v2.5.1

## Highlights

Dream Server 2.5.1 is the fresh-install and bootstrap-recovery patch release validated after the 2.5.0 audit hardening cycle.

- Bootstrap full-model downloads now preserve partial `.part` files, retry with resume support, keep failed status counters populated, cap progress display at 100%, and recover cleanly on the next `dream start`, `dream restart`, or reinstall.
- Hermes local-provider calls now use a longer request timeout for slow time-to-first-token backends, fixing the Strix Halo timeout cascade seen with 35B local inference.
- Dream Talk owner-portal work is included: streamed SSE replies, live status frames, TTS streaming, mobile owner-card routing, paperclip image/file attachments, and install-context grounding.
- Lifecycle and reinstall paths were hardened across compose health waits, delayed port reuse, model-swap container recreation, stale cloud compose-cache invalidation, bundled service CPU limits, and fallback model serving.
- LAN web guidance now points operators at the intended proxy surfaces instead of raw API ports or misplaced dashboard banners.
- Release documentation, forkability/runbook docs, AI-contribution policy, root security policy, branch hygiene guidance, and CLI roadmap were expanded for downstream operators.

## Validation Receipt

Primary fleet receipt: `/home/michael/dream-fleet-test/runs/2026-05-26T01-22-18Z`

- True fresh install on tower2, Strix Halo, Spark, and M5 MacBook Pro after nuking prior Dream Server containers, images, volumes, build cache, and stale model files.
- Install Green: all 4 hosts installed from public bootstrap.
- Product Green: core services, Hermes seeded echo, cloud contracts, dashboard, and UI checks passed.
- Lifecycle Green: all 4 hosts passed reinstall, restart, and doctor.
- Core capabilities passed on all 4 target-model hosts: chat, search, files, code, skills, model identity, and install context.
- Dream Talk probes passed where the Talk surface was available; unavailable Talk surfaces were skipped rather than treated as product failures.
- m5-mbp proved full-model capabilities for the first time after the bootstrap resume fix.
- Distro lab passed 10/10 Docker lanes and 5/5 Incus VM lanes.

Session summary: 11 fleet runs, 35+ commits, 7 issues filed, 6 resolved, 4 harness improvements, and zero product regressions.

## Known Follow-up

A follow-up Spark Talk probe after lifecycle churn surfaced a harness/sequencing issue, not a product regression. The release evidence distinguishes this from main-run product validation.

See `dream-server/CHANGELOG.md` for the full release notes and evidence trail.