diff --git a/decnet/archetypes.py b/decnet/archetypes.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c117d21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/decnet/archetypes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+"""
+Machine archetype profiles for DECNET deckies.
+
+An archetype is a pre-packaged identity: a realistic combination of services
+and OS choices that makes a decky look like a specific class of machine
+(workstation, printer, database server, etc.) without the user needing to
+know which services or distros to pick.
+
+Usage in INI config:
+    [my-workstations]
+    archetype=windows-workstation
+    amount=4
+
+Usage via CLI:
+    decnet deploy --deckies 3 --archetype linux-server
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import random
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class Archetype:
+    slug: str
+    display_name: str
+    description: str
+    services: list[str]           # default service set for this machine type
+    preferred_distros: list[str]  # distro slugs to rotate through
+
+
+ARCHETYPES: dict[str, Archetype] = {
+    "windows-workstation": Archetype(
+        slug="windows-workstation",
+        display_name="Windows Workstation",
+        description="Corporate Windows desktop: SMB shares + RDP access",
+        services=["smb", "rdp"],
+        preferred_distros=["debian", "ubuntu22"],
+    ),
+    "windows-server": Archetype(
+        slug="windows-server",
+        display_name="Windows Server",
+        description="Windows domain member: SMB, RDP, and LDAP directory",
+        services=["smb", "rdp", "ldap"],
+        preferred_distros=["debian", "ubuntu22"],
+    ),
+    "domain-controller": Archetype(
+        slug="domain-controller",
+        display_name="Domain Controller",
+        description="Active Directory DC: LDAP, SMB, RDP, LLMNR",
+        services=["ldap", "smb", "rdp", "llmnr"],
+        preferred_distros=["debian", "ubuntu22"],
+    ),
+    "linux-server": Archetype(
+        slug="linux-server",
+        display_name="Linux Server",
+        description="General-purpose Linux host: SSH + HTTP",
+        services=["ssh", "http"],
+        preferred_distros=["debian", "ubuntu22", "rocky9", "fedora"],
+    ),
+    "web-server": Archetype(
+        slug="web-server",
+        display_name="Web Server",
+        description="Public-facing web host: HTTP + FTP",
+        services=["http", "ftp"],
+        preferred_distros=["debian", "ubuntu22", "ubuntu20"],
+    ),
+    "database-server": Archetype(
+        slug="database-server",
+        display_name="Database Server",
+        description="Data tier host: MySQL, PostgreSQL, Redis",
+        services=["mysql", "postgres", "redis"],
+        preferred_distros=["debian", "ubuntu22"],
+    ),
+    "mail-server": Archetype(
+        slug="mail-server",
+        display_name="Mail Server",
+        description="SMTP/IMAP/POP3 mail relay",
+        services=["smtp", "pop3", "imap"],
+        preferred_distros=["debian", "ubuntu22"],
+    ),
+    "file-server": Archetype(
+        slug="file-server",
+        display_name="File Server",
+        description="SMB/FTP/SFTP file storage node",
+        services=["smb", "ftp", "ssh"],
+        preferred_distros=["debian", "ubuntu22", "rocky9"],
+    ),
+    "printer": Archetype(
+        slug="printer",
+        display_name="Network Printer",
+        description="Network-attached printer: SNMP + FTP",
+        services=["snmp", "ftp"],
+        preferred_distros=["alpine", "debian"],
+    ),
+    "iot-device": Archetype(
+        slug="iot-device",
+        display_name="IoT Device",
+        description="Embedded/IoT device: MQTT, SNMP, Telnet",
+        services=["mqtt", "snmp", "telnet"],
+        preferred_distros=["alpine"],
+    ),
+    "industrial-control": Archetype(
+        slug="industrial-control",
+        display_name="Industrial Control System",
+        description="ICS/SCADA node: Conpot (Modbus/S7/DNP3) + SNMP",
+        services=["conpot", "snmp"],
+        preferred_distros=["debian"],
+    ),
+    "voip-server": Archetype(
+        slug="voip-server",
+        display_name="VoIP Server",
+        description="SIP PBX / VoIP gateway",
+        services=["sip"],
+        preferred_distros=["debian", "ubuntu22"],
+    ),
+    "monitoring-node": Archetype(
+        slug="monitoring-node",
+        display_name="Monitoring Node",
+        description="Infrastructure monitoring host: SNMP + SSH",
+        services=["snmp", "ssh"],
+        preferred_distros=["debian", "rocky9"],
+    ),
+    "devops-host": Archetype(
+        slug="devops-host",
+        display_name="DevOps Host",
+        description="CI/CD or container host: Docker API + SSH + K8s",
+        services=["docker_api", "ssh", "k8s"],
+        preferred_distros=["ubuntu22", "debian"],
+    ),
+}
+
+
+def get_archetype(slug: str) -> Archetype:
+    if slug not in ARCHETYPES:
+        available = ", ".join(sorted(ARCHETYPES))
+        raise ValueError(f"Unknown archetype '{slug}'. Available: {available}")
+    return ARCHETYPES[slug]
+
+
+def all_archetypes() -> dict[str, Archetype]:
+    return dict(ARCHETYPES)
+
+
+def random_archetype() -> Archetype:
+    return random.choice(list(ARCHETYPES.values()))
diff --git a/decnet/cli.py b/decnet/cli.py
index 2cecf54..d1b5ff2 100644
--- a/decnet/cli.py
+++ b/decnet/cli.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import typer
 from rich.console import Console
 from rich.table import Table
 
