---
id: WARDEN-WP-0016
type: workplan
title: "ops-bridge cert_command pilot — readiness gate + handoff"
domain: infotech
repo: ops-warden
status: finished
owner: claude
topic_slug: custodian
planning_priority: high
planning_order: 16
created: "2026-06-27"
updated: "2026-06-27"
state_hub_workstream_id: "a56da8db-38bc-4bbe-8671-823360ec9245"
---

# WARDEN-WP-0016 — ops-bridge cert_command pilot (readiness gate + handoff)

**Scope:** Close ops-warden's side of the last **Partial** INTENT criterion — *"ops-bridge
integrates via a stable `cert_command`"*. The migration playbook
(`wiki/playbooks/ops-bridge-tunnel-cert.md`, WP-0013) and the `cert_command` contract
(`wiki/CertCommandInterface.md`) already exist, but the pilot has never been run because
the readiness checks are scattered manual checkboxes across three owners (ops-warden,
ops-bridge, railiance-infra). This WP ships the **automated readiness gate** an operator
runs *before* touching tunnel config, plus an offline `cert_command` contract smoke, and
hands the verified pilot to ops-bridge.

**Boundary (unchanged):** ops-warden issues certs and verifies its own side is ready.
The **live tunnel cutover is ops-bridge's to execute** — this WP does not (cannot) flip a
running tunnel. "Done" here means *pilot-ready and handed off*, not *tunnel migrated*.

**Out of scope:** editing `~/.config/bridge/tunnels.yaml` (ops-bridge owns it); deploying
host principals (railiance-infra); requiring a live OpenBao token for the contract smoke
(use the local backend).

**Depends on:** WP-0013 (playbook + contract), the SSH lane (prod-verified).

---

## Tasks

### T1 — Read-only `cert_command` readiness preflight

```task
id: WARDEN-WP-0016-T01
status: done
priority: high
state_hub_task_id: "fea84495-dbec-480a-b42b-90e39f414b78"
```

- [x] `scripts/check_tunnel_cert_readiness.py` — given `--actor`, `--pubkey`, `--config`
      (warden.yaml) and optional `--infra` (ssh_principals.yaml), asserts the cert_command
      path is ready **without signing anything**: config loads + backend known; actor in
      inventory with a valid type + TTL within the type max; pubkey file exists, parses,
      and is not a private key; actor principals present; (optional) principals deployed
      in the infra file (mirrors `check_principals_drift._infra_principals`). Exit 0/1/2.
- [x] Checklist-style report (✓/✗/·); never prints a private key or token.
- [x] Tests: `tests/test_tunnel_cert_readiness.py` (ready, unknown actor, missing/private
      pubkey, infra present/missing, TTL-over-max, cert_command string). 9 unit cases.

### T2 — Offline cert_command contract smoke

```task
id: WARDEN-WP-0016-T02
status: done
priority: medium
state_hub_task_id: "e34ae1a8-2ba9-4324-8d1a-005d61dae478"
```

- [x] Opt-in `--sign-smoke` mode runs the actual `cert_command` against the **local**
      backend and validates the emitted cert: identity matches the actor, principals match
      inventory, validity window within the type's max TTL. Refuses a vault backend (must
      be offline). Proves the contract end to end with no live OpenBao.
- [x] Window measured from the cert's own `valid_from`→`valid_before` (via
      `parse_cert_metadata`) so it is timezone-robust — fixes a CEST off-by-2h artifact
      where local-time ssh-keygen output was read as UTC.
- [x] `integration`-marked test (needs `ssh-keygen`, skipped in the default suite) plus a
      non-integration test that `--sign-smoke` refuses a vault backend.

### T3 — Playbook gate + ops-bridge handoff

```task
id: WARDEN-WP-0016-T03
status: done
priority: medium
state_hub_task_id: "330e01f4-4927-4280-b0e0-49d35b4416d6"
```

- [x] `wiki/playbooks/ops-bridge-tunnel-cert.md` now leads with **Step 0 — Readiness gate**
      (the exact `check_tunnel_cert_readiness.py` invocation + `--sign-smoke` note); the
      manual checklist remains as the human-readable backing.
- [x] Sent ops-bridge the coordination handoff (pilot `agt-state-hub-bridge`, the
      readiness-gate command, and the cutover steps ops-bridge owns).

### T4 — INTENT/SCOPE alignment

```task
id: WARDEN-WP-0016-T04
status: done
priority: low
state_hub_task_id: "4726f5bb-4ffd-484f-8674-91ee5658434f"
```

- [x] SCOPE: INTENT gap row moved from "Partial — tunnels still static-key" to
      "Pilot-ready — readiness gate shipped; live cutover handed to ops-bridge"; known-gaps
      row updated; readiness script added to the implemented SSH-lane list.

---

## Acceptance

- `scripts/check_tunnel_cert_readiness.py` gates the pilot read-only and is tested.
- The offline contract smoke validates a real cert against the local backend.
- The playbook leads with the automated gate; ops-bridge has the handoff with exact steps.
- No secret material in any script, test, doc, or log. ops-warden's boundary is intact:
  it verifies and hands off; ops-bridge executes the cutover.

---

## See also

- `wiki/playbooks/ops-bridge-tunnel-cert.md`, `wiki/CertCommandInterface.md`
- `scripts/check_principals_drift.py` (reused helpers)
- `history/2026-06-24-intent-scope-gap-analysis.md`