolved.
+#
+# Parameterized across Debian 12/13 and Ubuntu 22/24/26. The fips
+# and fips-gateway binaries are built once in a Debian 12 builder
+# image (lowest glibc target → forward-compatible with all newer
+# distros) and copied into each per-distro runtime image.
+# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+# Args: <distro_label> <docker_base_image> <apt_packages>
+# distro_label: short tag for container/image names (e.g. "debian12")
+# docker_base_image: e.g. "debian:12", "ubuntu:26.04"
+# apt_packages: space-separated apt-get install list. Ubuntu 22.04
+#   bundles systemd-resolved into systemd, so the package list there
+#   is "systemd iproute2 dbus dnsutils libdbus-1-3 procps" (no
+#   separate systemd-resolved). Other distros want
+#   "systemd systemd-resolved iproute2 dbus dnsutils libdbus-1-3 procps".
+_run_e2e_scenario() {
+    local distro_label="$1"
+    local base_image="$2"
+    local apt_packages="$3"
+
+    local name="fips-dns-test-e2e-${distro_label}"
+    local image="fips-dns-test:e2e-${distro_label}"
+    log "End-to-end: ${base_image} + systemd-resolved + real fips + fips-gateway + dig"
+
+    build_fips_for_e2e || { fail "fips build failed"; return; }
+
+    if [ ! -x "$FIPS_BIN_CACHE" ] || [ ! -x "$FIPS_GATEWAY_BIN_CACHE" ]; then
+        fail "binaries not available at $CACHE_DIR"
+        return
+    fi
+
+    log "Building e2e runtime image (${base_image})"
+    cp "$FIPS_BIN_CACHE" "$CACHE_DIR/fips-bin-for-image"
+    cp "$FIPS_GATEWAY_BIN_CACHE" "$CACHE_DIR/fips-gateway-bin-for-image"
+    build_image "$image" "$(cat <<DOCKERFILE
+FROM ${base_image}
+ENV DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \\
+    ${apt_packages} && \\
+    apt-get clean && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* && \\
+    systemctl enable systemd-resolved && \\
+    mkdir -p /etc/fips
+COPY testing/dns-resolver/.cache/fips-bin-for-image /usr/bin/fips
+COPY testing/dns-resolver/.cache/fips-gateway-bin-for-image /usr/bin/fips-gateway
+RUN chmod +x /usr/bin/fips /usr/bin/fips-gateway
+CMD ["/lib/systemd/systemd"]
+DOCKERFILE
+    )" || { fail "runtime build failed"; rm -f "$CACHE_DIR/fips-bin-for-image" "$CACHE_DIR/fips-gateway-bin-for-image"; return; }
+    rm -f "$CACHE_DIR/fips-bin-for-image" "$CACHE_DIR/fips-gateway-bin-for-image"
+
+    start_systemd_container_with_tun "$name" "$image"
+    wait_for_systemd "$name"
+
+    # Write a minimal fips.yaml that exercises the new defaults.
+    # tun.enabled: true so the daemon creates fips0 itself; identity
+    # persistent so /etc/fips/fips.pub gives us a stable npub to query.
+    docker exec "$name" bash -c 'cat > /etc/fips/fips.yaml <<EOF
+node:
+  identity:
+    persistent: true
+  log_level: debug
+tun:
+  enabled: true
+  name: fips0
+dns:
+  enabled: true
+  port: 5354
+EOF'
+
+    # Start fips in the background.
+    log "Starting fips in container"
+    docker exec -d "$name" bash -c '/usr/bin/fips --config /etc/fips/fips.yaml >/var/log/fips.log 2>&1'
+
+    # Wait for the DNS responder to bind.
+    local ready=0
+    for _i in $(seq 1 "$DAEMON_TIMEOUT"); do
+        if docker exec "$name" ss -uln 2>/dev/null | grep -q ':5354'; then
+            ready=1
+            break
+        fi
+        sleep 1
+    done
+    if [ "$ready" = "1" ]; then
+        pass "fips DNS listener up on port 5354"
+    else
+        fail "fips DNS listener did not appear within ${DAEMON_TIMEOUT}s"
+        echo "  --- fips log ---"
+        docker exec "$name" tail -30 /var/log/fips.log 2>&1 || true
+        echo "  --- ss -uln ---"
+        docker exec "$name" ss -ulnp 2>&1 || true
+        cleanup_container "$name"
+        return
+    fi
+
+    # Confirm the daemon picked up the new ::1 default bind. Strip
+    # ANSI color codes from the log line before matching since the
+    # tracing-subscriber default formatter wraps fields in escape codes.
