diff --git a/REDESIGN.md b/REDESIGN.md
index adceb08..e960027 100644
--- a/REDESIGN.md
+++ b/REDESIGN.md
@@ -1437,9 +1437,10 @@ The project-level layout should follow the existing include/source split:
 
 ```text
 include/nwlog.h   public internal logging facade used by mars-nwe modules
-src/nwlog.c       facade implementation, redaction, common formatting
-src/nwlog_zlog.c  optional zlog backend, if enabled at build time
-src/nwlog_syslog.c or built-in backend code for simple builds
+src/nwlog.c          facade implementation, redaction, common formatting
+src/nwlog_simple.c   simple stderr/stdout/file/callback backend
+src/nwlog_syslog.c   optional syslog(3)-style backend derived from simple
+src/nwlog_zlog.c     optional zlog backend, if enabled at build time
 ```
 
 Protocol handlers, providers, `nwconn`, `nwserv`, `nwbind`, future `nwqueue`,
@@ -1450,7 +1451,7 @@ That facade can initially keep using the existing mars-nwe logging functions,
 `stderr`, or a small vendored backend.  Later it may grow simple and advanced
 backends behind the same API.
 
-There are two useful backend classes:
+There are three useful backend classes:
 
 1. **Simple built-in backend.**  A tiny C backend derived from `rxi/log.c` can be
    imported into the source tree for simple builds.  It should be treated as
@@ -1459,8 +1460,14 @@ There are two useful backend classes:
    file output, and callback hooks; it is not an out-of-the-box syslog, GELF, or
    remote routing solution.  That is fine for the built-in backend, but mars-nwe
    must adapt it for the project requirements: redaction hooks, category mapping,
-   context/correlation fields, optional file output, and any future syslog-like
-   bridge should live behind `nwlog`, not in endpoint code.
+   context/correlation fields, optional file output, and journald-friendly
+   stderr/stdout formatting should live behind `nwlog`, not in endpoint code.
+
+   This backend is the right default for systemd deployments: services can log to
+   stderr/stdout and let journald capture, timestamp, rotate, and forward logs
+   according to the unit configuration.  mars-nwe should still emit structured,
+   grep-friendly lines so `journalctl -u ...` remains useful without requiring a
+   heavier routing backend.
 
    The project layout should make the imported code clearly internal, for
    example:
@@ -1470,14 +1477,27 @@ There are two useful backend classes:
    src/nwlog_simple.c       imported/adapted rxi/log.c-style backend
    ```
 
-   If the backend later grows real syslog support, that can either stay in the
-   simple backend or split into `src/nwlog_syslog.c`.  Until then, avoid naming
-   the vendored `rxi/log.c` adaptation as if it already were a full syslog
-   backend.  Imported symbols such as `log_info`, `log_error`, or `log_add_fp`
-   must be renamed, hidden, or made `static` so they do not leak into the global
-   mars-nwe namespace.  Public entry points should look like
-   `nwlog_simple_init()` and `nwlog_simple_emit()`.
-2. **Advanced routing backend.**  `zlog` remains the preferred candidate for
+   Imported symbols such as `log_info`, `log_error`, or `log_add_fp` must be
+   renamed, hidden, or made `static` so they do not leak into the global mars-nwe
+   namespace.  Public entry points should look like `nwlog_simple_init()` and
+   `nwlog_simple_emit()`.
+2. **Syslog bridge backend.**  If classic syslog integration is wanted, do not
+   overload the simple backend with syslog-specific behavior.  Instead clone the
+   adapted simple backend structure into a separate implementation:
+
+   ```text
+   include/nwlog_syslog.h   internal syslog backend declarations, if needed
+   src/nwlog_syslog.c       syslog(3)-style backend derived from simple
+   ```
+
+   `nwlog_syslog.c` may reuse the same level/category mapping, redaction hooks,
+   event formatting helpers, and callback shape as `nwlog_simple.c`, but its
+   output path should be explicit: `openlog()`, `syslog()`, and `closelog()` or
+   the platform equivalent.  This keeps `backend = simple` predictable for
+   stderr/stdout/file/journald use, while `backend = syslog` clearly means the
+   traditional syslog path.  Provider and endpoint code must not care which of
+   the two is active.
+3. **Advanced routing backend.**  `zlog` remains the preferred candidate for
    administrator-controlled routing because it is a C logging library with
    category, format, and rule based configuration.  That model fits mars-nwe
    well: code can emit category-specific events such as `ncp`, `handoff`,
@@ -1497,8 +1517,10 @@ The preferred dependency shape is therefore:
 ```text
 mars-nwe code
   -> nwlog facade
-       -> builtin/simple backend: src/nwlog_simple.c from imported/adapted rxi/log.c-style code
-       -> optional syslog bridge: src/nwlog_syslog.c, if implemented later
+       -> simple backend: src/nwlog_simple.c from imported/adapted rxi/log.c-style code
+            -> stderr/stdout for systemd/journald, optional local file/callback
+       -> syslog backend: src/nwlog_syslog.c derived from the simple backend shape
+            -> classic syslog(3) output when explicitly configured
        -> optional advanced backend: src/nwlog_zlog.c using zlog
             -> admin-configured zlog rules/formats/outputs
 ```
@@ -1524,7 +1546,7 @@ to edit C-style backend internals directly:
 
 ```ini
 [logging]
-backend = zlog          ; builtin, simple, syslog, file, zlog
+backend = simple        ; simple, syslog, zlog
 level = info
 redact_secrets = yes
 config = /etc/mars-nwe/zlog.conf