diff --git a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/test_migrate_db.py b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/test_migrate_db.py
index e992bf6d..7313939a 100644
--- a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/test_migrate_db.py
+++ b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/test_migrate_db.py
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ def test_migration(tmp_path, example_config, caplog):
     assert passdb_path.stat().st_size > 10000
 
     example_config.passdb_path = passdb_path
+    # ensure logging.info records are captured regardless of global configuration
+    caplog.set_level("INFO")
 
     assert not caplog.records
 
diff --git a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/acmetool/__init__.py b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/acmetool/__init__.py
index e0e8c02f..9e274668 100644
--- a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/acmetool/__init__.py
+++ b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/acmetool/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
-import importlib.resources
-
-from pyinfra.operations import apt, files, server, systemd
+from pyinfra.operations import apt, server
 
 from ..basedeploy import Deployer
 
@@ -9,9 +7,6 @@ class AcmetoolDeployer(Deployer):
     def __init__(self, email, domains):
         self.domains = domains
         self.email = email
-        self.need_restart_redirector = False
-        self.need_restart_reconcile_service = False
-        self.need_restart_reconcile_timer = False
 
     def install(self):
         apt.packages(
@@ -19,121 +14,41 @@ class AcmetoolDeployer(Deployer):
             packages=["acmetool"],
         )
 
-        files.file(
-            name="Remove old acmetool cronjob, it is replaced with systemd timer.",
-            path="/etc/cron.d/acmetool",
-            present=False,
-        )
+        self.remove_file("/etc/cron.d/acmetool")
 
-        files.put(
-            name="Install acmetool hook.",
-            src=importlib.resources.files(__package__)
-            .joinpath("acmetool.hook")
-            .open("rb"),
-            dest="/etc/acme/hooks/nginx",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="755",
-        )
-        files.file(
-            name="Remove acmetool hook from the wrong location where it was previously installed.",
-            path="/usr/lib/acme/hooks/nginx",
-            present=False,
-        )
+        self.put_executable("acmetool/acmetool.hook", "/etc/acme/hooks/nginx")
+        self.remove_file("/usr/lib/acme/hooks/nginx")
 
     def configure(self):
-        files.template(
-            src=importlib.resources.files(__package__).joinpath(
-                "response-file.yaml.j2"
-            ),
-            dest="/var/lib/acme/conf/responses",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
+        self.put_template(
+            "acmetool/response-file.yaml.j2",
+            "/var/lib/acme/conf/responses",
             email=self.email,
         )
 
-        files.template(
-            src=importlib.resources.files(__package__).joinpath("target.yaml.j2"),
-            dest="/var/lib/acme/conf/target",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
+        self.put_template(
+            "acmetool/target.yaml.j2",
+            "/var/lib/acme/conf/target",
         )
 
         server.shell(
             name=f"Remove old acmetool desired files for {self.domains[0]}",
             commands=[f"rm -f /var/lib/acme/desired/{self.domains[0]}-*"],
         )
-        files.template(
-            src=importlib.resources.files(__package__).joinpath("desired.yaml.j2"),
-            dest=f"/var/lib/acme/desired/{self.domains[0]}",  # 0 is mailhost TLD
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
+        self.put_template(
+            "acmetool/desired.yaml.j2",
+            f"/var/lib/acme/desired/{self.domains[0]}",
             domains=self.domains,
         )
 
-        service_file = files.put(
-            src=importlib.resources.files(__package__).joinpath(
-                "acmetool-redirector.service"
-            ),
-            dest="/etc/systemd/system/acmetool-redirector.service",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
-        )
-        self.need_restart_redirector = service_file.changed
-
-        reconcile_service_file = files.put(
-            src=importlib.resources.files(__package__).joinpath(
-                "acmetool-reconcile.service"
-            ),
-            dest="/etc/systemd/system/acmetool-reconcile.service",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
-        )
-        self.need_restart_reconcile_service = reconcile_service_file.changed
-
-        reconcile_timer_file = files.put(
-            src=importlib.resources.files(__package__).joinpath(
-                "acmetool-reconcile.timer"
-            ),
-            dest="/etc/systemd/system/acmetool-reconcile.timer",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
-        )
-        self.need_restart_reconcile_timer = reconcile_timer_file.changed
+        self.ensure_systemd_unit("acmetool/acmetool-redirector.service")
+        self.ensure_systemd_unit("acmetool/acmetool-reconcile.service")
+        self.ensure_systemd_unit("acmetool/acmetool-reconcile.timer")
 
     def activate(self):
-        systemd.service(
-            name="Setup acmetool-redirector service",
-            service="acmetool-redirector.service",
-            running=True,
-            enabled=True,
-            restarted=self.need_restart_redirector,
-        )
-        self.need_restart_redirector = False
-
-        systemd.service(
-            name="Setup acmetool-reconcile service",
-            service="acmetool-reconcile.service",
-            running=False,
-            enabled=False,
-            daemon_reload=self.need_restart_reconcile_service,
-        )
-        self.need_restart_reconcile_service = False
-
-        systemd.service(
-            name="Setup acmetool-reconcile timer",
-            service="acmetool-reconcile.timer",
-            running=True,
-            enabled=True,
-            daemon_reload=self.need_restart_reconcile_timer,
-        )
-        self.need_restart_reconcile_timer = False
+        self.ensure_service("acmetool-redirector.service")
+        self.ensure_service("acmetool-reconcile.service", running=False, enabled=False)
+        self.ensure_service("acmetool-reconcile.timer")
 
         server.shell(
             name=f"Reconcile certificates for: {', '.join(self.domains)}",
diff --git a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/basedeploy.py b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/basedeploy.py
index 87881cda..f3054e80 100644
--- a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/basedeploy.py
+++ b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/basedeploy.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import os
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 
 from pyinfra import host
+from pyinfra.facts.files import Sha256File
 from pyinfra.facts.server import Command
 from pyinfra.operations import files, server, systemd
 
@@ -50,11 +51,10 @@ def get_resource(arg, pkg=__package__):
     return importlib.resources.files(pkg).joinpath(arg)
 
 
-def configure_remote_units(mail_domain, units) -> None:
+def configure_remote_units(deployer, mail_domain, units) -> None:
     remote_base_dir = "/usr/local/lib/chatmaild"
     remote_venv_dir = f"{remote_base_dir}/venv"
     remote_chatmail_inipath = f"{remote_base_dir}/chatmail.ini"
-    root_owned = dict(user="root", group="root", mode="644")
 
     # install systemd units
     for fn in units:
@@ -70,15 +70,13 @@ def configure_remote_units(mail_domain, units) -> None:
         source_path = get_resource(f"service/{basename}.f")
         content = source_path.read_text().format(**params).encode()
 
-        files.put(
-            name=f"Upload {basename}",
+        deployer.put_file(
             src=io.BytesIO(content),
             dest=f"/etc/systemd/system/{basename}",
-            **root_owned,
         )
 
