diff --git a/backend/src/db/index.ts b/backend/src/db/index.ts
index ac264c6..a6a9104 100644
--- a/backend/src/db/index.ts
+++ b/backend/src/db/index.ts
@@ -112,8 +112,28 @@ db.exec(`
     reported_at TEXT,
     received_at TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT (datetime('now'))
   );
+
+  CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS system_config (
+    key TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+    value TEXT NOT NULL,
+    updated_at TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT (datetime('now'))
+  );
 `)
 
+export function getConfig(key: string): string | undefined {
+  const row = db.prepare('SELECT value FROM system_config WHERE key = ?').get(key) as
+    | { value: string }
+    | undefined
+  return row?.value
+}
+
+export function setConfig(key: string, value: string) {
+  db.prepare(
+    `INSERT INTO system_config (key, value, updated_at) VALUES (?, ?, datetime('now'))
+     ON CONFLICT(key) DO UPDATE SET value = excluded.value, updated_at = datetime('now')`
+  ).run(key, value)
+}
+
 export function logEvent(type: string, title: string, source?: string | null) {
   db.prepare('INSERT INTO events (type, title, source) VALUES (?, ?, ?)').run(type, title, source ?? null)
 }
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/system.ts b/backend/src/routes/system.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e357f2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/routes/system.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+import type { FastifyInstance } from 'fastify'
+import { networkInterfaces } from 'node:os'
+import { z } from 'zod'
+import { db, getConfig, setConfig, logEvent } from '../db/index.js'
+import { loadSecrets } from '../db/secrets.js'
+import { adapterRegistry } from '../integrations/registry.js'
+import type { IntegrationType } from '../integrations/types.js'
+
+interface IntegrationRow {
+  id: number
+  type: string
+  name: string
+  config_json: string
+}
+
+/** NetBird's default CGNAT mesh range (100.64.0.0/10) — informational only (DECIDE B2). */
+function detectHostMeshIp(): string | null {
+  for (const addrs of Object.values(networkInterfaces())) {
+    for (const addr of addrs ?? []) {
+      if (addr.family !== 'IPv4') continue
+      const parts = addr.address.split('.').map(Number)
+      if (parts[0] === 100 && parts[1] !== undefined && parts[1] >= 64 && parts[1] <= 127) {
+        return addr.address
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return null
+}
+
+function meshStatusPayload() {
+  const required = getConfig('mesh.required') === 'true'
+  const meshIntegrationId = getConfig('mesh.integrationId')
+  const verifiedAt = getConfig('mesh.verifiedAt')
+  const overridden = getConfig('mesh.overrideUntil') === 'permanent'
+  return {
+    required,
+    verified: !!verifiedAt,
+    verifiedAt: verifiedAt ?? null,
+    overridden,
+    meshIntegrationId: meshIntegrationId ? Number(meshIntegrationId) : null,
+    hostMeshIp: detectHostMeshIp(),
+  }
+}
+
+const verifySchema = z.object({ integrationId: z.number().int() })
+
+export async function systemRoutes(app: FastifyInstance) {
+  app.get('/api/system/mesh-status', { onRequest: [app.authenticate] }, async () => {
+    return meshStatusPayload()
+  })
+
+  app.post('/api/system/mesh/verify', { onRequest: [app.requireAdmin] }, async (req, reply) => {
+    const parsed = verifySchema.safeParse(req.body)
+    if (!parsed.success) {
+      return reply.code(400).send({ error: parsed.error.issues[0]?.message ?? 'Invalid input' })
+    }
+    const row = db.prepare('SELECT * FROM integrations WHERE id = ? AND type = ?').get(
+      parsed.data.integrationId,
+      'netbird'
+    ) as IntegrationRow | undefined
+    if (!row) return reply.code(404).send({ error: 'NetBird integration not found' })
+
+    const adapter = adapterRegistry[row.type as IntegrationType]
+    const config = JSON.parse(row.config_json)
+    const secrets = loadSecrets(row.id)
+    const result = await adapter.testConnection(config, secrets)
+
+    db.prepare("UPDATE integrations SET status = ?, last_checked_at = datetime('now') WHERE id = ?").run(
+      result.ok ? 'connected' : 'error',
+      row.id
+    )
+
+    if (result.ok) {
+      setConfig('mesh.integrationId', String(row.id))
+      setConfig('mesh.verifiedAt', new Date().toISOString())
+      logEvent('mesh_verified', `Mesh verified via ${row.name}`, row.type)
+    } else {
+      logEvent('mesh_verify_failed', `Mesh verification failed via ${row.name}: ${result.message}`, row.type)
+    }
+
+    return { ...result, hostMeshIp: detectHostMeshIp() }
+  })
+
+  app.post('/api/system/mesh/override', { onRequest: [app.requireAdmin] }, async (req) => {
+    setConfig('mesh.overrideUntil', 'permanent')
+    logEvent('mesh_override', `Mesh gate skipped by admin (${(req.user as { username: string }).username})`)
+    return meshStatusPayload()
+  })
+
+  app.put('/api/system/mesh/required', { onRequest: [app.requireAdmin] }, async (req) => {
+    const { required } = req.body as { required: boolean }
+    setConfig('mesh.required', required ? 'true' : 'false')
+    logEvent('mesh_required_changed', `Mesh requirement set to ${required ? 'on' : 'off'}`)
+    return meshStatusPayload()
+  })
+}
diff --git a/backend/src/server.ts b/backend/src/server.ts
index 7d4653b..f20d074 100644
--- a/backend/src/server.ts
+++ b/backend/src/server.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import { guacamoleRoutes } from './routes/guacamole.js'
 import { metricsRoutes } from './routes/metrics.js'
 import { transferRoutes } from './routes/transfer.js'
 import { dataRoutes } from './routes/data.js'
+import { systemRoutes } from './routes/system.js'
 import { startAutoStartTunnels } from './tunnels/manager.js'
 import { db } from './db/index.js'
 