+    local bind_line
+    bind_line=$(docker exec "$name" grep -m1 "DNS responder started" /var/log/fips.log 2>/dev/null \
+                | sed -r 's/\x1b\[[0-9;]*m//g' || echo "")
+    echo "  daemon log: $bind_line"
+    if echo "$bind_line" | grep -qE "bind=\[?::1\]?:5354"; then
+        pass "daemon bound on [::1]:5354 (new default)"
+    else
+        fail "daemon bind line missing or wrong: $bind_line"
+    fi
+
+    # Run setup.
+    local output
+    output=$(run_setup "$name" 2>&1)
+    echo "  setup output: $output"
+
+    # Pick expected backend based on systemd version: dns-delegate
+    # on >= 258, global-drop-in otherwise. Either way the backend
+    # must target [::1]:5354 for the daemon to receive queries.
+    local ver
+    ver=$(container_systemd_version "$name")
+    local expected_backend
+    if [ -n "$ver" ] && [ "$ver" -ge 258 ]; then
+        expected_backend="dns-delegate"
+    else
+        expected_backend="global-drop-in"
+    fi
+    local backend
+    backend=$(get_backend "$name")
+    if [ "$backend" = "$expected_backend" ]; then
+        pass "setup picked $expected_backend backend (systemd $ver)"
+    else
+        fail "expected $expected_backend (systemd $ver), got: $backend"
+    fi
+
+    # Wait briefly for systemd-resolved to apply the new config.
+    sleep 2
+
+    # Pull the daemon's npub from the persistent identity file.
+    local npub
+    npub=$(docker exec "$name" cat /etc/fips/fips.pub 2>/dev/null | tr -d '[:space:]')
+    if [ -z "$npub" ]; then
+        fail "no /etc/fips/fips.pub after daemon start"
+        echo "  --- /etc/fips ---"
+        docker exec "$name" ls -la /etc/fips/ 2>&1 || true
+        cleanup_container "$name"
+        return
+    fi
+    echo "  daemon npub: $npub"
+
+    # Direct dig to the daemon's loopback bind — must succeed.
+    local direct_output
+    direct_output=$(docker exec "$name" dig +tries=1 +time=3 @::1 -p 5354 AAAA "${npub}.fips" 2>&1)
+    if echo "$direct_output" | grep -qE '^[a-zA-Z0-9].*\sAAAA\s+[0-9a-f:]+'; then
+        pass "direct dig @::1#5354 returns AAAA"
+    else
+        fail "direct dig @::1#5354 did not return AAAA"
+        echo "  --- dig output ---"
+        echo "$direct_output" | tail -15
+    fi
+
+    # End-to-end via systemd-resolved stub.
+    local stub_output
+    stub_output=$(docker exec "$name" dig +tries=1 +time=3 @127.0.0.53 AAAA "${npub}.fips" 2>&1)
+    if echo "$stub_output" | grep -qE '^[a-zA-Z0-9].*\sAAAA\s+[0-9a-f:]+'; then
+        pass "end-to-end dig @127.0.0.53 returns AAAA (the bug fix)"
+    else
+        fail "end-to-end dig @127.0.0.53 did not return AAAA"
+        echo "  --- dig output ---"
+        echo "$stub_output" | tail -15
+        echo "  --- resolved status ---"
+        docker exec "$name" resolvectl status 2>&1 | tail -20 || true
+        echo "  --- daemon log tail ---"
+        docker exec "$name" tail -30 /var/log/fips.log 2>&1 || true
+    fi
+
+    # Verify fips-gateway's DNS upstream reachability check passes
+    # against the daemon's new ::1 default. This locks the regression
+    # class where the gateway default (was 127.0.0.1:5354) and the
+    # daemon default (now [::1]:5354) drift apart on Linux IPv6
+    # sockets that don't accept v4-mapped traffic.
+    docker exec "$name" bash -c 'cat > /tmp/gateway-test.yaml <<EOF
+node:
+  identity:
+    persistent: true
+gateway:
+  enabled: true
+  pool: "fd01::/112"
+  lan_interface: "eth0"
+EOF'
+    # fips-gateway checks IPv6 forwarding before the DNS upstream
+    # reachability check; enable forwarding so we get to the check we
+    # actually want to test.
+    docker exec "$name" sysctl -w net.ipv6.conf.all.forwarding=1 >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+    docker exec -d "$name" bash -c '/usr/bin/fips-gateway --config /tmp/gateway-test.yaml >/var/log/fips-gateway.log 2>&1 || true'
+
+    # Wait briefly for the upstream-reachability log line to appear
+    # one way or the other.