 
-def activate_remote_units(units) -> None:
+def activate_remote_units(deployer, units) -> None:
     # activate systemd units
     for fn in units:
         basename = fn if "." in fn else f"{fn}.service"
@@ -88,14 +86,8 @@ def activate_remote_units(units) -> None:
             enabled = False
         else:
             enabled = True
-        systemd.service(
-            name=f"Setup {basename}",
-            service=basename,
-            running=enabled,
-            enabled=enabled,
-            restarted=enabled,
-            daemon_reload=True,
-        )
+
+        deployer.ensure_service(basename, running=enabled, enabled=enabled)
 
 
 class Deployment:
@@ -141,6 +133,7 @@ class Deployment:
 
 class Deployer:
     need_restart = False
+    daemon_reload = False
 
     def install(self):
         pass
@@ -150,3 +143,113 @@ class Deployer:
 
     def activate(self):
         pass
+
+    def ensure_service(self, service, running=True, enabled=True):
+        if running:
+            verb = "Start and enable"
+        else:
+            verb = "Stop"
+        systemd.service(
+            name=f"{verb} {service}",
+            service=service,
+            running=running,
+            enabled=enabled,
+            restarted=self.need_restart if running else False,
+            daemon_reload=self.daemon_reload,
+        )
+        self.daemon_reload = False
+
+    def ensure_systemd_unit(self, src, **kwargs):
+        dest_name = src.split("/")[-1].replace(".j2", "")
+        dest = f"/etc/systemd/system/{dest_name}"
+        if src.endswith(".j2"):
+            return self.put_template(src, dest, **kwargs)
+        return self.put_file(src, dest)
+
+    def put_file(self, src, dest, mode="644"):
+        if isinstance(src, str):
+            src = get_resource(src)
+        res = files.put(
+            name=f"Upload {dest}",
+            src=src,
+            dest=dest,
+            user="root",
+            group="root",
+            mode=mode,
+        )
+
+        return self._update_restart_signals(dest, res)
+
+    def put_executable(self, src, dest):
+        return self.put_file(src, dest, mode="755")
+
+    def put_template(self, src, dest, owner="root", **kwargs):
+        if isinstance(src, str):
+            src = get_resource(src)
+        res = files.template(
+            name=f"Upload {dest}",
+            src=src,
+            dest=dest,
+            user=owner,
+            group=owner,
+            mode="644",
+            **kwargs,
+        )
+
+        return self._update_restart_signals(dest, res)
+
+    def remove_file(self, dest):
+        res = files.file(name=f"Remove {dest}", path=dest, present=False)
+        return self._update_restart_signals(dest, res)
+
+    def ensure_line(self, path, line, **kwargs):
+        name = kwargs.pop("name", f"Ensure line in {path}")
+        res = files.line(name=name, path=path, line=line, **kwargs)
+        return self._update_restart_signals(path, res)
+
+    def ensure_directory(self, path, owner="root", mode="755", **kwargs):
+        name = kwargs.pop("name", f"Ensure directory {path}")
+        res = files.directory(
+            name=name,
+            path=path,
+            user=owner,
+            group=owner,
+            mode=mode,
+            present=True,
+            **kwargs,
+        )
+        return self._update_restart_signals(path, res)
+
+    def remove_directory(self, path, **kwargs):
+        name = kwargs.pop("name", f"Remove directory {path}")
+        res = files.directory(name=name, path=path, present=False, **kwargs)
+        return self._update_restart_signals(path, res)
+
+    def download_executable(self, url, dest, sha256sum, extract=None):
+        existing = host.get_fact(Sha256File, dest)
+        if existing == sha256sum:
+            return
+
+        tmp = f"{dest}.new"
+        if extract:
+            dl_cmd = f"curl -fSL {url} | {extract} >{tmp}"
+        else:
+            dl_cmd = f"curl -fSL {url} -o {tmp}"
+
+        server.shell(
+            name=f"Download {dest}",
+            commands=[
+                f"({dl_cmd}"
+                f" && echo '{sha256sum}  {tmp}' | sha256sum -c"
+                f" && mv {tmp} {dest})",
+                f"chmod 755 {dest}",
+            ],
+        )
+        self.need_restart = True
+
+    def _update_restart_signals(self, path, res):
+        if res.changed:
+            self.need_restart = True
+            if str(path).startswith("/etc/systemd/system/"):
+                self.daemon_reload = True
+        return res
diff --git a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/deployers.py b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/deployers.py
index 0a759a5f..88f29f18 100644
--- a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/deployers.py
+++ b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/deployers.py
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ from chatmaild.config import read_config
 from pyinfra import facts, host, logger
 from pyinfra.api import FactBase
 from pyinfra.facts import hardware
-from pyinfra.facts.files import Sha256File
 from pyinfra.facts.systemd import SystemdEnabled
 from pyinfra.operations import apt, files, pip, server, systemd
 
@@ -25,7 +24,6 @@ from .basedeploy import (
     activate_remote_units,
     blocked_service_startup,
     configure_remote_units,
-    get_resource,
     has_systemd,
     is_in_container,
 )
@@ -82,25 +80,22 @@ def remove_legacy_artifacts():
         )
 
 
-def _install_remote_venv_with_chatmaild() -> None:
+def _install_remote_venv_with_chatmaild(deployer) -> None:
     remove_legacy_artifacts()
     dist_file = _build_chatmaild(dist_dir=Path("chatmaild/dist"))
     remote_base_dir = "/usr/local/lib/chatmaild"
     remote_dist_file = f"{remote_base_dir}/dist/{dist_file.name}"
     remote_venv_dir = f"{remote_base_dir}/venv"
-    root_owned = dict(user="root", group="root", mode="644")
 
     apt.packages(
         name="apt install python3-virtualenv",
         packages=["python3-virtualenv"],
     )
 
-    files.put(
-        name="Upload chatmaild source package",
+    deployer.ensure_directory(f"{remote_base_dir}/dist")
+    deployer.put_file(
         src=dist_file.open("rb"),
         dest=remote_dist_file,
-        create_remote_dir=True,
-        **root_owned,
     )
 
     pip.virtualenv(
@@ -122,32 +117,22 @@ def _install_remote_venv_with_chatmaild() -> None:
     )
 
 
-def _configure_remote_venv_with_chatmaild(config) -> None:
+def _configure_remote_venv_with_chatmaild(deployer, config) -> None:
     remote_base_dir = "/usr/local/lib/chatmaild"
     remote_chatmail_inipath = f"{remote_base_dir}/chatmail.ini"
-    root_owned = dict(user="root", group="root", mode="644")
 
-    files.put(
-        name=f"Upload {remote_chatmail_inipath}",
+    deployer.put_file(
         src=config._getbytefile(),
         dest=remote_chatmail_inipath,
-        **root_owned,
     )
 
