diff --git a/src/EchoHub.Server/Controllers/ServerController.cs b/src/EchoHub.Server/Controllers/ServerController.cs
index 23491ca..d875949 100644
--- a/src/EchoHub.Server/Controllers/ServerController.cs
+++ b/src/EchoHub.Server/Controllers/ServerController.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
+using System.Security.Claims;
 using EchoHub.Core.DTOs;
+using EchoHub.Core.Models;
 using EchoHub.Server.Data;
+using EchoHub.Server.Services;
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authorization;
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc;
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.RateLimiting;
@@ -13,11 +16,13 @@ public class ServerController : ControllerBase
 {
     private readonly EchoHubDbContext _db;
     private readonly IConfiguration _config;
+    private readonly DirectoryClaimStore _claimStore;
 
-    public ServerController(EchoHubDbContext db, IConfiguration config)
+    public ServerController(EchoHubDbContext db, IConfiguration config, DirectoryClaimStore claimStore)
     {
         _db = db;
         _config = config;
+        _claimStore = claimStore;
     }
 
     [HttpGet("info")]
@@ -47,4 +52,46 @@ public class ServerController : ControllerBase
 
         return Ok(new EncryptionKeyResponse(key));
     }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Operator-facing view of the EchoHubSpace directory registration: ServerId for admin
+    /// support tickets, current registration state, and the last error/conflict if any.
+    /// Never exposes the claim token itself.
+    /// </summary>
+    [HttpGet("directory")]
+    [Authorize]
+    public async Task<IActionResult> GetDirectoryStatus()
+    {
+        var (_, error) = await GetCallerAsync(ServerRole.Admin);
+        if (error is not null) return error;
+
+        var status = _claimStore.Status;
+        var response = new
+        {
+            ServerId = _claimStore.ServerId,
+            HasClaimToken = _claimStore.ClaimToken is not null,
+            status.IsRegistered,
+            status.LastRegisteredAt,
+            status.LastError,
+            status.ConflictingHosts,
+        };
+
+        return Ok(response);
+    }
+
+    private async Task<(User? Caller, IActionResult? Error)> GetCallerAsync(ServerRole minimumRole)
+    {
+        var userIdClaim = User.FindFirstValue(ClaimTypes.NameIdentifier);
+        if (userIdClaim is null)
+            return (null, Unauthorized(new ErrorResponse("Authentication required.")));
+
+        var caller = await _db.Users.FindAsync(Guid.Parse(userIdClaim));
+        if (caller is null)
+            return (null, Unauthorized(new ErrorResponse("User not found.")));
+
+        if (caller.Role < minimumRole)
+            return (null, StatusCode(403, new ErrorResponse($"Requires {minimumRole} role or higher.")));
+
+        return (caller, null);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/EchoHub.Server/Program.cs b/src/EchoHub.Server/Program.cs
index b6fde78..7693bd9 100644
--- a/src/EchoHub.Server/Program.cs
+++ b/src/EchoHub.Server/Program.cs
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ while (true)
         builder.Services.AddSingleton<ImageToAsciiService>();
         builder.Services.AddSingleton<FileStorageService>();
         builder.Services.AddSingleton<LinkEmbedService>();
+        builder.Services.AddSingleton<DirectoryClaimStore>();
         builder.Services.AddHostedService<ServerDirectoryService>();
         builder.Services.AddHostedService<FileCleanupService>();
         builder.Services.AddHostedService<MuteExpirationService>();
diff --git a/src/EchoHub.Server/Services/DirectoryClaimStore.cs b/src/EchoHub.Server/Services/DirectoryClaimStore.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..415ddb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/EchoHub.Server/Services/DirectoryClaimStore.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,204 @@
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+using System.Text.Json;
+using System.Text.Json.Serialization;
+using Microsoft.Data.Sqlite;
+
+namespace EchoHub.Server.Services;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Persists and exposes the EchoHubSpace directory claim — the opaque token issued on first
+/// registration and the row's stable <c>ServerId</c>. Also surfaces ephemeral registration
+/// status (success/failure code, conflicting hosts) for operator-facing endpoints.
+///
+/// Persistence uses atomic write (tmp + rename). Treat the file contents as a secret.
+/// </summary>
+public sealed class DirectoryClaimStore
+{
+    private static readonly JsonSerializerOptions JsonOptions = new()
+    {
+        WriteIndented = true,
+        DefaultIgnoreCondition = JsonIgnoreCondition.WhenWritingNull,
+    };
+
+    private readonly string _filePath;
+    private readonly ILogger<DirectoryClaimStore> _logger;
+    private readonly SemaphoreSlim _writeLock = new(1, 1);
+
+    private PersistedClaim _persisted = new(null, null);
+    private RegistrationStatus _status = new(false, null, null, null, null);
+
+    public DirectoryClaimStore(IConfiguration configuration, ILogger<DirectoryClaimStore> logger)
+    {
+        _logger = logger;
+        _filePath = ResolveFilePath(configuration);
+        Load();
+    }
+
+    public string FilePath => _filePath;
+
+    public string? ClaimToken => Volatile.Read(ref _persisted).ClaimToken;
+    public Guid? ServerId => Volatile.Read(ref _persisted).ServerId;
+
+    public RegistrationStatus Status => Volatile.Read(ref _status);
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Persist a freshly-issued claim token alongside the server's stable ServerId.
+    /// Called exactly once per row's lifetime — on first claim. Atomic on-disk swap.
+    /// </summary>
+    public async Task SaveClaimAsync(string claimToken, Guid serverId, CancellationToken ct = default)
+    {