@@ -99,6 +100,7 @@ await app.register(guacamoleRoutes)
 await app.register(metricsRoutes)
 await app.register(transferRoutes)
 await app.register(dataRoutes)
+await app.register(systemRoutes)
 
 app.get('/api/health', async () => ({ ok: true }))
 
diff --git a/src/App.tsx b/src/App.tsx
index 628d871..2902e14 100644
--- a/src/App.tsx
+++ b/src/App.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import Settings from './pages/Settings'
 import Help from './pages/Help'
 import Login from './pages/Login'
 import Enrollment from './pages/Enrollment'
+import MeshGate from './pages/MeshGate'
 import { useAuth } from './lib/AuthContext'
 
 function App() {
@@ -29,11 +30,14 @@ function App() {
   }
   if (status === 'needs-setup' || status === 'enrolling') return <Enrollment />
   if (status === 'logged-out') return <Login />
+  if (status === 'needs-mesh') return <MeshGate />
 
   return <Dashboard />
 }
 
 function Dashboard() {
+  const { user, meshStatus } = useAuth()
+  const showMeshNotice = !!meshStatus && meshStatus.required && !meshStatus.verified && !meshStatus.overridden && user?.role !== 'admin'
   const [sidebarCollapsed, setSidebarCollapsed] = useState(false)
   const sidebarWidth = sidebarCollapsed ? 64 : 200
   const location = useLocation()
@@ -79,6 +83,22 @@ function Dashboard() {
           <TopBar />
         </div>
 
+        {showMeshNotice && (
+          <div
+            className="relative flex items-center justify-center"
+            style={{
+              zIndex: 20,
+              padding: '6px 16px',
+              backgroundColor: 'rgba(230,126,34,0.1)',
+              borderBottom: '1px solid rgba(230,126,34,0.2)',
+              fontSize: '11px',
+              color: '#E67E22',
+            }}
+          >
+            Mesh setup is still in progress — an admin needs to finish verifying the network. Some features may be limited.
+          </div>
+        )}
+
         <section
           className="relative flex w-full flex-col overflow-hidden"
           style={{ height: `calc(100vh - ${topBarHeight}px)`, scrollbarWidth: 'none', padding: showHero ? `${heroPaddingTop} 24px 24px 24px` : '16px 24px 24px 24px', gap: '20px', zIndex: 1 }}
diff --git a/src/lib/AuthContext.tsx b/src/lib/AuthContext.tsx
index ff03345..ca049fb 100644
--- a/src/lib/AuthContext.tsx
+++ b/src/lib/AuthContext.tsx
@@ -1,14 +1,16 @@
 import { createContext, useContext, useEffect, useState, type ReactNode } from 'react'
-import { api, getToken, setToken, type AuthUser } from './api'
+import { api, getToken, setToken, type AuthUser, type MeshStatus } from './api'
 
-type AuthStatus = 'loading' | 'needs-setup' | 'enrolling' | 'logged-out' | 'logged-in'
+type AuthStatus = 'loading' | 'needs-setup' | 'enrolling' | 'logged-out' | 'needs-mesh' | 'logged-in'
 
 interface AuthContextValue {
   status: AuthStatus
   user: AuthUser | null
+  meshStatus: MeshStatus | null
   login: (username: string, password: string) => Promise<void>
   completeSetup: (username: string, password: string) => Promise<void>
   finishEnrollment: () => Promise<void>
+  refreshMeshStatus: () => Promise<void>
   logout: () => void
   setUser: (user: AuthUser) => void
 }
@@ -18,13 +20,19 @@ const AuthContext = createContext<AuthContextValue | null>(null)
 export function AuthProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
   const [status, setStatus] = useState<AuthStatus>('loading')
   const [user, setUser] = useState<AuthUser | null>(null)
+  const [meshStatus, setMeshStatus] = useState<MeshStatus | null>(null)
 