-    files.file(
-        path="/etc/cron.d/chatmail-metrics",
-        present=False,
-    )
-    files.file(
-        path="/var/www/html/metrics",
-        present=False,
-    )
+    deployer.remove_file("/etc/cron.d/chatmail-metrics")
+    deployer.remove_file("/var/www/html/metrics")
 
 
 class UnboundDeployer(Deployer):
     def __init__(self, config):
         self.config = config
-        self.need_restart = False
 
     def install(self):
         # On an IPv4-only system, if unbound is started but not configured,
@@ -176,13 +161,9 @@ class UnboundDeployer(Deployer):
         )
         # Configure unbound resolver with Quad9 fallback and a trailing newline
         # (SolusVM bug).
-        files.put(
-            name="Write static resolv.conf",
+        self.put_file(
             src=BytesIO(b"nameserver 127.0.0.1\nnameserver 9.9.9.9\n"),
             dest="/etc/resolv.conf",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
         )
         server.shell(
             name="Generate root keys for validating DNSSEC",
@@ -191,26 +172,15 @@ class UnboundDeployer(Deployer):
             ],
         )
         if self.config.disable_ipv6:
-            files.directory(
+            self.ensure_directory(
                 path="/etc/unbound/unbound.conf.d",
-                present=True,
-                user="root",
-                group="root",
-                mode="755",
             )
-            conf = files.put(
-                src=get_resource("unbound/unbound.conf.j2"),
-                dest="/etc/unbound/unbound.conf.d/chatmail.conf",
-                user="root",
-                group="root",
-                mode="644",
+            self.put_template(
+                "unbound/unbound.conf.j2",
+                "/etc/unbound/unbound.conf.d/chatmail.conf",
             )
         else:
-            conf = files.file(
-                path="/etc/unbound/unbound.conf.d/chatmail.conf",
-                present=False,
-            )
-        self.need_restart |= conf.changed
+            self.remove_file("/etc/unbound/unbound.conf.d/chatmail.conf")
 
     def activate(self):
         server.shell(
@@ -220,27 +190,19 @@ class UnboundDeployer(Deployer):
             ],
         )
 
-        systemd.service(
-            name="Start and enable unbound",
-            service="unbound.service",
-            running=True,
-            enabled=True,
-            restarted=self.need_restart,
-        )
+        self.ensure_service("unbound.service")
 
 
 class MtastsDeployer(Deployer):
     def configure(self):
         # Remove configuration.
-        files.file("/etc/mta-sts-daemon.yml", present=False)
-        files.directory("/usr/local/lib/postfix-mta-sts-resolver", present=False)
-        files.file("/etc/systemd/system/mta-sts-daemon.service", present=False)
+        self.remove_file("/etc/mta-sts-daemon.yml")
+        self.remove_directory("/usr/local/lib/postfix-mta-sts-resolver")
+        self.remove_file("/etc/systemd/system/mta-sts-daemon.service")
 
     def activate(self):
-        systemd.service(
-            name="Stop MTA-STS daemon",
-            service="mta-sts-daemon.service",
-            daemon_reload=True,
+        self.ensure_service(
+            "mta-sts-daemon.service",
             running=False,
             enabled=False,
         )
@@ -251,14 +213,7 @@ class WebsiteDeployer(Deployer):
         self.config = config
 
     def install(self):
-        files.directory(
-            name="Ensure /var/www exists",
-            path="/var/www",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="755",
-            present=True,
-        )
+        self.ensure_directory("/var/www")
 
     def configure(self):
         www_path, src_dir, build_dir = get_paths(self.config)
@@ -288,15 +243,11 @@ class LegacyRemoveDeployer(Deployer):
 
         # remove historic expunge script
         # which is now implemented through a systemd timer (chatmail-expire)
-        files.file(
-            path="/etc/cron.d/expunge",
-            present=False,
-        )
+        self.remove_file("/etc/cron.d/expunge")
 
         # Remove OBS repository key that is no longer used.
-        files.file("/etc/apt/keyrings/obs-home-deltachat.gpg", present=False)
-        files.line(
-            name="Remove DeltaChat OBS home repository from sources.list",
+        self.remove_file("/etc/apt/keyrings/obs-home-deltachat.gpg")
+        self.ensure_line(
             path="/etc/apt/sources.list",
             line="deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/obs-home-deltachat.gpg] https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/deltachat/Debian_12/ ./",
             escape_regex_characters=True,
@@ -304,11 +255,7 @@ class LegacyRemoveDeployer(Deployer):
         )
 
         # prior relay versions used filelogging
-        files.directory(
-            name="Ensure old logs on disk are deleted",
-            path="/var/log/journal/",
-            present=False,
-        )
+        self.remove_directory("/var/log/journal/")
         # remove echobot if it is still running
         if has_systemd() and host.get_fact(SystemdEnabled).get("echobot.service"):
             systemd.service(
@@ -350,22 +297,13 @@ class TurnDeployer(Deployer):
                 "0fb3e792419494e21ecad536464929dba706bb2c88884ed8f1788141d26fc756",
             ),
         }[host.get_fact(facts.server.Arch)]
-
-        existing_sha256sum = host.get_fact(Sha256File, "/usr/local/bin/chatmail-turn")
-        if existing_sha256sum != sha256sum:
-            server.shell(
-                name="Download chatmail-turn",
-                commands=[
-                    f"(curl -L {url} >/usr/local/bin/chatmail-turn.new && (echo '{sha256sum} /usr/local/bin/chatmail-turn.new' | sha256sum -c) && mv /usr/local/bin/chatmail-turn.new /usr/local/bin/chatmail-turn)",
-                    "chmod 755 /usr/local/bin/chatmail-turn",
-                ],
-            )
+        self.download_executable(url, "/usr/local/bin/chatmail-turn", sha256sum)
 
     def configure(self):
-        configure_remote_units(self.mail_domain, self.units)
+        configure_remote_units(self, self.mail_domain, self.units)
 
     def activate(self):
-        activate_remote_units(self.units)
+        activate_remote_units(self, self.units)
 
 
 class IrohDeployer(Deployer):
@@ -383,72 +321,30 @@ class IrohDeployer(Deployer):
                 "f8ef27631fac213b3ef668d02acd5b3e215292746a3fc71d90c63115446008b1",
             ),
         }[host.get_fact(facts.server.Arch)]
-
-        existing_sha256sum = host.get_fact(Sha256File, "/usr/local/bin/iroh-relay")
-        if existing_sha256sum != sha256sum:
-            server.shell(
-                name="Download iroh-relay",
-                commands=[
-                    f"(curl -L {url} | gunzip | tar -x -f - ./iroh-relay -O >/usr/local/bin/iroh-relay.new && (echo '{sha256sum} /usr/local/bin/iroh-relay.new' | sha256sum -c) && mv /usr/local/bin/iroh-relay.new /usr/local/bin/iroh-relay)",
-                    "chmod 755 /usr/local/bin/iroh-relay",
-                ],
-            )
-
-            self.need_restart = True
+        self.download_executable(
+            url,
+            "/usr/local/bin/iroh-relay",
+            sha256sum,
+            extract="gunzip | tar -xf - ./iroh-relay -O",
+        )
 
     def configure(self):
-        systemd_unit = files.put(
-            name="Upload iroh-relay systemd unit",
-            src=get_resource("iroh-relay.service"),
-            dest="/etc/systemd/system/iroh-relay.service",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
-        )
-        self.need_restart |= systemd_unit.changed
-
-        iroh_config = files.put(
-            name="Upload iroh-relay config",
-            src=get_resource("iroh-relay.toml"),
-            dest="/etc/iroh-relay.toml",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
-        )
-        self.need_restart |= iroh_config.changed
+        self.ensure_systemd_unit("iroh-relay.service")
+        self.put_file("iroh-relay.toml", "/etc/iroh-relay.toml")
 
     def activate(self):
-        systemd.service(
-            name="Start and enable iroh-relay",
-            service="iroh-relay.service",
-            running=True,
+        self.ensure_service(
+            "iroh-relay.service",
             enabled=self.enable_iroh_relay,
-            restarted=self.need_restart,
         )
-        self.need_restart = False
 
