diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 9fbbd6e..976a882 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ checksum = "1d07550c9036bf2ae0c684c4297d503f838287c83c53686d05370d0e139ae570"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "cortiq-gateway"
-version = "0.2.5"
+version = "0.2.6"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "arc-swap",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index b3533a9..419ab70 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "cortiq-gateway"
-version = "0.2.5"
+version = "0.2.6"
 edition = "2021"
 rust-version = "1.75"
 license = "Apache-2.0"
diff --git a/config/gateway.example.toml b/config/gateway.example.toml
index 7f269fe..98e8a2c 100644
--- a/config/gateway.example.toml
+++ b/config/gateway.example.toml
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ max_entries = 1000
 manage_server = false                # true → gateway spawns `cortiq serve` at startup
 local_model   = "models/model.cmf"   # path to the .cmf to serve
 local_host    = "127.0.0.1"
-local_port    = 8081                  # must match the cmf-local base_url above
+local_port    = 8081                  # confirm it's free in Settings → "Check port" (8081 often clashes with Docker/Apache)
 model_id      = "cmf-local"           # id it registers under (matches [[models]])
 threads       = 8                     # decode worker threads (CMF_THREADS); ~3x vs serial
 gpu           = false                 # offload matvecs to GPU (Metal/wgpu); mainly a prefill win
diff --git a/src/admin/mod.rs b/src/admin/mod.rs
index 07b66d3..3a1e555 100644
--- a/src/admin/mod.rs
+++ b/src/admin/mod.rs
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ use axum::{
 use serde::Deserialize;
 use serde_json::{json, Value};
 use std::collections::HashMap;
+use std::net::ToSocketAddrs;
 use std::time::Instant;
 
 // ───────────────────────────── common types / helpers ───────────────────────
@@ -171,6 +172,9 @@ pub fn api_routes(admin_token: String) -> Router<SharedState> {
         .route("/admin/api/import/:job", get(import_status).delete(delete_import))
         .route("/admin/api/import/:job/cancel", post(cancel_import))
         .route("/admin/api/import/:job/register", post(register_import))
+        .route("/admin/api/cmf", get(cmf_status))
+        .route("/admin/api/cmf/install", post(cmf_install))
+        .route("/admin/api/cmf/port", get(cmf_port_check))
         .route("/admin/api/requests", get(get_requests))
         .route("/admin/api/test", post(run_test))
         .route("/admin/api/test/stream", post(run_test_stream))
@@ -671,6 +675,107 @@ async fn put_settings(State(state): State<SharedState>, Json(b): Json<SettingsBo
     ok(json!({ "ok": true, "needs_restart": needs_restart }))
 }
 
+// ───────────────────────────── cmf runtime ─────────────────────────────────
+/// Status of the `cortiq` CLI (the CMF format runtime): is it installed, which
+/// version, and whether a managed server is running. Drives the "Install cortiq"
+/// button + status in the Settings → Local models card.
+async fn cmf_status(State(state): State<SharedState>) -> ApiResult {
+    let cmf = state.live().cfg.cmf.clone();
+    let ver = crate::cmf_runtime::installed_version(&cmf.cortiq_bin);
+    let st = state.cmf.status();
+    ok(json!({
+        "installed": ver.is_some(),
+        "version": ver,
+        "running": st.running,
+        "healthy": st.healthy,
+        "last_error": st.last_error,
+        "log": st.log,
+        // serving info so the card can show "serving <model> on :<port>"
+        "manage_server": cmf.manage_server,
+        "local_model": cmf.local_model,
+        "model_id": cmf.model_id,
+        "local_host": cmf.local_host,
+        "local_port": cmf.local_port,
+    }))
+}
+
+/// Install/upgrade the `cortiq` CLI from crates.io on demand (spawned in the
+/// background; poll `GET /admin/api/cmf` for `installed`/`version`).
+async fn cmf_install(State(state): State<SharedState>) -> ApiResult {
+    let bin = state.live().cfg.cmf.cortiq_bin.clone();
+    tokio::spawn(crate::cmf_runtime::install_now(state.cmf.clone(), bin));
+    ok(json!({ "started": true }))
+}
+
+#[derive(Deserialize)]
+struct PortQuery {
+    port: u16,
+}
+
+/// Check whether a TCP port is free to bind on the CMF local host, so a user can
+/// pick an available port before enabling the managed server (avoids clashing
+/// with something already on the default 8081). If the port is the one this
+/// gateway's own managed server already runs on, that is reported distinctly.
+/// When occupied, `suggested` holds the next free port so the UI can offer it.
