diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1af010f5..ebe52b4f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 - Added `deploy/unraid/nginx-all-in-one.conf` with localhost backend proxying inside the same container.
 - Added a PNG DockerMan icon and made the Unraid template name match the running `geointel` container.
 - Added DockerMan labels to the all-in-one Compose service so Unraid can associate the running container with web UI and icon metadata.
+- Added `deploy/unraid/run-dockerman-container.sh` so repo deploys automatically replace Compose-owned containers with a DockerMan-native `geointel` container while preserving/migrating persisted data.
 - Updated Tower deploy scripts to install `/boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/templates-user/my-geointel.xml` and `/boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/images/geointel-icon.png`.
 - Updated Tower deploy scripts to stop the old multi-container stack without removing volumes and start the all-in-one stack.
 - Updated the Unraid template so the Docker can be edited from Unraid with one web port, storage path, PostGIS data path and app icon.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c8622c05..9058e000 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ make readiness
 
 ## Unraid / Tower deployment
 
-GeoIntel runs on Unraid as an all-in-one Docker container. The container embeds PostGIS, runs the FastAPI backend internally, and serves the frontend through nginx on one editable web port.
+GeoIntel runs on Unraid as an all-in-one DockerMan-native container. The container embeds PostGIS, runs the FastAPI backend internally, and serves the frontend through nginx on one editable web port.
 
 Unraid template assets live in:
 
