diff --git a/core/application/application.go b/core/application/application.go
index f8e7edcaf..75a2a9714 100644
--- a/core/application/application.go
+++ b/core/application/application.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/core/http/auth"
 	mcpTools "github.com/mudler/LocalAI/core/http/endpoints/mcp"
 	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/core/services/addons"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/core/services/addons/backendlib"
 	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/core/services/addons/catalog"
 	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/core/services/addons/gateway"
 	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/core/services/addons/packages"
@@ -80,6 +81,7 @@ type Application struct {
 	addonGateway       *gateway.Gateway
 	addonServer        *http.Server
 	addonSources       *catalog.Sources
+	backendLibrary     *backendlib.Installer
 	addonManager       *addons.Manager
 	addonHostOps       *addonruntime.HostOps
 	// The pin store is built once so the routes and the retention sweep share it.
@@ -824,6 +826,10 @@ func (a *Application) StartAgentPool() {
 // AddonManager is nil unless the deployment explicitly enables addons.
 func (a *Application) AddonManager() *addons.Manager { return a.addonManager }
 
+// BackendLibrary installs backends from the library entries of kind backend.
+// It is nil unless this instance owns the add-on libraries.
+func (a *Application) BackendLibrary() *backendlib.Installer { return a.backendLibrary }
+
 // AddonSources exposes owner-only source administration and explicit live refresh.
 // Forwarders never load source configuration or perform catalog I/O.
 func (a *Application) AddonSources() *catalog.Sources { return a.addonSources }
@@ -867,8 +873,15 @@ func (a *Application) startAddons() error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+		var defaults []catalog.Source
 		if c.OfficialLibrary {
-			if _, err = sources.SeedDefault(catalog.OfficialLibrary()); err != nil {
+			defaults = append(defaults, catalog.OfficialLibrary())
+		}
+		if c.OfficialBackendLibrary {
+			defaults = append(defaults, catalog.OfficialBackendLibrary())
+		}
+		if len(defaults) > 0 {
+			if _, err = sources.SeedDefaults(defaults...); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 		}
@@ -936,6 +949,12 @@ func (a *Application) startAddons() error {
 		}
 	}
 	a.addonSources = cat.Sources
+	if cat.Sources != nil {
+		a.backendLibrary = &backendlib.Installer{
+			Catalog: cat, SystemState: a.applicationConfig.SystemState, ModelLoader: a.modelLoader,
+			MaxBytes: c.BackendMaxBytes, RequireIntegrity: a.applicationConfig.RequireBackendIntegrity,
+		}
+	}
 	a.addonManager = m
 	if err := a.startAddonGateway(); err != nil {
 		_ = m.Close()
diff --git a/core/cli/run.go b/core/cli/run.go
index 211c2efa7..e1994f0f9 100644
--- a/core/cli/run.go
+++ b/core/cli/run.go
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ type RunCMD struct {
 	AddonsEnabled             bool   `name:"addons-enabled" env:"LOCALAI_ADDONS_ENABLED" default:"true" help:"Run the add-on owner, which installs and supervises add-ons. Turn it off with --addons-enabled=false" group:"addons"`
 	AddonsOwnershipMode       string `name:"addons-ownership-mode" env:"LOCALAI_ADDONS_OWNERSHIP_MODE" help:"Who may use add-ons: named-user (each account has its own access; needs authentication) or local-owner (every caller shares one owner). Default: local-owner when authentication is off, named-user when it is on" group:"addons"`
 	AddonsOfficialLibrary     bool   `name:"addons-official-library" env:"LOCALAI_ADDONS_OFFICIAL_LIBRARY" default:"true" help:"Register the official add-on library on the first start, when the add-on owner has no sources.json yet. A library the admin removes later stays removed. Turn it off with --addons-official-library=false" group:"addons"`
+	AddonsBackendLibrary      bool   `name:"addons-backend-library" env:"LOCALAI_ADDONS_BACKEND_LIBRARY" default:"false" help:"Also register the pilot backend library on the first start, when the add-on owner has no sources.json yet. The backend gallery stays the source of truth; a library backend is an additional way to install it" group:"addons"`
+	AddonsBackendMaxBytes     int64  `name:"addons-backend-max-bytes" env:"LOCALAI_ADDONS_BACKEND_MAX_BYTES" default:"8589934592" help:"Largest compressed size, in bytes, of a backend image installed from a library. Add-ons keep their own limit of 512 MiB" group:"addons"`
 	Pprof                     bool   `name:"pprof" env:"LOCALAI_PPROF" default:"false" help:"Enable the private loopback profiling listener" group:"diagnostics"`
 	PprofAddress              string `name:"pprof-address" env:"LOCALAI_PPROF_ADDRESS" default:"127.0.0.1:6060" help:"Numeric loopback address and port for profiling" group:"diagnostics"`
 	PprofMutexProfileFraction int    `name:"pprof-mutex-profile-fraction" env:"LOCALAI_PPROF_MUTEX_PROFILE_FRACTION" default:"0" help:"Mutex sampling fraction (0 disables sampling); requires pprof" group:"diagnostics"`
@@ -667,6 +669,8 @@ func (r *RunCMD) Run(ctx *cliContext.Context) (result error) {
 	}
 	if addonCfg.Enabled {
 		addonCfg.OfficialLibrary = r.AddonsOfficialLibrary
+		addonCfg.OfficialBackendLibrary = r.AddonsBackendLibrary
+		addonCfg.BackendMaxBytes = r.AddonsBackendMaxBytes
 		opts = append(opts, config.WithAddons(addonCfg))
 	}
 	if authEnabled {
diff --git a/core/config/application_config.go b/core/config/application_config.go
index acadb3b96..d0535a3ca 100644
--- a/core/config/application_config.go
+++ b/core/config/application_config.go
@@ -36,6 +36,13 @@ type AddonConfig struct {
 	// when the owner has no sources.json yet. A sources.json that exists is
 	// never changed by it, so a library the admin removed stays removed.
 	OfficialLibrary bool
+	// OfficialBackendLibrary also registers the pilot library of backends on
+	// the first start. It is off by default: the backend gallery stays the
+	// source of truth and the library is an additional way to install.
+	OfficialBackendLibrary bool
+	// BackendMaxBytes bounds the compressed size of one backend image
+	// installed from a library; zero is 8 GiB. Add-ons keep their own limit.
+	BackendMaxBytes int64
 	Host            contract.HostCompatibility
 	AdminCheck      func(context.Context, contract.Actor) error `json:"-" yaml:"-"`
 	// BackupKeep is how many backups of one add-on the owner keeps; zero is
diff --git a/core/gallery/backend_types.go b/core/gallery/backend_types.go
index 1f8363764..813a80527 100644
--- a/core/gallery/backend_types.go
+++ b/core/gallery/backend_types.go
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ type BackendMetadata struct {
 	URI string `json:"uri,omitempty"`
 	// Digest is the OCI image digest at install time (for upgrade detection)
 	Digest string `json:"digest,omitempty"`
+	// Library is the id of the library the backend was installed from. It is
+	// empty for a backend installed from a gallery.
+	Library string `json:"library,omitempty"`
 }
 
 type GalleryBackend struct {
@@ -39,6 +42,12 @@ type GalleryBackend struct {
 	// SHA256 is the expected sha256 of the backend tarball at URI / Mirrors.
 	// Empty disables the integrity check; OCI URIs carry their own digest.
 	SHA256 string `json:"sha256,omitempty" yaml:"sha256,omitempty"`
+
+	// Library and MaxBytes are set by the install from a library, never read
+	// from a gallery file. Library records the origin in the metadata of the
+	// installed backend; MaxBytes bounds the compressed size of the image.