+async fn cmf_port_check(State(state): State<SharedState>, Query(q): Query<PortQuery>) -> ApiResult {
+    let cmf = state.live().cfg.cmf.clone();
+    let host = if cmf.local_host.trim().is_empty() {
+        "127.0.0.1".to_string()
+    } else {
+        cmf.local_host.clone()
+    };
+    let st = state.cmf.status();
+    let port = q.port;
+    let running_here = port == cmf.local_port && st.running;
+
+    // The bind+connect probe is blocking std::net; run it off the async runtime.
+    let (available, detail, suggested) = tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
+        if running_here {
+            return (false, "in use by this gateway's managed CMF server", None);
+        }
+        if port_is_free(&host, port) {
+            (true, "free", None)
+        } else {
+            (false, "occupied by another process", next_free_port(&host, port))
+        }
+    })
+    .await
+    .unwrap_or((false, "port check failed", None));
+
+    ok(json!({
+        "port": port,
+        "available": available,
+        "detail": detail,
+        "suggested": suggested,
+    }))
+}
+
+/// Whether `port` is truly free on `host`. A bind test alone is not enough: a
+/// Docker-published / dual-stack listener can leave an IPv4 bind succeeding even
+/// though connections to the port are forwarded to a container. So a port counts
+/// as free only if it is BOTH bindable AND nothing answers a connect attempt.
+fn port_is_free(host: &str, port: u16) -> bool {
+    if std::net::TcpListener::bind((host, port)).is_err() {
+        return false; // something is bound to exactly this address
+    }
+    // catch proxied/forwarded ports a bind test misses (e.g. Docker on macOS)
+    let reachable = (host, port)
+        .to_socket_addrs()
+        .ok()
+        .and_then(|mut it| it.next())
+        .map(|addr| {
+            std::net::TcpStream::connect_timeout(&addr, std::time::Duration::from_millis(200))
+                .is_ok()
+        })
+        .unwrap_or(false);
+    !reachable
+}
+
+/// First free port in (from, from+50], or None if all are taken.
+fn next_free_port(host: &str, from: u16) -> Option<u16> {
+    (from.saturating_add(1)..=from.saturating_add(50)).find(|p| port_is_free(host, *p))
+}
+
 // ───────────────────────────── keys ────────────────────────────────────────
 
 async fn list_keys(State(state): State<SharedState>) -> ApiResult {
diff --git a/src/cmf_runtime.rs b/src/cmf_runtime.rs
index 17bbf92..19db1e3 100644
--- a/src/cmf_runtime.rs
+++ b/src/cmf_runtime.rs
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ async fn latest_crates_version() -> Option<String> {
 }
 
 /// `<bin> --version` → the trailing version token (e.g. "cortiq 0.1.2" → "0.1.2").
-fn installed_version(bin: &str) -> Option<String> {
+pub(crate) fn installed_version(bin: &str) -> Option<String> {
     let out = std::process::Command::new(bin).arg("--version").output().ok()?;
     if !out.status.success() {
         return None;
@@ -152,6 +152,21 @@ async fn cargo_install(force: bool) -> Result<(), String> {
     }
 }
 
+/// Install/upgrade `cortiq-cli` from crates.io on demand (the admin "Install
+/// cortiq" button). Runs in the background; progress + result land in the CMF
+/// status log, and `installed_version` is refreshed on success.
+pub async fn install_now(rt: Arc<CmfRuntime>, bin: String) {
+    rt.log("installing cortiq-cli from crates.io (this compiles — a few minutes)…");
+    match cargo_install(true).await {
+        Ok(()) => {
+            let v = installed_version(&bin);
+            rt.status.lock().unwrap().installed_version = v.clone();
+            rt.log(format!("installed cortiq-cli {}", v.as_deref().unwrap_or("?")));
+        }
+        Err(e) => rt.fail(format!("cargo install cortiq-cli failed: {e}")),
+    }
+}
+
 /// Spawn `cortiq serve <model> --host <host> --port <port>`; the child is killed
 /// when its handle is dropped (i.e. when the gateway shuts down).
