diff --git a/templates/conpot/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/conpot/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/conpot/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/docker_api/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/docker_api/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/docker_api/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/elasticsearch/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/elasticsearch/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/elasticsearch/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/ftp/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/ftp/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/ftp/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/http/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/http/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/http/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/https/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/https/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/https/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/imap/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/imap/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/imap/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/k8s/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/k8s/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/k8s/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/ldap/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/ldap/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/ldap/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/llmnr/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/llmnr/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/llmnr/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/mongodb/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/mongodb/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/mongodb/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/mqtt/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/mqtt/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/mqtt/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/mssql/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/mssql/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/mssql/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/mysql/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/mysql/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/mysql/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/pop3/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/pop3/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/pop3/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/postgres/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/postgres/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/postgres/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/rdp/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/rdp/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/rdp/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/redis/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/redis/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/redis/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/sip/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/sip/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/sip/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/smb/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/smb/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/smb/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/smtp/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/smtp/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/smtp/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/snmp/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/snmp/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/snmp/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/telnet/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/telnet/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/telnet/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/tftp/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/tftp/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/tftp/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass
diff --git a/templates/vnc/syslog_bridge.py b/templates/vnc/syslog_bridge.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0a78d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/vnc/syslog_bridge.py
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Shared RFC 5424 syslog helper used by service containers.
+
+Services call syslog_line() to format an RFC 5424 message, then
+write_syslog_file() to emit it to stdout — the container runtime
+captures it, and the host-side collector streams it into the log file.
+
+RFC 5424 structure:
+  <PRI>1 TIMESTAMP HOSTNAME APP-NAME PROCID MSGID [SD-ELEMENT] MSG
+
+Facility: local0 (16). SD element ID uses PEN 55555.
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Any
+
+# ─── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+_FACILITY_LOCAL0 = 16
+_SD_ID = "relay@55555"
+_NILVALUE = "-"
+
+SEVERITY_EMERG   = 0
+SEVERITY_ALERT   = 1
+SEVERITY_CRIT    = 2
+SEVERITY_ERROR   = 3
+SEVERITY_WARNING = 4
+SEVERITY_NOTICE  = 5
+SEVERITY_INFO    = 6
+SEVERITY_DEBUG   = 7
+
+_MAX_HOSTNAME = 255
+_MAX_APPNAME  = 48
+_MAX_MSGID    = 32
+
+# ─── Formatter ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _sd_escape(value: str) -> str:
+    """Escape SD-PARAM-VALUE per RFC 5424 §6.3.3."""
+    return value.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"').replace("]", "\\]")
+
+
+def _sd_element(fields: dict[str, Any]) -> str:
+    if not fields:
+        return _NILVALUE
+    params = " ".join(f'{k}="{_sd_escape(str(v))}"' for k, v in fields.items())
+    return f"[{_SD_ID} {params}]"
+
+
+def syslog_line(
+    service: str,
+    hostname: str,
+    event_type: str,
+    severity: int = SEVERITY_INFO,
+    timestamp: datetime | None = None,
+    msg: str | None = None,
+    **fields: Any,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Return a single RFC 5424-compliant syslog line (no trailing newline).
+
+    Args:
+        service:    APP-NAME (e.g. "http", "mysql")
+        hostname:   HOSTNAME (node name)
+        event_type: MSGID    (e.g. "request", "login_attempt")
+        severity:   Syslog severity integer (default: INFO=6)
+        timestamp:  UTC datetime; defaults to now
+        msg:        Optional free-text MSG
+        **fields:   Encoded as structured data params
+    """
+    pri     = f"<{_FACILITY_LOCAL0 * 8 + severity}>"
+    ts      = (timestamp or datetime.now(timezone.utc)).isoformat()
+    host    = (hostname or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_HOSTNAME]
+    appname = (service  or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_APPNAME]
+    msgid   = (event_type or _NILVALUE)[:_MAX_MSGID]
+    sd      = _sd_element(fields)
+    message = f" {msg}" if msg else ""
+    return f"{pri}1 {ts} {host} {appname} {_NILVALUE} {msgid} {sd}{message}"
+
+
+def write_syslog_file(line: str) -> None:
+    """Emit a syslog line to stdout for container log capture."""
+    print(line, flush=True)
+
+
+def forward_syslog(line: str, log_target: str) -> None:
+    """No-op stub. TCP forwarding is handled by rsyslog, not by service containers."""
+    pass