+    local gw_ok=0
+    for _i in $(seq 1 5); do
+        if docker exec "$name" grep -q "DNS upstream is reachable" /var/log/fips-gateway.log 2>/dev/null; then
+            gw_ok=1
+            break
+        fi
+        if docker exec "$name" grep -qE "DNS upstream did not respond|Failed to send DNS probe|DNS upstream recv failed" /var/log/fips-gateway.log 2>/dev/null; then
+            break
+        fi
+        sleep 1
+    done
+    if [ "$gw_ok" = "1" ]; then
+        pass "fips-gateway reaches DNS upstream at [::1]:5354 (gateway/daemon default parity)"
+    else
+        fail "fips-gateway DNS upstream check failed — defaults drifted?"
+        echo "  --- fips-gateway log ---"
+        docker exec "$name" tail -20 /var/log/fips-gateway.log 2>&1 || true
+    fi
+    # Stop the gateway (it will likely have failed past the upstream
+    # check on something unrelated in this minimal container — we only
+    # care that the upstream reachability step succeeded).
+    docker exec "$name" pkill -f fips-gateway 2>/dev/null || true
+
+    # Teardown via the script: backend config file must be removed
+    # (path varies by backend selected above).
+    local teardown_path
+    if [ "$expected_backend" = "dns-delegate" ]; then
+        teardown_path="/etc/systemd/dns-delegate.d/fips.dns-delegate"
+    else
+        teardown_path="/etc/systemd/resolved.conf.d/fips.conf"
+    fi
+    run_teardown "$name" >/dev/null 2>&1
+    if ! file_exists "$name" "$teardown_path"; then
+        pass "teardown removed $expected_backend config at $teardown_path"
+    else
+        fail "$expected_backend config still present after teardown at $teardown_path"
+    fi
+
+    cleanup_container "$name"
+}
+
+# Per-distro wrappers
+_pkgs_with_resolved="systemd systemd-resolved iproute2 dbus dnsutils libdbus-1-3 procps"
+_pkgs_ubuntu22="systemd iproute2 dbus dnsutils libdbus-1-3 procps"
+
+test_e2e_debian12() { _run_e2e_scenario debian12 debian:12       "$_pkgs_with_resolved"; }
+test_e2e_debian13() { _run_e2e_scenario debian13 debian:trixie   "$_pkgs_with_resolved"; }
+test_e2e_ubuntu22() { _run_e2e_scenario ubuntu22 ubuntu:22.04    "$_pkgs_ubuntu22"; }
+test_e2e_ubuntu24() { _run_e2e_scenario ubuntu24 ubuntu:24.04    "$_pkgs_with_resolved"; }
+test_e2e_ubuntu26() { _run_e2e_scenario ubuntu26 ubuntu:26.04    "$_pkgs_with_resolved"; }
+
 # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 # Main
 # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-ALL_SCENARIOS="debian12-resolved debian13-resolved dnsmasq nm-dnsmasq no-resolver"
+ALL_SCENARIOS="debian12-resolved debian13-resolved ubuntu22-resolved ubuntu24-resolved ubuntu26-resolved dnsmasq nm-dnsmasq no-resolver e2e-debian12 e2e-debian13 e2e-ubuntu22 e2e-ubuntu24 e2e-ubuntu26"
 
 if [ $# -eq 0 ]; then
     scenarios="$ALL_SCENARIOS"
@@ -371,9 +864,17 @@ for scenario in $scenarios; do
     case "$scenario" in
         debian12-resolved) test_debian12_resolved ;;
         debian13-resolved) test_debian13_resolved ;;
+        ubuntu22-resolved) test_ubuntu22_resolved ;;
+        ubuntu24-resolved) test_ubuntu24_resolved ;;
+        ubuntu26-resolved) test_ubuntu26_resolved ;;
         dnsmasq)           test_dnsmasq ;;
         nm-dnsmasq)        test_nm_dnsmasq ;;
         no-resolver)       test_no_resolver ;;
+        e2e-debian12)      test_e2e_debian12 ;;
+        e2e-debian13)      test_e2e_debian13 ;;
+        e2e-ubuntu22)      test_e2e_ubuntu22 ;;
+        e2e-ubuntu24)      test_e2e_ubuntu24 ;;
+        e2e-ubuntu26)      test_e2e_ubuntu26 ;;
         *)
             echo "Unknown scenario: $scenario"
             echo "Available: $ALL_SCENARIOS"