+        await _writeLock.WaitAsync(ct);
+        try
+        {
+            var next = new PersistedClaim(claimToken, serverId);
+            await WriteAtomicAsync(next, ct);
+            Volatile.Write(ref _persisted, next);
+            _logger.LogInformation("Persisted directory claim token for ServerId {ServerId} at {Path}", serverId, _filePath);
+        }
+        finally
+        {
+            _writeLock.Release();
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Update only the ServerId — used when re-registering with an existing token (Success path,
+    /// hub returns ServerId again but no fresh token). No-op if the value is unchanged.
+    /// </summary>
+    public async Task UpdateServerIdAsync(Guid serverId, CancellationToken ct = default)
+    {
+        var current = Volatile.Read(ref _persisted);
+        if (current.ServerId == serverId)
+            return;
+
+        await _writeLock.WaitAsync(ct);
+        try
+        {
+            var next = current with { ServerId = serverId };
+            await WriteAtomicAsync(next, ct);
+            Volatile.Write(ref _persisted, next);
+        }
+        finally
+        {
+            _writeLock.Release();
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void SetSuccess(Guid serverId)
+    {
+        Volatile.Write(ref _status, new RegistrationStatus(
+            IsRegistered: true,
+            ServerId: serverId,
+            LastRegisteredAt: DateTimeOffset.UtcNow,
+            LastError: null,
+            ConflictingHosts: null));
+    }
+
+    public void SetFailure(string errorCode, string[]? conflictingHosts)
+    {
+        var current = Volatile.Read(ref _status);
+        Volatile.Write(ref _status, current with
+        {
+            IsRegistered = false,
+            LastError = errorCode,
+            ConflictingHosts = conflictingHosts,
+        });
+    }
+
+    private void Load()
+    {
+        if (!File.Exists(_filePath))
+            return;
+
+        try
+        {
+            using var stream = File.OpenRead(_filePath);
+            var loaded = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<PersistedClaim>(stream, JsonOptions);
+            if (loaded is not null)
+            {
+                _persisted = loaded;
+                _logger.LogInformation("Loaded directory claim from {Path} (ServerId {ServerId})", _filePath, loaded.ServerId);
+            }
+        }
+        catch (Exception ex)
+        {
+            // Don't crash startup over a corrupt state file — log and proceed as if no claim exists.
+            // Operator will see HostAlreadyClaimed on next register and can intervene.
+            _logger.LogError(ex, "Failed to read directory claim file at {Path} — treating as unclaimed", _filePath);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task WriteAtomicAsync(PersistedClaim claim, CancellationToken ct)
+    {
+        var dir = Path.GetDirectoryName(_filePath);
+        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(dir))
+            Directory.CreateDirectory(dir);
+
+        var tmpPath = _filePath + ".tmp";
+
+        await using (var stream = new FileStream(
+            tmpPath,
+            FileMode.Create,
+            FileAccess.Write,
+            FileShare.None,
+            bufferSize: 4096,
+            useAsync: true))
+        {
+            await JsonSerializer.SerializeAsync(stream, claim, JsonOptions, ct);
+            await stream.FlushAsync(ct);
+        }
+
+        // 0600 on Unix — the file holds a secret. No-op on Windows.
+        if (!RuntimeInformation.IsOSPlatform(OSPlatform.Windows))
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                File.SetUnixFileMode(tmpPath, UnixFileMode.UserRead | UnixFileMode.UserWrite);
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                _logger.LogWarning(ex, "Failed to set restrictive permissions on {Path}", tmpPath);
+            }
+        }
+
+        File.Move(tmpPath, _filePath, overwrite: true);
+    }
+
+    private static string ResolveFilePath(IConfiguration configuration)
+    {
+        var configured = configuration["Server:DirectoryClaimPath"];
+        if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(configured))
+            return configured;
+
+        // Co-locate with the SQLite database so a single data-directory backup captures both.
+        var connectionString = configuration.GetConnectionString("DefaultConnection");
+        if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(connectionString))
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                var builder = new SqliteConnectionStringBuilder(connectionString);
+                if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(builder.DataSource))
+                {
+                    var dir = Path.GetDirectoryName(Path.GetFullPath(builder.DataSource));
+                    if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(dir))
+                        return Path.Combine(dir, "directory-claim.json");
+                }
+            }
+            catch
+            {
+                // Fall through to default
+            }
+        }
+
+        return Path.Combine(AppContext.BaseDirectory, "directory-claim.json");
+    }
+
+    private sealed record PersistedClaim(string? ClaimToken, Guid? ServerId);
+}
+
+public sealed record RegistrationStatus(
+    bool IsRegistered,
+    Guid? ServerId,
+    DateTimeOffset? LastRegisteredAt,
+    string? LastError,
+    string[]? ConflictingHosts);
diff --git a/src/EchoHub.Server/Services/ServerDirectoryService.cs b/src/EchoHub.Server/Services/ServerDirectoryService.cs
index 3753bde..5cb5dc4 100644
--- a/src/EchoHub.Server/Services/ServerDirectoryService.cs
+++ b/src/EchoHub.Server/Services/ServerDirectoryService.cs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ public sealed class ServerDirectoryService : BackgroundService
 
