diff --git a/.claude/memory/proposal_identity_centralization.md b/.claude/memory/proposal_identity_centralization.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e12533a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.claude/memory/proposal_identity_centralization.md
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+# Proposal: Centralize Machine-Specific Config in identity.json
+
+## Problem
+Machine-specific settings are scattered across scripts with repeated detection logic:
+- Ollama endpoint probed with curl on every use
+- Python interpreter tried in sequence (`py`, `python3`, `python`)
+- Hostname detection (`$COMPUTERNAME` vs `hostname`)
+- Platform-specific path guessing
+
+## Solution
+Store all machine-specific config in identity.json. Scripts read once, no probing.
+
+## Proposed Schema (Full)
+
+```json
+{
+  "user": "mike",
+  "full_name": "Mike Swanson",
+  "email": "mike@azcomputerguru.com",
+  "role": "admin",
+  "machine": "GURU-5070",
+  "platform": "windows",
+  "architecture": "amd64",
+
+  "paths": {
+    "claudetools_root": "D:/claudetools",
+    "vault_path": "D:/vault"
+  },
+
+  "python": {
+    "command": "py"
+  },
+
+  "ollama": {
+    "endpoint": "http://localhost:11434",
+    "fallback": "http://100.101.122.4:11434",
+    "prose_model": "qwen3:8b"
+  },
+
+  "mode": "general",
+  "last_updated": "2026-05-26T19:00:00Z"
+}
+```
+
+## Ollama Integration (Current vs Proposed)
+
+**Current (OLLAMA.md pattern):**
+```bash
+if curl -s -m 2 http://localhost:11434/api/tags >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    OLLAMA="http://localhost:11434"
+else
+    OLLAMA="http://100.101.122.4:11434"  # Beast via Tailscale
+fi
+```
+
+**Proposed:**
+```bash
+OLLAMA=$(jq -r '.ollama.endpoint // "http://100.101.122.4:11434"' "$IDENTITY_PATH")
+```
+
+**Validation script** (run during onboarding or manually):
+```bash
+# .claude/scripts/validate-ollama.sh
+ENDPOINT=$(jq -r '.ollama.endpoint' .claude/identity.json)
+if ! curl -s -m 2 "$ENDPOINT/api/tags" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "[WARNING] Ollama endpoint $ENDPOINT unreachable"
+    FALLBACK=$(jq -r '.ollama.fallback' .claude/identity.json)
+    echo "Trying fallback: $FALLBACK"
+    if curl -s -m 2 "$FALLBACK/api/tags" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        echo "Fallback works. Update identity.json endpoint to: $FALLBACK"
+    fi
+fi
+```
+
+## Per-Machine Config Examples
+
+**GURU-5070 (Mike's primary, Windows):**
+```json
+{
+  "ollama": {
+    "endpoint": "http://localhost:11434",
+    "fallback": "http://100.101.122.4:11434",
+    "prose_model": "qwen3:8b"
+  },
+  "python": {"command": "py"},
+  "platform": "windows"
+}
+```
+
+**GURU-BEAST-ROG (always-on Ollama host):**
+```json
+{
+  "ollama": {
+    "endpoint": "http://localhost:11434",
+    "fallback": "http://localhost:11434",
+    "prose_model": "qwen3:14b"
+  },
+  "python": {"command": "python3"},
+  "platform": "windows"
+}
+```
+
+**GURU-KALI (no local Ollama, remote only):**
+```json
+{
+  "ollama": {
+    "endpoint": "http://100.101.122.4:11434",
+    "fallback": "http://100.101.122.4:11434",
+    "prose_model": "qwen3:14b"
+  },
+  "python": {"command": "python3"},
+  "platform": "linux"
+}
+```
+
+**Howard-Home (local Ollama):**
+```json
+{
+  "ollama": {
+    "endpoint": "http://localhost:11434",
+    "fallback": "http://100.101.122.4:11434",
+    "prose_model": "qwen3:14b"
+  },
+  "python": {"command": "python3"},
+  "platform": "windows"
+}
+```
+
+## Migration Path
+
+1. Add fields to identity.json template in CLAUDE.md onboarding
+2. Send coord message to all machines: "Update identity.json with Ollama/Python config"
+3. Each machine runs validation script, auto-detects, writes config
+4. Update syncro.md, OLLAMA.md, sync.sh to read from identity.json
+5. Remove detection logic from scripts
+
+## Benefits
+
+- **Faster**: No curl probe on every Ollama call (saves 2 seconds)
+- **Explicit**: Machine declares "I use local Ollama" vs "I use remote"
+- **Auditable**: `cat .claude/identity.json` shows full machine config
+- **Consistent**: Same pattern as `claudetools_root` / `vault_path` (already working)
+- **Offline-safe**: Scripts work without network probe (use declared endpoint)
+
+## Rollout
+
+Use coord API to send migration instructions to each machine (same pattern as claudetools_root rollout today).