+	Library  string `json:"-" yaml:"-"`
+	MaxBytes int64  `json:"-" yaml:"-"`
 }
 
 func (backend *GalleryBackend) FindBestBackendFromMeta(systemState *system.SystemState, backends GalleryElements[*GalleryBackend]) *GalleryBackend {
diff --git a/core/gallery/backends.go b/core/gallery/backends.go
index 6cb5be2bf..770e39dd5 100644
--- a/core/gallery/backends.go
+++ b/core/gallery/backends.go
@@ -340,6 +340,9 @@ func InstallBackend(ctx context.Context, systemState *system.SystemState, modelL
 		return fmt.Errorf("backend %q: %w", config.Name, optsErr)
 	}
 	downloadOpts = append(downloadOpts, downloader.WithStagingDir(systemState.StagingPath))
+	if config.MaxBytes > 0 {
+		downloadOpts = append(downloadOpts, downloader.WithMaxBytes(config.MaxBytes))
+	}
 
 	// PreferDevelopmentBackends installs the development image as the primary URI,
 	// keeping the released image reachable as the first fallback — instead of only
@@ -446,6 +449,7 @@ func InstallBackend(ctx context.Context, systemState *system.SystemState, modelL
 		InstalledAt: time.Now().Format(time.RFC3339),
 		Version:     config.Version,
 		URI:         string(uri),
+		Library:     config.Library,
 	}
 
 	// Record the OCI digest for upgrade detection (non-fatal on failure)
diff --git a/core/http/endpoints/addons/catalogui_test.go b/core/http/endpoints/addons/catalogui_test.go
index a99aa9e86..672b0467a 100644
--- a/core/http/endpoints/addons/catalogui_test.go
+++ b/core/http/endpoints/addons/catalogui_test.go
@@ -74,6 +74,23 @@ var _ = Describe("catalog and management actions", Label("catalogui"), func() {
 		s = newAppsStack()
 	})
 
+	It("lists add-ons by default, and takes a kind that this host reads", func() {
+		s.each(func(name string, e http.Handler) {
+			admin := bearerOf(s.tokens["alice"])
+			addons := send(e, "POST", "/api/addons/dispatch", dispatchBody("kind-addon-"+name, "", "catalog-search", 0, `{"kind":"addon"}`), admin)
+			Expect(addons.code).To(Equal(200), name)
+			Expect(payloadOf(addons)).To(HaveKeyWithValue("total", BeNumerically("==", 2)), name)
+			backends := send(e, "POST", "/api/addons/dispatch", dispatchBody("kind-backend-"+name, "", "catalog-search", 0, `{"kind":"backend"}`), admin)
+			Expect(backends.code).To(Equal(200), name)
+			Expect(payloadOf(backends)).To(HaveKeyWithValue("total", BeNumerically("==", 0)), name)
+			all := send(e, "POST", "/api/addons/dispatch", dispatchBody("kind-all-"+name, "", "catalog-search", 0, `{"kind":"all"}`), admin)
+			Expect(all.code).To(Equal(200), name)
+			Expect(payloadOf(all)).To(HaveKeyWithValue("total", BeNumerically("==", 2)), name)
+			model := send(e, "POST", "/api/addons/dispatch", dispatchBody("kind-model-"+name, "", "catalog-search", 0, `{"kind":"model"}`), admin)
+			Expect(model.code).To(Equal(403), name+": a kind this host does not read is a denied request")
+		})
+	})
+
 	It("serves catalog search, details and the installed management view to administrators only, the same from every frontend", func() {
 		s.each(func(name string, e http.Handler) {
 			admin := bearerOf(s.tokens["alice"])
diff --git a/core/http/endpoints/addons/gateway.go b/core/http/endpoints/addons/gateway.go
index 4f1b94343..b47aaa267 100644
--- a/core/http/endpoints/addons/gateway.go
+++ b/core/http/endpoints/addons/gateway.go
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ func resultError(c echo.Context, e error) error {
 
 // Dispatch forwards typed operations to the explicitly configured owner.
 // @Summary Submit a typed addon lifecycle operation or read an addon resource
-// @Description Authenticates the named caller, checks the addons feature, requires administration for every action except read, and forwards the typed request to the designated addon owner. A mutation is never retried: after an outcome_unknown response keep the operationId and poll operation-status instead of submitting a new mutation. Lifecycle actions are install, upgrade, enable, disable and uninstall (arguments sourceId and version; enable and disable take the generation that was listed). The management reads, all administrator-only and never mutations, are catalog-search (arguments text, sourceId, offset, limit up to 100), catalog-details (addonId plus arguments sourceId and version), catalog-sources and addons-installed. The library changes are catalog-source-save (arguments are one source: id, name, url, enabled, policy, authReference; removed true deletes it and never touches installed addons) and catalog-source-refresh (argument sourceId). A library names a credential only by a reference the owner configured, never a secret. Unknown argument fields are denied. The update actions are update-status and update-check (no arguments; the check fetches the library again and applies nothing) and update-upgrade (arguments expectedDigest and candidateDigest, the pinned upgrade); each answers with a payload {error: {type, message, status}} or {data}, the same from every frontend. The browser pages use the dedicated routes under /api/addons/{id}/update and /api/addons/{id}/upgrade, which accept only an administrator's own browser session.
+// @Description Authenticates the named caller, checks the addons feature, requires administration for every action except read, and forwards the typed request to the designated addon owner. A mutation is never retried: after an outcome_unknown response keep the operationId and poll operation-status instead of submitting a new mutation. Lifecycle actions are install, upgrade, enable, disable and uninstall (arguments sourceId and version; enable and disable take the generation that was listed). The management reads, all administrator-only and never mutations, are catalog-search (arguments text, kind, sourceId, offset, limit up to 100; kind is addon by default, or backend, or all), catalog-details (addonId plus arguments sourceId and version), catalog-sources and addons-installed. The library changes are catalog-source-save (arguments are one source: id, name, url, enabled, policy, authReference; removed true deletes it and never touches installed addons) and catalog-source-refresh (argument sourceId). A library names a credential only by a reference the owner configured, never a secret. Unknown argument fields are denied. The update actions are update-status and update-check (no arguments; the check fetches the library again and applies nothing) and update-upgrade (arguments expectedDigest and candidateDigest, the pinned upgrade); each answers with a payload {error: {type, message, status}} or {data}, the same from every frontend. The browser pages use the dedicated routes under /api/addons/{id}/update and /api/addons/{id}/upgrade, which accept only an administrator's own browser session.
 // @Tags Addons
 // @Accept json
 // @Produce json
diff --git a/core/http/endpoints/localai/backend_library.go b/core/http/endpoints/localai/backend_library.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..493db1656
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/http/endpoints/localai/backend_library.go
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+package localai
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"net/http"
+
+	"github.com/labstack/echo/v4"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/core/schema"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/core/services/addons/backendlib"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/core/services/addons/catalog"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/pkg/downloader"
+	"github.com/mudler/xlog"
+)
+
+// BackendLibraryInstaller installs a backend from a library entry.
+type BackendLibraryInstaller interface {
+	Install(ctx context.Context, sourceID, backend, version string, status func(string, string, string, float64)) error
+}
+
+// BackendLibraryInstallRequest names one library entry of kind backend.
+type BackendLibraryInstallRequest struct {
+	// SourceID is the library the entry comes from.
+	SourceID string `json:"sourceId"`
+	// Name is the backend name of the entry.
+	Name string `json:"name"`
+	// Version is the version or the channel of the entry.
+	Version string `json:"version"`
+}
+
+// InstallBackendFromLibraryEndpoint installs a backend from a library entry
+// on this node. The install runs inside the request and answers when it is
+// done. The library resolves the entry, so the request cannot name an image,
+// a digest or a policy.
+// @Summary Install a backend from a library entry on this node.