+from decnet.archetypes import Archetype, all_archetypes, get_archetype
 from decnet.config import (
     DeckyConfig,
     DecnetConfig,
@@ -41,13 +42,16 @@ def _resolve_distros(
     distros_explicit: list[str] | None,
     randomize_distros: bool,
     n: int,
+    archetype: Archetype | None = None,
 ) -> list[str]:
-    """Return a list of n distro slugs based on CLI flags."""
+    """Return a list of n distro slugs based on CLI flags or archetype preference."""
     if distros_explicit:
-        # Round-robin the provided list to fill n slots
         return [distros_explicit[i % len(distros_explicit)] for i in range(n)]
     if randomize_distros:
         return [random_distro().slug for _ in range(n)]
+    if archetype:
+        pool = archetype.preferred_distros
+        return [pool[i % len(pool)] for i in range(n)]
     # Default: cycle through all distros to maximize heterogeneity
     slugs = list(all_distros().keys())
     return [slugs[i % len(slugs)] for i in range(n)]
@@ -60,10 +64,11 @@ def _build_deckies(
     randomize_services: bool,
     distros_explicit: list[str] | None = None,
     randomize_distros: bool = False,
+    archetype: Archetype | None = None,
 ) -> list[DeckyConfig]:
     deckies = []
     used_combos: set[frozenset] = set()
-    distro_slugs = _resolve_distros(distros_explicit, randomize_distros, n)
+    distro_slugs = _resolve_distros(distros_explicit, randomize_distros, n, archetype)
 
     for i, ip in enumerate(ips):
         name = f"decky-{i + 1:02d}"
@@ -72,8 +77,9 @@ def _build_deckies(
 
         if services_explicit:
             svc_list = services_explicit
+        elif archetype:
+            svc_list = list(archetype.services)
         elif randomize_services:
-            # Pick 1-3 random services from the full registry, avoid exact duplicates
             svc_pool = _all_service_names()
             attempts = 0
             while True:
@@ -85,7 +91,7 @@ def _build_deckies(
             svc_list = list(chosen)
             used_combos.add(chosen)
         else:
-            typer.echo("Error: provide --services or --randomize-services.", err=True)
+            typer.echo("Error: provide --services, --archetype, or --randomize-services.", err=True)
             raise typer.Exit(1)
 
         deckies.append(
@@ -97,6 +103,7 @@ def _build_deckies(
                 base_image=distro.image,
                 build_base=distro.build_base,
                 hostname=hostname,
+                archetype=archetype.slug if archetype else None,
             )
         )
     return deckies
@@ -116,7 +123,6 @@ def _build_deckies_from_ini(
         IPv4Address(s.ip) for s in ini.deckies if s.ip
     }
 
-    # Build an IP iterator that skips reserved + explicit addresses
     net = IPv4Network(subnet_cidr, strict=False)
     reserved = {
         net.network_address,
@@ -127,10 +133,20 @@ def _build_deckies_from_ini(
 
     auto_pool = (str(addr) for addr in net.hosts() if addr not in reserved)
 
