diff --git a/src/ci_orchestrator/commands/retention.py b/src/ci_orchestrator/commands/retention.py
index cb4748a..9dc37fa 100644
--- a/src/ci_orchestrator/commands/retention.py
+++ b/src/ci_orchestrator/commands/retention.py
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 import click
 
-from ci_orchestrator.cargo_cache import CargoCacheStore
 from ci_orchestrator.config import Config, load_config
+from ci_orchestrator.operations import cache as ops_cache
 
 
 @click.group()
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ def _purge_old_dirs(base: Path, label: str, cutoff: datetime, *, what_if: bool)
 
 
 def _purge_cargo_cache(config: Config, effective_days: int, *, what_if: bool) -> None:
-    """Purge stale cargo cache entries.
+    """Purge stale cargo cache entries via :mod:`operations.cache`.
 
     Entries are the heaviest thing this policy governs -- hundreds of megabytes
     each, one per Cargo.lock change -- so leaving them out would repeat TODO
@@ -153,25 +153,19 @@ def _purge_cargo_cache(config: Config, effective_days: int, *, what_if: bool) ->
 
     days = min(effective_days, config.cargo_cache.retention_days)
     cutoff = datetime.now(tz=UTC) - timedelta(days=days)
-    store = CargoCacheStore(config.cargo_cache.root)
 
-    # Size the victims first: after a real prune the files are gone and their
-    # bytes are unreadable, which is how a policy ends up reporting 0.0 GB
-    # freed while doing real work (TODO 2.9).
-    doomed = store.prune_older_than(cutoff, what_if=True)
-    if not doomed:
+    result = ops_cache.purge_cargo_cache(config, retention_days=days, dry_run=what_if)
+
+    if result.removed_entries == 0:
         click.echo(
             f"[RetentionPolicy] cargo cache: nothing to purge "
             f"(cutoff: {cutoff.strftime('%Y-%m-%d')})."
         )
         return
-    freed_mb = sum(p.stat().st_size for p in doomed if p.exists()) / 1_048_576
-
-    if not what_if:
-        store.prune_older_than(cutoff)
+    freed_mb = result.freed_bytes / 1_048_576
 
     verb = "WhatIf: would purge" if what_if else "Purged"
     click.echo(
-        f"[RetentionPolicy] {verb} {len(doomed)} cargo cache "
-        f"{'entry' if len(doomed) == 1 else 'entries'} ({freed_mb:.0f} MB)"
+        f"[RetentionPolicy] {verb} {result.removed_entries} cargo cache "
+        f"{'entry' if result.removed_entries == 1 else 'entries'} ({freed_mb:.0f} MB)"
     )
diff --git a/src/ci_orchestrator/operations/cache.py b/src/ci_orchestrator/operations/cache.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a130479
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ci_orchestrator/operations/cache.py
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+"""Pure cargo-cache operations shared by the CLI and (future) web UI.
+
+Wraps :class:`~ci_orchestrator.cargo_cache.CargoCacheStore` for status and
+purge. Zero ``click``, zero ``print`` — everything here returns a dataclass.
+Presentation stays in the CLI command wrappers (``commands/retention.py``)
+and, later, the web routes.
+
+Scope note: this module wraps only the cargo cache's own status/purge. It is
+deliberately orthogonal to the disk-retention *policy* (artifact/log purge,
+aggressive-mode threshold) which lives in ``commands/retention.py`` — see
+TODO §2.9 for that separate, still-open gap.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from datetime import UTC, datetime, timedelta
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
+from ci_orchestrator.cargo_cache import CargoCacheStore
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:  # pragma: no cover
+    from ci_orchestrator.config import Config
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class CacheStatus:
+    """Point-in-time snapshot of the cargo cache store."""
+
+    root: Path
+    total_bytes: int
+    entry_count: int
+    oldest_age_days: int | None
+    retention_days: int
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class PurgeResult:
+    """Outcome of a (real or dry-run) cargo cache purge."""
+
+    removed_entries: int
+    freed_bytes: int
+    dry_run: bool
+
+
+def cargo_cache_status(config: Config) -> CacheStatus:
+    """Scan the cargo cache store and report size/age. Never raises.