+// @Tags backends
+// @Param request body BackendLibraryInstallRequest true "library, backend name and version"
+// @Success 200 {object} map[string]string "installed"
+// @Failure 404 {object} schema.ErrorResponse "no such entry"
+// @Failure 409 {object} schema.ErrorResponse "the name is installed from another origin"
+// @Failure 413 {object} schema.ErrorResponse "the image is over the size limit"
+// @Router /backends/library/install [post]
+func InstallBackendFromLibraryEndpoint(installer BackendLibraryInstaller) echo.HandlerFunc {
+	return func(c echo.Context) error {
+		var in BackendLibraryInstallRequest
+		if err := c.Bind(&in); err != nil {
+			return libraryError(c, http.StatusBadRequest, "invalid request")
+		}
+		if in.SourceID == "" || in.Name == "" || in.Version == "" {
+			return libraryError(c, http.StatusBadRequest, "sourceId, name and version are required")
+		}
+		err := installer.Install(c.Request().Context(), in.SourceID, in.Name, in.Version, nil)
+		if err == nil {
+			return c.JSON(http.StatusOK, map[string]string{"status": "installed", "name": in.Name, "sourceId": in.SourceID})
+		}
+		xlog.Warn("backend library install failed", "source", in.SourceID, "backend", in.Name, "error", err)
+		status := http.StatusInternalServerError
+		switch {
+		case errors.Is(err, catalog.ErrNotFound):
+			status = http.StatusNotFound
+		case errors.Is(err, backendlib.ErrCollision):
+			status = http.StatusConflict
+		case errors.Is(err, backendlib.ErrIntegrity), errors.Is(err, backendlib.ErrInvalid), errors.Is(err, catalog.ErrInvalid):
+			status = http.StatusBadRequest
+		case errors.Is(err, catalog.ErrUnavailable), errors.Is(err, catalog.ErrRefresh):
+			status = http.StatusServiceUnavailable
+		case errors.Is(err, downloader.ErrImageTooLarge):
+			status = http.StatusRequestEntityTooLarge
+		}
+		return libraryError(c, status, err.Error())
+	}
+}
+
+// libraryError answers in the error format of the other routes.
+func libraryError(c echo.Context, status int, message string) error {
+	return c.JSON(status, schema.ErrorResponse{Error: &schema.APIError{Code: status, Message: message, Type: "backend_library"}})
+}
diff --git a/core/http/endpoints/localai/backend_library_test.go b/core/http/endpoints/localai/backend_library_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..eed1b3cb2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/http/endpoints/localai/backend_library_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+package localai_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/labstack/echo/v4"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/core/http/endpoints/localai"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/core/services/addons/backendlib"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/core/services/addons/catalog"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/pkg/downloader"
+	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
+	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
+)
+
+type fakeLibrary struct {
+	err  error
+	last [3]string
+}
+
+func (f *fakeLibrary) Install(_ context.Context, source, backend, version string, _ func(string, string, string, float64)) error {
+	f.last = [3]string{source, backend, version}
+	return f.err
+}
+
+var _ = Describe("install a backend from a library", func() {
+	post := func(f *fakeLibrary, body string) *httptest.ResponseRecorder {
+		e := echo.New()
+		req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/backends/library/install", strings.NewReader(body))
+		req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+		rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+		Expect(localai.InstallBackendFromLibraryEndpoint(f)(e.NewContext(req, rec))).To(Succeed())
+		return rec
+	}
+
+	It("installs the named entry", func() {
+		f := &fakeLibrary{}
+		rec := post(f, `{"sourceId":"pilot","name":"cpu-demo","version":"latest"}`)
+		Expect(rec.Code).To(Equal(http.StatusOK))
+		Expect(f.last).To(Equal([3]string{"pilot", "cpu-demo", "latest"}))
+	})
+
+	It("refuses a request that does not name an entry", func() {
+		for _, body := range []string{`{}`, `{"sourceId":"pilot","name":"x"}`, `not json`} {
+			Expect(post(&fakeLibrary{}, body).Code).To(Equal(http.StatusBadRequest), body)
+		}
+	})
+
+	DescribeTable("maps what the install says to a status",
+		func(err error, status int) {
+			Expect(post(&fakeLibrary{err: err}, `{"sourceId":"p","name":"n","version":"v"}`).Code).To(Equal(status))
+		},
+		Entry("no such entry", catalog.ErrNotFound, http.StatusNotFound),
+		Entry("collision", fmt.Errorf("%w: %q", backendlib.ErrCollision, "n"), http.StatusConflict),
+		Entry("strict integrity", backendlib.ErrIntegrity, http.StatusBadRequest),
+		Entry("library unavailable", catalog.ErrUnavailable, http.StatusServiceUnavailable),
+		Entry("too large", fmt.Errorf("failed: %w", downloader.ErrImageTooLarge), http.StatusRequestEntityTooLarge),
+		Entry("anything else", fmt.Errorf("boom"), http.StatusInternalServerError),
+	)
+})
diff --git a/core/http/routes/localai.go b/core/http/routes/localai.go
index 3eff66b5a..b317ea6da 100644
--- a/core/http/routes/localai.go
+++ b/core/http/routes/localai.go
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ func RegisterLocalAIRoutes(router *echo.Echo,
 			galleryService,
 			app.UpgradeChecker())
 		router.POST("/backends/apply", backendGalleryEndpointService.ApplyBackendEndpoint(appConfig.SystemState), adminMiddleware)
+		if lib := app.BackendLibrary(); lib != nil {
+			router.POST("/backends/library/install", localai.InstallBackendFromLibraryEndpoint(lib), adminMiddleware)
+		}
 		router.POST("/backends/delete/:name", backendGalleryEndpointService.DeleteBackendEndpoint(), adminMiddleware)
 		router.GET("/backends", backendGalleryEndpointService.ListBackendsEndpoint(), adminMiddleware)
 		router.GET("/backends/available", backendGalleryEndpointService.ListAvailableBackendsEndpoint(appConfig.SystemState, ClusterCapabilityProviderFor(app), ClusterInstalledProviderFor(app)), adminMiddleware)
diff --git a/core/services/addons/backendlib/install.go b/core/services/addons/backendlib/install.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..709df6eb5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/services/addons/backendlib/install.go
@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+
+// Package backendlib installs a backend from a library entry of kind backend.
+//
+// A library entry is one more way to see and install a backend. The backend
+// gallery stays the source of truth and its install path is not changed: this
+// package resolves the entry from the library the owner trusts, pins the image
+// by digest, takes the signature policy from the library and then hands the
+// install to the same code the gallery uses, so the backend ends up in the
+// same directory with the same metadata plus the library it came from.
+package backendlib
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/google/go-containerregistry/pkg/name"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/core/config"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/core/gallery"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/core/services/addons/catalog"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/pkg/model"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/pkg/system"
+)
+
+var (
+	// ErrCollision is returned when the name is already installed from another
+	// origin. Nothing is changed.
+	ErrCollision = errors.New("backend is already installed from another origin")
+	// ErrIntegrity is returned when strict integrity mode needs a signature
+	// policy and the library has none.
+	ErrIntegrity = errors.New("strict integrity: the library does not require a signature")
+	// ErrInvalid is returned for an entry that cannot be installed as given.
+	ErrInvalid = errors.New("invalid backend library entry")
+)
+
+// Installer installs library backends on the local node.
+type Installer struct {
+	Catalog     catalog.Catalog
+	SystemState *system.SystemState
+	ModelLoader *model.ModelLoader
+	// MaxBytes bounds the compressed size of the image. Zero means the default
+	// for the backend kind, catalog.DefaultMaxBytes(catalog.KindBackend).
+	MaxBytes int64
+	// RequireIntegrity is the strict mode of the gallery install
+	// (--require-backend-integrity): an entry whose library does not require a
+	// signature is refused.
+	RequireIntegrity bool
+	// install is the gallery install; tests replace it.
+	install func(context.Context, *system.SystemState, *model.ModelLoader, *gallery.GalleryBackend, func(string, string, string, float64), bool) error
+}
+
+func (i *Installer) limit() int64 {
+	if i.MaxBytes > 0 {
+		return i.MaxBytes
+	}
+	return catalog.DefaultMaxBytes(catalog.KindBackend)
+}
+
+// Install resolves the backend entry and installs it. version is the version
+// or the channel of the entry, as for an add-on.
+func (i *Installer) Install(ctx context.Context, sourceID, backend, version string, status func(string, string, string, float64)) error {
+	r, err := i.Catalog.ResolveKind(ctx, catalog.KindBackend, sourceID, backend, version)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	gb, err := i.plan(r)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := i.checkCollision(r); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	install := i.install
+	if install == nil {
+		install = gallery.InstallBackend
+	}
+	// With a verification policy the gallery install verifies the signature of
+	// the pinned image before it fetches any layer, then applies the size limit.