 fn spawn_serve(cfg: &CmfCfg) -> Result<Child, String> {
diff --git a/web/css/styles.css b/web/css/styles.css
index 6005239..0d4c04e 100644
--- a/web/css/styles.css
+++ b/web/css/styles.css
@@ -177,6 +177,18 @@ textarea { resize: vertical; min-height: 64px; }
 .check input { width: auto; }
 .hint { color: var(--faint); font-size: 12px; margin-top: 4px; }
 
+/* "?" help badge — hover/focus shows the native title tooltip explaining a setting */
+.help {
+  display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;
+  width: 15px; height: 15px; border-radius: 50%;
+  border: 1px solid var(--border); background: var(--panel);
+  color: var(--muted); font-size: 10px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1;
+  cursor: help; vertical-align: middle; user-select: none;
+  transition: 0.12s;
+}
+.help:hover, .help:focus { color: var(--accent); border-color: var(--accent); outline: none; }
+label.field > span .help { text-transform: none; }
+
 /* ---- buttons ------------------------------------------------------------- */
 .btn {
   display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; gap: 8px;
diff --git a/web/js/api.js b/web/js/api.js
index 74a027b..f869d26 100644
--- a/web/js/api.js
+++ b/web/js/api.js
@@ -95,6 +95,11 @@ export const api = {
   // shadow / self-warming loop
   shadow: () => j("GET", "/shadow"),
 
+  // CMF runtime (the `cortiq` CLI that runs the .cmf format)
+  cmfStatus: () => j("GET", "/cmf"),
+  cmfInstall: () => j("POST", "/cmf/install"),
+  cmfPortCheck: (port) => j("GET", "/cmf/port?port=" + encodeURIComponent(port)),
+
   // CMF model factory (HuggingFace → local .cmf)
   hfSearch: (q, limit = 24) =>
     j("GET", `/hf/search?q=${encodeURIComponent(q || "")}&limit=${limit}`),
diff --git a/web/js/i18n/en.js b/web/js/i18n/en.js
index 8e899d1..f68169c 100644
--- a/web/js/i18n/en.js
+++ b/web/js/i18n/en.js
@@ -242,6 +242,38 @@ export default {
   "settings.cmf.threads": "Worker threads",
   "settings.cmf.gpu": "Use GPU (Metal / wgpu)",
   "settings.cmf.speedNote": "Threads parallelise the decode matvecs (~3x faster; 0 = runtime default). GPU offload mainly helps prefill of long prompts — decode is memory-bandwidth-bound, so on Apple Silicon it is roughly neutral.",
+  "settings.cmf.checkPort": "Check port",
+  "settings.cmf.portFree": "port is free",
+  "settings.cmf.portBusy": "port is in use",
+  "settings.cmf.useSuggested": "use {port}",
+  "settings.cmf.serving": "serving {model} on :{port}",
+  "settings.cmf.intro": "Run models locally with the cortiq engine — works even offline or when the router is down.",
+  "settings.cmf.runtime": "cortiq runtime",
+  "settings.cmf.runtimeHelp": "The `cortiq` command-line tool that loads and runs .cmf models. Install it once before starting a local server.",
+  "settings.cmf.install": "Install cortiq",
+  "settings.cmf.reinstall": "Reinstall / update",
+  "settings.cmf.installing": "installing… (compiles, a few minutes)",
+  "settings.cmf.installedOk": "cortiq installed",
+  "settings.cmf.notInstalled": "not installed",
+  "settings.cmf.addModel": "Add a model",
+  "settings.cmf.addModelHelp": "Models are downloaded and converted in the Import tab (HuggingFace → .cmf). Then point the local server at the .cmf file below.",
+  "settings.cmf.importNote": "No model yet? Import one:",
+  "settings.cmf.importLink": "Open Import",
+  "settings.cmf.modelHelp": "Path to the .cmf file to serve (e.g. models/qwen.cmf), produced by the Import tab. Running several models for different tasks? Import them and switch this path.",
+  "settings.cmf.portHelp": "TCP port the local model server listens on (default 8081). Change only if it clashes with another service.",
+  "settings.cmf.threadsHelp": "How many CPU cores to use for generation. More = faster (~3× vs 1 core); 0 lets the runtime decide.",
+  "settings.cmf.gpuHelp": "Offload matrix math to the GPU (Metal/wgpu). On Apple Silicon this mostly speeds up long prompts — decode is memory-bandwidth-bound.",
+  "settings.cmf.localOnlyHelp": "Route every request to the local model, ignoring the router and any cloud providers.",
+  "settings.cmf.manageHelp": "The gateway starts `cortiq serve` for the .cmf below at launch and routes to it. Needs cortiq installed (step 1). Applies on restart.",
+  "settings.cmf.autoInstallHelp": "If cortiq is missing at startup, install it automatically from crates.io.",
+  "settings.cmf.autoUpdateHelp": "On startup, upgrade cortiq to the newest release when a newer one exists.",
+  "settings.router.enabledHelp": "Use the cortiq-router to classify each request (task type + complexity) and pick a model. Off = use the local routing table only.",
+  "settings.router.verifyTlsHelp": "Verify the router's TLS certificate. Turn off only for a self-signed / IP-bound certificate.",
+  "settings.telemetry.metricsHelp": "Expose Prometheus metrics at GET /metrics.",
+  "settings.cortiq.echoHelp": "Add a `cortiq` field (task, model, cost) to each response body. Response headers are always sent.",
+  "settings.stats.enabledHelp": "Record recent requests to power the dashboard and charts.",
+  "settings.cache.enabledHelp": "Semantic cache: return a saved answer when a new prompt is very similar to a past one, skipping the model call. Needs an embedding model in the pool.",
+  "settings.log.bodiesHelp": "Log full request/response message bodies. Off by default for privacy.",
   "settings.router.taxonomy": "Taxonomy id",
   "settings.router.getKey": "Get or top up a router key at",
   "settings.router.secret": "Router key (value)",
diff --git a/web/js/i18n/ru.js b/web/js/i18n/ru.js
index 2bc4a2a..8cfc521 100644
--- a/web/js/i18n/ru.js
+++ b/web/js/i18n/ru.js
@@ -241,6 +241,38 @@ export default {
   "settings.cmf.threads": "Рабочие потоки",
   "settings.cmf.gpu": "Использовать GPU (Metal / wgpu)",
   "settings.cmf.speedNote": "Потоки распараллеливают декод-матвеки (~×3; 0 = по умолчанию рантайма). GPU-оффлоад помогает в основном на prefill длинных промптов — декод упирается в пропускную способность памяти, поэтому на Apple Silicon почти нейтрален.",
+  "settings.cmf.checkPort": "Проверить порт",
+  "settings.cmf.portFree": "порт свободен",
+  "settings.cmf.portBusy": "порт занят",
+  "settings.cmf.useSuggested": "занять {port}",
+  "settings.cmf.serving": "работает: {model} на :{port}",
+  "settings.cmf.intro": "Запускайте модели локально движком cortiq — работает даже офлайн или когда роутер недоступен.",
+  "settings.cmf.runtime": "Среда cortiq",
+  "settings.cmf.runtimeHelp": "Инструмент командной строки `cortiq`, который загружает и запускает .cmf-модели. Установите один раз перед запуском локального сервера.",
+  "settings.cmf.install": "Установить cortiq",
+  "settings.cmf.reinstall": "Переустановить / обновить",
+  "settings.cmf.installing": "устанавливается… (компилируется, пара минут)",
+  "settings.cmf.installedOk": "cortiq установлен",
+  "settings.cmf.notInstalled": "не установлен",
+  "settings.cmf.addModel": "Добавить модель",
+  "settings.cmf.addModelHelp": "Модели скачиваются и конвертируются во вкладке Импорт (HuggingFace → .cmf). Затем укажите путь к .cmf ниже.",
+  "settings.cmf.importNote": "Ещё нет модели? Импортируйте:",
+  "settings.cmf.importLink": "Открыть Импорт",
+  "settings.cmf.modelHelp": "Путь к .cmf-файлу для запуска (напр. models/qwen.cmf), создаётся во вкладке Импорт. Несколько моделей под разные задачи? Импортируйте их и меняйте этот путь.",
+  "settings.cmf.portHelp": "TCP-порт локального сервера моделей (по умолчанию 8081). Меняйте, только если конфликтует с другим сервисом.",
+  "settings.cmf.threadsHelp": "Сколько ядер CPU использовать для генерации. Больше = быстрее (~×3 против 1 ядра); 0 — на усмотрение рантайма.",
+  "settings.cmf.gpuHelp": "Выгрузить матричные операции на GPU (Metal/wgpu). На Apple Silicon ускоряет в основном длинные промпты — декод упирается в пропускную способность памяти.",
+  "settings.cmf.localOnlyHelp": "Направлять все запросы в локальную модель, игнорируя роутер и облачные провайдеры.",
+  "settings.cmf.manageHelp": "Шлюз запускает `cortiq serve` для .cmf ниже при старте и маршрутизирует в него. Нужен установленный cortiq (шаг 1). Применяется после перезапуска.",
+  "settings.cmf.autoInstallHelp": "Если cortiq не найден при старте — установить автоматически с crates.io.",
+  "settings.cmf.autoUpdateHelp": "При старте обновлять cortiq до новейшей версии, когда есть новее.",
+  "settings.router.enabledHelp": "Использовать cortiq-router для классификации запроса (тип задачи + сложность) и выбора модели. Выкл = только локальная таблица маршрутизации.",
+  "settings.router.verifyTlsHelp": "Проверять TLS-сертификат роутера. Выключайте только для самоподписанного / привязанного к IP сертификата.",
+  "settings.telemetry.metricsHelp": "Отдавать метрики Prometheus по GET /metrics.",
+  "settings.cortiq.echoHelp": "Добавлять поле `cortiq` (задача, модель, стоимость) в тело каждого ответа. Заголовки ответа шлются всегда.",
+  "settings.stats.enabledHelp": "Записывать недавние запросы для дашборда и графиков.",
+  "settings.cache.enabledHelp": "Семантический кэш: возвращать сохранённый ответ, когда новый промпт очень похож на прошлый, пропуская вызов модели. Нужна embedding-модель в пуле.",
+  "settings.log.bodiesHelp": "Логировать полные тела запросов/ответов. По умолчанию выкл ради приватности.",
   "settings.router.taxonomy": "ID таксономии",
   "settings.router.getKey": "Получить или пополнить ключ роутера:",
   "settings.router.secret": "Ключ роутера (значение)",
diff --git a/web/js/views/settings.js b/web/js/views/settings.js
index acf8a3e..6b74289 100644
--- a/web/js/views/settings.js
+++ b/web/js/views/settings.js
@@ -4,12 +4,22 @@ import { t } from "../i18n.js";
 import { api } from "../api.js";
 import { appState, SITE_URL } from "../app.js";
 
-function field(label, control, hint) {
-  return h("label", { class: "field" }, h("span", {}, label), control, hint ? h("div", { class: "hint" }, hint) : null);
+// A small "?" badge with a hover/focus tooltip explaining a setting.
+function help(text) {
+  return text ? h("span", { class: "help", title: text, tabindex: "0", role: "img", "aria-label": text }, "?") : null;
 }
-function check(label, checked) {
+function field(label, control, hint, helpText) {
+  return h(
+    "label",
+    { class: "field" },
+    h("span", {}, label, helpText ? " " : null, help(helpText)),
+    control,
+    hint ? h("div", { class: "hint" }, hint) : null
+  );
+}
+function check(label, checked, helpText) {
   const cb = h("input", { type: "checkbox", checked: checked ? true : null });
-  return { node: h("label", { class: "check" }, cb, label), cb };
+  return { node: h("label", { class: "check" }, cb, label, helpText ? " " : null, help(helpText)), cb };
 }
 
 // Flatten router usage (nested account/usage objects) into readable, wrapping
@@ -59,8 +69,8 @@ export async function renderSettings() {
   const rKeyEnv = h("input", { value: s.router?.api_key_env || "", placeholder: "CORTIQ_ROUTER_KEY" });
   const rTimeout = h("input", { type: "number", value: s.router?.timeout_ms ?? 800 });
   const rTax = h("input", { value: s.router?.taxonomy_id || "" });
-  const rVerify = check(t("settings.router.verifyTls"), s.router?.verify_tls);
-  const rEnabled = check(t("settings.router.enabled"), s.router?.enabled !== false);
+  const rVerify = check(t("settings.router.verifyTls"), s.router?.verify_tls, t("settings.router.verifyTlsHelp"));
+  const rEnabled = check(t("settings.router.enabled"), s.router?.enabled !== false, t("settings.router.enabledHelp"));
   // router key value (write-only; stored in the secret store, like model keys)
   const rKeySource =
     (secretsData.secrets || []).find((x) => x.name === (s.router?.api_key_env || "CORTIQ_ROUTER_KEY"))?.source ||
@@ -108,37 +118,16 @@ export async function renderSettings() {
     rKeyBadge.className = "badge store";
     return true;
   }
-  const saveKeyBtn = h("button", { class: "btn sm" }, "✓ " + t("settings.router.saveKey"));
-  saveKeyBtn.addEventListener("click", async () => {
-    saveKeyBtn.disabled = true;
-    try {
-      if (await saveKey()) toast(t("settings.router.keySaved"), "good");
-      else toast(t("settings.router.keyEmpty"), "warn");
-    } catch (e) {
-      toast(String(e.message || e), "bad");
-    }
-    saveKeyBtn.disabled = false;
-  });
-  // "Test router" — real /v1/route call: tells key problems apart from a down router
-  const probeBtn = h("button", { class: "btn" }, t("settings.router.test"));
+  // Shared connection test (real /v1/route call) — tells key problems apart from
+  // a down router. Rendered into probeOut; also used right after saving the key.
   const probeOut = h("div", { class: "hint", style: "margin-top:8px" });
-  probeBtn.addEventListener("click", async () => {
-    probeBtn.disabled = true;
+  async function runProbe() {
     mount(probeOut, h("span", { class: "spinner" }));
     try {
-      // If a key was just pasted but not saved, persist it first so the test uses it.