+
+    Reports the store's real on-disk state regardless of
+    ``config.cargo_cache.enabled`` — only :func:`purge_cargo_cache` respects
+    that flag. An absent store root reports an empty, zeroed status.
+    """
+    root = config.cargo_cache.root
+    retention_days = config.cargo_cache.retention_days
+
+    if not root.is_dir():
+        return CacheStatus(
+            root=root,
+            total_bytes=0,
+            entry_count=0,
+            oldest_age_days=None,
+            retention_days=retention_days,
+        )
+
+    store = CargoCacheStore(root)
+    now = datetime.now(tz=UTC)
+    total_bytes = 0
+    entry_count = 0
+    oldest_mtime: datetime | None = None
+
+    for entry in sorted(store.root.glob(f"*{store.suffix}")):
+        if not entry.is_file():
+            continue
+        try:
+            st = entry.stat()
+        except OSError:
+            continue
+        total_bytes += st.st_size
+        entry_count += 1
+        mtime = datetime.fromtimestamp(st.st_mtime, tz=UTC)
+        if oldest_mtime is None or mtime < oldest_mtime:
+            oldest_mtime = mtime
+
+    oldest_age_days = (now - oldest_mtime).days if oldest_mtime is not None else None
+
+    return CacheStatus(
+        root=root,
+        total_bytes=total_bytes,
+        entry_count=entry_count,
+        oldest_age_days=oldest_age_days,
+        retention_days=retention_days,
+    )
+
+
+def purge_cargo_cache(
+    config: Config, *, retention_days: int | None = None, dry_run: bool = False
+) -> PurgeResult:
+    """Remove cache entries older than ``retention_days`` (or config's).
+
+    Sizes the victims before deleting (a real prune makes their bytes
+    unreadable), so ``freed_bytes`` is accurate even for a real purge.
+    A disabled cache is left untouched and reports an all-zero result.
+    """
+    if not config.cargo_cache.enabled:
+        return PurgeResult(removed_entries=0, freed_bytes=0, dry_run=dry_run)
+
+    days = retention_days if retention_days is not None else config.cargo_cache.retention_days
+    cutoff = datetime.now(tz=UTC) - timedelta(days=days)
+    store = CargoCacheStore(config.cargo_cache.root)
+
+    doomed = store.prune_older_than(cutoff, what_if=True)
+    freed_bytes = sum(p.stat().st_size for p in doomed if p.exists())
+
+    if not dry_run:
+        store.prune_older_than(cutoff)
+
+    return PurgeResult(removed_entries=len(doomed), freed_bytes=freed_bytes, dry_run=dry_run)
+
+
+__all__ = ["CacheStatus", "PurgeResult", "cargo_cache_status", "purge_cargo_cache"]
diff --git a/src/ci_orchestrator/operations/host.py b/src/ci_orchestrator/operations/host.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c2c495d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ci_orchestrator/operations/host.py
@@ -0,0 +1,166 @@
+"""Pure host operations shared by the CLI and (future) web UI.
+
+Disk usage, runner (systemd unit) status, and template backup. Zero
+``click``, zero ``print`` — everything here returns a dataclass.
+Presentation stays in the CLI command wrappers and, later, the web routes.
+
+``runner_status`` is Linux/systemd-only (the Linux host runs no other
+service manager per Phase C) and never shells out with ``shell=True`` —
+every ``systemctl`` invocation is an argument list, read-only.
+
+``backup_template`` reuses the archive-step shape from
+``commands/template.py::template_backup`` (timestamped ``7z`` archive under
+``/var/lib/ci/backups``) but is a fresh, click-free implementation so this
+module has no dependency on the CLI layer.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import shutil
+import subprocess
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from datetime import UTC, datetime
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:  # pragma: no cover
+    from ci_orchestrator.config import Config
+
+_SYSTEMCTL_TIMEOUT = 10.0
+_BACKUP_BASE_DIR = Path("/var/lib/ci/backups")
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class DiskStatus:
+    """Filesystem usage for a single path/mount."""