+	return install(ctx, i.SystemState, i.ModelLoader, gb, status, i.RequireIntegrity)
+}
+
+var digestForm = regexp.MustCompile(`^sha256:[a-f0-9]{64}$`)
+
+// plan turns a trusted resolution into the backend the gallery install takes.
+// The image is named by digest, never by tag.
+func (i *Installer) plan(r catalog.Release) (*gallery.GalleryBackend, error) {
+	if r.EntryKind() != catalog.KindBackend || !strings.HasPrefix(r.Artifact, "oci://") || !digestForm.MatchString(r.Digest) {
+		return nil, ErrInvalid
+	}
+	target, arch := i.Catalog.Target()
+	if r.OS != target || r.Arch != arch {
+		return nil, ErrInvalid
+	}
+	if i.RequireIntegrity && !r.Policy.RequireSignature {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%w (library %q)", ErrIntegrity, r.SourceID)
+	}
+	ref, err := name.ParseReference(strings.TrimPrefix(r.Artifact, "oci://"))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, ErrInvalid
+	}
+	gb := &gallery.GalleryBackend{
+		URI:      "oci://" + ref.Context().Digest(r.Digest).Name(),
+		Version:  r.Version,
+		Alias:    r.Alias,
+		Library:  r.SourceID,
+		MaxBytes: i.limit(),
+	}
+	gb.Name = r.AddonID
+	gb.Gallery = config.Gallery{Name: "library:" + r.SourceID, URL: r.SourceURL}
+	if r.Policy.RequireSignature {
+		gb.Gallery.Verification = &config.GalleryVerification{
+			Issuer:        r.Policy.Issuer,
+			Identity:      r.Policy.Identity,
+			IdentityRegex: r.Policy.IdentityRegex,
+		}
+	}
+	return gb, nil
+}
+
+// checkCollision refuses to replace a backend that did not come from this
+// library: one installed from a gallery, from another library or by hand.
+// Installing again from the same library is a reinstall.
+func (i *Installer) checkCollision(r catalog.Release) error {
+	backends, err := gallery.ListSystemBackends(i.SystemState)
+	if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+		// No backends directory yet: nothing can collide.
+		return nil
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	have, ok := backends.Get(r.AddonID)
+	if !ok || have.IsSystem {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if have.Metadata == nil || have.Metadata.Library != r.SourceID {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %q", ErrCollision, r.AddonID)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/core/services/addons/backendlib/install_test.go b/core/services/addons/backendlib/install_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..56b78418d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/services/addons/backendlib/install_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+package backendlib
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/google/go-containerregistry/pkg/crane"
+	"github.com/google/go-containerregistry/pkg/name"
+	"github.com/google/go-containerregistry/pkg/registry"
+	"github.com/google/go-containerregistry/pkg/v1/empty"
+	"github.com/google/go-containerregistry/pkg/v1/mutate"
+	"github.com/google/go-containerregistry/pkg/v1/remote"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/core/gallery"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/core/services/addons/catalog"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/pkg/addons/contract"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/pkg/downloader"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/pkg/model"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/pkg/system"
+	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
+	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
+)
+
+func TestBackendLibrary(t *testing.T) {
+	RegisterFailHandler(Fail)
+	RunSpecs(t, "Backend library install")
+}
+
+var ctx = context.Background()
+
+func allow(context.Context, contract.Actor) error { return nil }
+
+// push publishes a minimal backend image (a run.sh) and returns the registry
+// host and the manifest digest.
+func push(host, repo, tag, script string) string {
+	GinkgoHelper()
+	layer, err := crane.Layer(map[string][]byte{"run.sh": []byte(script)})
+	Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+	img, err := mutate.AppendLayers(empty.Image, layer)
+	Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+	ref, err := name.ParseReference(host + "/" + repo + ":" + tag)
+	Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+	Expect(remote.Write(ref, img)).To(Succeed())
+	d, err := img.Digest()
+	Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+	return d.String()
+}
+
+var _ = Describe("installing a backend from a library", func() {
+	var (
+		host        string
+		backendsDir string
+		in          *Installer
+		release     catalog.Release
+		digest      string
+	)
+
+	// serve starts a library that lists the release and refreshes it.
+	serve := func(r catalog.Release, policy catalog.VerificationPolicy) catalog.Catalog {
+		GinkgoHelper()
+		lib := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+			_ = catalog.WriteIndex(w, []catalog.Release{r})
+		}))
+		DeferCleanup(lib.Close)
+		s, err := catalog.NewSources(filepath.Join(GinkgoT().TempDir(), "sources.json"), allow, catalog.CredentialResolver{})
+		Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(s.Save(ctx, contract.Actor{}, catalog.Source{ID: "pilot", Name: "Pilot", URL: lib.URL, Enabled: true, Policy: policy})).To(Succeed())
+		_, err = s.Refresh(ctx, "pilot")
+		Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+		return catalog.Catalog{Sources: s, TargetOS: "linux", TargetArch: "amd64"}
+	}
+
+	BeforeEach(func() {
+		reg := httptest.NewServer(registry.New())
+		DeferCleanup(reg.Close)
+		host = strings.TrimPrefix(reg.URL, "http://")
+		digest = push(host, "acme/backends", "latest-cpu-demo", "#!/bin/sh\necho demo\n")
+		release = catalog.Release{
+			Kind: catalog.KindBackend, AddonID: "cpu-demo", Alias: "demo", Name: "Demo (CPU)", Version: "0.0.0-latest.aaaaaaaaaaaa",
+			Artifact: "oci://" + host + "/acme/backends:latest-cpu-demo", Digest: digest, OS: "linux", Arch: "amd64",
+		}
+		backendsDir = GinkgoT().TempDir()
+		state, err := system.GetSystemState(system.WithBackendPath(backendsDir))
+		Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+		in = &Installer{Catalog: serve(release, catalog.VerificationPolicy{}), SystemState: state, ModelLoader: model.NewModelLoader(state)}
+	})
+
+	left := func() []string {
+		entries, err := os.ReadDir(backendsDir)
+		Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+		out := []string{}
+		for _, e := range entries {
+			out = append(out, e.Name())
+		}
+		return out
+	}
+
+	It("installs by digest and records the library, the digest and the alias", func() {
+		Expect(in.Install(ctx, "pilot", "cpu-demo", release.Version, nil)).To(Succeed())
+		Expect(filepath.Join(backendsDir, "cpu-demo", "run.sh")).To(BeARegularFile())
+		raw, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(backendsDir, "cpu-demo", "metadata.json"))
+		Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+		var meta gallery.BackendMetadata
+		Expect(json.Unmarshal(raw, &meta)).To(Succeed())
+		Expect(meta.Library).To(Equal("pilot"))
+		Expect(meta.Digest).To(Equal(digest))
+		Expect(meta.Alias).To(Equal("demo"))
+		Expect(meta.Version).To(Equal(release.Version))
+		Expect(meta.URI).To(HaveSuffix("@" + digest))
+		// It is a backend like any other: the system lists it.
