Default collectors inline with the API again.

Frontend+backend start is enough; external worker remains an optional production split.

Co-authored-by: Cursor <cursoragent@cursor.com>

.env.example

@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@ NETX_UME_NOTIFICATION_TOPIC=ALARM
 # NETX_ALEMBIC_UPGRADE_ON_START=false
 # NETX_SKIP_LEGACY_STARTUP_DDL=false
 # NETX_SQL_READONLY_DATABASE_URL=postgresql+psycopg://netx_ro:xxx@127.0.0.1:5432/netx
-# Device collectors: default off in API — run `python -m netx_api.worker`.
-# Lab single-process: NETX_RUN_INLINE_SCHEDULERS=true
-# NETX_RUN_INLINE_SCHEDULERS=true
+# Device collectors run inline with the API by default (frontend+backend start is enough).
+# Production split only: NETX_RUN_INLINE_SCHEDULERS=false and run `python -m netx_api.worker`
+# NETX_RUN_INLINE_SCHEDULERS=false
 # NETX_AUDIT_ASYNC=true
 # NETX_AUDIT_SAMPLE_N=1

PROD_MIN_CHECKLIST.md

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 ## Runtime
 - Ensure PostgreSQL backup policy exists (daily logical backup + retention).
 - Schema: API auto-runs `alembic upgrade head` on start (see [docs/ALEMBIC.md](docs/ALEMBIC.md)). No manual migrate flag required for normal deploys.
-- Collectors: default is external worker (`python -m netx_api.worker`). Only set `NETX_RUN_INLINE_SCHEDULERS=true` for single-process lab. Check `/health/ready` → `schedulers.mode`.
+- Collectors: default inline with the API (normal frontend+backend start is enough). Optional split: `NETX_RUN_INLINE_SCHEDULERS=false` + `python -m netx_api.worker`. Check `/health/ready` → `schedulers.mode`.
 - Run `oclaw` and `netx` under process managers (systemd/Windows service/pm2 equivalent).
 - Enable auto-restart and startup-at-boot for both services.
 

netx_api/app_startup.py

@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ def run_api_startup() -> None:
     finally:
         db.close()
 
-    if bool(getattr(settings, "run_inline_schedulers", False)):
+    if bool(getattr(settings, "run_inline_schedulers", True)):
         try:
             start_device_schedulers()
         except Exception:

netx_api/config.py

@@ -140,9 +140,9 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
     alembic_upgrade_on_start: bool = True
     # Optional dedicated SQLAlchemy URL for /v1/sql/* (read-only DB role recommended).
     sql_readonly_database_url: str = ""
-    # When false (default), API skips config_sync / lldp / port_traffic schedulers —
-    # run `python -m netx_api.worker` alongside the API. Set true only for single-process lab.
-    run_inline_schedulers: bool = False
+    # When true (default), API also runs config_sync / lldp / port_traffic schedulers.
+    # Production split: set false and run `python -m netx_api.worker` beside the API.
+    run_inline_schedulers: bool = True
 
 
 settings = Settings()

netx_api/integrations_router.py

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def health_ready(db: Session = Depends(get_db)) -> dict[str, Any]:
             "db": "down",
             "error": str(exc)[:240],
         }
-    inline = bool(getattr(settings, "run_inline_schedulers", False))
+    inline = bool(getattr(settings, "run_inline_schedulers", True))
     out["schedulers"] = {
         "inline": inline,
         "mode": "inline" if inline else "external_worker",

netx_api/ume_runtime.py

@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 """UME / long-task runtime helpers shared by API and optional worker process.
 
 Device collectors (config_sync / LLDP / port_traffic) run via ``start_device_schedulers``
-(API inline when ``NETX_RUN_INLINE_SCHEDULERS=true``, otherwise ``python -m netx_api.worker``).
+(API inline by default; set ``NETX_RUN_INLINE_SCHEDULERS=false`` and run
+``python -m netx_api.worker`` for a split process).
 API process also owns UME keepalive, alarm WSS, current-alarm/inventory sync loops,
 and oclaw forwarder via ``start_api_sideband_threads``.
 """

netx_api/worker.py

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 """Background worker process for long-running schedulers.
 
-Default deployment: API has ``NETX_RUN_INLINE_SCHEDULERS=false``; run this
-alongside the API:
+Optional when ``NETX_RUN_INLINE_SCHEDULERS=false`` (API does not start collectors):
 
     python -m netx_api.worker
 
 Starts: config_sync, lldp_collect, port_traffic tick loops.
 UME WS / keepalive remain in the API process (token + alarm coordination).
+By default the API runs collectors inline — no separate worker needed.
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations

tests/test_schema_patches.py

@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class SchemaPatchesTests(unittest.TestCase):
         from netx_api.config import Settings
 
         s = Settings(_env_file=None)
-        self.assertFalse(s.run_inline_schedulers)
+        self.assertTrue(s.run_inline_schedulers)
         self.assertTrue(s.alembic_upgrade_on_start)
 
         versions = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1] / "alembic" / "versions"