-    distro_slugs = _resolve_distros(None, randomize, len(ini.deckies))
     deckies: list[DeckyConfig] = []
-    for i, spec in enumerate(ini.deckies):
-        distro = get_distro(distro_slugs[i])
+    for spec in ini.deckies:
+        # Resolve archetype (if any) — explicit services/distro override it
+        arch: Archetype | None = None
+        if spec.archetype:
+            try:
+                arch = get_archetype(spec.archetype)
+            except ValueError as e:
+                console.print(f"[red]{e}[/]")
+                raise typer.Exit(1)
+
+        # Distro: archetype preferred list → random → global cycle
+        distro_pool = arch.preferred_distros if arch else list(all_distros().keys())
+        distro = get_distro(distro_pool[len(deckies) % len(distro_pool)])
         hostname = random_hostname(distro.slug)
 
         ip = spec.ip or next(auto_pool, None)
@@ -149,6 +165,8 @@ def _build_deckies_from_ini(
                 )
                 raise typer.Exit(1)
             svc_list = spec.services
+        elif arch:
+            svc_list = list(arch.services)
         elif randomize:
             svc_pool = _all_service_names()
             count = random.randint(1, min(3, len(svc_pool)))
@@ -156,7 +174,7 @@ def _build_deckies_from_ini(
         else:
             console.print(
                 f"[red]Decky '[{spec.name}]' has no services= in config. "
-                "Add services= or use --randomize-services.[/]"
+                "Add services=, archetype=, or use --randomize-services.[/]"
             )
             raise typer.Exit(1)
 
@@ -168,6 +186,7 @@ def _build_deckies_from_ini(
             base_image=distro.image,
             build_base=distro.build_base,
             hostname=hostname,
+            archetype=arch.slug if arch else None,
             service_config=spec.service_config,
         ))
     return deckies
@@ -186,6 +205,7 @@ def deploy(
     randomize_distros: bool = typer.Option(False, "--randomize-distros", help="Assign a random distro to each decky"),
     log_target: Optional[str] = typer.Option(None, "--log-target", help="Forward logs to ip:port (e.g. 192.168.1.5:5140)"),
     log_file: Optional[str] = typer.Option(None, "--log-file", help="Write RFC 5424 syslog to this path inside containers (e.g. /var/log/decnet/decnet.log)"),
+    archetype_name: Optional[str] = typer.Option(None, "--archetype", "-a", help="Machine archetype slug (e.g. linux-server, windows-workstation)"),
     dry_run: bool = typer.Option(False, "--dry-run", help="Generate compose file without starting containers"),
     no_cache: bool = typer.Option(False, "--no-cache", help="Force rebuild all images, ignoring Docker layer cache"),
     ipvlan: bool = typer.Option(False, "--ipvlan", help="Use IPvlan L2 instead of MACVLAN (required on WiFi interfaces)"),
@@ -255,8 +275,17 @@ def deploy(
                 console.print(f"[red]Unknown service(s): {unknown}. Available: {_all_service_names()}[/]")
                 raise typer.Exit(1)
 
-        if not services_list and not randomize_services:
-            console.print("[red]Specify --services or --randomize-services.[/]")
+        # Resolve archetype if provided
+        arch: Archetype | None = None
+        if archetype_name:
+            try:
+                arch = get_archetype(archetype_name)
+            except ValueError as e:
+                console.print(f"[red]{e}[/]")
+                raise typer.Exit(1)
+
+        if not services_list and not randomize_services and not arch:
+            console.print("[red]Specify --services, --archetype, or --randomize-services.[/]")
             raise typer.Exit(1)
 
         iface = interface or detect_interface()
@@ -283,6 +312,7 @@ def deploy(
         decky_configs = _build_deckies(
             deckies, ips, services_list, randomize_services,
             distros_explicit=distros_list, randomize_distros=randomize_distros,
+            archetype=arch,
         )
         effective_log_target = log_target
         effective_log_file = log_file
@@ -352,3 +382,21 @@ def list_distros() -> None:
     for slug, profile in sorted(all_distros().items()):
         table.add_row(slug, profile.display_name, profile.image)
     console.print(table)
+
+
+@app.command(name="archetypes")
+def list_archetypes() -> None:
+    """List all machine archetype profiles."""
+    table = Table(title="Machine Archetypes", show_lines=True)
+    table.add_column("Slug", style="bold cyan")
+    table.add_column("Display Name")
+    table.add_column("Default Services", style="green")
+    table.add_column("Description", style="dim")
+    for slug, arch in sorted(all_archetypes().items()):
+        table.add_row(
+            slug,
+            arch.display_name,
+            ", ".join(arch.services),
+            arch.description,
+        )
+    console.print(table)
diff --git a/decnet/config.py b/decnet/config.py
index 32e6cd9..336a62e 100644
--- a/decnet/config.py
+++ b/decnet/config.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ class DeckyConfig(BaseModel):
     base_image: str      # Docker image for the base/IP-holder container
     build_base: str = "debian:bookworm-slim"  # apt-compatible image for service Dockerfiles
     hostname: str
+    archetype: str | None = None  # archetype slug if spawned from an archetype profile
     service_config: dict[str, dict] = {}  # optional per-service persona config
 