+		list, err := gallery.ListSystemBackends(in.SystemState)
+		Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(list.Exists("cpu-demo")).To(BeTrue())
+	})
+
+	It("installs on a host that has no backends directory yet", func() {
+		fresh := filepath.Join(GinkgoT().TempDir(), "backends")
+		state, err := system.GetSystemState(system.WithBackendPath(fresh))
+		Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+		in.SystemState, in.ModelLoader = state, model.NewModelLoader(state)
+		Expect(in.Install(ctx, "pilot", "cpu-demo", release.Version, nil)).To(Succeed())
+		Expect(filepath.Join(fresh, "cpu-demo", "run.sh")).To(BeARegularFile())
+	})
+
+	It("installs again from the same library", func() {
+		Expect(in.Install(ctx, "pilot", "cpu-demo", release.Version, nil)).To(Succeed())
+		Expect(in.Install(ctx, "pilot", "cpu-demo", release.Version, nil)).To(Succeed())
+	})
+
+	It("refuses an entry whose digest is not in the registry and leaves nothing behind", func() {
+		bad := release
+		bad.Digest = "sha256:" + strings.Repeat("0", 64)
+		in.Catalog = serve(bad, catalog.VerificationPolicy{})
+		Expect(in.Install(ctx, "pilot", "cpu-demo", release.Version, nil)).NotTo(Succeed())
+		Expect(left()).To(BeEmpty())
+	})
+
+	It("refuses an image over the size limit and leaves nothing behind", func() {
+		in.MaxBytes = 1
+		err := in.Install(ctx, "pilot", "cpu-demo", release.Version, nil)
+		Expect(err).To(MatchError(ContainSubstring(downloader.ErrImageTooLarge.Error())))
+		Expect(left()).To(BeEmpty())
+	})
+
+	It("uses 8 GiB as the default limit for a backend", func() {
+		Expect((&Installer{}).limit()).To(Equal(int64(8 << 30)))
+		Expect((&Installer{MaxBytes: 5}).limit()).To(Equal(int64(5)))
+	})
+
+	It("refuses to replace a backend that came from a gallery", func() {
+		dir := filepath.Join(backendsDir, "cpu-demo")
+		Expect(os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o750)).To(Succeed())
+		Expect(os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "run.sh"), []byte("#!/bin/sh\necho gallery\n"), 0o755)).To(Succeed())
+		Expect(os.WriteFile(filepath.Join(dir, "metadata.json"), []byte(`{"name":"cpu-demo","gallery_url":"https://gallery.example/index.yaml"}`), 0o644)).To(Succeed())
+		Expect(in.Install(ctx, "pilot", "cpu-demo", release.Version, nil)).To(MatchError(ErrCollision))
+		run, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(dir, "run.sh"))
+		Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(string(run)).To(ContainSubstring("gallery"))
+		Expect(left()).To(Equal([]string{"cpu-demo"}))
+	})
+
+	It("refuses a library without a signature policy in strict integrity mode", func() {
+		in.RequireIntegrity = true
+		Expect(in.Install(ctx, "pilot", "cpu-demo", release.Version, nil)).To(MatchError(ErrIntegrity))
+		Expect(left()).To(BeEmpty())
+	})
+
+	It("does not install an add-on entry or an unknown name", func() {
+		Expect(in.Install(ctx, "pilot", "missing", "1.0.0", nil)).To(MatchError(catalog.ErrNotFound))
+		Expect(in.Install(ctx, "nowhere", "cpu-demo", release.Version, nil)).NotTo(Succeed())
+	})
+
+	It("takes the signature policy of the library, with the identity pattern, and pins the image by digest", func() {
+		pattern := `^https://github\.com/o/r/\.github/workflows/w\.yml@refs/(heads/master|tags/.+)$`
+		policy := catalog.VerificationPolicy{RequireSignature: true, Issuer: "https://issuer.example", IdentityRegex: pattern}
+		in.Catalog = serve(release, policy)
+		var got *gallery.GalleryBackend
+		in.install = func(_ context.Context, _ *system.SystemState, _ *model.ModelLoader, gb *gallery.GalleryBackend, _ func(string, string, string, float64), strict bool) error {
+			got = gb
+			return nil
+		}
+		in.RequireIntegrity = true
+		Expect(in.Install(ctx, "pilot", "cpu-demo", release.Version, nil)).To(Succeed())
+		Expect(got.URI).To(Equal("oci://" + host + "/acme/backends@" + digest))
+		Expect(got.Gallery.Verification).NotTo(BeNil())
+		Expect(got.Gallery.Verification.Issuer).To(Equal("https://issuer.example"))
+		Expect(got.Gallery.Verification.IdentityRegex).To(Equal(pattern))
+		Expect(got.Gallery.Verification.Identity).To(BeEmpty())
+		Expect(got.MaxBytes).To(Equal(int64(8 << 30)))
+		Expect(got.Library).To(Equal("pilot"))
+	})
+})
diff --git a/core/services/addons/catalog/kind.go b/core/services/addons/catalog/kind.go
index fde991f2c..7cabe0352 100644
--- a/core/services/addons/catalog/kind.go
+++ b/core/services/addons/catalog/kind.go
@@ -88,3 +88,20 @@ func (q Query) matchesKind(r Release) bool {
 func validQueryKind(k Kind) bool {
 	return k == "" || k == QueryAllKinds || slices.Contains(ReadableKinds, k)
 }
+
+// Default size limits for one install, by kind. The limit is on the compressed
+// size of the package or image. An add-on is a small package; a backend image
+// can hold a runtime and its libraries, so its default is larger and the owner
+// can change it.
+const (
+	DefaultAddonMaxBytes   int64 = 512 << 20
+	DefaultBackendMaxBytes int64 = 8 << 30
+)
+
+// DefaultMaxBytes is the default size limit of an install of the kind.
+func DefaultMaxBytes(k Kind) int64 {
+	if k == KindBackend {
+		return DefaultBackendMaxBytes
+	}
+	return DefaultAddonMaxBytes
+}
diff --git a/core/services/addons/catalog/official.go b/core/services/addons/catalog/official.go
index ffc552656..5ab0e9477 100644
--- a/core/services/addons/catalog/official.go
+++ b/core/services/addons/catalog/official.go
@@ -26,3 +26,29 @@ func OfficialLibrary() Source {
 		},
 	}
 }
+
+const (
+	// OfficialBackendLibraryID is the source ID of the pilot backend library.
+	OfficialBackendLibraryID = "official-backends"
+	// OfficialBackendLibraryURL is the YAML index of the pilot backends, kept
+	// in this repository at gallery/backends/index.yaml. It is rendered from
+	// backend/index.yaml, which stays the source of truth.
+	OfficialBackendLibraryURL = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mudler/LocalAI/master/gallery/backends/index.yaml"
+)
+
+// OfficialBackendLibrary is the pilot library of backends. It requires the
+// signature of the backend merge workflow, from master or from a tag, with the
+// same signer pattern the backend gallery uses.
+func OfficialBackendLibrary() Source {
+	return Source{
+		ID:      OfficialBackendLibraryID,
+		Name:    "Official backends (pilot)",
+		URL:     OfficialBackendLibraryURL,
+		Enabled: true,
+		Policy: VerificationPolicy{
+			RequireSignature: true,
+			Issuer:           "https://token.actions.githubusercontent.com",
+			IdentityRegex:    `^https://github\.com/mudler/LocalAI/\.github/workflows/backend_merge\.yml@refs/(heads/master|tags/.+)$`,
+		},
+	}
+}
diff --git a/core/services/addons/catalog/sources.go b/core/services/addons/catalog/sources.go
index ae6b74636..74f3ffd4e 100644
--- a/core/services/addons/catalog/sources.go
+++ b/core/services/addons/catalog/sources.go
@@ -298,16 +298,22 @@ func (s *Sources) persist(next map[string]Source) error {
 // removed (the file then holds the remaining libraries, possibly none) and a
 // library the admin edited is not reset. It reports whether it added src.
 // It is trusted startup code and takes no actor; it never runs for a request.
-func (s *Sources) SeedDefault(src Source) (bool, error) {
+func (s *Sources) SeedDefault(src Source) (bool, error) { return s.SeedDefaults(src) }
+
+// SeedDefaults is SeedDefault for several libraries, written together.
