diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 500e7c8..5dc9385 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # 0.7.0
 
  * Add support for detecting flatpaks and snaps
- * Add --merge-simple-packages to reduce the number of roles, for packages that have no config files or services to maintain.
+ * BREAKING CHANGE: Group all package and systemd-unit roles into Debian Section/RPM Group roles by default, including managed config files and unit state. This mode is not used if `--fqdn` or `--no-common-roles` is set, in which case, the traditional behaviour of preserving one role per package/unit is used instead.
 
 # 0.6.0
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 96e228f..f462471 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ Generate Ansible output from an existing harvest bundle.
 
 **Common flags**
 - `--fqdn <host>`: enables **multi-site** output style
-- `--merge-simple-packages`: Puts all packages that don't have config files or services to maintain, in a `common_packages` role, to reduce the number of overall Ansible roles to run.
+- `--no-common-roles`: disables the default grouping of package and systemd-unit roles into Debian Section/RPM Group roles, preserving one generated role per package/unit. `--fqdn` implies this behaviour.
 
 **Role tags**
 Generated playbooks tag each role so you can target just the parts you need:
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ Convenience wrapper that runs **harvest → manifest** in one command.
 
 Use this when you want “get me something workable ASAP”.
 
-Supports the same general flags as harvest/manifest, including `--fqdn`, remote harvest flags, `--merge-simple-packages`, and `--sops`.
+Supports the same general flags as harvest/manifest, including `--fqdn`, `--no-common-roles`, remote harvest flags, and `--sops`.
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/enroll/cli.py b/enroll/cli.py
index 2483a24..a621928 100644
--- a/enroll/cli.py
+++ b/enroll/cli.py
@@ -312,6 +312,14 @@ def _add_common_manifest_args(p: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> None:
         "--fqdn",
         help="Host FQDN/name for site-mode output (creates inventory/, inventory/host_vars/, playbooks/).",
     )
+    p.add_argument(
+        "--no-common-roles",
+        action="store_true",
+        help=(
+            "Do not group package and systemd-unit roles into common section/group roles. "
+            "This preserves one generated role per package/unit. --fqdn implies this."
+        ),
+    )
     g = p.add_mutually_exclusive_group()
     g.add_argument(
         "--jinjaturtle",
@@ -503,11 +511,6 @@ def main() -> None:
             "(binary) using the given GPG fingerprint(s). Requires `sops` on PATH."
         ),
     )
-    m.add_argument(
-        "--merge-simple-packages",
-        action="store_true",
-        help="Merge packages with no configuration files into a single 'common_packages' role.",
-    )
     _add_common_manifest_args(m)
 
     s = sub.add_parser(
@@ -570,11 +573,6 @@ def main() -> None:
             "or a file path."
         ),
     )
-    s.add_argument(
-        "--merge-simple-packages",
-        action="store_true",
-        help="Merge packages with no configuration files into a single 'common_packages' role.",
-    )
     _add_common_manifest_args(s)
 