 
 class JournaldDeployer(Deployer):
     def configure(self):
-        journald_conf = files.put(
-            name="Configure journald",
-            src=get_resource("journald.conf"),
-            dest="/etc/systemd/journald.conf",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
-        )
-        self.need_restart = journald_conf.changed
+        self.put_file("journald.conf", "/etc/systemd/journald.conf")
 
     def activate(self):
-        systemd.service(
-            name="Start and enable journald",
-            service="systemd-journald.service",
-            running=True,
-            enabled=True,
-            restarted=self.need_restart,
-        )
-        self.need_restart = False
+        self.ensure_service("systemd-journald.service")
 
 
 class ChatmailVenvDeployer(Deployer):
@@ -464,14 +360,14 @@ class ChatmailVenvDeployer(Deployer):
         )
 
     def install(self):
-        _install_remote_venv_with_chatmaild()
+        _install_remote_venv_with_chatmaild(self)
 
     def configure(self):
-        _configure_remote_venv_with_chatmaild(self.config)
-        configure_remote_units(self.config.mail_domain, self.units)
+        _configure_remote_venv_with_chatmaild(self, self.config)
+        configure_remote_units(self, self.config.mail_domain, self.units)
 
     def activate(self):
-        activate_remote_units(self.units)
+        activate_remote_units(self, self.units)
 
 
 class ChatmailDeployer(Deployer):
@@ -485,13 +381,9 @@ class ChatmailDeployer(Deployer):
         self.mail_domain = config.mail_domain
 
     def install(self):
-        files.put(
-            name="Disable installing recommended packages globally",
+        self.put_file(
             src=BytesIO(b'APT::Install-Recommends "false";\n'),
             dest="/etc/apt/apt.conf.d/00InstallRecommends",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
         )
         apt.update(name="apt update", cache_time=24 * 3600)
         apt.upgrade(name="upgrade apt packages", auto_remove=True)
@@ -508,13 +400,10 @@ class ChatmailDeployer(Deployer):
 
     def configure(self):
         # metadata crashes if the mailboxes dir does not exist
-        files.directory(
-            name="Ensure vmail mailbox directory exists",
-            path=str(self.config.mailboxes_dir),
-            user="vmail",
-            group="vmail",
+        self.ensure_directory(
+            str(self.config.mailboxes_dir),
+            owner="vmail",
             mode="700",
-            present=True,
         )
 
         # This file is used by auth proxy.
@@ -535,12 +424,7 @@ class FcgiwrapDeployer(Deployer):
         )
 
     def activate(self):
-        systemd.service(
-            name="Start and enable fcgiwrap",
-            service="fcgiwrap.service",
-            running=True,
-            enabled=True,
-        )
+        self.ensure_service("fcgiwrap.service")
 
 
 class GithashDeployer(Deployer):
@@ -553,12 +437,7 @@ class GithashDeployer(Deployer):
             git_diff = subprocess.check_output(["git", "diff"]).decode()
         except Exception:
             git_diff = ""
-        files.put(
-            name="Upload chatmail relay git commit hash",
-            src=StringIO(git_hash + git_diff),
-            dest="/etc/chatmail-version",
-            mode="700",
-        )
+        self.put_file(src=StringIO(git_hash + git_diff), dest="/etc/chatmail-version")
 
 
 def get_tls_deployer(config, mail_domain):
@@ -591,11 +470,17 @@ def deploy_chatmail(config_path: Path, disable_mail: bool, website_only: bool) -
         return
 
     # Check if mtail_address interface is available (if configured)
-    if config.mtail_address and config.mtail_address not in ('127.0.0.1', '::1', 'localhost'):
+    if config.mtail_address and config.mtail_address not in (
+        "127.0.0.1",
+        "::1",
+        "localhost",
+    ):
         ipv4_addrs = host.get_fact(hardware.Ipv4Addrs)
         all_addresses = [addr for addrs in ipv4_addrs.values() for addr in addrs]
         if config.mtail_address not in all_addresses:
-            Out().red(f"Deploy failed: mtail_address {config.mtail_address} is not available (VPN up?).\n")
+            Out().red(
+                f"Deploy failed: mtail_address {config.mtail_address} is not available (VPN up?).\n"
+            )
             exit(1)
 
     if not is_in_container():
diff --git a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/dovecot/deployer.py b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/dovecot/deployer.py
index 37215d35..fca4c2aa 100644
--- a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/dovecot/deployer.py
+++ b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/dovecot/deployer.py
@@ -5,14 +5,13 @@ from chatmaild.config import Config
 from pyinfra import host
 from pyinfra.facts.deb import DebPackages
 from pyinfra.facts.server import Arch, Command, Sysctl
-from pyinfra.operations import apt, files, server, systemd
+from pyinfra.operations import apt, files, server
 
 from cmdeploy.basedeploy import (
     Deployer,
     activate_remote_units,
     blocked_service_startup,
     configure_remote_units,
-    get_resource,
     is_in_container,
 )
 
@@ -59,26 +58,21 @@ class DovecotDeployer(Deployer):
                     ],
                 )
                 self.need_restart = True
-        files.put(
-            name="Pin dovecot packages to block Debian dist-upgrades",
+        self.put_file(
             src=io.StringIO(
                 "Package: dovecot-*\n"
                 "Pin: version *\n"
                 "Pin-Priority: -1\n"
             ),
             dest="/etc/apt/preferences.d/pin-dovecot",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
         )
 
     def configure(self):
-        configure_remote_units(self.config.mail_domain, self.units)
-        config_restart, self.daemon_reload = _configure_dovecot(self.config)
-        self.need_restart |= config_restart
+        configure_remote_units(self, self.config.mail_domain, self.units)
+        _configure_dovecot(self, self.config)
 
     def activate(self):
-        activate_remote_units(self.units)
+        activate_remote_units(self, self.units)
 
         # Detect stale binary: package installed but service still runs old (deleted) binary.
         if not self.disable_mail and not self.need_restart:
@@ -91,19 +85,12 @@ class DovecotDeployer(Deployer):
             if stale == "STALE":
                 self.need_restart = True
 
-        restart = False if self.disable_mail else self.need_restart
-
-        systemd.service(
-            name="Disable dovecot for now"
-            if self.disable_mail
-            else "Start and enable Dovecot",
-            service="dovecot.service",
-            running=False if self.disable_mail else True,
-            enabled=False if self.disable_mail else True,
-            restarted=restart,
-            daemon_reload=self.daemon_reload,
+        active = not self.disable_mail
+        self.ensure_service(
+            "dovecot.service",
+            running=active,
+            enabled=active,
         )
-        self.need_restart = False
 
 
 def _pick_url(primary, fallback):
@@ -147,39 +134,19 @@ def _download_dovecot_package(package: str, arch: str) -> tuple[str | None, bool
 
     return deb_filename, True
 
-
-def _configure_dovecot(config: Config, debug: bool = False) -> tuple[bool, bool]:
+def _configure_dovecot(deployer, config: Config, debug: bool = False):
     """Configures Dovecot IMAP server."""
-    need_restart = False
-    daemon_reload = False
-
-    main_config = files.template(
-        src=get_resource("dovecot/dovecot.conf.j2"),
-        dest="/etc/dovecot/dovecot.conf",
-        user="root",
-        group="root",
-        mode="644",
+    deployer.put_template(
+        "dovecot/dovecot.conf.j2",
+        "/etc/dovecot/dovecot.conf",
         config=config,
         debug=debug,
         disable_ipv6=config.disable_ipv6,
     )
-    need_restart |= main_config.changed
-    auth_config = files.put(
-        src=get_resource("dovecot/auth.conf"),
-        dest="/etc/dovecot/auth.conf",
-        user="root",
-        group="root",
-        mode="644",
+    deployer.put_file("dovecot/auth.conf", "/etc/dovecot/auth.conf")
+    deployer.put_file(
+        "dovecot/push_notification.lua", "/etc/dovecot/push_notification.lua"
     )
-    need_restart |= auth_config.changed
-    lua_push_notification_script = files.put(
-        src=get_resource("dovecot/push_notification.lua"),
-        dest="/etc/dovecot/push_notification.lua",
-        user="root",
-        group="root",
-        mode="644",
-    )
-    need_restart |= lua_push_notification_script.changed
 