+func (s *Sources) SeedDefaults(srcs ...Source) (bool, error) {
 	s.mu.Lock()
 	defer s.mu.Unlock()
 	if !s.fresh {
 		return false, nil
 	}
-	if !idPattern.MatchString(src.ID) || src.Removed || !validSource(src) {
-		return false, ErrInvalid
+	next := map[string]Source{}
+	for _, src := range srcs {
+		if !idPattern.MatchString(src.ID) || src.Removed || !validSource(src) {
+			return false, ErrInvalid
+		}
+		next[src.ID] = src
 	}
-	next := map[string]Source{src.ID: src}
 	if e := s.persist(next); e != nil {
 		return false, e
 	}
diff --git a/core/services/addons/packages/install.go b/core/services/addons/packages/install.go
index b047bf777..a7ee35e4d 100644
--- a/core/services/addons/packages/install.go
+++ b/core/services/addons/packages/install.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func (i *Installer) byteLimit() int64 {
 	if i.MaxBytes > 0 {
 		return i.MaxBytes
 	}
-	return 512 << 20
+	return catalog.DefaultMaxBytes(catalog.KindAddon)
 }
 func (i *Installer) fileLimit() int {
 	if i.MaxFiles > 0 {
diff --git a/gallery/backends/index.yaml b/gallery/backends/index.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..070d5ebec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gallery/backends/index.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# Pilot backend library: backends from the backend gallery, one entry for each
+# image. The gallery, backend/index.yaml, stays the source of truth. The entries
+# are rendered with scripts/backends/cmd/backendcatalog, so the digests pin the
+# images the gallery names today: render the file again after the backend images
+# are rebuilt, never edit a digest by hand.
+- addonId: cpu-local-store
+  alias: local-store
+  arch: amd64
+  artifact: oci://quay.io/go-skynet/local-ai-backends:latest-cpu-local-store
+  channel: latest
+  description: Local Store is a local-first, self-hosted, and open-source vector database.
+  digest: sha256:0a1056fd863328adf9d1097808aa2b52f68c4ca2e5385100a754755b3ca6218f
+  kind: backend
+  name: cpu-local-store
+  os: linux
+  policy:
+    identityRegex: ^https://github\.com/mudler/LocalAI/\.github/workflows/backend_merge\.yml@refs/(heads/master|tags/.+)$
+    issuer: https://token.actions.githubusercontent.com
+    requireSignature: true
+  version: 0.0.0-latest.0a1056fd8633
diff --git a/pkg/downloader/uri.go b/pkg/downloader/uri.go
index 64ef160a8..c3764cd92 100644
--- a/pkg/downloader/uri.go
+++ b/pkg/downloader/uri.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
+	v1 "github.com/google/go-containerregistry/pkg/v1"
 	"github.com/google/go-containerregistry/pkg/v1/tarball"
 	ocispec "github.com/opencontainers/image-spec/specs-go/v1"
 
@@ -72,6 +73,7 @@ type downloadOptions struct {
 	bearerToken      string
 	transferProgress TransferProgressSink
 	stagingDir       string
+	maxBytes         int64
 }
 
 // DownloadOption configures DownloadFileWithContext / DownloadFile.
@@ -94,6 +96,14 @@ func WithBearerToken(token string) DownloadOption {
 	return func(o *downloadOptions) { o.bearerToken = token }
 }
 
+// WithMaxBytes refuses an OCI image whose compressed layers add up to more
+// than n bytes. The check reads the manifest and runs after signature
+// verification and before any layer is fetched. It does nothing for other
+// download kinds, and n <= 0 sets no limit.
+func WithMaxBytes(n int64) DownloadOption {
+	return func(o *downloadOptions) { o.maxBytes = n }
+}
+
 func WithStagingDir(dir string) DownloadOption {
 	return func(o *downloadOptions) { o.stagingDir = dir }
 }
@@ -658,6 +668,12 @@ func (uri URI) DownloadFileWithContext(ctx context.Context, filePath, sha string
 			xlog.Info("Image signature verified", "ref", pinned)
 		}
 
+		if dopts.maxBytes > 0 {
+			if cerr := checkImageSize(img, dopts.maxBytes); cerr != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("image %q: %w", url, cerr)
+			}
+		}
+
 		return oci.ExtractOCIImage(ctx, img, url, filePath, dopts.stagingDir, downloadStatus)
 	}
 
@@ -981,3 +997,26 @@ func CalculateSHA(filePath string) (string, error) {
 
 	return fmt.Sprintf("%x", hash.Sum(nil)), nil
 }
+
+// ErrImageTooLarge is returned when an image is over the limit of WithMaxBytes.
+var ErrImageTooLarge = errors.New("image is larger than the size limit")
+
+// checkImageSize sums the compressed layer sizes the manifest declares.
+func checkImageSize(img v1.Image, limit int64) error {
+	layers, err := img.Layers()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("reading layers: %w", err)
+	}
+	var total int64
+	for _, l := range layers {
+		size, err := l.Size()
+		if err != nil || size < 0 {
+			return fmt.Errorf("reading layer size: %w", err)
+		}
+		if size > limit-total {
+			return fmt.Errorf("%w (limit %d bytes)", ErrImageTooLarge, limit)
+		}
+		total += size
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/scripts/backends/cmd/backendcatalog/main.go b/scripts/backends/cmd/backendcatalog/main.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e86975b17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/backends/cmd/backendcatalog/main.go
@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+
+// Command backendcatalog renders library entries of kind backend from the
+// backend gallery, backend/index.yaml. The gallery stays the source of truth:
+// this command reads it and pins what it names, it never edits it.
+//
+// For each backend named on the command line it finds the concrete gallery
+// entry, resolves the image the entry names to the digest of the image for the
+// platform, and writes one library entry. The registry is read at render time,
+// so the digests are never edited by hand: render the file again after the
+// backend images are rebuilt.
+//
+//	go run ./scripts/backends/cmd/backendcatalog \
+//	  --index backend/index.yaml --backends cpu-local-store \
+//	  --out gallery/backends/index.yaml
+package main
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"errors"
+	"flag"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/core/gallery"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/core/services/addons/catalog"
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/pkg/oci"
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
+)
+
+const header = `# Pilot backend library: backends from the backend gallery, one entry for each
+# image. The gallery, backend/index.yaml, stays the source of truth. The entries
+# are rendered with scripts/backends/cmd/backendcatalog, so the digests pin the
+# images the gallery names today: render the file again after the backend images
+# are rebuilt, never edit a digest by hand.
+`
+
+// resolver returns the manifest digest of the image for a platform.
+type resolver func(image, platform string) (string, error)
+
+func registryResolver(image, platform string) (string, error) {
+	img, err := oci.GetImage(image, platform, nil, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	d, err := img.Digest()
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return d.String(), nil
+}
+
+var tagPattern = regexp.MustCompile(`:([a-z][a-z0-9]*)-[A-Za-z0-9._-]+$`)
+
+// render builds the library entries of the named backends for one platform.
+func render(gallerySource []byte, names []string, osName, arch string, resolve resolver) ([]catalog.Release, error) {
+	var entries []gallery.GalleryBackend
+	if err := yaml.Unmarshal(gallerySource, &entries); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("reading the backend gallery: %w", err)
+	}
+	byName := map[string]gallery.GalleryBackend{}
+	for _, e := range entries {
+		byName[e.Name] = e
+	}
+	var out []catalog.Release
+	for _, name := range names {
+		e, ok := byName[name]
+		if !ok {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("backend %q is not in the gallery", name)
+		}
+		if e.IsMeta() || e.URI == "" {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("backend %q is a meta backend; name a concrete one", name)
+		}
+		image := strings.TrimPrefix(e.URI, "oci://")
+		m := tagPattern.FindStringSubmatch(image)
+		if m == nil || m[1] != "latest" {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("backend %q: the image %q is not a released latest-* tag", name, image)
+		}
+		digest, err := resolve(image, osName+"/"+arch)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("backend %q: resolving %s: %w", name, image, err)
+		}
+		hex := strings.TrimPrefix(digest, "sha256:")
+		if len(hex) != 64 {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("backend %q: unexpected digest %q", name, digest)
+		}
+		out = append(out, catalog.Release{
+			Kind:        catalog.KindBackend,
+			AddonID:     e.Name,
+			Alias:       e.Alias,
+			Name:        e.Name,
+			Description: strings.Join(strings.Fields(e.Description), " "),
+			Version:     "0.0.0-latest." + hex[:12],
+			Channel:     "latest",
+			Artifact:    "oci://" + image,
+			Digest:      digest,
+			OS:          osName,
+			Arch:        arch,
+			// The host replaces this with the policy of the library; it is
+			// written so the file says what the entries are checked against.