   async function refresh() {
     if (getToken()) {
       try {
         const { user } = await api.me()
         setUser(user)
-        setStatus('logged-in')
+        const mesh = await api.getMeshStatus().catch(() => null)
+        setMeshStatus(mesh)
+        // Members are let in with a "setup in progress" notice instead of being gated —
+        // only an admin can actually fix mesh config, so only admins see the full gate.
+        const gateBlocks = !!mesh && mesh.required && !mesh.verified && !mesh.overridden
+        setStatus(gateBlocks && user.role === 'admin' ? 'needs-mesh' : 'logged-in')
         return
       } catch {
         setToken(null)
@@ -34,6 +42,10 @@ export function AuthProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
     setStatus(needsSetup ? 'needs-setup' : 'logged-out')
   }
 
+  async function refreshMeshStatus() {
+    await refresh()
+  }
+
   useEffect(() => {
     refresh()
   }, [])
@@ -61,11 +73,14 @@ export function AuthProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
     api.logout().catch(() => {})
     setToken(null)
     setUser(null)
+    setMeshStatus(null)
     setStatus('logged-out')
   }
 
   return (
-    <AuthContext.Provider value={{ status, user, login, completeSetup, finishEnrollment, logout, setUser }}>
+    <AuthContext.Provider
+      value={{ status, user, meshStatus, login, completeSetup, finishEnrollment, refreshMeshStatus, logout, setUser }}
+    >
       {children}
     </AuthContext.Provider>
   )
diff --git a/src/lib/api.ts b/src/lib/api.ts
index 0c3c374..1e4242d 100644
--- a/src/lib/api.ts
+++ b/src/lib/api.ts
@@ -58,6 +58,16 @@ export const api = {
   logout: () => apiFetch<{ ok: boolean }>('/auth/logout', { method: 'POST' }),
   listLoginEvents: (limit = 20) => apiFetch<{ events: LoginEvent[] }>(`/auth/login-events?limit=${limit}`),
 
+  getMeshStatus: () => apiFetch<MeshStatus>('/system/mesh-status'),
+  verifyMesh: (integrationId: number) =>
+    apiFetch<{ ok: boolean; message: string; hostMeshIp: string | null }>('/system/mesh/verify', {
+      method: 'POST',
+      body: JSON.stringify({ integrationId }),
+    }),
+  overrideMesh: () => apiFetch<MeshStatus>('/system/mesh/override', { method: 'POST' }),
+  setMeshRequired: (required: boolean) =>
+    apiFetch<MeshStatus>('/system/mesh/required', { method: 'PUT', body: JSON.stringify({ required }) }),
+
   listUsers: () => apiFetch<{ users: ManagedUser[] }>('/users'),
   createUser: (data: { username: string; password: string; role: 'admin' | 'member'; displayName?: string | null; email?: string | null }) =>
     apiFetch<{ user: ManagedUser }>('/users', { method: 'POST', body: JSON.stringify(data) }),
@@ -237,6 +247,15 @@ export interface AuthSession {
   current: boolean
 }
 
+export interface MeshStatus {
+  required: boolean
+  verified: boolean
+  verifiedAt: string | null
+  overridden: boolean
+  meshIntegrationId: number | null
+  hostMeshIp: string | null
+}
+
 export interface LoginEvent {
   id: number
   username: string | null
diff --git a/src/pages/MeshGate.tsx b/src/pages/MeshGate.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1281fb7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pages/MeshGate.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,166 @@
+import { useState } from 'react'
+import { Network, ShieldAlert } from 'lucide-react'
+import { useAuth } from '../lib/AuthContext'
+import { api, ApiError } from '../lib/api'
+
+const cardBase: React.CSSProperties = {
+  backgroundColor: 'rgba(10, 10, 12, 0.92)',
+  border: '1px solid rgba(200, 164, 52, 0.12)',
+  borderRadius: '14px',
+  padding: '32px',
+}
+
+const fieldLabel: React.CSSProperties = {
+  fontSize: '11px',
+  color: '#7A7D85',
+  marginBottom: '6px',
+  display: 'block',
+}
+
+const fieldInput: React.CSSProperties = {
+  width: '100%',
+  height: '36px',
+  borderRadius: '8px',
+  border: '1px solid rgba(200,164,52,0.12)',
+  backgroundColor: 'rgba(255,255,255,0.03)',
+  color: '#E8E6E0',
+  fontSize: '13px',
+  padding: '0 12px',
+  outline: 'none',
+}
+
+const goldButton: React.CSSProperties = {
+  height: '38px',
+  borderRadius: '8px',
+  border: 'none',
+  fontSize: '13px',
+  fontWeight: 600,
+  color: '#0A0B0D',
+  backgroundColor: '#C8A434',
+  boxShadow: '0 0 14px rgba(200,164,52,0.2)',
+  padding: '0 20px',
+}
+
+export default function MeshGate() {
+  const { refreshMeshStatus } = useAuth()
+  const [baseUrl, setBaseUrl] = useState('')
+  const [apiKey, setApiKey] = useState('')
+  const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null)
+  const [testResult, setTestResult] = useState<{ ok: boolean; message: string; hostMeshIp: string | null } | null>(null)
+  const [submitting, setSubmitting] = useState(false)
+  const [overriding, setOverriding] = useState(false)
+
+  async function handleVerify(e: React.FormEvent) {
+    e.preventDefault()
+    setError(null)
+    setTestResult(null)
+    setSubmitting(true)
+    try {
+      const { integration } = await api.createIntegration({
+        type: 'netbird',
+        name: 'NetBird',
+        config: baseUrl ? { baseUrl } : {},
+        secrets: apiKey ? { apiKey } : {},
+      })
+      const result = await api.verifyMesh(integration.id)
+      setTestResult(result)
+      if (result.ok) await refreshMeshStatus()
+    } catch (err) {
+      setError(err instanceof ApiError ? err.message : 'Failed to verify mesh')
+    } finally {
+      setSubmitting(false)
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function handleOverride() {
+    setOverriding(true)
+    try {
+      await api.overrideMesh()
+      await refreshMeshStatus()
+    } catch (err) {
+      setError(err instanceof ApiError ? err.message : 'Failed to skip mesh setup')
+    } finally {
+      setOverriding(false)
+    }
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div className="flex h-screen w-screen items-center justify-center bg-page">
+      <div style={{ width: '420px' }}>
+        <form onSubmit={handleVerify} style={cardBase}>
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-2" style={{ marginBottom: '4px' }}>
+            <Network size={18} color="#C8A434" />
+            <h1
+              style={{
+                fontSize: '18px',
+                fontWeight: 700,
+                letterSpacing: '1px',
+                textTransform: 'uppercase',
+                color: '#C8A434',
+              }}
+            >
+              Mesh Setup Required
+            </h1>
+          </div>
+          <p style={{ fontSize: '12px', color: '#7A7D85', marginBottom: '24px' }}>
+            ArchNest expects a verified NetBird mesh before the rest of the app can be configured.
+            Connect your mesh below to continue.
+          </p>
+
+          <label style={fieldLabel}>NetBird Base URL</label>
+          <input
+            style={fieldInput}
+            value={baseUrl}
+            onChange={(e) => setBaseUrl(e.target.value)}
+            placeholder="https://api.netbird.io"
+          />
+
+          <label style={{ ...fieldLabel, marginTop: '14px' }}>API Key</label>
+          <input style={fieldInput} type="password" value={apiKey} onChange={(e) => setApiKey(e.target.value)} required />
+
+          {error && <p style={{ fontSize: '12px', color: '#E74C3C', marginTop: '12px' }}>{error}</p>}
+          {testResult && (
+            <p style={{ fontSize: '12px', color: testResult.ok ? '#2ECC71' : '#E74C3C', marginTop: '12px' }}>
+              {testResult.message}
+              {testResult.hostMeshIp && ` — this host's mesh IP: ${testResult.hostMeshIp}`}
+            </p>
+          )}
+
+          <button type="submit" disabled={submitting} style={{ ...goldButton, width: '100%', marginTop: '22px', opacity: submitting ? 0.6 : 1 }}>
+            {submitting ? 'Verifying…' : 'Connect & Verify'}
+          </button>
+
+          <div
+            className="flex items-start gap-2"
+            style={{ marginTop: '20px', paddingTop: '16px', borderTop: '1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.06)' }}
+          >
+            <ShieldAlert size={14} color="#7A7D85" style={{ flexShrink: 0, marginTop: '1px' }} />
+            <div>
+              <p style={{ fontSize: '11px', color: '#7A7D85', marginBottom: '8px' }}>
+                Mesh provider down, or setting this up later? You can skip this check for now — it stays
+                skipped until you re-enable it from Settings.
+              </p>
+              <button
+                type="button"
+                onClick={handleOverride}
+                disabled={overriding}
+                className="cursor-pointer"
+                style={{
+                  fontSize: '11px',
+                  color: '#7A7D85',
+                  background: 'transparent',
+                  border: '1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.12)',
+                  borderRadius: '6px',
+                  padding: '6px 12px',
+                  opacity: overriding ? 0.6 : 1,
+                }}
+              >
+                {overriding ? 'Skipping…' : 'Skip for now'}
+              </button>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        </form>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  )
+}