+
+    path: Path
+    total_gb: float
+    free_gb: float
+    used_pct: float
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class RunnerStatus:
+    """``systemctl`` status for a single service."""
+
+    name: str
+    active: bool
+    sub_state: str
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class BackupResult:
+    """Outcome of a (real or dry-run) template backup."""
+
+    template: str
+    archive_path: Path | None
+    ok: bool
+    error: str | None
+
+
+def disk_status(path: Path) -> DiskStatus:
+    """Report usage for ``path``. Degrades to zeros on ``OSError`` — never raises."""
+    try:
+        usage = shutil.disk_usage(path)
+    except OSError:
+        return DiskStatus(path=path, total_gb=0.0, free_gb=0.0, used_pct=0.0)
+
+    gb = 1024.0**3
+    total_gb = usage.total / gb
+    free_gb = usage.free / gb
+    used_pct = ((usage.total - usage.free) / usage.total * 100.0) if usage.total > 0 else 0.0
+
+    return DiskStatus(path=path, total_gb=total_gb, free_gb=free_gb, used_pct=used_pct)
+
+
+def _systemctl_query(systemctl: str, args: list[str]) -> str | None:
+    """Run a read-only ``systemctl`` query. Returns stripped stdout, or ``None`` on failure."""
+    try:
+        result = subprocess.run(
+            [systemctl, *args],
+            capture_output=True,
+            text=True,
+            check=False,
+            timeout=_SYSTEMCTL_TIMEOUT,
+        )
+    except (subprocess.TimeoutExpired, OSError):
+        return None
+    return result.stdout.strip()
+
+
+def runner_status(service_names: list[str]) -> list[RunnerStatus]:
+    """Query ``systemctl is-active`` / ``show -p SubState`` for each service.
+
+    Never raises: a missing ``systemctl``, a timeout, or an ``OSError`` all
+    degrade a service to ``active=False, sub_state="unknown"`` rather than
+    aborting the whole batch.
+    """
+    systemctl = shutil.which("systemctl")
+    if systemctl is None:
+        return [RunnerStatus(name=name, active=False, sub_state="unknown") for name in service_names]
+
+    out: list[RunnerStatus] = []
+    for name in service_names:
+        active_raw = _systemctl_query(systemctl, ["is-active", name])
+        sub_state_raw = _systemctl_query(systemctl, ["show", "-p", "SubState", "--value", name])
+        active = active_raw == "active"
+        sub_state = sub_state_raw if sub_state_raw else "unknown"
+        out.append(RunnerStatus(name=name, active=active, sub_state=sub_state))
+    return out
+
+
+def _compress_7z(source: Path, archive: Path) -> None:
+    """Create a 7z archive of ``source`` at ``archive`` using compression level 1.
+
+    Split out so tests can monkeypatch the actual compression step and never
+    invoke a real ``7z`` subprocess.
+    """
+    subprocess.run(
+        ["7z", "a", "-mx=1", "-mmt=on", str(archive), str(source)],
+        check=True,
+        stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+        stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
+    )
+
+
+def backup_template(config: Config, template: str, *, dry_run: bool = False) -> BackupResult:
+    """Archive a template directory to a timestamped ``7z`` file.
+
+    ``dry_run`` computes and returns the would-be archive path without
+    compressing anything. On failure (missing template dir, or the
+    compression step raising), returns ``ok=False`` with ``archive_path=None``
+    and never raises.
+    """
+    tmpl_dir = config.paths.templates / template
+    if not tmpl_dir.is_dir():
+        return BackupResult(
+            template=template,
+            archive_path=None,
+            ok=False,
+            error=f"Template directory not found: {tmpl_dir}",
+        )
+
+    timestamp = datetime.now(tz=UTC).strftime("%Y%m%d_%H%M%S")
+    archive_path = _BACKUP_BASE_DIR / f"Template_{template}_{timestamp}.7z"
+
+    if dry_run:
+        return BackupResult(template=template, archive_path=archive_path, ok=True, error=None)
+
+    try:
+        _BACKUP_BASE_DIR.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        _compress_7z(tmpl_dir, archive_path)
+    except (OSError, subprocess.CalledProcessError) as exc:
+        return BackupResult(template=template, archive_path=None, ok=False, error=str(exc))
+
+    return BackupResult(template=template, archive_path=archive_path, ok=True, error=None)
+
+
+__all__ = [
+    "BackupResult",
+    "DiskStatus",
+    "RunnerStatus",
+    "backup_template",
+    "disk_status",
+    "runner_status",
+]
diff --git a/tests/python/test_operations_cache.py b/tests/python/test_operations_cache.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e989a0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/python/test_operations_cache.py
@@ -0,0 +1,187 @@
+"""Tests for the pure ``operations.cache`` layer (W2 of the web-UI plan).