+			Policy: catalog.OfficialBackendLibrary().Policy,
+		})
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func run(args []string) error {
+	fs := flag.NewFlagSet("backendcatalog", flag.ContinueOnError)
+	index := fs.String("index", "backend/index.yaml", "the backend gallery")
+	backends := fs.String("backends", "", "comma list of concrete backend names")
+	platform := fs.String("platform", "linux/amd64", "os/arch")
+	out := fs.String("out", "", "file to write (default: standard output)")
+	if err := fs.Parse(args); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	osName, arch, ok := strings.Cut(*platform, "/")
+	if !ok || *backends == "" {
+		return errors.New("usage: --backends a,b [--platform os/arch] [--index file] [--out file]")
+	}
+	src, err := os.ReadFile(*index)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	releases, err := render(src, strings.Split(*backends, ","), osName, arch, registryResolver)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	buf.WriteString(header)
+	if err := catalog.WriteIndex(&buf, releases); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	// The result must be a valid library index for this host.
+	if _, err := catalog.DecodeIndex(buf.Bytes()); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("the rendered index is not valid: %w", err)
+	}
+	if *out == "" {
+		_, err = os.Stdout.Write(buf.Bytes())
+		return err
+	}
+	return os.WriteFile(*out, buf.Bytes(), 0o644)
+}
+
+func main() {
+	if err := run(os.Args[1:]); err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "backendcatalog:", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/scripts/backends/cmd/backendcatalog/main_test.go b/scripts/backends/cmd/backendcatalog/main_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..92d916d02
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/backends/cmd/backendcatalog/main_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+package main
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/mudler/LocalAI/core/services/addons/catalog"
+)
+
+const fakeGallery = `
+- &demo
+  name: "demo"
+  description: |
+    A demo
+    backend.
+  capabilities:
+    default: "cpu-demo"
+- !!merge <<: *demo
+  name: "cpu-demo"
+  alias: "demo"
+  uri: "quay.io/example/backends:latest-cpu-demo"
+- !!merge <<: *demo
+  name: "cpu-demo-development"
+  uri: "quay.io/example/backends:master-cpu-demo"
+`
+
+func fakeDigest(image, platform string) (string, error) {
+	return "sha256:" + strings.Repeat("ab", 32), nil
+}
+
+func TestRenderPinsTheGalleryImage(t *testing.T) {
+	got, err := render([]byte(fakeGallery), []string{"cpu-demo"}, "linux", "amd64", fakeDigest)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(got) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("want 1 entry, got %d", len(got))
+	}
+	r := got[0]
+	if r.EntryKind() != catalog.KindBackend || r.AddonID != "cpu-demo" || r.Alias != "demo" || r.Channel != "latest" ||
+		r.Artifact != "oci://quay.io/example/backends:latest-cpu-demo" || r.Version != "0.0.0-latest.abababababab" ||
+		r.Description != "A demo backend." {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected entry: %+v", r)
+	}
+	data, err := catalog.EncodeIndex(got)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	read, err := catalog.ReadIndex(data, catalog.KindBackend)
+	if err != nil || len(read.Releases) != 1 || len(read.Skipped) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("the rendered entry does not read back: %v %+v", err, read)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRenderRefusesWhatItCannotPin(t *testing.T) {
+	for name, tc := range map[string][]string{
+		"unknown":     {"nope"},
+		"meta":        {"demo"},
+		"master only": {"cpu-demo-development"},
+	} {
+		if _, err := render([]byte(fakeGallery), tc, "linux", "amd64", fakeDigest); err == nil {
+			t.Errorf("%s: want an error", name)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/swagger/docs.go b/swagger/docs.go
index 2dc4ac1a6..dfcf7c2e1 100644
--- a/swagger/docs.go
+++ b/swagger/docs.go
@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ const docTemplate = `{
         },
         "/api/addons/dispatch": {
             "post": {
-                "description": "Authenticates the named caller, checks the addons feature, requires administration for every action except read, and forwards the typed request to the designated addon owner. A mutation is never retried: after an outcome_unknown response keep the operationId and poll operation-status instead of submitting a new mutation. Lifecycle actions are install, upgrade, enable, disable and uninstall (arguments sourceId and version; enable and disable take the generation that was listed). The management reads, all administrator-only and never mutations, are catalog-search (arguments text, sourceId, offset, limit up to 100), catalog-details (addonId plus arguments sourceId and version), catalog-sources and addons-installed. The library changes are catalog-source-save (arguments are one source: id, name, url, enabled, policy, authReference; removed true deletes it and never touches installed addons) and catalog-source-refresh (argument sourceId). A library names a credential only by a reference the owner configured, never a secret. Unknown argument fields are denied. The update actions are update-status and update-check (no arguments; the check fetches the library again and applies nothing) and update-upgrade (arguments expectedDigest and candidateDigest, the pinned upgrade); each answers with a payload {error: {type, message, status}} or {data}, the same from every frontend. The browser pages use the dedicated routes under /api/addons/{id}/update and /api/addons/{id}/upgrade, which accept only an administrator's own browser session.",
+                "description": "Authenticates the named caller, checks the addons feature, requires administration for every action except read, and forwards the typed request to the designated addon owner. A mutation is never retried: after an outcome_unknown response keep the operationId and poll operation-status instead of submitting a new mutation. Lifecycle actions are install, upgrade, enable, disable and uninstall (arguments sourceId and version; enable and disable take the generation that was listed). The management reads, all administrator-only and never mutations, are catalog-search (arguments text, kind, sourceId, offset, limit up to 100; kind is addon by default, or backend, or all), catalog-details (addonId plus arguments sourceId and version), catalog-sources and addons-installed. The library changes are catalog-source-save (arguments are one source: id, name, url, enabled, policy, authReference; removed true deletes it and never touches installed addons) and catalog-source-refresh (argument sourceId). A library names a credential only by a reference the owner configured, never a secret. Unknown argument fields are denied. The update actions are update-status and update-check (no arguments; the check fetches the library again and applies nothing) and update-upgrade (arguments expectedDigest and candidateDigest, the pinned upgrade); each answers with a payload {error: {type, message, status}} or {data}, the same from every frontend. The browser pages use the dedicated routes under /api/addons/{id}/update and /api/addons/{id}/upgrade, which accept only an administrator's own browser session.",
                 "consumes": [
                     "application/json"
                 ],
@@ -5702,6 +5702,54 @@ const docTemplate = `{
                 }
             }
         },
+        "/backends/library/install": {
+            "post": {
+                "tags": [
+                    "backends"
+                ],
+                "summary": "Install a backend from a library entry on this node.",
+                "parameters": [
+                    {
+                        "description": "library, backend name and version",
+                        "name": "request",
+                        "in": "body",
+                        "required": true,
+                        "schema": {
+                            "$ref": "#/definitions/localai.BackendLibraryInstallRequest"
+                        }
+                    }
+                ],
+                "responses": {
+                    "200": {
+                        "description": "installed",
+                        "schema": {
+                            "type": "object",
+                            "additionalProperties": {
+                                "type": "string"
+                            }
+                        }
+                    },
+                    "404": {
+                        "description": "no such entry",
+                        "schema": {
+                            "$ref": "#/definitions/schema.ErrorResponse"
+                        }
+                    },
+                    "409": {
+                        "description": "the name is installed from another origin",
+                        "schema": {
+                            "$ref": "#/definitions/schema.ErrorResponse"
+                        }
+                    },
+                    "413": {
+                        "description": "the image is over the size limit",
+                        "schema": {
+                            "$ref": "#/definitions/schema.ErrorResponse"
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        },
         "/backends/upgrade/{name}": {
             "post": {
                 "tags": [
@@ -9609,6 +9657,23 @@ const docTemplate = `{
                 }
             }
         },
+        "localai.BackendLibraryInstallRequest": {
+            "type": "object",
+            "properties": {
+                "name": {
+                    "description": "Name is the backend name of the entry.",
+                    "type": "string"
+                },
+                "sourceId": {
+                    "description": "SourceID is the library the entry comes from.",
+                    "type": "string"
+                },
+                "version": {
+                    "description": "Version is the version or the channel of the entry.",
+                    "type": "string"
+                }
+            }
+        },
         "localai.BrandingResponse": {
             "type": "object",