     private readonly IConfiguration _configuration;
     private readonly PresenceTracker _presenceTracker;
+    private readonly DirectoryClaimStore _claimStore;
     private readonly ILogger<ServerDirectoryService> _logger;
 
     // Single-slot, latest-wins channel coalesces bursts of presence changes into one update.
@@ -22,13 +23,20 @@ public sealed class ServerDirectoryService : BackgroundService
     private HubConnection? _connection;
     private int _lastReportedUserCount = -1;
 
+    // Set true when a registration error code arrives (HostAlreadyClaimed/InvalidToken/HostConflict).
+    // Once set, we stop attempting register on this connection AND on any reconnects, since the
+    // hub won't kick us off and we'd otherwise tight-loop. Operator must restart after fixing config.
+    private bool _registrationPermanentlyFailed;
+
     public ServerDirectoryService(
         IConfiguration configuration,
         PresenceTracker presenceTracker,
+        DirectoryClaimStore claimStore,
         ILogger<ServerDirectoryService> logger)
     {
         _configuration = configuration;
         _presenceTracker = presenceTracker;
+        _claimStore = claimStore;
         _logger = logger;
     }
 
@@ -107,6 +115,12 @@ public sealed class ServerDirectoryService : BackgroundService
 
                 connection.Reconnected += async _ =>
                 {
+                    if (_registrationPermanentlyFailed)
+                    {
+                        _logger.LogWarning("Reconnected to directory but previous registration permanently failed — not re-registering. Restart the server after fixing configuration.");
+                        return;
+                    }
+
                     _logger.LogInformation("Reconnected to directory — re-registering server");
                     _lastReportedUserCount = -1;
                     await RegisterAsync(serverName, description, hosts, version, tags);
@@ -228,6 +242,10 @@ public sealed class ServerDirectoryService : BackgroundService
             if (connection.State != HubConnectionState.Connected)
                 continue;
 
+            // No point pushing presence to a row we don't own (or never claimed)
+            if (_registrationPermanentlyFailed || !_claimStore.Status.IsRegistered)
+                continue;
+
             try
             {
                 await connection.InvokeAsync("UpdateUserCount", count, ct);
@@ -253,13 +271,17 @@ public sealed class ServerDirectoryService : BackgroundService
         if (_connection?.State != HubConnectionState.Connected)
             return;
 