+
+Covers ``cargo_cache_status`` and ``purge_cargo_cache`` — the seam both the
+CLI (``retention run``) and the future web UI import for cargo-cache
+state/maintenance. Zero ``click``/``print`` in the module under test.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import time
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from ci_orchestrator.cargo_cache import CargoCacheStore, cache_key
+from ci_orchestrator.config import BackendConfig, CargoCacheConfig, Config, Paths
+from ci_orchestrator.operations.cache import (
+    CacheStatus,
+    PurgeResult,
+    cargo_cache_status,
+    purge_cargo_cache,
+)
+
+
+def _make_config(root: Path, *, enabled: bool = True, retention_days: int = 30) -> Config:
+    return Config(
+        paths=Paths(
+            root=root.parent,
+            templates=root.parent / "templates",
+            build_vms=root.parent / "build-vms",
+            artifacts=root.parent / "artifacts",
+            keys=root.parent / "keys",
+        ),
+        backend=BackendConfig(),
+        cargo_cache=CargoCacheConfig(enabled=enabled, root=root, retention_days=retention_days),
+    )
+
+
+def _seed_entry(root: Path, digest: str, *, age_days: int, size: int = 1024) -> Path:
+    store = CargoCacheStore(root)
+    src = root.parent / f"seed-{digest}.tar.zst"
+    src.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    src.write_bytes(b"x" * size)
+    entry = store.publish(cache_key(lock_digest=digest, rustc_version="r", host_triple="t"), src)
+    stamp = time.time() - age_days * 86400
+    import os
+
+    os.utime(entry, (stamp, stamp))
+    return entry
+
+
+# ── cargo_cache_status ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def test_cargo_cache_status_missing_root(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    root = tmp_path / "cache" / "cargo"
+    config = _make_config(root)
+
+    status = cargo_cache_status(config)
+
+    assert status == CacheStatus(
+        root=root,
+        total_bytes=0,
+        entry_count=0,
+        oldest_age_days=None,
+        retention_days=30,
+    )
+
+
+def test_cargo_cache_status_empty_root(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    root = tmp_path / "cache" / "cargo"
+    root.mkdir(parents=True)
+    config = _make_config(root)
+
+    status = cargo_cache_status(config)
+
+    assert status.entry_count == 0
+    assert status.total_bytes == 0
+    assert status.oldest_age_days is None
+
+
+def test_cargo_cache_status_populated_with_aged_entries(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    root = tmp_path / "cache" / "cargo"
+    _seed_entry(root, "old", age_days=90, size=2048)
+    _seed_entry(root, "new", age_days=1, size=1024)
+    config = _make_config(root, retention_days=30)
+
+    status = cargo_cache_status(config)
+
+    assert status.entry_count == 2
+    assert status.total_bytes == 2048 + 1024
+    assert status.oldest_age_days is not None
+    assert status.oldest_age_days >= 89
+    assert status.retention_days == 30
+    assert status.root == root
+
+
+def test_cargo_cache_status_ignores_incoming_staging_dir(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    """The ``.incoming`` staging directory used by ``publish()`` is not a real entry."""
+    root = tmp_path / "cache" / "cargo"
+    _seed_entry(root, "one", age_days=1)
+    (root / ".incoming").mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+    config = _make_config(root)
+    status = cargo_cache_status(config)
+
+    assert status.entry_count == 1
+
+
+def test_cargo_cache_status_reports_even_when_disabled(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    """Status is descriptive of disk state; ``enabled`` only gates purging."""
