diff --git a/docs/LINUX_SERVER_DEPLOYMENT.md b/docs/LINUX_SERVER_DEPLOYMENT.md
index ae5e77a..e0df364 100644
--- a/docs/LINUX_SERVER_DEPLOYMENT.md
+++ b/docs/LINUX_SERVER_DEPLOYMENT.md
@@ -172,6 +172,7 @@ The default compose deployment binds localhost only, uses runtime/log volumes, a
 ```bash
 python -m pip check
 python -m unittest discover -s tests -v
+python scripts/qa/server_deployment_smoke.py
 cd frontend && npm ci && npm run test:ui && npm run build
 cd ../desktop/electron && npm ci && npm audit --omit=dev
 cd ../..
@@ -193,4 +194,3 @@ These checks do not require root, Docker daemon access, live capture, Nginx, Cad
 - Nginx/Caddy proxy issue: verify backend health on `127.0.0.1:8000`.
 - High CPU/RAM pressure: run the CI-safe benchmark and inspect `/api/monitoring/metrics`.
 - Benchmark degraded: treat it as sizing guidance, then lower capture/load or increase CPU/RAM.
-
diff --git a/docs/RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md b/docs/RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md
index 90472ed..ae0962d 100644
--- a/docs/RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md
+++ b/docs/RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md
@@ -102,6 +102,8 @@ Use this checklist before tagging or publishing a release candidate.
   `python benchmarks/soak_test_pipeline.py --duration-sec 10 --events-per-sec 200 --flows 20 --ci-safe --output .runtime/benchmarks/release-hardening-smoke`
 - [ ] Run the CI-safe real-load benchmark:
   `python benchmarks/long_soak_runner.py --profile light_desktop --duration-sec 5 --events-per-sec 100 --flows 10 --websocket-clients 1 --sample-interval-sec 0.25 --max-cpu-avg-percent 100 --max-cpu-peak-percent 1000 --ci-safe --output .runtime/benchmarks/release-real-load-smoke`
+- [ ] Run server deployment static smoke:
+  `python scripts/qa/server_deployment_smoke.py`
 - [ ] For release candidates, run at least one manual local profile from
   `docs/REAL_LOAD_TESTING.md` on representative hardware.
 - [ ] Confirm bounded queues and buffers remain visible in Ops Snapshot.
diff --git a/scripts/qa/server_deployment_smoke.py b/scripts/qa/server_deployment_smoke.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6bcf631
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/qa/server_deployment_smoke.py
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any
+
+
+REPO_ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
+
+
+REQUIRED_TEXT_CHECKS = (
+    ("systemd_service_user", "deploy/systemd/netbotpro.service", "User=netbotpro"),
+    (
+        "systemd_environment_file",
+        "deploy/systemd/netbotpro.service",
+        "EnvironmentFile=/etc/netbotpro/netbotpro.env",
+    ),
+    (
+        "server_profile_env",
+        "deploy/systemd/netbotpro.env.example",
+        "NETBOT_PROFILE=server",
+    ),
+    (
+        "live_capture_disabled_by_default",
+        "deploy/systemd/netbotpro.env.example",
+        "NETBOT_ENABLE_LIVE_CAPTURE=false",
+    ),
+    ("docker_non_root_user", "Dockerfile", "USER netbotpro"),
+    ("docker_healthcheck", "Dockerfile", "HEALTHCHECK"),
+    ("compose_localhost_bind", "docker-compose.yml", '"127.0.0.1:8000:8000"'),
+    (
+        "linux_docs_safe_boundary",
+        "docs/LINUX_SERVER_DEPLOYMENT.md",
+        "not command/control",
+    ),
+)
+
+
+def _read(relative_path: str) -> str:
+    return (REPO_ROOT / relative_path).read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+
+def run_checks() -> dict[str, Any]:
+    results: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
+    for name, relative_path, expected in REQUIRED_TEXT_CHECKS:
+        content = _read(relative_path)
+        results.append({"name": name, "file": relative_path, "ok": expected in content})
+
+    systemd = _read("deploy/systemd/netbotpro.service")
+    results.append(
+        {
+            "name": "systemd_not_root",
+            "file": "deploy/systemd/netbotpro.service",
+            "ok": "User=root" not in systemd,
+        }
+    )
+
+    compose = _read("docker-compose.yml").lower()
+    results.append(
+        {
+            "name": "compose_not_privileged",
+            "file": "docker-compose.yml",
+            "ok": "privileged: true" not in compose,
+        }
+    )
+
+    dockerignore = _read(".dockerignore")
+    for ignored in (".runtime", "node_modules", "*.pcap", "*.pcapng", ".env"):
+        results.append(
+            {
+                "name": f"dockerignore_{ignored}",
+                "file": ".dockerignore",
+                "ok": ignored in dockerignore,
+            }
+        )
+
+    failed = [item for item in results if not item["ok"]]
+    return {
+        "ok": not failed,
+        "checks_total": len(results),
+        "checks_failed": len(failed),
+        "failed": failed,
+    }
+
+
+def main() -> int:
+    result = run_checks()
+    print(json.dumps(result, indent=2, ensure_ascii=True))
+    return 0 if result["ok"] else 1
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    raise SystemExit(main())
diff --git a/tests/test_server_deployment_smoke.py b/tests/test_server_deployment_smoke.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3ad01b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_server_deployment_smoke.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+import unittest
+
+from scripts.qa.server_deployment_smoke import run_checks
+
+
+class ServerDeploymentSmokeTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_server_deployment_smoke_checks_pass(self):
+        result = run_checks()
+
+        self.assertTrue(result["ok"], result["failed"])
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(result["checks_total"], 10)
+        self.assertEqual(result["checks_failed"], 0)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()