+        if (_registrationPermanentlyFailed)
+            return;
+
         try
         {
             var userCount = _presenceTracker.GetOnlineUserCount();
-            var dto = new RegisterServerDto(name, description, hosts, userCount, version, tags);
-            await _connection.InvokeAsync("RegisterServer", dto);
-            _lastReportedUserCount = userCount;
-            _logger.LogInformation("Registered with directory as {Name} at {Hosts}", name, string.Join(", ", hosts));
+            // ClaimToken is null on first-ever registration; otherwise the token persisted on first claim.
+            var dto = new RegisterServerDto(name, description, hosts, userCount, version, tags, _claimStore.ClaimToken);
+
+            var result = await _connection.InvokeAsync<RegisterServerResult>("RegisterServer", dto);
+            await HandleRegistrationResultAsync(result, userCount, name, hosts);
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
         {
@@ -267,6 +289,76 @@ public sealed class ServerDirectoryService : BackgroundService
         }
     }
 
+    private async Task HandleRegistrationResultAsync(RegisterServerResult result, int userCount, string name, string[] hosts)
+    {
+        if (!result.Success)
+        {
+            _registrationPermanentlyFailed = true;
+
+            var error = result.Error ?? "UnknownError";
+            var conflicts = result.ConflictingHosts is { Length: > 0 }
+                ? string.Join(", ", result.ConflictingHosts)
+                : "(none reported)";
+
+            switch (error)
+            {
+                case DirectoryRegistrationErrors.HostAlreadyClaimed:
+                    _logger.LogError(
+                        "Directory rejected registration: host(s) already claimed by another server: {ConflictingHosts}. " +
+                        "Change Server:PublicHosts or contact the directory admin to release the claim. Server will not retry until restarted.",
+                        conflicts);
+                    break;
+
+                case DirectoryRegistrationErrors.InvalidToken:
+                    _logger.LogError(
+                        "Directory rejected registration: persisted claim token is invalid (likely deleted by admin or stale). " +
+                        "Delete the claim file ({ClaimFile}) to claim fresh, or contact the directory admin. Server will not retry until restarted.",
+                        _claimStore.FilePath);
+                    break;
+
+                case DirectoryRegistrationErrors.HostConflict:
+                    _logger.LogError(
+                        "Directory rejected registration: token is valid but newly-advertised host(s) conflict with another server's row: {ConflictingHosts}. " +
+                        "Remove the conflicting entries from Server:PublicHosts. Server will not retry until restarted.",
+                        conflicts);
+                    break;
+
+                default:
+                    _logger.LogError("Directory rejected registration with unknown error code: {Error}. Server will not retry until restarted.", error);
+                    break;
+            }
+
+            _claimStore.SetFailure(error, result.ConflictingHosts);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // Success path
+        if (!result.ServerId.HasValue)
+        {
+            _logger.LogWarning("Directory registration succeeded but ServerId was missing — treating as failure to be safe.");
+            _registrationPermanentlyFailed = true;
+            _claimStore.SetFailure("MissingServerId", null);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        var serverId = result.ServerId.Value;
+
+        // Persist a freshly-issued claim token *before* anything else acks success — this is our durability guarantee.
+        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(result.ClaimToken))
+        {
+            await _claimStore.SaveClaimAsync(result.ClaimToken, serverId);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            // No fresh token (re-register): just keep the persisted ServerId in sync defensively.
+            await _claimStore.UpdateServerIdAsync(serverId);
+        }
+
+        _claimStore.SetSuccess(serverId);
+        _lastReportedUserCount = userCount;
+        _logger.LogInformation("Registered with directory as {Name} at {Hosts} (ServerId {ServerId})", name, string.Join(", ", hosts), serverId);
+    }
+
     private static string ResolveVersion()
     {
         var assembly = typeof(ServerDirectoryService).Assembly;
@@ -319,4 +411,19 @@ internal record RegisterServerDto(
     string[] Hosts,
     int UserCount,
     string Version,
-    string[] Tags);
+    string[] Tags,
+    string? ClaimToken);
+
+internal record RegisterServerResult(
+    bool Success,
+    Guid? ServerId,
+    string? ClaimToken,
+    string? Error,
+    string[]? ConflictingHosts);
+
+internal static class DirectoryRegistrationErrors
+{
+    public const string HostAlreadyClaimed = "HostAlreadyClaimed";
+    public const string InvalidToken = "InvalidToken";
+    public const string HostConflict = "HostConflict";
+}