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@ Copy the Unraid env template to `.env` in the checkout and edit ports/paths ther
 cd /mnt/user/appdata/geointel
 cp deploy/unraid/geointel.env.example .env
 nano .env
-docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml up -d --build
+docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml build geointel
+bash deploy/unraid/run-dockerman-container.sh
 ```
 
 Common editable values:
@@ -98,7 +99,7 @@ GEOINTEL_POSTGIS_DATA_PATH=/mnt/user/appdata/geointel/postgres-data
 
 The backend and PostGIS ports are intentionally not exposed to the LAN in the all-in-one runtime. See `deploy/unraid/README.md` for full setup, port-change and cleanup notes.
 
-On Tower/Unraid, `scripts/deploy_tower.ps1` and `scripts/deploy_tower.sh` also install the editable DockerMan template as `/boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/templates-user/my-geointel.xml` and the PNG icon as `/boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/images/geointel-icon.png`.
+On Tower/Unraid, `scripts/deploy_tower.ps1` and `scripts/deploy_tower.sh` automatically install the editable DockerMan template as `/boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/templates-user/my-geointel.xml`, install the PNG icon as `/boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/images/geointel-icon.png`, remove any old Compose-owned `geointel` container and start the final container with DockerMan labels.
 
 ## Sprint 2 quick start
 
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_sprint31_unraid_template.py b/backend/tests/test_sprint31_unraid_template.py
index 84d2a53b..c66d42f6 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_sprint31_unraid_template.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_sprint31_unraid_template.py
@@ -58,7 +58,9 @@ def test_unraid_readme_explains_port_changes_and_safe_cleanup() -> None:
 
     assert "cp deploy/unraid/geointel.env.example .env" in readme
     assert "GEOINTEL_FRONTEND_PORT=1203" in readme
-    assert "docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml up -d --build" in readme
+    assert "docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml build geointel" in readme
+    assert "bash deploy/unraid/run-dockerman-container.sh" in readme
+    assert "net.unraid.docker.managed=dockerman" in readme
     assert "curl -fsS" in readme
     assert "docker builder prune -af" in readme
     assert "Avoid broad volume pruning" in readme
@@ -67,6 +69,7 @@ def test_unraid_readme_explains_port_changes_and_safe_cleanup() -> None:
 def test_unraid_all_in_one_runtime_starts_embedded_postgis_backend_and_nginx() -> None:
     dockerfile = (ROOT / "deploy" / "unraid" / "Dockerfile.all-in-one").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
     start_script = (ROOT / "deploy" / "unraid" / "all-in-one-start.sh").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    dockerman_script = (ROOT / "deploy" / "unraid" / "run-dockerman-container.sh").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
     nginx_config = (ROOT / "deploy" / "unraid" / "nginx-all-in-one.conf").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
     dockerignore = (ROOT / ".dockerignore").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
 
@@ -85,6 +88,10 @@ def test_unraid_all_in_one_runtime_starts_embedded_postgis_backend_and_nginx() -
     assert "python -m alembic upgrade head" in start_script
     assert "uvicorn app.main:app --host 127.0.0.1 --port 8000 &" in start_script
     assert 'exec nginx -g "daemon off;"' in start_script
+    assert "docker run -d" in dockerman_script
+    assert "--label net.unraid.docker.managed=dockerman" in dockerman_script
+    assert "migrate_compose_volume_if_needed" in dockerman_script
+    assert "docker rm -f geointel" in dockerman_script
     assert "proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:8000/api/" in nginx_config
     assert "proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:8000/health" in nginx_config
     assert "location = /geointel-icon.png" in nginx_config
@@ -98,13 +105,18 @@ def test_tower_deploy_uses_single_container_unraid_compose() -> None:
     bash = (ROOT / "scripts" / "deploy_tower.sh").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
 
     for script in (powershell, bash):
-        assert "/boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/templates-user/my-geointel.xml" in script
-        assert "/boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/images/geointel-icon.png" in script
-        assert "docker compose down --remove-orphans || true" in script
         assert "docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml config" in script
         assert "docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml build geointel" in script
-        assert "docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml up -d" in script
-        assert "COMPOSE_FILE=docker-compose.unraid.yml bash scripts/live_migration_smoke.sh" in script
+        assert "bash deploy/unraid/run-dockerman-container.sh" in script
+        assert "LIVE_SMOKE_CONTAINER=geointel bash scripts/live_migration_smoke.sh" in script
+
+
+def test_live_migration_smoke_supports_dockerman_native_container() -> None:
+    script = (ROOT / "scripts" / "live_migration_smoke.sh").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+    assert 'LIVE_SMOKE_CONTAINER="${LIVE_SMOKE_CONTAINER:-}"' in script
+    assert "run_container_smoke()" in script
+    assert 'docker exec -i "$container_name" sh' in script
 
 
 def test_frontend_and_unraid_icon_assets_are_present() -> None:
diff --git a/deploy/unraid/README.md b/deploy/unraid/README.md
index 1e36e52b..2213fc75 100644
--- a/deploy/unraid/README.md
+++ b/deploy/unraid/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # GeoIntel Unraid all-in-one container
 
-GeoIntel can run on Unraid as one Docker container.
+GeoIntel can run on Unraid as one DockerMan-native container.
 
 Inside that single container:
 
@@ -25,9 +25,10 @@ http://<unraid-ip>:${GEOINTEL_FRONTEND_PORT}/geointel-icon.png
 
 ## Files
 
-- `docker-compose.unraid.yml`: recommended single-container Compose stack.
+- `docker-compose.unraid.yml`: build definition for the all-in-one image.
 - `deploy/unraid/Dockerfile.all-in-one`: builds the single container.
 - `deploy/unraid/all-in-one-start.sh`: starts embedded PostGIS, backend and nginx.
+- `deploy/unraid/run-dockerman-container.sh`: starts/replaces the running container with DockerMan labels and editable Unraid metadata.
 - `deploy/unraid/nginx-all-in-one.conf`: frontend and API proxy config for one container.
 - `deploy/unraid/geointel.env.example`: copy to `.env` and edit ports/paths.
 - `deploy/unraid/geointel-unraid-template.xml`: Unraid/DockerMan metadata for editable fields.
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ net.unraid.docker.icon=/boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/images/geointel-icon.png
 
 These labels are required because a plain Compose container can run correctly while still missing the normal Unraid edit/icon controls.
 
-## First setup with Compose Manager
+## First setup from the repo
 
 From the Unraid shell:
 
@@ -71,9 +72,12 @@ cd /mnt/user/appdata/geointel
 cp deploy/unraid/geointel.env.example .env
 nano .env
 docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml config
-docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml up -d --build
+docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml build geointel
+bash deploy/unraid/run-dockerman-container.sh
 ```
 
+The repository deploy scripts run the same flow automatically. They build the image, install the DockerMan template/icon, remove any old Compose-owned `geointel` container, preserve/migrate the PostGIS data path and start the final container with DockerMan labels.
+
 Validate:
 
 ```bash
@@ -95,7 +99,8 @@ GEOINTEL_CORS_ORIGINS=http://localhost:1203,http://127.0.0.1:1203,http://192.168
 Apply:
 