     # as per https://doc.dovecot.org/2.3/configuration_manual/os/
     # it is recommended to set the following inotify limits
@@ -203,25 +170,20 @@ def _configure_dovecot(config: Config, debug: bool = False) -> tuple[bool, bool]
             persist=True,
         )
 
-    timezone_env = files.line(
+    deployer.ensure_line(
         name="Set TZ environment variable",
         path="/etc/environment",
         line="TZ=:/etc/localtime",
     )
-    need_restart |= timezone_env.changed
 
-    restart_conf = files.put(
-        name="dovecot: restart automatically on failure",
-        src=get_resource("service/10_restart.conf"),
-        dest="/etc/systemd/system/dovecot.service.d/10_restart.conf",
+    deployer.put_file(
+        "service/10_restart_on_failure.conf",
+        "/etc/systemd/system/dovecot.service.d/10_restart.conf",
     )
-    daemon_reload |= restart_conf.changed
 
     # Validate dovecot configuration before restart
-    if need_restart:
+    if deployer.need_restart:
         server.shell(
             name="Validate dovecot configuration",
             commands=["doveconf -n >/dev/null"],
         )
-
-    return need_restart, daemon_reload
diff --git a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/external/deployer.py b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/external/deployer.py
index 88abcca6..7d087c5b 100644
--- a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/external/deployer.py
+++ b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/external/deployer.py
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
-import io
 
 from pyinfra import host
 from pyinfra.facts.files import File
-from pyinfra.operations import files, systemd
 
-from cmdeploy.basedeploy import Deployer, get_resource
+from ..basedeploy import Deployer
 
 
 class ExternalTlsDeployer(Deployer):
@@ -23,45 +21,24 @@ class ExternalTlsDeployer(Deployer):
     def configure(self):
         # Verify cert and key exist on the remote host using pyinfra facts.
         for path in (self.cert_path, self.key_path):
-            info = host.get_fact(File, path=path)
-            if info is None:
-                raise Exception(f"External TLS file not found on server: {path}")
+                if host.get_fact(File, path=path) is None:
+                    raise Exception(f"External TLS file not found on server: {path}")
 
-        # Deploy the .path unit (templated with the cert path).
-        # pkg=__package__ is required here because the resource files
-        # live in cmdeploy.external, not the default cmdeploy package.
-        source = get_resource("tls-cert-reload.path.f", pkg=__package__)
-        content = source.read_text().format(cert_path=self.cert_path).encode()
-
-        path_unit = files.put(
-            name="Upload tls-cert-reload.path",
-            src=io.BytesIO(content),
-            dest="/etc/systemd/system/tls-cert-reload.path",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
+        self.ensure_systemd_unit(
+            "external/tls-cert-reload.path.j2",
+            cert_path=self.cert_path,
         )
-
-        service_unit = files.put(
-            name="Upload tls-cert-reload.service",
-            src=get_resource("tls-cert-reload.service", pkg=__package__),
-            dest="/etc/systemd/system/tls-cert-reload.service",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
+        self.ensure_systemd_unit(
+            "external/tls-cert-reload.service",
         )
 
-        if path_unit.changed or service_unit.changed:
-            self.need_restart = True
-
     def activate(self):
-        systemd.service(
-            name="Enable tls-cert-reload path watcher",
-            service="tls-cert-reload.path",
-            running=True,
-            enabled=True,
-            restarted=self.need_restart,
-            daemon_reload=self.need_restart,
-        )
         # No explicit reload needed here: dovecot/nginx read the cert
         # on startup, and the .path watcher handles live changes.
+        self.ensure_service(
+            "tls-cert-reload.path",
+            running=True,
+            enabled=True,
+        )
+
+
diff --git a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/external/tls-cert-reload.path.f b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/external/tls-cert-reload.path.j2
similarity index 94%
rename from cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/external/tls-cert-reload.path.f
rename to cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/external/tls-cert-reload.path.j2
index 813326e9..970bf30f 100644
--- a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/external/tls-cert-reload.path.f
+++ b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/external/tls-cert-reload.path.j2
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 Description=Watch TLS certificate for changes
 
 [Path]
-PathChanged={cert_path}
+PathChanged={{ cert_path }}
 
 [Install]
 WantedBy=multi-user.target
diff --git a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/filtermail/deployer.py b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/filtermail/deployer.py
index d267fbf8..f541e342 100644
--- a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/filtermail/deployer.py
+++ b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/filtermail/deployer.py
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 import os
 
 from pyinfra import facts, host
-from pyinfra.operations import files, systemd
 
-from cmdeploy.basedeploy import Deployer, get_resource
+from cmdeploy.basedeploy import Deployer
 
 
 class FiltermailDeployer(Deployer):
@@ -11,18 +10,13 @@ class FiltermailDeployer(Deployer):
     bin_path = "/usr/local/bin/filtermail"
     config_path = "/usr/local/lib/chatmaild/chatmail.ini"
 
-    def __init__(self):
-        self.need_restart = False
-
     def install(self):
         local_bin = os.environ.get("CHATMAIL_FILTERMAIL_BINARY")
         if local_bin:
-            self.need_restart |= files.put(
-                name="Upload locally built filtermail",
+            self.put_executable(
                 src=local_bin,
                 dest=self.bin_path,
-                mode="755",
-            ).changed
+            )
             return
 
         arch = host.get_fact(facts.server.Arch)
@@ -31,34 +25,16 @@ class FiltermailDeployer(Deployer):
             "x86_64": "5295115952c72e4c4ec3c85546e094b4155a4c702c82bd71fcdcb744dc73adf6",
             "aarch64": "6892244f17b8f26ccb465766e96028e7222b3c8adefca9fc6bfe9ff332ca8dff",
         }[arch]
-        self.need_restart |= files.download(
-            name="Download filtermail",
-            src=url,
-            sha256sum=sha256sum,
-            dest=self.bin_path,
-            mode="755",
-        ).changed
+        self.download_executable(url, self.bin_path, sha256sum)
 
     def configure(self):
         for service in self.services:
-            self.need_restart |= files.template(
-                src=get_resource(f"filtermail/{service}.service.j2"),
-                dest=f"/etc/systemd/system/{service}.service",
-                user="root",
-                group="root",
-                mode="644",
+            self.ensure_systemd_unit(
+                f"filtermail/{service}.service.j2",
                 bin_path=self.bin_path,
                 config_path=self.config_path,
-            ).changed
+            )
 
     def activate(self):
         for service in self.services:
-            systemd.service(
-                name=f"Start and enable {service}",
-                service=f"{service}.service",
-                running=True,
-                enabled=True,
-                restarted=self.need_restart,
-                daemon_reload=True,
-            )
-        self.need_restart = False
+            self.ensure_service(f"{service}.service")
diff --git a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/mtail/deployer.py b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/mtail/deployer.py
index 6828abd9..d524f85b 100644
--- a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/mtail/deployer.py
+++ b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/mtail/deployer.py
@@ -1,10 +1,7 @@
 from pyinfra import facts, host
-from pyinfra.operations import apt, files, server, systemd
+from pyinfra.operations import apt
 
-from cmdeploy.basedeploy import (
-    Deployer,
-    get_resource,
-)
+from cmdeploy.basedeploy import Deployer
 
 
 class MtailDeployer(Deployer):
@@ -18,53 +15,30 @@ class MtailDeployer(Deployer):
         (url, sha256sum) = {
             "x86_64": (
                 "https://github.com/google/mtail/releases/download/v3.0.8/mtail_3.0.8_linux_amd64.tar.gz",
-                "123c2ee5f48c3eff12ebccee38befd2233d715da736000ccde49e3d5607724e4",
+                "d55cb601049c5e61eabab29998dbbcea95d480e5448544f9470337ba2eea882e",
             ),
             "aarch64": (
                 "https://github.com/google/mtail/releases/download/v3.0.8/mtail_3.0.8_linux_arm64.tar.gz",
-                "aa04811c0929b6754408676de520e050c45dddeb3401881888a092c9aea89cae",
+                "f748db8ad2a1e0b63684d4c8868cf6a373a20f7e6922e5ece601fff0ee00eb1a",
             ),
         }[host.get_fact(facts.server.Arch)]
-
-        server.shell(
-            name="Download mtail",
-            commands=[
-                f"(echo '{sha256sum} /usr/local/bin/mtail' | sha256sum -c) || (curl -L {url} | gunzip | tar -x -f - mtail -O >/usr/local/bin/mtail.new && mv /usr/local/bin/mtail.new /usr/local/bin/mtail)",
-                "chmod 755 /usr/local/bin/mtail",
-            ],
+        self.download_executable(
+            url,
+            "/usr/local/bin/mtail",
+            sha256sum,
+            extract="gunzip | tar -xf - mtail -O",
         )
 
     def configure(self):
         # Using our own systemd unit instead of `/usr/lib/systemd/system/mtail.service`.
         # This allows to read from journalctl instead of log files.
-        unit = files.template(
-            src=get_resource("mtail/mtail.service.j2"),
-            dest="/etc/systemd/system/mtail.service",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
+        self.ensure_systemd_unit(
+            "mtail/mtail.service.j2",
             address=self.mtail_address or "127.0.0.1",
             port=3903,
         )
-
-        mtail_conf = files.put(
-            name="Mtail configuration",
-            src=get_resource("mtail/delivered_mail.mtail"),
-            dest="/etc/mtail/delivered_mail.mtail",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
-        )
-        self.unit_changed = unit.changed
-        self.need_restart = unit.changed or mtail_conf.changed
+        self.put_file("mtail/delivered_mail.mtail", "/etc/mtail/delivered_mail.mtail")
 
     def activate(self):
-        systemd.service(
-            name="Start and enable mtail",
-            service="mtail.service",
-            running=bool(self.mtail_address),
-            enabled=bool(self.mtail_address),
-            restarted=self.need_restart,
-            daemon_reload=self.unit_changed,
-        )
-        self.need_restart = False
+        active = bool(self.mtail_address)
+        self.ensure_service("mtail.service", running=active, enabled=active)
diff --git a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/nginx/deployer.py b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/nginx/deployer.py
index 217c7c77..c88464d4 100644
--- a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/nginx/deployer.py
+++ b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/nginx/deployer.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from chatmaild.config import Config
-from pyinfra.operations import apt, files, systemd
+from pyinfra.operations import apt
 
 from cmdeploy.basedeploy import (
     Deployer,
@@ -31,87 +31,50 @@ class NginxDeployer(Deployer):
         # For documentation about policy-rc.d, see:
         # https://people.debian.org/~hmh/invokerc.d-policyrc.d-specification.txt
         #
-        files.put(
-            src=get_resource("policy-rc.d"),
-            dest="/usr/sbin/policy-rc.d",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="755",
-        )
+        self.put_executable(src="policy-rc.d", dest="/usr/sbin/policy-rc.d")
 
         apt.packages(
             name="Install nginx",
             packages=["nginx", "libnginx-mod-stream"],
         )
 
-        files.file("/usr/sbin/policy-rc.d", present=False)
+        self.remove_file("/usr/sbin/policy-rc.d")
 
     def configure(self):
-        self.need_restart = _configure_nginx(self.config)
+        _configure_nginx(self, self.config)
 
     def activate(self):
-        systemd.service(
-            name="Start and enable nginx",
-            service="nginx.service",
-            running=True,
-            enabled=True,
-            restarted=self.need_restart,
-        )
-        self.need_restart = False
+        self.ensure_service("nginx.service")
 
 
-def _configure_nginx(config: Config, debug: bool = False) -> bool:
+def _configure_nginx(deployer, config: Config, debug: bool = False):
     """Configures nginx HTTP server."""
-    need_restart = False
 
-    main_config = files.template(
-        src=get_resource("nginx/nginx.conf.j2"),
-        dest="/etc/nginx/nginx.conf",
-        user="root",
-        group="root",
-        mode="644",
+    deployer.put_template(
+        "nginx/nginx.conf.j2",
+        "/etc/nginx/nginx.conf",
         config=config,
         disable_ipv6=config.disable_ipv6,
     )
-    need_restart |= main_config.changed
 
-    autoconfig = files.template(
-        src=get_resource("nginx/autoconfig.xml.j2"),
-        dest="/var/www/html/.well-known/autoconfig/mail/config-v1.1.xml",
-        user="root",
-        group="root",
-        mode="644",
+    deployer.put_template(
+        "nginx/autoconfig.xml.j2",
+        "/var/www/html/.well-known/autoconfig/mail/config-v1.1.xml",
         config=config,
     )
-    need_restart |= autoconfig.changed
 
-    mta_sts_config = files.template(
-        src=get_resource("nginx/mta-sts.txt.j2"),
-        dest="/var/www/html/.well-known/mta-sts.txt",
-        user="root",
-        group="root",
-        mode="644",
+    deployer.put_template(
+        "nginx/mta-sts.txt.j2",
+        "/var/www/html/.well-known/mta-sts.txt",
         config=config,
     )
-    need_restart |= mta_sts_config.changed
 
     # install CGI newemail script
     #
     cgi_dir = "/usr/lib/cgi-bin"
-    files.directory(
-        name=f"Ensure {cgi_dir} exists",
-        path=cgi_dir,
-        user="root",
-        group="root",
-    )
+    deployer.ensure_directory(cgi_dir)
 
-    files.put(
-        name="Upload cgi newemail.py script",
+    deployer.put_executable(
         src=get_resource("newemail.py", pkg="chatmaild").open("rb"),
         dest=f"{cgi_dir}/newemail.py",
-        user="root",
-        group="root",
-        mode="755",
     )
-
-    return need_restart
diff --git a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/opendkim/deployer.py b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/opendkim/deployer.py
index 44d4a3ed..27b3876a 100644
--- a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/opendkim/deployer.py
+++ b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/opendkim/deployer.py
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ Installs OpenDKIM
 
 from pyinfra import host
 from pyinfra.facts.files import File
-from pyinfra.operations import apt, files, server, systemd
+from pyinfra.operations import apt, files, server
 
-from cmdeploy.basedeploy import Deployer, get_resource
+from cmdeploy.basedeploy import Deployer
 
 
 class OpendkimDeployer(Deployer):
@@ -25,65 +25,39 @@ class OpendkimDeployer(Deployer):
         domain = self.mail_domain
         dkim_selector = "opendkim"
         """Configures OpenDKIM"""
-        need_restart = False
 
-        main_config = files.template(
-            src=get_resource("opendkim/opendkim.conf"),
-            dest="/etc/opendkim.conf",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
+        self.put_template(
+            "opendkim/opendkim.conf",
+            "/etc/opendkim.conf",
             config={"domain_name": domain, "opendkim_selector": dkim_selector},
         )
-        need_restart |= main_config.changed
 
-        screen_script = files.file(
-            path="/etc/opendkim/screen.lua",
-            present=False,
-        )
-        need_restart |= screen_script.changed
+        self.remove_file("/etc/opendkim/screen.lua")
+        self.remove_file("/etc/opendkim/final.lua")
 
-        final_script = files.file(
-            path="/etc/opendkim/final.lua",
-            present=False,
-        )
-        need_restart |= final_script.changed
-
-        files.directory(
-            name="Add opendkim directory to /etc",
-            path="/etc/opendkim",
-            user="opendkim",
-            group="opendkim",
+        self.ensure_directory(
+            "/etc/opendkim",
+            owner="opendkim",
             mode="750",
-            present=True,
         )
 
-        keytable = files.template(
-            src=get_resource("opendkim/KeyTable"),
-            dest="/etc/dkimkeys/KeyTable",
-            user="opendkim",
-            group="opendkim",
-            mode="644",
+        self.put_template(
+            "opendkim/KeyTable",
+            "/etc/dkimkeys/KeyTable",
+            owner="opendkim",
             config={"domain_name": domain, "opendkim_selector": dkim_selector},
         )
-        need_restart |= keytable.changed
 
-        signing_table = files.template(
-            src=get_resource("opendkim/SigningTable"),
-            dest="/etc/dkimkeys/SigningTable",
-            user="opendkim",
-            group="opendkim",
-            mode="644",
+        self.put_template(
+            "opendkim/SigningTable",
+            "/etc/dkimkeys/SigningTable",
+            owner="opendkim",
             config={"domain_name": domain, "opendkim_selector": dkim_selector},
         )
-        need_restart |= signing_table.changed
-        files.directory(
-            name="Add opendkim socket directory to /var/spool/postfix",
-            path="/var/spool/postfix/opendkim",
-            user="opendkim",
-            group="opendkim",
+        self.ensure_directory(
+            "/var/spool/postfix/opendkim",
+            owner="opendkim",
             mode="750",
-            present=True,
         )
 
         if not host.get_fact(File, f"/etc/dkimkeys/{dkim_selector}.private"):
@@ -96,12 +70,10 @@ class OpendkimDeployer(Deployer):
                 _su_user="opendkim",
             )
 
-        service_file = files.put(
-            name="Configure opendkim to restart once a day",
-            src=get_resource("opendkim/systemd.conf"),
-            dest="/etc/systemd/system/opendkim.service.d/10-prevent-memory-leak.conf",
+        self.put_file(
+            "opendkim/systemd.conf",
+            "/etc/systemd/system/opendkim.service.d/10-prevent-memory-leak.conf",
         )
-        need_restart |= service_file.changed
 
         files.file(
             name="chown opendkim: /etc/dkimkeys/opendkim.private",
@@ -110,15 +82,5 @@ class OpendkimDeployer(Deployer):
             group="opendkim",
         )
 
-        self.need_restart = need_restart
-
     def activate(self):
-        systemd.service(
-            name="Start and enable OpenDKIM",
-            service="opendkim.service",
-            running=True,
-            enabled=True,
-            daemon_reload=self.need_restart,
-            restarted=self.need_restart,
-        )
-        self.need_restart = False
+        self.ensure_service("opendkim.service")
diff --git a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/postfix/deployer.py b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/postfix/deployer.py
index f18f3e4e..53d5f2de 100644
--- a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/postfix/deployer.py
+++ b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/postfix/deployer.py
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
-from pyinfra.operations import apt, files, server, systemd
+from pyinfra.operations import apt, server
 
-from cmdeploy.basedeploy import Deployer, get_resource
+from cmdeploy.basedeploy import Deployer
 
 
 class PostfixDeployer(Deployer):
     required_users = [("postfix", None, ["opendkim"])]
-    daemon_reload = False
 
     def __init__(self, config, disable_mail):
         self.config = config
@@ -19,81 +18,46 @@ class PostfixDeployer(Deployer):
 
     def configure(self):
         config = self.config
-        need_restart = False
 
-        main_config = files.template(
-            src=get_resource("postfix/main.cf.j2"),
-            dest="/etc/postfix/main.cf",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
+        self.put_template(
+            "postfix/main.cf.j2",
+            "/etc/postfix/main.cf",
             config=config,
             disable_ipv6=config.disable_ipv6,
         )
-        need_restart |= main_config.changed
 
-        master_config = files.template(
-            src=get_resource("postfix/master.cf.j2"),
-            dest="/etc/postfix/master.cf",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
+        self.put_template(
+            "postfix/master.cf.j2",
+            "/etc/postfix/master.cf",
             debug=False,
             config=config,
         )
-        need_restart |= master_config.changed
 
-        header_cleanup = files.put(
-            src=get_resource("postfix/submission_header_cleanup"),
-            dest="/etc/postfix/submission_header_cleanup",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
+        self.put_file(
+            "postfix/submission_header_cleanup",
+            "/etc/postfix/submission_header_cleanup",
         )
-        need_restart |= header_cleanup.changed
+        self.put_file("postfix/lmtp_header_cleanup", "/etc/postfix/lmtp_header_cleanup")
 
-        lmtp_header_cleanup = files.put(
-            src=get_resource("postfix/lmtp_header_cleanup"),
-            dest="/etc/postfix/lmtp_header_cleanup",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
+        res = self.put_file(
+            "postfix/smtp_tls_policy_map", "/etc/postfix/smtp_tls_policy_map"
         )
-        need_restart |= lmtp_header_cleanup.changed
-
-        tls_policy_map = files.put(
-            name="Upload SMTP TLS Policy that accepts self-signed certificates for IP-only hosts",
-            src=get_resource("postfix/smtp_tls_policy_map"),
-            dest="/etc/postfix/smtp_tls_policy_map",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
-        )
-        need_restart |= tls_policy_map.changed
-        if tls_policy_map.changed:
+        tls_policy_changed = res.changed
+        if tls_policy_changed:
             server.shell(
                 commands=["postmap /etc/postfix/smtp_tls_policy_map"],
             )
 
         # Login map that 1:1 maps email address to login.
-        login_map = files.put(
-            src=get_resource("postfix/login_map"),
-            dest="/etc/postfix/login_map",
-            user="root",
-            group="root",
-            mode="644",
-        )
-        need_restart |= login_map.changed
+        self.put_file("postfix/login_map", "/etc/postfix/login_map")
 