     @field_validator("services")
diff --git a/decnet/ini_loader.py b/decnet/ini_loader.py
index 65b0263..a6e6e66 100644
--- a/decnet/ini_loader.py
+++ b/decnet/ini_loader.py
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ Format:
     [hostname-1]
     ip=192.168.1.82               # optional
     services=ssh,smb              # optional; falls back to --randomize-services
+    archetype=linux-server        # optional; sets services+distros automatically
+    amount=3                      # optional; spawn N deckies from this config (default: 1)
 
     [hostname-1.ssh]              # optional per-service persona config
     kernel_version=5.15.0-76-generic
@@ -26,6 +28,11 @@ Format:
     [hostname-3]
     ip=192.168.1.32
 
+    # Archetype shorthand — spin up 5 windows workstations:
+    [corp-workstations]
+    archetype=windows-workstation
+    amount=5
+
     # Custom (bring-your-own) service definitions:
     [custom-myservice]
     binary=my-docker-image:latest
@@ -44,6 +51,7 @@ class DeckySpec:
     name: str
     ip: str | None = None
     services: list[str] | None = None
+    archetype: str | None = None
     service_config: dict[str, dict] = field(default_factory=dict)
 
 
@@ -104,18 +112,54 @@ def load_ini(path: str | Path) -> IniConfig:
         ip = s.get("ip")
         svc_raw = s.get("services")
         services = [sv.strip() for sv in svc_raw.split(",")] if svc_raw else None
-        cfg.deckies.append(DeckySpec(name=section, ip=ip, services=services))
+        archetype = s.get("archetype")
+        amount_raw = s.get("amount", "1")
+        try:
+            amount = int(amount_raw)
+            if amount < 1:
+                raise ValueError
+        except ValueError:
+            raise ValueError(f"[{section}] amount= must be a positive integer, got '{amount_raw}'")
+
+        if amount == 1:
+            cfg.deckies.append(DeckySpec(
+                name=section, ip=ip, services=services, archetype=archetype,
+            ))
+        else:
+            # Expand into N deckies; explicit ip is ignored (can't share one IP)
+            if ip:
+                raise ValueError(
+                    f"[{section}] Cannot combine ip= with amount={amount}. "
+                    "Remove ip= or use amount=1."
+                )
+            for idx in range(1, amount + 1):
+                cfg.deckies.append(DeckySpec(
+                    name=f"{section}-{idx:02d}",
+                    ip=None,
+                    services=services,
+                    archetype=archetype,
+                ))
 
     # Second pass: collect per-service subsections [decky-name.service]
-    decky_names = {d.name for d in cfg.deckies}
+    # Also propagates to expanded deckies: [group.ssh] applies to group-01, group-02, ...
     decky_map = {d.name: d for d in cfg.deckies}
     for section in cp.sections():
         if "." not in section:
             continue
         decky_name, _, svc_name = section.partition(".")
-        if decky_name not in decky_names:
-            continue  # orphaned subsection — ignore
         svc_cfg = {k: v for k, v in cp[section].items()}
-        decky_map[decky_name].service_config[svc_name] = svc_cfg
+        if decky_name in decky_map:
+            # Direct match — single decky
+            decky_map[decky_name].service_config[svc_name] = svc_cfg
+        else:
+            # Try to find expanded deckies with prefix "{decky_name}-NN"
+            matched = [
+                d for d in cfg.deckies
+                if d.name.startswith(f"{decky_name}-")
+            ]
+            if not matched:
+                continue  # orphaned subsection — ignore
+            for d in matched:
+                d.service_config[svc_name] = svc_cfg
 