 ```bash
-docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml up -d --build
+docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml build geointel
+bash deploy/unraid/run-dockerman-container.sh
 ```
 
 ## Persistent paths
@@ -117,7 +122,8 @@ GEOINTEL_POSTGIS_DATA_PATH=/mnt/user/appdata/geointel/postgres-data
 cd /mnt/user/appdata/geointel
 git fetch origin main
 git reset --hard origin/main
-docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml up -d --build
+docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml build geointel
+bash deploy/unraid/run-dockerman-container.sh
 ```
 
 ## Safe cleanup
diff --git a/deploy/unraid/run-dockerman-container.sh b/deploy/unraid/run-dockerman-container.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d94bf024
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deploy/unraid/run-dockerman-container.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/../.." && pwd)"
+cd "$ROOT"
+
+if [ -f .env ]; then
+  set -a
+  # shellcheck disable=SC1091
+  . ./.env
+  set +a
+fi
+
+GEOINTEL_FRONTEND_PORT="${GEOINTEL_FRONTEND_PORT:-1202}"
+GEOINTEL_STORAGE_PATH="${GEOINTEL_STORAGE_PATH:-/mnt/user/appdata/geointel/storage}"
+GEOINTEL_POSTGIS_DATA_PATH="${GEOINTEL_POSTGIS_DATA_PATH:-/mnt/user/appdata/geointel/postgres-data}"
+GEOINTEL_POSTGRES_DB="${GEOINTEL_POSTGRES_DB:-geointel}"
+GEOINTEL_POSTGRES_USER="${GEOINTEL_POSTGRES_USER:-geointel}"
+GEOINTEL_POSTGRES_PASSWORD="${GEOINTEL_POSTGRES_PASSWORD:-geointel}"
+GEOINTEL_CORS_ORIGINS="${GEOINTEL_CORS_ORIGINS:-http://localhost:${GEOINTEL_FRONTEND_PORT},http://127.0.0.1:${GEOINTEL_FRONTEND_PORT},http://192.168.10.150:${GEOINTEL_FRONTEND_PORT}}"
+GEOINTEL_MAX_UPLOAD_MB="${GEOINTEL_MAX_UPLOAD_MB:-500}"
+
+install_dockerman_metadata() {
+  if [ -d /boot/config/plugins/dockerMan ]; then
+    mkdir -p /boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/templates-user /boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/images
+    cp deploy/unraid/geointel-unraid-template.xml /boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/templates-user/my-geointel.xml
+    cp deploy/unraid/geointel-icon.png /boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/images/geointel-icon.png
+  fi
+}
+
+migrate_compose_volume_if_needed() {
+  if [ -f "${GEOINTEL_POSTGIS_DATA_PATH}/PG_VERSION" ]; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  local compose_volume_path
+  compose_volume_path="$(docker volume inspect geointel_geointel_postgis --format '{{ .Mountpoint }}' 2>/dev/null || true)"
+  if [ -z "$compose_volume_path" ] || [ ! -f "${compose_volume_path}/PG_VERSION" ]; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  echo "Migrating existing Compose PostGIS volume to ${GEOINTEL_POSTGIS_DATA_PATH}..."
+  mkdir -p "$GEOINTEL_POSTGIS_DATA_PATH"
+  cp -a "${compose_volume_path}/." "$GEOINTEL_POSTGIS_DATA_PATH/"
+}
+
+install_dockerman_metadata
+
+docker compose down --remove-orphans || true
+
+if docker ps -a --format '{{.Names}}' | grep -qx geointel; then
+  docker rm -f geointel
+fi
+
+mkdir -p "$GEOINTEL_STORAGE_PATH" "$GEOINTEL_POSTGIS_DATA_PATH"
+migrate_compose_volume_if_needed
+
+docker run -d \
+  --name geointel \
+  --restart unless-stopped \
+  --label net.unraid.docker.managed=dockerman \
+  --label 'net.unraid.docker.webui=http://[IP]:[PORT:80]/' \
+  --label net.unraid.docker.icon=/boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/images/geointel-icon.png \
+  -p "${GEOINTEL_FRONTEND_PORT}:80" \
+  -e GEOINTEL_POSTGRES_DB="$GEOINTEL_POSTGRES_DB" \
+  -e GEOINTEL_POSTGRES_USER="$GEOINTEL_POSTGRES_USER" \
+  -e GEOINTEL_POSTGRES_PASSWORD="$GEOINTEL_POSTGRES_PASSWORD" \
+  -e GEOINTEL_STORAGE_ROOT=/app/storage \
+  -e GEOINTEL_CORS_ORIGINS="$GEOINTEL_CORS_ORIGINS" \
+  -e GEOINTEL_MAX_UPLOAD_MB="$GEOINTEL_MAX_UPLOAD_MB" \
+  -v "${GEOINTEL_POSTGIS_DATA_PATH}:/var/lib/postgresql/data" \
+  -v "${GEOINTEL_STORAGE_PATH}:/app/storage" \
+  geointel-all-in-one:latest
+
+docker ps --filter name=geointel
diff --git a/docs/CODEX_EXECUTION_LOG.md b/docs/CODEX_EXECUTION_LOG.md
index 3be74e2b..c1f6917f 100644
--- a/docs/CODEX_EXECUTION_LOG.md
+++ b/docs/CODEX_EXECUTION_LOG.md
@@ -1518,3 +1518,15 @@ Changed:
 Expected Unraid behavior:
 - Refresh the Unraid Docker page after deploy so DockerMan reloads the user template metadata.
 - The running `geointel` container should have template-backed editable fields and a PNG icon.
+
+## Sprint 32 automatic DockerMan-native deploy follow-up (2026-06-17)
+
+Changed:
+- Added `deploy/unraid/run-dockerman-container.sh` as the single source of truth for the final Unraid container launch.
+- Updated Tower deploy scripts so repository deploys build the image with Compose but start the final container with `docker run` and DockerMan labels.
+- The launch script installs the DockerMan template/icon, removes old `geointel` containers, preserves/migrates the old Compose PostGIS volume when needed and starts the final `geointel` container as DockerMan-managed.
+- Updated live migration smoke to support direct container execution through `LIVE_SMOKE_CONTAINER=geointel`.
+
+Expected Unraid behavior:
+- A deploy from the repo should no longer leave the final app as a plain Compose-owned container.
+- The running `geointel` container should expose `net.unraid.docker.managed=dockerman`, web UI metadata and icon metadata immediately after deploy.
diff --git a/scripts/deploy_tower.ps1 b/scripts/deploy_tower.ps1
index f7175084..8d873fa3 100644
--- a/scripts/deploy_tower.ps1
+++ b/scripts/deploy_tower.ps1
@@ -33,20 +33,12 @@ git reset --hard 'origin/$RemoteBranch'
   git branch -M '$RemoteBranch'
 chmod +x scripts/*.sh backend/docker_start.sh deploy/unraid/*.sh || true
 
-if [ -d /boot/config/plugins/dockerMan ]; then
-  mkdir -p /boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/templates-user /boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/images
-  cp deploy/unraid/geointel-unraid-template.xml /boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/templates-user/my-geointel.xml
-  cp deploy/unraid/geointel-icon.png /boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/images/geointel-icon.png
-fi
-
-docker compose down --remove-orphans || true
 docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml config >/dev/null
 docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml build geointel
-docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml up -d
-docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml ps
+bash deploy/unraid/run-dockerman-container.sh
 
 if [ -x scripts/live_migration_smoke.sh ]; then
-  COMPOSE_FILE=docker-compose.unraid.yml bash scripts/live_migration_smoke.sh
+  LIVE_SMOKE_CONTAINER=geointel bash scripts/live_migration_smoke.sh
 fi
 
 if [ -x scripts/verify_browser_runtime.sh ]; then
diff --git a/scripts/deploy_tower.sh b/scripts/deploy_tower.sh
index 2af2d92c..75d9b641 100755
--- a/scripts/deploy_tower.sh
+++ b/scripts/deploy_tower.sh
@@ -34,20 +34,12 @@ git fetch origin "$REMOTE_BRANCH"
 git checkout -B "$REMOTE_BRANCH" "origin/$REMOTE_BRANCH"
 chmod +x scripts/*.sh backend/docker_start.sh deploy/unraid/*.sh || true
 
-if [[ -d /boot/config/plugins/dockerMan ]]; then
-  mkdir -p /boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/templates-user /boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/images
-  cp deploy/unraid/geointel-unraid-template.xml /boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/templates-user/my-geointel.xml
-  cp deploy/unraid/geointel-icon.png /boot/config/plugins/dockerMan/images/geointel-icon.png
-fi
-
-docker compose down --remove-orphans || true
 docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml config >/dev/null
 docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml build geointel
-docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml up -d
-docker compose -f docker-compose.unraid.yml ps
+bash deploy/unraid/run-dockerman-container.sh
 
 if [[ -x scripts/live_migration_smoke.sh ]]; then
-  COMPOSE_FILE=docker-compose.unraid.yml bash scripts/live_migration_smoke.sh
+  LIVE_SMOKE_CONTAINER=geointel bash scripts/live_migration_smoke.sh
 fi
 
 if [[ -x scripts/verify_browser_runtime.sh ]]; then
diff --git a/scripts/live_migration_smoke.sh b/scripts/live_migration_smoke.sh
index 3bd16d83..2b662c6a 100755
--- a/scripts/live_migration_smoke.sh
+++ b/scripts/live_migration_smoke.sh
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
 PYTHON_BIN="${PYTHON_BIN:-}"
 LIVE_SMOKE_USE_DOCKER="${LIVE_SMOKE_USE_DOCKER:-auto}"
 COMPOSE_FILE_PATH="${COMPOSE_FILE:-docker-compose.yml}"
+LIVE_SMOKE_CONTAINER="${LIVE_SMOKE_CONTAINER:-}"
 
 run_docker_smoke() {
   service_name="$1"
@@ -91,6 +92,98 @@ echo "== Live migration smoke passed =="
 CONTAINER_SCRIPT
 }
 
+run_container_smoke() {
+  container_name="$1"
+  cd "$ROOT"
+
+  echo "== GeoIntel live migration smoke =="
+  echo "Using Docker container: ${container_name}."
+
+  docker exec -i "$container_name" sh <<'CONTAINER_SCRIPT'
+set -eu
+cd /app
+
+echo "Database URL is read from backend container settings / DATABASE_URL."
+
+python - <<'PY'
+import time
+
+from sqlalchemy import text
+from sqlalchemy.exc import OperationalError
+
+from app.db.session import get_engine
+
+last_error = None
+for attempt in range(1, 61):
+    try:
+        with get_engine().connect() as connection:
+            connection.execute(text("SELECT 1"))
+            print(f"Database connection: ok after attempt {attempt}")
+            break
+    except OperationalError as exc:
+        last_error = exc
+        print(f"Database not ready yet ({attempt}/60): {exc}")
+        time.sleep(2)
+else:
+    raise SystemExit(f"Database did not become ready: {last_error}")
+PY
+
+python -m alembic upgrade head
+
+python - <<'PY'
+from sqlalchemy import text
+
+from app.db.session import get_engine
+
+required_objects = [
+    "public.projects",
+    "public.areas",
+    "public.datasets",
+    "public.jobs",
+    "public.vector_features",
+    "public.quality_checks",
+    "public.metrics",
+    "public.analysis_runs",
+    "public.detections",
+    "public.segmentations",
+    "public.ix_vector_features_geometry",
+    "public.ix_detections_geometry",
+    "public.ix_segmentations_geometry",
+]
+
+with get_engine().connect() as connection:
+    postgis_version = connection.execute(text("SELECT PostGIS_Version()")).scalar()
+    print(f"PostGIS version: {postgis_version}")
+
+    missing = [
+        object_name
+        for object_name in required_objects
+        if connection.execute(text("SELECT to_regclass(:object_name)"), {"object_name": object_name}).scalar() is None
+    ]
+    if missing:
+        raise SystemExit(f"Missing expected migrated schema objects: {', '.join(missing)}")
+    print("Required runtime schema objects: ok")
+PY
+
+HEAD_COUNT="$(python -m alembic heads | grep -c 'head')"
+if [ "$HEAD_COUNT" -ne 1 ]; then
+  echo "Expected exactly one Alembic head, found $HEAD_COUNT" >&2
+  python -m alembic heads >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+python -m alembic heads
+echo "== Live migration smoke passed =="
+CONTAINER_SCRIPT
+}
+
+if [ -n "$LIVE_SMOKE_CONTAINER" ] && command -v docker >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  if docker ps --format '{{.Names}}' | grep -qx "$LIVE_SMOKE_CONTAINER"; then
+    run_container_smoke "$LIVE_SMOKE_CONTAINER"
+    exit 0
+  fi
+fi
+
 if [ "$LIVE_SMOKE_USE_DOCKER" != "0" ] && command -v docker >/dev/null 2>&1 && [ -f "$ROOT/$COMPOSE_FILE_PATH" ]; then
   cd "$ROOT"
   for service_name in geointel backend; do