-        restart_conf = files.put(
-            name="postfix: restart automatically on failure",
-            src=get_resource("service/10_restart.conf"),
-            dest="/etc/systemd/system/postfix@.service.d/10_restart.conf",
+        self.put_file(
+            "service/10_restart_on_failure.conf",
+            "/etc/systemd/system/postfix@.service.d/10_restart.conf",
         )
-        self.daemon_reload = restart_conf.changed
 
         # Validate postfix configuration before restart
-        if need_restart:
+        if self.need_restart:
             server.shell(
                 name="Validate postfix configuration",
                 # Extract stderr and quit with error if non-zero
@@ -101,19 +65,11 @@ class PostfixDeployer(Deployer):
                     """bash -c 'w=$(postconf 2>&1 >/dev/null); [[ -z "$w" ]] || { echo "$w"; false; }'"""
                 ],
             )
-        self.need_restart = need_restart
 
     def activate(self):
-        restart = False if self.disable_mail else self.need_restart
-
-        systemd.service(
-            name="disable postfix for now"
-            if self.disable_mail
-            else "Start and enable Postfix",
-            service="postfix.service",
-            running=False if self.disable_mail else True,
-            enabled=False if self.disable_mail else True,
-            restarted=restart,
-            daemon_reload=self.daemon_reload,
+        active = not self.disable_mail
+        self.ensure_service(
+            "postfix.service",
+            running=active,
+            enabled=active,
         )
-        self.need_restart = False
diff --git a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/selfsigned/deployer.py b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/selfsigned/deployer.py
index 7f6d5015..881718cc 100644
--- a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/selfsigned/deployer.py
+++ b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/selfsigned/deployer.py
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import shlex
 
-from pyinfra.operations import apt, server
+from pyinfra.operations import server
 
-from cmdeploy.basedeploy import Deployer
+from ..basedeploy import Deployer
 
 
 def openssl_selfsigned_args(domain, cert_path, key_path, days=36500):
@@ -34,11 +34,7 @@ class SelfSignedTlsDeployer(Deployer):
         self.cert_path = "/etc/ssl/certs/mailserver.pem"
         self.key_path = "/etc/ssl/private/mailserver.key"
 
-    def install(self):
-        apt.packages(
-            name="Install openssl",
-            packages=["openssl"],
-        )
+
 
     def configure(self):
         args = openssl_selfsigned_args(
@@ -52,3 +48,5 @@ class SelfSignedTlsDeployer(Deployer):
 
     def activate(self):
         pass
+
+
diff --git a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/service/10_restart.conf b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/service/10_restart_on_failure.conf
similarity index 100%
rename from cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/service/10_restart.conf
rename to cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/service/10_restart_on_failure.conf
diff --git a/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/tests/test_basedeploy.py b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/tests/test_basedeploy.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d4711ee6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmdeploy/src/cmdeploy/tests/test_basedeploy.py
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+from cmdeploy.basedeploy import Deployer
+
+
+def test_put_file_restart_and_reload():
+    deployer = Deployer()
+    mock_res = MagicMock()
+    mock_res.changed = True
+
+    with patch("cmdeploy.basedeploy.files.put", return_value=mock_res):
+        deployer.put_file("foo.conf", "/etc/foo.conf")
+        assert deployer.need_restart is True
+        assert deployer.daemon_reload is False
+
+        deployer = Deployer()
+
+        deployer.put_file("test.service", "/etc/systemd/system/test.service")
+        assert deployer.need_restart is True
+        assert deployer.daemon_reload is True
+
+
+def test_remove_file():
+    deployer = Deployer()
+    mock_res = MagicMock()
+    mock_res.changed = True
+
+    with patch("cmdeploy.basedeploy.files.file", return_value=mock_res) as mock_file:
+        deployer.remove_file("/etc/foo.conf")
+        mock_file.assert_called_once_with(
+            name="Remove /etc/foo.conf", path="/etc/foo.conf", present=False
+        )
+        assert deployer.need_restart is True
+
+
+def test_ensure_systemd_unit():
+    deployer = Deployer()
+    mock_res = MagicMock()
+    mock_res.changed = True
+
+    # Plain service file
+    with patch("cmdeploy.basedeploy.files.put", return_value=mock_res) as mock_put:
+        deployer.ensure_systemd_unit("iroh-relay.service")
+        assert (
+            mock_put.call_args.kwargs["dest"]
+            == "/etc/systemd/system/iroh-relay.service"
+        )
+        assert deployer.need_restart is True
+        assert deployer.daemon_reload is True
+
+    deployer = Deployer()
+
+    # Template (.j2) dispatches to put_template and strips .j2 suffix
+    with patch("cmdeploy.basedeploy.files.template", return_value=mock_res) as mock_tpl:
+        deployer.ensure_systemd_unit(
+            "filtermail/chatmaild.service.j2",
+            bin_path="/usr/local/bin/filtermail",
+        )
+        assert (
+            mock_tpl.call_args.kwargs["dest"] == "/etc/systemd/system/chatmaild.service"
+        )
+
+    deployer = Deployer()
+
+    # Explicit dest_name override
+    with patch("cmdeploy.basedeploy.files.put", return_value=mock_res) as mock_put:
+        deployer.ensure_systemd_unit(
+            "acmetool/acmetool-reconcile.timer",
+            dest_name="acmetool-reconcile.timer",
+        )
+        assert (
+            mock_put.call_args.kwargs["dest"]
+            == "/etc/systemd/system/acmetool-reconcile.timer"
+        )
+
+
+def test_ensure_service():
+    with patch("cmdeploy.basedeploy.systemd.service") as mock_svc:
+        deployer = Deployer()
+        deployer.need_restart = True
+        deployer.daemon_reload = True
+        deployer.ensure_service("nginx.service")
+        mock_svc.assert_called_once_with(
+            name="Start and enable nginx.service",
+            service="nginx.service",
+            running=True,
+            enabled=True,
+            restarted=True,
+            daemon_reload=True,
+        )
+        # daemon_reload is cleared to avoid multiple systemctl daemon-reload calls
+        # need_restart is kept to ensure all subsequent services also restart
+        assert deployer.need_restart is True
+        assert deployer.daemon_reload is False
+
+    with patch("cmdeploy.basedeploy.systemd.service") as mock_svc:
+        # Stopping suppresses restarted even when need_restart is True
+        deployer = Deployer()
+        deployer.need_restart = True
+        deployer.daemon_reload = True
+        deployer.ensure_service(
+            "mta-sts-daemon.service",
+            running=False,
+            enabled=False,
+        )
+        assert mock_svc.call_args.kwargs["restarted"] is False
+        assert deployer.need_restart is True
+
+    with patch("cmdeploy.basedeploy.systemd.service") as mock_svc:
+        # Multiple calls: daemon_reload resets after first, need_restart persists
+        deployer = Deployer()
+        deployer.need_restart = True
+        deployer.daemon_reload = True
+        deployer.ensure_service("chatmaild.service")
+        deployer.ensure_service("chatmaild-metadata.service")
+        second_call = mock_svc.call_args_list[1]
+        assert second_call.kwargs["restarted"] is True
+        assert second_call.kwargs["daemon_reload"] is False