     return cfg
diff --git a/tests/test_archetypes.py b/tests/test_archetypes.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1bd61fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_archetypes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,312 @@
+"""
+Tests for machine archetypes and the amount= expansion feature.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import textwrap
+import tempfile
+import os
+import pytest
+
+from decnet.archetypes import (
+    ARCHETYPES,
+    all_archetypes,
+    get_archetype,
+    random_archetype,
+)
+from decnet.ini_loader import load_ini, DeckySpec
+from decnet.distros import DISTROS
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Archetype registry
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_all_archetypes_returns_all():
+    result = all_archetypes()
+    assert isinstance(result, dict)
+    assert len(result) == len(ARCHETYPES)
+
+
+def test_get_archetype_known():
+    arch = get_archetype("linux-server")
+    assert arch.slug == "linux-server"
+    assert "ssh" in arch.services
+
+
+def test_get_archetype_unknown_raises():
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Unknown archetype"):
+        get_archetype("does-not-exist")
+
+
+def test_random_archetype_returns_valid():
+    arch = random_archetype()
+    assert arch.slug in ARCHETYPES
+
+
+def test_every_archetype_has_services():
+    for slug, arch in ARCHETYPES.items():
+        assert arch.services, f"Archetype '{slug}' has no services"
+
+
+def test_every_archetype_has_preferred_distros():
+    for slug, arch in ARCHETYPES.items():
+        assert arch.preferred_distros, f"Archetype '{slug}' has no preferred_distros"
+
+
+def test_every_archetype_preferred_distro_is_valid():
+    valid_slugs = set(DISTROS.keys())
+    for slug, arch in ARCHETYPES.items():
+        for d in arch.preferred_distros:
+            assert d in valid_slugs, (
+                f"Archetype '{slug}' references unknown distro '{d}'"
+            )
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# INI loader — archetype= parsing
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def _write_ini(content: str) -> str:
+    """Write INI content to a temp file and return the path."""
+    content = textwrap.dedent(content)
+    fd, path = tempfile.mkstemp(suffix=".ini")
+    os.write(fd, content.encode())
+    os.close(fd)
+    return path
+
+
+def test_ini_archetype_parsed():
+    path = _write_ini("""
+        [general]
+        net=10.0.0.0/24
+        gw=10.0.0.1
+
+        [my-server]
+        archetype=linux-server
+    """)
+    cfg = load_ini(path)
+    os.unlink(path)
+    assert len(cfg.deckies) == 1
+    assert cfg.deckies[0].archetype == "linux-server"
+    assert cfg.deckies[0].services is None  # not overridden
+
+
+def test_ini_archetype_with_explicit_services_override():
+    """explicit services= must survive alongside archetype="""
+    path = _write_ini("""
+        [general]
+        net=10.0.0.0/24
+        gw=10.0.0.1
+
+        [my-server]
+        archetype=linux-server
+        services=ftp,smb
+    """)
+    cfg = load_ini(path)
+    os.unlink(path)
+    assert cfg.deckies[0].archetype == "linux-server"
+    assert cfg.deckies[0].services == ["ftp", "smb"]
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# INI loader — amount= expansion
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_ini_amount_one_keeps_section_name():
+    path = _write_ini("""
+        [general]
+        net=10.0.0.0/24
+        gw=10.0.0.1
+
+        [my-printer]
+        archetype=printer
+        amount=1
+    """)
+    cfg = load_ini(path)
+    os.unlink(path)
+    assert len(cfg.deckies) == 1
+    assert cfg.deckies[0].name == "my-printer"
+
+
+def test_ini_amount_expands_deckies():
+    path = _write_ini("""
+        [general]
+        net=10.0.0.0/24
+        gw=10.0.0.1
+
+        [corp-ws]
+        archetype=windows-workstation
+        amount=5
+    """)
+    cfg = load_ini(path)
+    os.unlink(path)
+    assert len(cfg.deckies) == 5
+    for i, d in enumerate(cfg.deckies, start=1):
+        assert d.name == f"corp-ws-{i:02d}"
+        assert d.archetype == "windows-workstation"
+        assert d.ip is None  # auto-allocated
+
+
+def test_ini_amount_with_ip_raises():
+    path = _write_ini("""
+        [general]
+        net=10.0.0.0/24