-      if (rSecret.value.trim()) {
-        try {
-          await saveKey();
-        } catch (_) {
-          /* fall through — probe will report no_key/auth */
-        }
-      }
       const r = await api.probeRouter();
       const parts = [t(probeMsgKey(r.status), { ms: r.latency_ms ?? "—" })];
       if (r.message) parts.push(" — " + r.message);
-      const line = h("span", {}, ...parts);
-      const out = [line];
+      const out = [h("span", {}, ...parts)];
       if (PROBE_SITE_STATUSES.includes(r.status)) {
         out.push(" · ", h("a", { href: SITE_URL, target: "_blank", rel: "noopener" }, t("dash.health.getKey") + " ↗"));
       }
@@ -150,9 +139,37 @@ export async function renderSettings() {
       }
       mount(probeOut, h("div", {}, h("span", { class: "badge " + (r.ok ? "ok" : "bad") }, r.ok ? "OK" : "×"), " ", ...out));
       toast(t(probeMsgKey(r.status), { ms: r.latency_ms ?? "—" }), r.ok ? "good" : "bad");
+      return r.ok;
     } catch (e) {
       mount(probeOut, String(e.message || e));
+      return false;
     }
+  }
+  const saveKeyBtn = h("button", { class: "btn sm" }, "✓ " + t("settings.router.saveKey"));
+  saveKeyBtn.addEventListener("click", async () => {
+    saveKeyBtn.disabled = true;
+    try {
+      if (await saveKey()) {
+        toast(t("settings.router.keySaved"), "good");
+        // Immediately test the connection so the user sees reachable/error at once,
+        // instead of a stale "unavailable" until something re-checks.
+        if (rEnabled.cb.checked) await runProbe();
+      } else {
+        toast(t("settings.router.keyEmpty"), "warn");
+      }
+    } catch (e) {
+      toast(String(e.message || e), "bad");
+    }
+    saveKeyBtn.disabled = false;
+  });
+  const probeBtn = h("button", { class: "btn" }, t("settings.router.test"));
+  probeBtn.addEventListener("click", async () => {
+    probeBtn.disabled = true;
+    // If a key was pasted but not saved, persist it first so the test uses it.
+    if (rSecret.value.trim()) {
+      try { await saveKey(); } catch (_) { /* probe will report no_key/auth */ }
+    }
+    await runProbe();
     probeBtn.disabled = false;
   });
   // route
@@ -165,18 +182,18 @@ export async function renderSettings() {
   const brCool = h("input", { value: s.breaker?.cooldown || "30s" });
   // log
   const logSel = h("select", {}, ...["error", "warn", "info", "debug", "trace"].map((x) => h("option", { value: x, selected: x === s.log?.level }, x)));
-  const logBodies = check(t("settings.log.bodies"), s.log?.bodies);
+  const logBodies = check(t("settings.log.bodies"), s.log?.bodies, t("settings.log.bodiesHelp"));
   // telemetry / cortiq
-  const metricsCb = check(t("settings.telemetry.metrics"), s.telemetry?.metrics);
-  const echoCb = check(t("settings.cortiq.echo"), s.cortiq?.echo);
+  const metricsCb = check(t("settings.telemetry.metrics"), s.telemetry?.metrics, t("settings.telemetry.metricsHelp"));
+  const echoCb = check(t("settings.cortiq.echo"), s.cortiq?.echo, t("settings.cortiq.echoHelp"));
   // stats
-  const statsEnabled = check(t("settings.stats.enabled"), s.stats?.enabled);
+  const statsEnabled = check(t("settings.stats.enabled"), s.stats?.enabled, t("settings.stats.enabledHelp"));
   const statsFile = h("input", { value: s.stats?.file || "" });
   const statsRet = h("input", { value: s.stats?.retention || "7d" });
   // cache
   const modelsData = await api.listModels();
   const embedModels = (modelsData.models || []).filter((m) => m.kind === "embedding").map((m) => m.id);
-  const cacheEnabled = check(t("settings.cache.enabled"), s.cache?.enabled);
+  const cacheEnabled = check(t("settings.cache.enabled"), s.cache?.enabled, t("settings.cache.enabledHelp"));
   const cacheThresh = h("input", { type: "number", step: "0.01", value: s.cache?.threshold ?? 0.92 });
   const cacheTtlIn = h("input", { value: s.cache?.ttl || "1h" });
   const cacheEmbedSel = h(
@@ -186,15 +203,93 @@ export async function renderSettings() {