+    root = tmp_path / "cache" / "cargo"
+    _seed_entry(root, "old", age_days=90)
+    config = _make_config(root, enabled=False)
+
+    status = cargo_cache_status(config)
+
+    assert status.entry_count == 1
+
+
+# ── purge_cargo_cache ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def test_purge_cargo_cache_dry_run_counts_only_no_delete(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    root = tmp_path / "cache" / "cargo"
+    old = _seed_entry(root, "old", age_days=90, size=3 * 1024 * 1024)
+    config = _make_config(root, retention_days=30)
+
+    result = purge_cargo_cache(config, dry_run=True)
+
+    assert result == PurgeResult(removed_entries=1, freed_bytes=3 * 1024 * 1024, dry_run=True)
+    assert old.exists(), "dry_run must not delete anything"
+
+
+def test_purge_cargo_cache_real_purge_removes_only_old(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    root = tmp_path / "cache" / "cargo"
+    old = _seed_entry(root, "old", age_days=90)
+    fresh = _seed_entry(root, "new", age_days=1)
+    config = _make_config(root, retention_days=30)
+
+    result = purge_cargo_cache(config)
+
+    assert result.removed_entries == 1
+    assert result.dry_run is False
+    assert not old.exists()
+    assert fresh.exists()
+
+
+def test_purge_cargo_cache_retention_override_wins_over_config(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    root = tmp_path / "cache" / "cargo"
+    entry = _seed_entry(root, "mid", age_days=10)
+    config = _make_config(root, retention_days=30)  # config alone would spare this entry
+
+    result = purge_cargo_cache(config, retention_days=7)
+
+    assert result.removed_entries == 1
+    assert not entry.exists()
+
+
+def test_purge_cargo_cache_disabled_returns_zero_and_does_not_touch_disk(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    root = tmp_path / "cache" / "cargo"
+    old = _seed_entry(root, "old", age_days=90)
+    config = _make_config(root, enabled=False, retention_days=30)
+
+    result = purge_cargo_cache(config)
+
+    assert result == PurgeResult(removed_entries=0, freed_bytes=0, dry_run=False)
+    assert old.exists()
+
+
+def test_purge_cargo_cache_nothing_to_purge(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    root = tmp_path / "cache" / "cargo"
+    fresh = _seed_entry(root, "new", age_days=1)
+    config = _make_config(root, retention_days=30)
+
+    result = purge_cargo_cache(config)
+
+    assert result.removed_entries == 0
+    assert result.freed_bytes == 0
+    assert fresh.exists()
+
+
+def test_purge_cargo_cache_missing_root_is_not_an_error(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    root = tmp_path / "cache" / "cargo"
+    config = _make_config(root, retention_days=30)
+
+    result = purge_cargo_cache(config)
+
+    assert result == PurgeResult(removed_entries=0, freed_bytes=0, dry_run=False)
diff --git a/tests/python/test_operations_host.py b/tests/python/test_operations_host.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0b6df65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/python/test_operations_host.py
@@ -0,0 +1,282 @@
+"""Tests for the pure ``operations.host`` layer (W2 of the web-UI plan).
+
+Covers ``disk_status``, ``runner_status`` and ``backup_template`` — the seam
+both the CLI (``monitor disk``/``monitor runner``/``template backup``) and
+the future web UI import. Zero ``click``/``print`` in the module under test;
+no real ``systemctl``/``tar``/``7z`` is ever invoked — everything is
+monkeypatched.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import shutil
+import subprocess
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any
+
+import pytest
+
+import ci_orchestrator.operations.host as host_module
+from ci_orchestrator.config import BackendConfig, Config, Paths
+from ci_orchestrator.operations.host import (
+    BackupResult,
+    DiskStatus,
+    RunnerStatus,
+    backup_template,
+    disk_status,
+    runner_status,
+)
+
+
+def _make_config(templates_dir: Path) -> Config:
+    return Config(
+        paths=Paths(
+            root=templates_dir.parent,
+            templates=templates_dir,
+            build_vms=templates_dir.parent / "build-vms",
+            artifacts=templates_dir.parent / "artifacts",
+            keys=templates_dir.parent / "keys",
+        ),
+        backend=BackendConfig(),
+    )
+
+
+def _fake_usage(free_gb: float, total_gb: float = 500.0) -> shutil._ntuple_diskusage:
+    gb = 1024**3
+    return shutil._ntuple_diskusage(
+        int(total_gb * gb), int((total_gb - free_gb) * gb), int(free_gb * gb)
+    )
+
+
+# ── disk_status ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def test_disk_status_normal(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module.shutil, "disk_usage", lambda _p: _fake_usage(free_gb=250, total_gb=500))
+
+    status = disk_status(tmp_path)
+
+    assert status.path == tmp_path
+    assert status.total_gb == pytest.approx(500.0, rel=1e-3)
+    assert status.free_gb == pytest.approx(250.0, rel=1e-3)
+    assert status.used_pct == pytest.approx(50.0, rel=1e-2)
+
+
+def test_disk_status_oserror_degrades_to_zeros(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    def _raise(_p: Any) -> Any:
+        raise OSError("no such drive")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module.shutil, "disk_usage", _raise)
+
+    status = disk_status(tmp_path)
+
+    assert status == DiskStatus(path=tmp_path, total_gb=0.0, free_gb=0.0, used_pct=0.0)
+
+
+# ── runner_status ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+class _RunResult:
+    def __init__(self, stdout: str = "", returncode: int = 0) -> None:
+        self.stdout = stdout
+        self.returncode = returncode
+
+
+def test_runner_status_active(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module.shutil, "which", lambda _n: "/usr/bin/systemctl")
+
+    def _run(cmd: list[str], **_kw: Any) -> _RunResult:
+        if cmd[1] == "is-active":
+            return _RunResult(stdout="active\n")
+        return _RunResult(stdout="running\n")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module.subprocess, "run", _run)
+
+    result = runner_status(["act-runner.service"])
+
+    assert result == [RunnerStatus(name="act-runner.service", active=True, sub_state="running")]
+
+
+def test_runner_status_inactive(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module.shutil, "which", lambda _n: "/usr/bin/systemctl")
+
+    def _run(cmd: list[str], **_kw: Any) -> _RunResult:
+        if cmd[1] == "is-active":
+            return _RunResult(stdout="inactive\n", returncode=3)
+        return _RunResult(stdout="dead\n")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module.subprocess, "run", _run)
+
+    result = runner_status(["act-runner-rust.service"])
+
+    assert result == [RunnerStatus(name="act-runner-rust.service", active=False, sub_state="dead")]
+
+
+def test_runner_status_multiple_services(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module.shutil, "which", lambda _n: "/usr/bin/systemctl")
+
+    def _run(cmd: list[str], **_kw: Any) -> _RunResult:
+        name = cmd[-1]
+        if cmd[1] == "is-active":
+            return _RunResult(stdout="active\n" if name == "a" else "inactive\n")
+        return _RunResult(stdout="running\n" if name == "a" else "dead\n")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module.subprocess, "run", _run)
+
+    result = runner_status(["a", "b"])
+
+    assert result == [
+        RunnerStatus(name="a", active=True, sub_state="running"),
+        RunnerStatus(name="b", active=False, sub_state="dead"),
+    ]
+
+
+def test_runner_status_systemctl_absent(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module.shutil, "which", lambda _n: None)
+
+    result = runner_status(["act-runner.service", "act-runner-rust.service"])
+
+    assert result == [
+        RunnerStatus(name="act-runner.service", active=False, sub_state="unknown"),
+        RunnerStatus(name="act-runner-rust.service", active=False, sub_state="unknown"),
+    ]
+
+
+def test_runner_status_timeout_tolerated(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module.shutil, "which", lambda _n: "/usr/bin/systemctl")
+
+    def _boom(*_a: Any, **_kw: Any) -> Any:
+        raise subprocess.TimeoutExpired(cmd="systemctl", timeout=10.0)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module.subprocess, "run", _boom)
+
+    result = runner_status(["act-runner.service"])
+
+    assert result == [RunnerStatus(name="act-runner.service", active=False, sub_state="unknown")]
+
+
+def test_runner_status_oserror_tolerated(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module.shutil, "which", lambda _n: "/usr/bin/systemctl")
+
+    def _boom(*_a: Any, **_kw: Any) -> Any:
+        raise OSError("boom")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module.subprocess, "run", _boom)
+
+    result = runner_status(["svc"])
+
+    assert result == [RunnerStatus(name="svc", active=False, sub_state="unknown")]
+
+
+def test_runner_status_never_uses_shell_true(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module.shutil, "which", lambda _n: "/usr/bin/systemctl")
+    seen_kwargs: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
+
+    def _run(cmd: list[str], **kw: Any) -> _RunResult:
+        seen_kwargs.append(kw)
+        return _RunResult(stdout="active\n")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module.subprocess, "run", _run)
+    runner_status(["svc"])
+
+    assert all(not kw.get("shell") for kw in seen_kwargs)
+
+
+# ── backup_template ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def test_backup_template_missing_template_dir_errors(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    templates = tmp_path / "templates"
+    templates.mkdir()
+    config = _make_config(templates)
+
+    result = backup_template(config, "NoSuchTemplate")
+
+    assert result.ok is False
+    assert result.archive_path is None
+    assert result.error is not None
+    assert "NoSuchTemplate" in result.error or "not found" in result.error.lower()
+
+
+def test_backup_template_dry_run_does_not_compress(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    templates = tmp_path / "templates"
+    tmpl_dir = templates / "WinBuild2025"
+    tmpl_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+    config = _make_config(templates)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module, "_BACKUP_BASE_DIR", tmp_path / "backups")
+
+    calls: list[tuple[Path, Path]] = []
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module, "_compress_7z", lambda src, dst: calls.append((src, dst)))
+
+    result = backup_template(config, "WinBuild2025", dry_run=True)
+
+    assert result.ok is True
+    assert result.template == "WinBuild2025"
+    assert result.archive_path is not None
+    assert result.error is None
+    assert calls == [], "dry_run must not compress"
+    assert not result.archive_path.exists()
+
+
+def test_backup_template_success_mocked_archive_step(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path: Path
+) -> None:
+    templates = tmp_path / "templates"
+    tmpl_dir = templates / "WinBuild2025"
+    tmpl_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+    config = _make_config(templates)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module, "_BACKUP_BASE_DIR", tmp_path / "backups")
+
+    def _fake_compress(src: Path, dst: Path) -> None:
+        dst.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        dst.write_bytes(b"archive")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module, "_compress_7z", _fake_compress)
+
+    result = backup_template(config, "WinBuild2025")
+
+    assert result == BackupResult(
+        template="WinBuild2025", archive_path=result.archive_path, ok=True, error=None
+    )
+    assert result.archive_path is not None
+    assert result.archive_path.exists()
+
+
+def test_backup_template_archive_failure_reported(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path: Path
+) -> None:
+    templates = tmp_path / "templates"
+    tmpl_dir = templates / "WinBuild2025"
+    tmpl_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+    config = _make_config(templates)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module, "_BACKUP_BASE_DIR", tmp_path / "backups")
+
+    def _boom(_src: Path, _dst: Path) -> None:
+        raise subprocess.CalledProcessError(1, ["7z"])
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module, "_compress_7z", _boom)
+
+    result = backup_template(config, "WinBuild2025")
+
+    assert result.ok is False
+    assert result.archive_path is None
+    assert result.error is not None
+
+
+def test_backup_template_never_calls_real_vmrun_or_7z(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    """Guard: without mocking ``_compress_7z`` this would try to run real ``7z``."""
+    templates = tmp_path / "templates"
+    tmpl_dir = templates / "WinBuild2025"
+    tmpl_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
+    config = _make_config(templates)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module, "_BACKUP_BASE_DIR", tmp_path / "backups")
+
+    called: list[bool] = []
+
+    def _fake(_src: Path, _dst: Path) -> None:
+        called.append(True)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(host_module, "_compress_7z", _fake)
+    backup_template(config, "WinBuild2025")
+
+    assert called == [True]