+        gw=10.0.0.1
+
+        [bad-group]
+        services=ssh
+        ip=10.0.0.50
+        amount=3
+    """)
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Cannot combine ip="):
+        load_ini(path)
+    os.unlink(path)
+
+
+def test_ini_amount_invalid_value_raises():
+    path = _write_ini("""
+        [general]
+        net=10.0.0.0/24
+        gw=10.0.0.1
+
+        [bad]
+        services=ssh
+        amount=potato
+    """)
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="must be a positive integer"):
+        load_ini(path)
+    os.unlink(path)
+
+
+def test_ini_amount_zero_raises():
+    path = _write_ini("""
+        [general]
+        net=10.0.0.0/24
+        gw=10.0.0.1
+
+        [bad]
+        services=ssh
+        amount=0
+    """)
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="must be a positive integer"):
+        load_ini(path)
+    os.unlink(path)
+
+
+def test_ini_amount_multiple_groups():
+    """Two groups with different amounts expand independently."""
+    path = _write_ini("""
+        [general]
+        net=10.0.0.0/24
+        gw=10.0.0.1
+
+        [workers]
+        archetype=linux-server
+        amount=3
+
+        [printers]
+        archetype=printer
+        amount=2
+    """)
+    cfg = load_ini(path)
+    os.unlink(path)
+    assert len(cfg.deckies) == 5
+    names = [d.name for d in cfg.deckies]
+    assert names == ["workers-01", "workers-02", "workers-03", "printers-01", "printers-02"]
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# INI loader — per-service subsections propagate to expanded deckies
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_ini_subsection_propagates_to_expanded_deckies():
+    """[group.ssh] must apply to group-01, group-02, ..."""
+    path = _write_ini("""
+        [general]
+        net=10.0.0.0/24
+        gw=10.0.0.1
+
+        [linux-hosts]
+        archetype=linux-server
+        amount=3
+
+        [linux-hosts.ssh]
+        kernel_version=5.15.0-76-generic
+    """)
+    cfg = load_ini(path)
+    os.unlink(path)
+    assert len(cfg.deckies) == 3
+    for d in cfg.deckies:
+        assert "ssh" in d.service_config
+        assert d.service_config["ssh"]["kernel_version"] == "5.15.0-76-generic"
+
+
+def test_ini_subsection_direct_match_unaffected():
+    """A direct [decky.svc] subsection must still work when amount=1."""
+    path = _write_ini("""
+        [general]
+        net=10.0.0.0/24
+        gw=10.0.0.1
+
+        [web-01]
+        services=http
+
+        [web-01.http]
+        server_header=Apache/2.4.51
+    """)
+    cfg = load_ini(path)
+    os.unlink(path)
+    assert cfg.deckies[0].service_config["http"]["server_header"] == "Apache/2.4.51"
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# _build_deckies — archetype applied via CLI path
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_build_deckies_archetype_sets_services():
+    from decnet.cli import _build_deckies
+    from decnet.archetypes import get_archetype
+    arch = get_archetype("mail-server")
+    result = _build_deckies(
+        n=2,
+        ips=["10.0.0.10", "10.0.0.11"],
+        services_explicit=None,
+        randomize_services=False,
+        archetype=arch,
+    )
+    assert len(result) == 2
+    for d in result:
+        assert set(d.services) == set(arch.services)
+        assert d.archetype == "mail-server"
+
+
+def test_build_deckies_archetype_preferred_distros():
+    from decnet.cli import _build_deckies
+    from decnet.archetypes import get_archetype
+    arch = get_archetype("iot-device")  # preferred_distros=["alpine"]
+    result = _build_deckies(
+        n=3,
+        ips=["10.0.0.10", "10.0.0.11", "10.0.0.12"],
+        services_explicit=None,
+        randomize_services=False,
+        archetype=arch,
+    )
+    for d in result:
+        assert d.distro == "alpine"
+
+
+def test_build_deckies_explicit_services_override_archetype():
+    from decnet.cli import _build_deckies
+    from decnet.archetypes import get_archetype
+    arch = get_archetype("linux-server")
+    result = _build_deckies(
+        n=1,
+        ips=["10.0.0.10"],
+        services_explicit=["ftp"],
+        randomize_services=False,
+        archetype=arch,
+    )
+    assert result[0].services == ["ftp"]
+    assert result[0].archetype == "linux-server"