     ...embedModels.map((id) => h("option", { value: id, selected: id === s.cache?.embed_model }, id))
   );
   // local models (CMF) — run a local .cmf server and/or force local-only routing
-  const cmfLocalOnly = check(t("settings.cmf.localOnly"), s.cmf?.local_only);
-  const cmfManage = check(t("settings.cmf.manage"), s.cmf?.manage_server);
-  const cmfAutoInstall = check(t("settings.cmf.autoInstall"), s.cmf?.auto_install);
-  const cmfAutoUpdate = check(t("settings.cmf.autoUpdate"), s.cmf?.auto_update);
-  const cmfModel = h("input", { value: s.cmf?.local_model || "", placeholder: "models/model.cmf" });
+  const cmfLocalOnly = check(t("settings.cmf.localOnly"), s.cmf?.local_only, t("settings.cmf.localOnlyHelp"));
+  const cmfManage = check(t("settings.cmf.manage"), s.cmf?.manage_server, t("settings.cmf.manageHelp"));
+  const cmfAutoInstall = check(t("settings.cmf.autoInstall"), s.cmf?.auto_install, t("settings.cmf.autoInstallHelp"));
+  const cmfAutoUpdate = check(t("settings.cmf.autoUpdate"), s.cmf?.auto_update, t("settings.cmf.autoUpdateHelp"));
+  const cmfModel = h("input", { value: s.cmf?.local_model || "", placeholder: "models/my-model.cmf" });
   const cmfPort = h("input", { type: "number", value: s.cmf?.local_port ?? 8081 });
-  const cmfModelId = h("input", { value: s.cmf?.model_id || "cmf-local" });
   const cmfThreads = h("input", { type: "number", min: 0, value: s.cmf?.threads ?? 8 });
-  const cmfGpu = check(t("settings.cmf.gpu"), s.cmf?.gpu);
+  const cmfGpu = check(t("settings.cmf.gpu"), s.cmf?.gpu, t("settings.cmf.gpuHelp"));
+  const cmfModelIdVal = s.cmf?.model_id || "cmf-local"; // auto — no manual "model id" field
+  // "Install cortiq" — the CLI that RUNS the .cmf format. Must be present before
+  // a local model server can start; this is step 1 for a new user.
+  const cmfStatusEl = h("span", { class: "muted" }, "…");
+  const cmfInstallBtn = h("button", { class: "btn" }, t("settings.cmf.install"));
+  // live "serving <model> on :<port>" indicator for the managed local server
+  const cmfServingEl = h("div", { class: "hint" });
+  async function refreshCmfStatus() {
+    try {
+      const st = await api.cmfStatus();
+      cmfInstallBtn.textContent = st.installed ? t("settings.cmf.reinstall") : t("settings.cmf.install");
+      mount(
+        cmfStatusEl,
+        st.installed
+          ? h("span", {}, h("span", { class: "badge ok" }, "✓"), " cortiq " + (st.version || ""))
+          : h("span", {}, h("span", { class: "badge bad" }, "×"), " " + t("settings.cmf.notInstalled"))
+      );
+      // reflect the managed server state under the "run locally" toggle
+      if (st.manage_server && st.running) {
+        mount(cmfServingEl, h("span", { style: "color:var(--good)" },
+          "▶ " + t("settings.cmf.serving", { model: st.model_id || "", port: st.local_port }) + (st.healthy ? "" : " …")));
+      } else if (st.last_error) {
+        mount(cmfServingEl, h("span", { style: "color:var(--bad)" }, "✗ " + st.last_error));
+      } else {
+        mount(cmfServingEl, "");
+      }
+    } catch (_) {
+      mount(cmfStatusEl, "—");
+    }
+  }
+  cmfInstallBtn.addEventListener("click", async () => {
+    cmfInstallBtn.disabled = true;
+    mount(cmfStatusEl, h("span", {}, h("span", { class: "spinner" }), " " + t("settings.cmf.installing")));
+    try {
+      await api.cmfInstall();
+      // install compiles from crates.io — poll status for a few minutes
+      for (let i = 0; i < 120; i++) {
+        await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 3000));
+        const st = await api.cmfStatus();
+        if (st.installed) { toast(t("settings.cmf.installedOk"), "good"); break; }
+        if (st.last_error) { toast(st.last_error, "bad"); break; }
+      }
+    } catch (e) {
+      toast(String(e.message || e), "bad");
+    }
+    await refreshCmfStatus();
+    cmfInstallBtn.disabled = false;
+  });
+  refreshCmfStatus();
+
+  // Port availability check — let the user confirm the chosen port is free
+  // before enabling the managed server (the default 8081 often clashes).
