diff --git a/docs/reference/environment-variables.md b/docs/reference/environment-variables.md
index fe95e62..76e4187 100644
--- a/docs/reference/environment-variables.md
+++ b/docs/reference/environment-variables.md
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ it is absent.
 | `KEY_ENCRYPTION_KEY`       | yes in practice |                             | 64 hex characters (32 bytes) for AES-256-GCM. Required for private keys, vault secrets, OIDC client secrets and console credentials                                |
 | `GITEA_HOST`               | yes             | `gitea.example.com`         | Used to build the install scripts and agent download URLs. The default is a placeholder that will not resolve                                                      |
 | `GUACD_ADDR`               | no              | `guacd:4822`                | The [browser console](../vantage/browser-console.md) daemon                                                                                                        |
+| `PROXY_ADVERTISE_HOST`     | no              | `server`                    | The hostname **guacd** uses to reach the control plane's console relay. Wrong here and every console session fails at connect with guacd unable to resolve the relay |
+| `PROXY_LISTEN_HOST`        | no              | `0.0.0.0`                   | Interface the ephemeral relay listeners bind. Narrow it only if guacd shares a known interface                                                                     |
 | `APP_ROOT_LABEL`           | no              | `vantage`                   | The app root label for the host and session organisation guard                                                                                                     |
 | `VANTAGE_WORKFLOW_LOG_DIR` | no              |                             | Where workflow run logs are written                                                                                                                                |
 
diff --git a/docs/reference/ports-and-networking.md b/docs/reference/ports-and-networking.md
index 983db52..e747fe2 100644
--- a/docs/reference/ports-and-networking.md
+++ b/docs/reference/ports-and-networking.md
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ flowchart LR
     W --> S["server :8080"]
     A["Agent on a managed server"] -->|"gRPC/TLS :9090, outbound"| S
     S --> G["guacd :4822"]
-    G -->|"SSH / RDP / VNC"| T["Target machine"]
+    G -->|"relayed over the :9090 stream"| A
+    A -->|"SSH / RDP / VNC, loopback"| T["Target machine (same host as agent)"]
 ```
 
 Two things are worth reading off that diagram.
@@ -33,9 +34,13 @@ Two things are worth reading off that diagram.
 NAT is not an obstacle. The only requirement is that the machine can reach
 `GRPC_HOST`.
 
-**The console does not use the agent.** guacd connects directly to the target on
-the protocol port. A machine reachable only by its agent behind NAT, on a
-private subnet cannot be consoled, even though every other feature works.
+**The console rides the agent's connection too.** guacd never dials the target
+directly; the server pushes a command down the agent's existing outbound gRPC
+stream on `9090`, and the agent relays the protocol traffic from its own
+loopback. No route from the control plane to the target's address is needed,
+and no new inbound port opens on the target — the same connection that carries
+key sync carries console traffic. This is what makes the console work for a
+machine behind NAT on a private subnet, as long as its agent is online.
 
 ## What to open
 
@@ -49,7 +54,9 @@ private subnet cannot be consoled, even though every other feature works.
 - `gitea.hostxtra.co.uk`, for agent releases and version checks.
 - Anything a server-run [monitor](../vantage/monitors.md) checks.
 - SMTP, if you use an SMTP notification channel.
-- Protocol ports on machines you intend to console.
+
+No route to the machines you intend to console is needed — that traffic rides
+the agent's existing outbound `9090` connection instead.
 
 ### Outbound from a managed machine
 
diff --git a/docs/reference/troubleshooting.md b/docs/reference/troubleshooting.md
index acee941..d37119d 100644
--- a/docs/reference/troubleshooting.md
+++ b/docs/reference/troubleshooting.md
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ instantaneous.
 | Connects, then closes at once | guacd unreachable. Check `GUACD_ADDR` and that the container is running                                         |
 | SSH rejects the key           | The stored key has no private half, or is not on the target                                                     |
 | RDP fails on retry            | Credentials are single-use and consumed at tunnel open enter them again                                         |
-| Hangs at "connecting"         | The **control plane** cannot reach the target on the protocol port. The agent's reachability is irrelevant here |
+| Hangs at connecting            | The agent is offline, or nothing is listening on the protocol port on the target's own loopback address. Check the audit log for `console.proxy_failed` — its reason names which |
 | Fails only in production      | The reverse proxy is not forwarding WebSocket upgrade headers                                                   |
 
 ## Monitors report down when the service is up
diff --git a/docs/vantage/browser-console.md b/docs/vantage/browser-console.md
index 03b4ce4..f35afa1 100644
--- a/docs/vantage/browser-console.md
+++ b/docs/vantage/browser-console.md
@@ -15,17 +15,20 @@ to a **guacd** daemon and manages credentials around it.
 - `guacd` running and reachable from the server. The bundled Compose stack
   includes it; `GUACD_ADDR` defaults to `guacd:4822`.
 - `KEY_ENCRYPTION_KEY` set, since every credential involved is stored encrypted.
-- Network reachability **from the control plane to the target** on the protocol
-  port. This is the one part of Vantage that is not agent-mediated: guacd
-  connects directly, so a machine reachable only by its agent cannot be
-  consoled.
+- The target's **agent must be online**. Console traffic is relayed over the
+  agent's existing outbound connection, so the control plane never needs a route
+  to the server's address — but it does need the agent.
+- No inbound port on the target, beyond what the protocol already listens on
+  locally. A service bound only to `127.0.0.1` works, because the agent dials
+  loopback on the target itself.
 
 ## Opening a session
 
 From a server's page, choose **Console**. Then:
 
 1. The UI calls `POST /api/console/connect`, which mints a **one-time** session
-   token.
+   token. If the target's agent is not connected, this fails immediately with
+   `409 agent_offline` rather than hanging.
 2. The browser opens a WebSocket to `GET /api/console/tunnel` with that token.
 3. The server marks the token consumed atomically, so a second use cannot
    race and proxies the connection to guacd.
@@ -67,4 +70,4 @@ keystroke log. If you need that, it has to come from the target machine.
 | Connects then closes immediately | guacd unreachable check `GUACD_ADDR` and that the container is up               |
 | SSH refuses the key              | The stored key has no private half, or is not in the target's `authorized_keys` |
 | RDP fails on a fresh credential  | Credentials are consumed on open; a retry needs them entered again              |
-| Hangs at connecting              | The control plane cannot reach the target on the protocol port                  |
+| Hangs at connecting              | The agent is offline, or nothing is listening on the protocol port on the target's own loopback address. Check the audit log for `console.proxy_failed` — its reason names which |