             "properties": {
diff --git a/swagger/swagger.json b/swagger/swagger.json
index 4415ed23f..260eb787c 100644
--- a/swagger/swagger.json
+++ b/swagger/swagger.json
@@ -693,7 +693,7 @@
         },
         "/api/addons/dispatch": {
             "post": {
-                "description": "Authenticates the named caller, checks the addons feature, requires administration for every action except read, and forwards the typed request to the designated addon owner. A mutation is never retried: after an outcome_unknown response keep the operationId and poll operation-status instead of submitting a new mutation. Lifecycle actions are install, upgrade, enable, disable and uninstall (arguments sourceId and version; enable and disable take the generation that was listed). The management reads, all administrator-only and never mutations, are catalog-search (arguments text, sourceId, offset, limit up to 100), catalog-details (addonId plus arguments sourceId and version), catalog-sources and addons-installed. The library changes are catalog-source-save (arguments are one source: id, name, url, enabled, policy, authReference; removed true deletes it and never touches installed addons) and catalog-source-refresh (argument sourceId). A library names a credential only by a reference the owner configured, never a secret. Unknown argument fields are denied. The update actions are update-status and update-check (no arguments; the check fetches the library again and applies nothing) and update-upgrade (arguments expectedDigest and candidateDigest, the pinned upgrade); each answers with a payload {error: {type, message, status}} or {data}, the same from every frontend. The browser pages use the dedicated routes under /api/addons/{id}/update and /api/addons/{id}/upgrade, which accept only an administrator's own browser session.",
+                "description": "Authenticates the named caller, checks the addons feature, requires administration for every action except read, and forwards the typed request to the designated addon owner. A mutation is never retried: after an outcome_unknown response keep the operationId and poll operation-status instead of submitting a new mutation. Lifecycle actions are install, upgrade, enable, disable and uninstall (arguments sourceId and version; enable and disable take the generation that was listed). The management reads, all administrator-only and never mutations, are catalog-search (arguments text, kind, sourceId, offset, limit up to 100; kind is addon by default, or backend, or all), catalog-details (addonId plus arguments sourceId and version), catalog-sources and addons-installed. The library changes are catalog-source-save (arguments are one source: id, name, url, enabled, policy, authReference; removed true deletes it and never touches installed addons) and catalog-source-refresh (argument sourceId). A library names a credential only by a reference the owner configured, never a secret. Unknown argument fields are denied. The update actions are update-status and update-check (no arguments; the check fetches the library again and applies nothing) and update-upgrade (arguments expectedDigest and candidateDigest, the pinned upgrade); each answers with a payload {error: {type, message, status}} or {data}, the same from every frontend. The browser pages use the dedicated routes under /api/addons/{id}/update and /api/addons/{id}/upgrade, which accept only an administrator's own browser session.",
                 "consumes": [
                     "application/json"
                 ],
@@ -5699,6 +5699,54 @@
                 }
             }
         },
+        "/backends/library/install": {
+            "post": {
+                "tags": [
+                    "backends"
+                ],
+                "summary": "Install a backend from a library entry on this node.",
+                "parameters": [
+                    {
+                        "description": "library, backend name and version",
+                        "name": "request",
+                        "in": "body",
+                        "required": true,
+                        "schema": {
+                            "$ref": "#/definitions/localai.BackendLibraryInstallRequest"
+                        }
+                    }
+                ],
+                "responses": {
+                    "200": {
+                        "description": "installed",
+                        "schema": {
+                            "type": "object",
+                            "additionalProperties": {
+                                "type": "string"
+                            }
+                        }
+                    },
+                    "404": {
+                        "description": "no such entry",
+                        "schema": {
+                            "$ref": "#/definitions/schema.ErrorResponse"
+                        }
+                    },
+                    "409": {
+                        "description": "the name is installed from another origin",
+                        "schema": {
+                            "$ref": "#/definitions/schema.ErrorResponse"
+                        }
+                    },
+                    "413": {
+                        "description": "the image is over the size limit",
+                        "schema": {
+                            "$ref": "#/definitions/schema.ErrorResponse"
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        },
         "/backends/upgrade/{name}": {
             "post": {
                 "tags": [
@@ -9606,6 +9654,23 @@
                 }
             }
         },
+        "localai.BackendLibraryInstallRequest": {
+            "type": "object",
+            "properties": {
+                "name": {
+                    "description": "Name is the backend name of the entry.",
+                    "type": "string"
+                },
+                "sourceId": {
+                    "description": "SourceID is the library the entry comes from.",
+                    "type": "string"
+                },
+                "version": {
+                    "description": "Version is the version or the channel of the entry.",
+                    "type": "string"
+                }
+            }
+        },
         "localai.BrandingResponse": {
             "type": "object",
             "properties": {
diff --git a/swagger/swagger.yaml b/swagger/swagger.yaml
index 2fd17daa9..bd97b5ddc 100644
--- a/swagger/swagger.yaml
+++ b/swagger/swagger.yaml
@@ -1551,6 +1551,18 @@ definitions:
       target:
         type: string
     type: object
+  localai.BackendLibraryInstallRequest:
+    properties:
+      name:
+        description: Name is the backend name of the entry.
+        type: string
+      sourceId:
+        description: SourceID is the library the entry comes from.
+        type: string
+      version:
+        description: Version is the version or the channel of the entry.
+        type: string
+    type: object
   localai.BrandingResponse:
     properties:
       favicon_url:
@@ -6398,14 +6410,15 @@ paths:
         a new mutation. Lifecycle actions are install, upgrade, enable, disable and
         uninstall (arguments sourceId and version; enable and disable take the generation
         that was listed). The management reads, all administrator-only and never mutations,
-        are catalog-search (arguments text, sourceId, offset, limit up to 100), catalog-details
-        (addonId plus arguments sourceId and version), catalog-sources and addons-installed.
-        The library changes are catalog-source-save (arguments are one source: id,
-        name, url, enabled, policy, authReference; removed true deletes it and never
-        touches installed addons) and catalog-source-refresh (argument sourceId).
-        A library names a credential only by a reference the owner configured, never
-        a secret. Unknown argument fields are denied. The update actions are update-status
-        and update-check (no arguments; the check fetches the library again and applies
+        are catalog-search (arguments text, kind, sourceId, offset, limit up to 100;
+        kind is addon by default, or backend, or all), catalog-details (addonId plus
+        arguments sourceId and version), catalog-sources and addons-installed. The
+        library changes are catalog-source-save (arguments are one source: id, name,
+        url, enabled, policy, authReference; removed true deletes it and never touches
+        installed addons) and catalog-source-refresh (argument sourceId). A library
+        names a credential only by a reference the owner configured, never a secret.
+        Unknown argument fields are denied. The update actions are update-status and
+        update-check (no arguments; the check fetches the library again and applies
         nothing) and update-upgrade (arguments expectedDigest and candidateDigest,
         the pinned upgrade); each answers with a payload {error: {type, message, status}}
         or {data}, the same from every frontend. The browser pages use the dedicated
@@ -9524,6 +9537,37 @@ paths:
       summary: List all known Backends (importer registry + curated pref-only + installed-on-disk)
       tags:
       - backends
+  /backends/library/install:
+    post:
+      parameters:
+      - description: library, backend name and version
+        in: body
+        name: request
+        required: true
+        schema:
+          $ref: '#/definitions/localai.BackendLibraryInstallRequest'
+      responses:
+        "200":
+          description: installed
+          schema:
+            additionalProperties:
+              type: string
+            type: object
+        "404":
+          description: no such entry
+          schema:
+            $ref: '#/definitions/schema.ErrorResponse'
+        "409":
+          description: the name is installed from another origin
+          schema:
+            $ref: '#/definitions/schema.ErrorResponse'
+        "413":
+          description: the image is over the size limit
+          schema:
+            $ref: '#/definitions/schema.ErrorResponse'
+      summary: Install a backend from a library entry on this node.
+      tags:
+      - backends
   /backends/upgrade/{name}:
     post:
       parameters: