diff --git a/discourse-cli/validate.sh b/discourse-cli/validate.sh
index 93d4d84..f13e64b 100755
--- a/discourse-cli/validate.sh
+++ b/discourse-cli/validate.sh
@@ -10,9 +10,11 @@ set -eu
 SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
 cd "$SCRIPT_DIR"
 
-# Ensure .env exists
-if [ ! -f .env ]; then
-    echo "FAIL: .env not found. Copy .env.example to .env and fill in real values."
+ENV_FILE="${DISCOURSE_ENV_FILE:-/home/reachableceo/.creds/discourse.env}"
+
+# Ensure env file exists
+if [ ! -f "$ENV_FILE" ]; then
+    echo "FAIL: env file not found: $ENV_FILE"
     exit 1
 fi
 
@@ -36,9 +38,9 @@ echo ""
 echo "--- [0] Credential check (raw HTTP via containerized curl) ---"
 
 # Load env vars from .env for the raw test
-DISCOURSE_URL=$(grep -E '^DISCOURSE_URL=' .env | cut -d= -f2-)
-DISCOURSE_API_KEY=$(grep -E '^DISCOURSE_API_KEY=' .env | cut -d= -f2-)
-DISCOURSE_API_USERNAME=$(grep -E '^DISCOURSE_API_USERNAME=' .env | cut -d= -f2-)
+DISCOURSE_URL=$(grep -E '^DISCOURSE_URL=' "$ENV_FILE" | cut -d= -f2-)
+DISCOURSE_API_KEY=$(grep -E '^DISCOURSE_API_KEY=' "$ENV_FILE" | cut -d= -f2-)
+DISCOURSE_API_USERNAME=$(grep -E '^DISCOURSE_API_USERNAME=' "$ENV_FILE" | cut -d= -f2-)
 
 HTTP_CODE=$(docker run --rm curlimages/curl:latest \
     -s -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' \
@@ -67,7 +69,7 @@ echo ""
 # 1. whoami (live connection test)
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------- #
 echo "--- [1] whoami ---"
-OUT=$(docker run --rm --env-file .env "${IMAGE}" whoami 2>&1) || true
+OUT=$(docker run --rm --env-file "$ENV_FILE" "${IMAGE}" whoami 2>&1) || true
 if echo "$OUT" | grep -qE '^username:'; then
     ok "whoami returned user info"
     echo "  $OUT" | head -5
@@ -81,7 +83,7 @@ echo ""
 # 2. categories (live read)
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------- #
 echo "--- [2] categories ---"
-OUT=$(docker run --rm --env-file .env "${IMAGE}" categories 2>&1) || true
+OUT=$(docker run --rm --env-file "$ENV_FILE" "${IMAGE}" categories 2>&1) || true
 if echo "$OUT" | grep -qE '^[0-9]+ category'; then
     ok "categories returned data"
     echo "  $OUT" | head -6
@@ -98,7 +100,7 @@ echo ""
 # 3. topics / ls (live read)
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------- #
 echo "--- [3] topics (latest) ---"
-OUT=$(docker run --rm --env-file .env "${IMAGE}" ls 2>&1) || true
+OUT=$(docker run --rm --env-file "$ENV_FILE" "${IMAGE}" ls 2>&1) || true
 if echo "$OUT" | grep -qE 'topic\(s\)'; then
     ok "topics list returned data"
     echo "  $OUT" | head -6
@@ -115,7 +117,7 @@ echo ""
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------- #
 if [ -n "${TOPIC_ID:-}" ]; then
     echo "--- [4] show topic ${TOPIC_ID} ---"
-    OUT=$(docker run --rm --env-file .env "${IMAGE}" show "${TOPIC_ID}" 2>&1) || true
+    OUT=$(docker run --rm --env-file "$ENV_FILE" "${IMAGE}" show "${TOPIC_ID}" 2>&1) || true
     if echo "$OUT" | grep -qE '^#'; then
         ok "show topic ${TOPIC_ID} returned content"
         echo "  $OUT" | head -8
@@ -132,7 +134,7 @@ echo ""
 # 5. search (live read)
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------- #
 echo "--- [5] search ---"
-OUT=$(docker run --rm --env-file .env "${IMAGE}" search "test" 2>&1) || true
+OUT=$(docker run --rm --env-file "$ENV_FILE" "${IMAGE}" search "test" 2>&1) || true
 if echo "$OUT" | grep -qE 'result\(s\)'; then
     ok "search returned results"
     echo "  $OUT" | head -5
@@ -147,7 +149,7 @@ echo ""
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------- #
 echo "--- [6] create + reply + update + delete (write cycle) ---"
 
-CREATE_OUT=$(docker run --rm --env-file .env "${IMAGE}" create \
+CREATE_OUT=$(docker run --rm --env-file "$ENV_FILE" "${IMAGE}" create \
     ${CAT_ID:+-c "$CAT_ID"} \
     -t "discourse-cli validation test $(date +%s)" \
     -b "This is an automated validation test post. It will be cleaned up shortly after creation." \
@@ -159,7 +161,7 @@ if [ -n "${NEW_TOPIC_ID:-}" ]; then
     echo "  $CREATE_OUT"
 
     # reply
-    REPLY_OUT=$(docker run --rm --env-file .env "${IMAGE}" reply "${NEW_TOPIC_ID}" \
+    REPLY_OUT=$(docker run --rm --env-file "$ENV_FILE" "${IMAGE}" reply "${NEW_TOPIC_ID}" \
         -b "Validation reply test." 2>&1) || true
     POST_ID=$(echo "$REPLY_OUT" | grep -oE 'id=[0-9]+' | grep -oE '[0-9]+')
     if echo "$REPLY_OUT" | grep -qE 'Posted reply'; then
@@ -172,7 +174,7 @@ if [ -n "${NEW_TOPIC_ID:-}" ]; then
 
     # update
     if [ -n "${POST_ID:-}" ]; then
-        UPD_OUT=$(docker run --rm --env-file .env "${IMAGE}" update "${POST_ID}" \
+        UPD_OUT=$(docker run --rm --env-file "$ENV_FILE" "${IMAGE}" update "${POST_ID}" \
             -b "Updated validation reply test." 2>&1) || true
         if echo "$UPD_OUT" | grep -qE 'Updated post'; then
             ok "update post ${POST_ID} succeeded"
@@ -182,7 +184,7 @@ if [ -n "${NEW_TOPIC_ID:-}" ]; then
         fi
 
         # delete
-        DEL_OUT=$(docker run --rm --env-file .env "${IMAGE}" delete "${POST_ID}" 2>&1) || true
+        DEL_OUT=$(docker run --rm --env-file "$ENV_FILE" "${IMAGE}" delete "${POST_ID}" 2>&1) || true
         if echo "$DEL_OUT" | grep -qE 'Deleted post'; then
             ok "delete post ${POST_ID} succeeded"
         else
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index e9c50eb..4c328e3 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -282,10 +282,8 @@ services:
       dockerfile: ../../dockerfiles/discourse-mcp/Dockerfile
     container_name: kneldevstack-aimiddleware-discourse-mcp
     restart: unless-stopped
-    environment:
-      - DISCOURSE_URL=${DISCOURSE_URL}
-      - DISCOURSE_API_KEY=${DISCOURSE_API_KEY}
-      - DISCOURSE_API_USERNAME=${DISCOURSE_API_USERNAME}
+    env_file:
+      - /home/reachableceo/.creds/discourse.env
     profiles:
       - ops
 
@@ -398,10 +396,10 @@ services:
       dockerfile: ../../dockerfiles/mcp-redmine/Dockerfile
     container_name: kneldevstack-aimiddleware-mcp-redmine
     restart: "no"
+    env_file:
+      - /home/reachableceo/.creds/redmine.env
     environment:
       - PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1
-      - REDMINE_URL=${REDMINE_URL}
-      - REDMINE_API_KEY=${REDMINE_API_KEY}
     profiles:
       - ops
 
@@ -609,11 +607,10 @@ services:
       dockerfile: ../../dockerfiles/beszel-mcp/Dockerfile
     container_name: kneldevstack-aimiddleware-beszel-mcp
     restart: "no"
+    env_file:
+      - /home/reachableceo/.creds/beszel.env
     environment:
       - PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1
-      - BESZEL_URL=${BESZEL_URL}
-      - BESZEL_USERNAME=${BESZEL_USERNAME}
-      - BESZEL_PASSWORD=${BESZEL_PASSWORD}
     profiles:
       - ops
 
diff --git a/mcp-beszel-wrapper.sh b/mcp-beszel-wrapper.sh
index 23bfeb1..78f1811 100755
--- a/mcp-beszel-wrapper.sh
+++ b/mcp-beszel-wrapper.sh
@@ -14,6 +14,14 @@ if docker ps -a --filter "name=${CONTAINER_NAME}" --format '{{.Names}}' | grep -
     done
 fi
 
+# Load credentials from central store
+CREDS_FILE="/home/reachableceo/.creds/beszel.env"
+if [ -f "$CREDS_FILE" ]; then
+    set -a
+    . "$CREDS_FILE"
+    set +a
+fi
+
 # Start MCP server with explicit name and environment
 exec docker run -i --rm --name "${CONTAINER_NAME}" \
     -e BESZEL_URL="${BESZEL_URL}" \
diff --git a/mcp-discourse-wrapper.sh b/mcp-discourse-wrapper.sh
index e8ca12e..40f4f67 100755
--- a/mcp-discourse-wrapper.sh
+++ b/mcp-discourse-wrapper.sh
@@ -14,6 +14,14 @@ if docker ps -a --filter "name=${CONTAINER_NAME}" --format '{{.Names}}' 2>/dev/n
     done
 fi
 
+# Load credentials from central store
+CREDS_FILE="/home/reachableceo/.creds/discourse.env"
+if [ -f "$CREDS_FILE" ]; then
+    set -a
+    . "$CREDS_FILE"
+    set +a
+fi
+
 # Start MCP server with explicit name and environment variables
 exec docker run -i --rm --name "${CONTAINER_NAME}" \
     -e "DISCOURSE_URL=${DISCOURSE_URL:-}" \
diff --git a/mcp-redmine-wrapper.sh b/mcp-redmine-wrapper.sh
index dc0cb17..3ca7c0d 100755
--- a/mcp-redmine-wrapper.sh
+++ b/mcp-redmine-wrapper.sh
@@ -14,6 +14,14 @@ if docker ps -a --filter "name=${CONTAINER_NAME}" --format '{{.Names}}' 2>/dev/n
     done
 fi
 
+# Load credentials from central store
+CREDS_FILE="/home/reachableceo/.creds/redmine.env"
+if [ -f "$CREDS_FILE" ]; then
+    set -a
+    . "$CREDS_FILE"
+    set +a
+fi
+
 # Start MCP server with explicit name and environment variables
 exec docker run -i --rm --name "${CONTAINER_NAME}" \
     -e "REDMINE_URL=${REDMINE_URL:-}" \
diff --git a/tooling-cli/KNELCredsManager/Dockerfile b/tooling-cli/KNELCredsManager/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3d4fd31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tooling-cli/KNELCredsManager/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+FROM node:22-slim
+
+ARG BW_CLI_VERSION=2026.7.0
+RUN npm install -g @bitwarden/cli@${BW_CLI_VERSION} && npm cache clean --force
+
+ENTRYPOINT ["bw"]
diff --git a/tooling-cli/KNELCredsManager/README.md b/tooling-cli/KNELCredsManager/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3649a7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tooling-cli/KNELCredsManager/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+# KNELCredsManager
+
+Centralized credential management for KNEL infrastructure. Stores service
+credentials on disk in `~/.creds/` and provides a containerized Bitwarden CLI
+for future migration to a password manager.
+
+## Credential store layout
+
+All credentials live in `~/.creds/` as flat `.env` files, one per service:
+
+```
+~/.creds/
+├── beszel.env         # Beszel monitoring (hub URL set, auth TBD — see #406)
+├── discourse.env      # Discourse forum API keys + admin key
+├── phpipam.env        # phpIPAM app_id + app_code
+├── redmine.env        # Redmine REST API key
+├── technitium.env     # Technitium DNS API key + admin password
+└── uptime-kuma.env    # Uptime Kuma push/API key
+```
+
+Permissions: directory `700`, files `600` (owner read/write only).
+
+### Consumers
+
+All credential consumers source from `~/.creds/`:
+
+| Service | Wrapper / consumer | Mechanism |
+|---|---|---|
+| Redmine | `~/daytoday/redmine/bin/redmine` | `--env-file ~/.creds/redmine.env` |
+| Redmine MCP | `mcp-redmine-wrapper.sh` | `set -a; . ~/.creds/redmine.env; set +a` |
+| Discourse | `~/daytoday/discourse/bin/discourse` | `--env-file ~/.creds/discourse.env` |
+| Discourse MCP | `mcp-discourse-wrapper.sh` | `set -a; . ~/.creds/discourse.env; set +a` |
+| Beszel MCP | `mcp-beszel-wrapper.sh` | `set -a; . ~/.creds/beszel.env; set +a` |
+| Uptime Kuma | (no active consumer yet) | Direct env reference |
+| Technitium | (no active consumer yet) | Direct env reference |
+| phpIPAM | (no active consumer yet) | Direct env reference |
+
+## Bitwarden CLI
+
+The Bitwarden CLI runs in a pinned Docker container — no host installation
+required. Built from this directory's Dockerfile.
+
+### Build
+
+```bash
+docker build -t reachableceo-bw-cli:2026.7.0 .
+```
+
+### Wrapper
+
+```bash
+# Symlink the wrapper onto PATH
+ln -sf ~/projects/KNEL-AIMiddleware/tooling-cli/KNELCredsManager/scripts/bw ~/.local/bin/bw
+```
+
+### Usage
+
+```bash
+bw login                    # interactive first-time login
+export BW_SESSION=$(bw unlock --raw)   # unlock and capture session
+bw sync                     # sync vault
+bw list items               # list all vault items
+bw get item <name>          # get a specific item
+bw status                   # check auth/session status
+```
+
+Session state persists in `~/.local/share/bw-cli/` across container runs.
+
+### MCP integration (machine-to-machine)
+
+For agent automation without interactive login, the KNEL-AIMiddleware fleet
+includes `mcp-bitwarden-wrapper.sh` which uses `BITWARDEN_CLIENT_ID` /
+`BITWARDEN_CLIENT_SECRET` / `BITWARDEN_PASSWORD` env vars (machine account
+auth). That is a separate integration from this CLI wrapper.
+
+## Build arguments
+
+| Arg | Default | Description |
+|---|---|---|
+| `BW_CLI_VERSION` | `2026.7.0` | Pinned @bitwarden/cli npm version |
+
+## Environment variables
+
+| Variable | Default | Description |
+|---|---|---|
+| `BW_CLI_IMAGE` | `reachableceo-bw-cli:2026.7.0` | Override image tag |
+| `BW_SESSION` | (unset) | Session key from `bw unlock` |
diff --git a/tooling-cli/KNELCredsManager/scripts/bw b/tooling-cli/KNELCredsManager/scripts/bw
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..b677d1a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tooling-cli/KNELCredsManager/scripts/bw
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# bw — Bitwarden CLI wrapper (Docker containerized, host stays clean).
+#
+# Usage:
+#   bw login           (interactive — prompts for email/master password/2FA)
+#   bw unlock          (interactive — prints export BW_SESSION=... line)
+#   bw unlock --raw    (prints only the session key, for scripting)
+#   bw list items
+#   bw get item <name-or-id>
+#   bw sync
+#   bw status
+#
+# Session management:
+#   After `bw unlock`, capture the session key:
+#     export BW_SESSION=$(bw unlock --raw)
+#   The wrapper passes BW_SESSION through automatically if already set.
+#
+# Data persistence:
+#   BW data.json lives at ~/.local/share/bw-cli/ mounted into the container,
+#   so login state persists across invocations.
+set -euo pipefail
+
+IMAGE="${BW_CLI_IMAGE:-reachableceo-bw-cli:2026.7.0}"
+DATA_DIR="${HOME}/.local/share/bw-cli"
+
+mkdir -p "$DATA_DIR"
+
+# Detect TTY for interactive commands (login, unlock)
+INTERACTIVE=""
+if [ -t 0 ] && [ -t 1 ]; then
+    INTERACTIVE="-it"
+fi
+
+# Pass BW_SESSION through if set
+SESSION_ARGS=()
+if [ -n "${BW_SESSION:-}" ]; then
+    SESSION_ARGS+=( -e "BW_SESSION=${BW_SESSION}" )
+fi
+
+CONTAINER_NAME="reachableceo-bw-cli-$(date +%s)"
+
+exec docker run --rm $INTERACTIVE \
+    --user "$(id -u):$(id -g)" \
+    --name "$CONTAINER_NAME" \
+    -e HOME=/home/bw \
+    -v "${DATA_DIR}:/home/bw/.config" \
+    "${SESSION_ARGS[@]}" \
+    "$IMAGE" "$@"