+  const cmfPortStatus = h("span", { class: "small", style: "margin-left:8px" });
+  const cmfPortCheckBtn = h("button", { class: "btn small", type: "button" }, t("settings.cmf.checkPort"));
+  async function checkPort() {
+    const p = parseInt(cmfPort.value, 10);
+    if (!p) { mount(cmfPortStatus, ""); return; }
+    cmfPortCheckBtn.disabled = true;
+    mount(cmfPortStatus, t("status.checking"));
+    try {
+      const r = await api.cmfPortCheck(p);
+      if (r.available) {
+        mount(cmfPortStatus, h("span", { style: "color:var(--good)" }, "✓ " + t("settings.cmf.portFree")));
+      } else {
+        const kids = [h("span", { style: "color:var(--bad)" }, "✗ " + t("settings.cmf.portBusy"))];
+        if (r.suggested) {
+          const useBtn = h("button", { class: "btn small", type: "button", style: "margin-left:8px" },
+            t("settings.cmf.useSuggested", { port: r.suggested }));
+          useBtn.addEventListener("click", () => { cmfPort.value = r.suggested; checkPort(); });
+          kids.push(useBtn);
+        }
+        mount(cmfPortStatus, h("span", {}, ...kids));
+      }
+    } catch (e) {
+      mount(cmfPortStatus, String(e.message || e));
+    }
+    cmfPortCheckBtn.disabled = false;
+  }
+  cmfPortCheckBtn.addEventListener("click", checkPort);
 
   const saveBtn = h("button", { class: "btn primary" }, t("common.save"));
   saveBtn.addEventListener("click", async () => {
@@ -242,7 +337,7 @@ export async function renderSettings() {
         auto_update: cmfAutoUpdate.cb.checked,
         local_model: cmfModel.value.trim(),
         local_port: parseInt(cmfPort.value) || 8081,
-        model_id: cmfModelId.value.trim() || "cmf-local",
+        model_id: cmfModelIdVal,
         threads: parseInt(cmfThreads.value) || 0,
         gpu: cmfGpu.cb.checked,
       },
@@ -372,13 +467,33 @@ export async function renderSettings() {
         "div",
         { class: "card" },
         h("div", { class: "card-head" }, h("h3", {}, t("settings.cmf"))),
-        cmfLocalOnly.node,
-        cmfManage.node,
+        h("div", { class: "hint" }, t("settings.cmf.intro")),
+        // Step 1 — install the cortiq runtime (the CLI that runs .cmf models).
+        h(
+          "label",
+          { class: "field" },
+          h("span", {}, "1. " + t("settings.cmf.runtime"), " ", help(t("settings.cmf.runtimeHelp"))),
+          h("div", { class: "flex", style: "gap:8px;align-items:center;flex-wrap:wrap" }, cmfInstallBtn, cmfStatusEl)
+        ),
         h("div", { class: "row" }, cmfAutoInstall.node, cmfAutoUpdate.node),
-        field(t("settings.cmf.model"), cmfModel),
-        h("div", { class: "row" }, field(t("settings.cmf.port"), cmfPort), field(t("settings.cmf.modelId"), cmfModelId)),
-        h("div", { class: "row" }, field(t("settings.cmf.threads"), cmfThreads), cmfGpu.node),
-        h("div", { class: "hint" }, t("settings.cmf.note")),
+        h("div", { class: "divider" }),
+        // Step 2 — add a model. Models are imported in the Models/Import tab; here
+        // you just point the local server at the .cmf file it produced.
+        h("div", { class: "field" }, h("span", {}, "2. " + t("settings.cmf.addModel"), " ", help(t("settings.cmf.addModelHelp"))),
+          h("div", { class: "hint" }, t("settings.cmf.importNote"),
+            " ", h("a", { href: "#/import" }, t("settings.cmf.importLink") + " ↗"))),
+        field(t("settings.cmf.model"), cmfModel, null, t("settings.cmf.modelHelp")),
+        h("div", { class: "divider" }),
+        // Step 3 — run it locally + performance.
+        cmfManage.node,
+        cmfServingEl,
+        h("div", { class: "row" },
+          field(t("settings.cmf.port"),
+            h("div", { class: "flex wrap" }, cmfPort, cmfPortCheckBtn, cmfPortStatus),
+            null, t("settings.cmf.portHelp")),
+          field(t("settings.cmf.threads"), cmfThreads, null, t("settings.cmf.threadsHelp"))),
+        cmfGpu.node,
+        cmfLocalOnly.node,
         h("div", { class: "hint" }, t("settings.cmf.speedNote"))
       )
     ),