     d = sub.add_parser("diff", help="Compare two harvests and report differences")
@@ -921,7 +919,7 @@ def main() -> None:
                 fqdn=args.fqdn,
                 jinjaturtle=_jt_mode(args),
                 sops_fingerprints=getattr(args, "sops", None),
-                merge_simple_packages=getattr(args, "merge_simple_packages", False),
+                no_common_roles=bool(getattr(args, "no_common_roles", False)),
             )
             if getattr(args, "sops", None) and out_enc:
                 print(str(out_enc))
@@ -1059,9 +1057,7 @@ def main() -> None:
                         fqdn=args.fqdn,
                         jinjaturtle=_jt_mode(args),
                         sops_fingerprints=list(sops_fps),
-                        merge_simple_packages=getattr(
-                            args, "merge_simple_packages", False
-                        ),
+                        no_common_roles=bool(getattr(args, "no_common_roles", False)),
                     )
                     if not args.harvest:
                         print(str(out_file))
@@ -1092,9 +1088,7 @@ def main() -> None:
                         args.out,
                         fqdn=args.fqdn,
                         jinjaturtle=_jt_mode(args),
-                        merge_simple_packages=getattr(
-                            args, "merge_simple_packages", False
-                        ),
+                        no_common_roles=bool(getattr(args, "no_common_roles", False)),
                     )
                     # For usability (when --harvest wasn't provided), print the harvest path.
                     if not args.harvest:
@@ -1125,9 +1119,7 @@ def main() -> None:
                         fqdn=args.fqdn,
                         jinjaturtle=_jt_mode(args),
                         sops_fingerprints=list(sops_fps),
-                        merge_simple_packages=getattr(
-                            args, "merge_simple_packages", False
-                        ),
+                        no_common_roles=bool(getattr(args, "no_common_roles", False)),
                     )
                     if not args.harvest:
                         print(str(out_file))
@@ -1147,9 +1139,7 @@ def main() -> None:
                         args.out,
                         fqdn=args.fqdn,
                         jinjaturtle=_jt_mode(args),
-                        merge_simple_packages=getattr(
-                            args, "merge_simple_packages", False
-                        ),
+                        no_common_roles=bool(getattr(args, "no_common_roles", False)),
                     )
     except RemoteSudoPasswordRequired:
         raise SystemExit(
diff --git a/enroll/debian.py b/enroll/debian.py
index 9bf847e..6d0ca06 100644
--- a/enroll/debian.py
+++ b/enroll/debian.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ def list_installed_packages() -> Dict[str, List[Dict[str, str]]]:
     Uses dpkg-query and is expected to work on Debian/Ubuntu-like systems.
 
     Output format:
-      {"pkg": [{"version": "...", "arch": "..."}, ...], ...}
+      {"pkg": [{"version": "...", "arch": "...", "section": "..."}, ...], ...}
     """
 
     try:
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ def list_installed_packages() -> Dict[str, List[Dict[str, str]]]:
             [
                 "dpkg-query",
                 "-W",
-                "-f=${Package}\t${Version}\t${Architecture}\n",
+                "-f=${Package}\t${Version}\t${Architecture}\t${Section}\n",
             ],
             text=True,
             capture_output=True,
@@ -97,7 +97,10 @@ def list_installed_packages() -> Dict[str, List[Dict[str, str]]]:
         name, ver, arch = parts[0].strip(), parts[1].strip(), parts[2].strip()
         if not name:
             continue
-        out.setdefault(name, []).append({"version": ver, "arch": arch})
+        instance = {"version": ver, "arch": arch}
+        if len(parts) >= 4 and parts[3].strip():
+            instance["section"] = parts[3].strip()
+        out.setdefault(name, []).append(instance)
 
     # Stable ordering for deterministic JSON dumps.
     for k in list(out.keys()):
diff --git a/enroll/harvest.py b/enroll/harvest.py
index 01d3ff7..b79c24c 100644
--- a/enroll/harvest.py
+++ b/enroll/harvest.py
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ class ServiceSnapshot:
 class PackageSnapshot:
     package: str
     role_name: str
+    section: Optional[str] = None
     managed_dirs: List[ManagedDir] = field(default_factory=list)
     managed_files: List[ManagedFile] = field(default_factory=list)
     managed_links: List[ManagedLink] = field(default_factory=list)
@@ -389,6 +390,30 @@ def _role_name_from_pkg(pkg: str) -> str:
     return avoid_reserved_role_name(_safe_name(pkg), prefix="package")
 
 
+def _package_section_from_installations(
+    installs: List[Dict[str, str]],
+) -> Optional[str]:
+    """Return a stable package grouping label from installed package metadata.
+
+    Debian exposes this as ``Section``. RPM-family distributions have a broadly
+    similar ``Group`` tag, although modern Fedora/RHEL packages may omit it or
+    set it to ``Unspecified``.
+    """
+
+    values: Set[str] = set()
+    for inst in installs or []:
+        value = (inst.get("section") or inst.get("group") or "").strip()
+        if not value:
+            continue
+        if value.lower() in {"(none)", "none", "unspecified"}:
+            continue
+        values.add(value)
+
+    if not values:
+        return None
+    return sorted(values)[0]
+
+
 def _copy_into_bundle(
     bundle_dir: str, role_name: str, abs_path: str, src_rel: str
 ) -> None:
@@ -1279,6 +1304,9 @@ def harvest(
         cron_snapshot = PackageSnapshot(
             package=cron_pkg,
             role_name=cron_role_name,
+            section=_package_section_from_installations(
+                installed_pkgs.get(cron_pkg, [])
+            ),
             managed_files=cron_managed,
             excluded=cron_excluded,
             notes=cron_notes,
@@ -1314,6 +1342,9 @@ def harvest(
         logrotate_snapshot = PackageSnapshot(
             package=logrotate_pkg,
             role_name=logrotate_role_name,
+            section=_package_section_from_installations(
+                installed_pkgs.get(logrotate_pkg, [])
+            ),
             managed_files=lr_managed,
             excluded=lr_excluded,
             notes=lr_notes,
@@ -1732,11 +1763,11 @@ def harvest(
                 seen_global=captured_global,
             )
 
-        has_config = bool(pkg_to_etc_paths.get(pkg, []) or managed)
+        has_config = bool(managed or excluded)
 
         if not has_config:
             notes.append(
-                "No /etc files or custom configuration detected for this package."
+                "No changed or custom configuration detected for this package."
             )
             simple_packages.append(pkg)
 
@@ -1744,6 +1775,9 @@ def harvest(
             PackageSnapshot(
                 package=pkg,
                 role_name=role,
+                section=_package_section_from_installations(
+                    installed_pkgs.get(pkg, [])
+                ),
                 managed_files=managed,
                 managed_links=[],
                 excluded=excluded,
@@ -2487,6 +2521,7 @@ def harvest(
         arches = sorted({i.get("arch") for i in installs if i.get("arch")})
         vers = sorted({i.get("version") for i in installs if i.get("version")})
         version: Optional[str] = vers[0] if len(vers) == 1 else None
+        section = _package_section_from_installations(installs)
 
         observed: List[Dict[str, str]] = []
         if pkg in manual_set:
@@ -2509,6 +2544,7 @@ def harvest(
             "version": version,
             "arches": arches,
             "installations": installs,
+            "section": section,
             "observed_via": observed,
             "roles": roles,
         }
diff --git a/enroll/manifest.py b/enroll/manifest.py
index 55c3baa..1e8ab9b 100644
--- a/enroll/manifest.py
+++ b/enroll/manifest.py
@@ -80,6 +80,78 @@ def _yaml_dump_mapping(obj: Dict[str, Any], *, sort_keys: bool = True) -> str:
     )
 
 
+def _role_id(raw: str) -> str:
+    """Return an Ansible-safe role identifier from an arbitrary label."""
+
+    s = re.sub(r"[^A-Za-z0-9]+", "_", raw or "misc")
+    s = re.sub(r"([a-z0-9])([A-Z])", r"\1_\2", s)
+    s = s.lower()
+    s = re.sub(r"_+", "_", s).strip("_")
+    if not s:
+        s = "misc"
+    if not re.match(r"^[a-z_]", s):
+        s = "r_" + s
+    return s
+
+
+def _package_section_label(
+    package_role: Dict[str, Any], inventory_packages: Dict[str, Any]
+) -> str:
+    """Return the Debian Section/RPM Group label for a package role."""
+
+    pkg = str(package_role.get("package") or "")
+    inv = inventory_packages.get(pkg) or {}
+    candidates: List[str] = []
+
+    for value in (package_role.get("section"), inv.get("section")):
+        if isinstance(value, str) and value.strip():
+            candidates.append(value.strip())
+
+    for inst in inv.get("installations", []) or []:
+        if not isinstance(inst, dict):
+            continue
+        for key in ("section", "group"):
+            value = inst.get(key)
+            if isinstance(value, str) and value.strip():
+                candidates.append(value.strip())
+
+    for value in candidates:
+        if value.lower() in {"(none)", "none", "unspecified"}:
+            continue
+        return value
+    return "misc"
+
+
+def _section_label_for_packages(
+    packages: List[str], inventory_packages: Dict[str, Any]
+) -> str:
+    """Return a stable section/group label for a set of packages.
+
+    Service roles can involve more than one package.  Prefer the first
+    package with a concrete Debian Section/RPM Group and fall back to misc
+    when no package metadata is available.
+    """
+
+    for pkg in packages or []:
+        label = _package_section_label({"package": pkg}, inventory_packages)
+        if label and label.lower() != "misc":
+            return label
+    return "misc"
+
+
+def _section_role_name(label: str, occupied_roles: Set[str]) -> str:
+    """Create a stable section role name, avoiding generated-role collisions."""
+
+    base = avoid_reserved_role_name(_role_id(label), prefix="section")
+    role = base if base not in occupied_roles else f"section_{base}"
+    n = 2
+    while role in occupied_roles:
+        role = f"section_{base}_{n}"
+        n += 1
+    occupied_roles.add(role)
+    return role
+
+
 def _merge_mappings_overwrite(
     existing: Dict[str, Any], incoming: Dict[str, Any]
 ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
@@ -650,6 +722,39 @@ def _render_install_packages_tasks(role: str, var_prefix: str) -> str:
 """
 
 
+def _render_grouped_systemd_tasks(var_prefix: str) -> str:
+    """Render tasks to manage multiple systemd units in a common role."""
+
+    return f"""- name: Probe whether grouped systemd units exist and are manageable
+  ansible.builtin.systemd:
+    name: "{{{{ item.name }}}}"
+  check_mode: true
+  loop: "{{{{ {var_prefix}_systemd_units | default([]) }}}}"
+  register: _enroll_unit_probes
+  failed_when: false
+  changed_when: false
+  when: item.manage | default(false)
+
+- name: Ensure grouped unit enablement matches harvest
+  ansible.builtin.systemd:
+    name: "{{{{ item.item.name }}}}"
+    enabled: "{{{{ item.item.enabled | bool }}}}"
+  loop: "{{{{ _enroll_unit_probes.results | default([]) }}}}"
+  when:
+    - item.item.manage | default(false)
+    - not (item.failed | default(false))
+
+- name: Ensure grouped unit running state matches harvest
+  ansible.builtin.systemd:
+    name: "{{{{ item.item.name }}}}"
+    state: "{{{{ item.item.state }}}}"
+  loop: "{{{{ _enroll_unit_probes.results | default([]) }}}}"
+  when:
+    - item.item.manage | default(false)
+    - not (item.failed | default(false))
+"""
+
+
 def _render_firewall_runtime_tasks(var_prefix: str) -> str:
     """Render tasks for live ipset/iptables snapshots."""
     return f"""- name: Ensure firewall runtime snapshot directory exists
@@ -893,13 +998,16 @@ def _manifest_from_bundle_dir(
     *,
     fqdn: Optional[str] = None,
     jinjaturtle: str = "auto",  # auto|on|off
-    merge_simple_packages: bool = False,
+    no_common_roles: bool = False,
 ) -> None:
     state_path = os.path.join(bundle_dir, "state.json")
     with open(state_path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
         state = json.load(f)
 
     roles: Dict[str, Any] = state.get("roles") or {}
+    inventory_packages: Dict[str, Any] = (state.get("inventory") or {}).get(
+        "packages"
+    ) or {}
 
     services: List[Dict[str, Any]] = roles.get("services", [])
     package_roles: List[Dict[str, Any]] = roles.get("packages", [])
@@ -914,6 +1022,7 @@ def _manifest_from_bundle_dir(
     extra_paths_snapshot: Dict[str, Any] = roles.get("extra_paths", {})
 
     site_mode = fqdn is not None and fqdn != ""
+    use_common_roles = (not site_mode) and (not no_common_roles)
 
     jt_exe = find_jinjaturtle_cmd()
     jt_enabled = False
@@ -954,6 +1063,20 @@ def _manifest_from_bundle_dir(
     manifested_extra_paths_roles: List[str] = []
     manifested_service_roles: List[str] = []
     manifested_pkg_roles: List[str] = []
+    common_role_groups: Dict[str, List[Dict[str, Any]]] = {}
+    common_tail_roles: List[str] = []
+
+    if use_common_roles:
+        for svc in services:
+            label = _section_label_for_packages(
+                svc.get("packages", []) or [], inventory_packages
+            )
+            common_role_groups.setdefault(label, []).append(
+                {"kind": "service", "snapshot": svc}
+            )
+        services_to_manifest: List[Dict[str, Any]] = []
+    else:
+        services_to_manifest = services
 
     # -------------------------
     # Users role (non-system users)
@@ -2370,7 +2493,7 @@ User-requested extra file harvesting.
     # -------------------------
     # Service roles
     # -------------------------
-    for svc in services:
+    for svc in services_to_manifest:
         source_role = svc["role_name"]
         role = avoid_reserved_role_name(source_role, prefix="service")
         unit = svc["unit"]
@@ -2549,64 +2672,200 @@ Generated from `{unit}`.
         manifested_service_roles.append(role)
 
     # -------------------------
-    # Merge simple packages (if --merge-simple-packages is set)
+    # Common package section/group roles
     #
-    # Packages with no configuration files, systemd units, or cron jobs
-    # are merged into a single 'common_packages' role to reduce role count.
+    # Outside --fqdn/site mode, package and systemd-unit roles are grouped by
+    # Debian Section or RPM Group by default.  Managed config and unit state can
+    # live in those section roles too; --no-common-roles preserves the historic
+    # one-role-per-package/unit output, and --fqdn implies that mode because
+    # grouped role contents would be unsafe across multiple harvested hosts.
     # -------------------------
-    simple_packages_list: List[str] = []
-    if merge_simple_packages:
-        filtered_package_roles: List[Dict[str, Any]] = []
+    if use_common_roles:
         for pr in package_roles:
-            has_config = pr.get("has_config", True)
-            managed_files = pr.get("managed_files", []) or []
-            # A package is "simple" if it has no config files AND no managed files
-            if not has_config and not managed_files:
-                pkg = pr.get("package")
-                if pkg:
-                    simple_packages_list.append(pkg)
-            else:
-                filtered_package_roles.append(pr)
-        package_roles = filtered_package_roles
+            label = _package_section_label(pr, inventory_packages)
+            common_role_groups.setdefault(label, []).append(
+                {"kind": "package", "snapshot": pr}
+            )
+        package_roles = []
 
     # -------------------------
     # Manually installed package roles
     # -------------------------
-    # First, create the common_packages role if we have simple packages to merge
-    if simple_packages_list:
-        role = "common_packages"
+    occupied_roles: Set[str] = set(
+        manifested_apt_config_roles
+        + manifested_dnf_config_roles
+        + manifested_users_roles
+        + manifested_flatpak_roles
+        + manifested_snap_roles
+        + manifested_service_roles
+        + manifested_firewall_runtime_roles
+        + manifested_etc_custom_roles
+        + manifested_usr_local_custom_roles
+        + manifested_extra_paths_roles
+    )
+    for pr in package_roles:
+        occupied_roles.add(
+            avoid_reserved_role_name(str(pr.get("role_name") or ""), prefix="package")
+        )
+
+    for section_label, entries in sorted(common_role_groups.items()):
+        role = _section_role_name(section_label, occupied_roles)
         role_dir = os.path.join(roles_root, role)
         _write_role_scaffold(role_dir)
 
         var_prefix = role
-
-        # No managed files for common_packages - just package installation
+        packages_set: Set[str] = set()
         files_var: List[Dict[str, Any]] = []
-        links_var: List[Dict[str, Any]] = []
         dirs_var: List[Dict[str, Any]] = []
+        links_var: List[Dict[str, Any]] = []
+        systemd_units: List[Dict[str, Any]] = []
+        excluded_all: List[Dict[str, Any]] = []
+        notes_all: List[str] = []
+        origin_lines: List[str] = []
+        jt_combined: Dict[str, Any] = {}
+
+        seen_files: Set[tuple] = set()
+        seen_dirs: Set[tuple] = set()
+        seen_links: Set[tuple] = set()
+        seen_units: Set[str] = set()
+
+        for entry in entries:
+            kind = entry.get("kind") or "package"
+            snap = entry.get("snapshot") or {}
+            source_role = str(snap.get("role_name") or "")
+            managed_files = snap.get("managed_files", []) or []
+            managed_dirs = snap.get("managed_dirs", []) or []
+            managed_links = snap.get("managed_links", []) or []
+            excluded = snap.get("excluded", []) or []
+            notes = snap.get("notes", []) or []
+
+            if kind == "service":
+                pkgs = snap.get("packages", []) or []
+                unit = str(snap.get("unit") or "")
+                origin_lines.append(f"service `{unit}` from role `{source_role}`")
+            else:
+                pkg = str(snap.get("package") or "")
+                pkgs = [pkg] if pkg else []
+                origin_lines.append(f"package `{pkg}` from role `{source_role}`")
+
+            for pkg in pkgs:
+                if pkg:
+                    packages_set.add(str(pkg))
+
+            templated: Set[str] = set()
+            jt_vars = ""
+            if managed_files and source_role:
+                templated, jt_vars = _jinjify_managed_files(
+                    bundle_dir,
+                    source_role,
+                    role_dir,
+                    managed_files,
+                    jt_exe=jt_exe,
+                    jt_enabled=jt_enabled,
+                    overwrite_templates=True,
+                )
+
+                _copy_artifacts(
+                    bundle_dir,
+                    source_role,
+                    os.path.join(role_dir, "files"),
+                    exclude_rels=templated,
+                )
+
+            notify_other = "Restart managed services" if kind == "service" else None
+            for item in _build_managed_files_var(
+                managed_files,
+                templated,
+                notify_other=notify_other,
+                notify_systemd="Run systemd daemon-reload",
+            ):
+                key = (item.get("dest"), item.get("src_rel"), item.get("kind"))
+                if key not in seen_files:
+                    seen_files.add(key)
+                    files_var.append(item)
+
+            for item in _build_managed_dirs_var(managed_dirs):
+                key = (
+                    item.get("dest"),
+                    item.get("owner"),
+                    item.get("group"),
+                    item.get("mode"),
+                )
+                if key not in seen_dirs:
+                    seen_dirs.add(key)
+                    dirs_var.append(item)
+
+            for item in _build_managed_links_var(managed_links):
+                key = (item.get("dest"), item.get("src"))
+                if key not in seen_links:
+                    seen_links.add(key)
+                    links_var.append(item)
+
+            if kind == "service":
+                unit = str(snap.get("unit") or "")
+                if unit and unit not in seen_units:
+                    seen_units.add(unit)
+                    unit_file_state = str(snap.get("unit_file_state") or "")
+                    enabled_at_harvest = unit_file_state in (
+                        "enabled",
+                        "enabled-runtime",
+                    )
+                    desired_state = (
+                        "started" if snap.get("active_state") == "active" else "stopped"
+                    )
+                    systemd_units.append(
+                        {
+                            "name": unit,
+                            "manage": True,
+                            "enabled": bool(enabled_at_harvest),
+                            "state": desired_state,
+                        }
+                    )
+
+            excluded_all.extend(excluded)
+            notes_all.extend(str(n) for n in notes)
+
+            jt_map = _yaml_load_mapping(jt_vars) if jt_vars.strip() else {}
+            jt_combined = _merge_mappings_overwrite(jt_combined, jt_map)
+
+        packages = sorted(packages_set)
+        files_var = sorted(files_var, key=lambda x: str(x.get("dest") or ""))
+        dirs_var = sorted(dirs_var, key=lambda x: str(x.get("dest") or ""))
+        links_var = sorted(links_var, key=lambda x: str(x.get("dest") or ""))
+        systemd_units = sorted(systemd_units, key=lambda x: str(x.get("name") or ""))
 
         base_vars: Dict[str, Any] = {
-            f"{var_prefix}_packages": simple_packages_list,
+            f"{var_prefix}_packages": packages,
             f"{var_prefix}_managed_files": files_var,
             f"{var_prefix}_managed_dirs": dirs_var,
             f"{var_prefix}_managed_links": links_var,
+            f"{var_prefix}_systemd_units": systemd_units,
         }
+        base_vars = _merge_mappings_overwrite(base_vars, jt_combined)
 
-        if site_mode:
-            _write_role_defaults(
-                role_dir,
-                {
-                    f"{var_prefix}_packages": [],
-                    f"{var_prefix}_managed_files": [],
-                    f"{var_prefix}_managed_dirs": [],
-                    f"{var_prefix}_managed_links": [],
-                },
-            )
-            _write_hostvars(out_dir, fqdn or "", role, base_vars)
-        else:
-            _write_role_defaults(role_dir, base_vars)
+        _write_role_defaults(role_dir, base_vars)
 
-        handlers = "---\n"
+        if {"cron", "logrotate"}.intersection(packages_set):
+            common_tail_roles.append(role)
+
+        handlers = (
+            """---
+- name: Run systemd daemon-reload
+  ansible.builtin.systemd:
+    daemon_reload: true
+
+- name: Restart managed services
+  ansible.builtin.service:
+    name: "{{ item.name }}"
+    state: restarted
+  loop: "{{ """
+            + f"{var_prefix}_systemd_units"
+            + """ | default([]) }}"
+  when:
+    - item.manage | default(false)
+    - (item.state | default('stopped')) == 'started'
+"""
+        )
         with open(
             os.path.join(role_dir, "handlers", "main.yml"), "w", encoding="utf-8"
         ) as f:
@@ -2614,6 +2873,10 @@ Generated from `{unit}`.
 
         task_parts: List[str] = []
         task_parts.append("---\n" + _render_install_packages_tasks(role, var_prefix))
+        task_parts.append(
+            _render_generic_files_tasks(var_prefix, include_restart_notify=True)
+        )
+        task_parts.append(_render_grouped_systemd_tasks(var_prefix))
 
         tasks = "\n".join(task_parts).rstrip() + "\n"
         with open(
@@ -2628,14 +2891,28 @@ Generated from `{unit}`.
 
         readme = f"""# {role}
 
-Common packages with no configuration files.
+Common role for package section/group `{section_label}`.
 
-This role was created by merging simple packages using the `--merge-simple-packages` flag.
+## Origin roles
+{os.linesep.join("- " + line for line in sorted(origin_lines)) or "- (none)"}
 
 ## Packages
-{os.linesep.join("- " + p for p in simple_packages_list) or "- (none)"}
+{os.linesep.join("- " + p for p in packages) or "- (none)"}
 
-> Note: This role only installs packages; it does not manage any configuration files or services.
+## Managed files
+{os.linesep.join("- " + mf["dest"] for mf in files_var) or "- (none)"}
+
+## Managed symlinks
+{os.linesep.join("- " + ml["dest"] + " -> " + ml["src"] for ml in links_var) or "- (none)"}
+
+## Systemd units
+{os.linesep.join("- " + u["name"] + " (enabled=" + str(u["enabled"]).lower() + ", state=" + u["state"] + ")" for u in systemd_units) or "- (none)"}
+
+## Excluded (possible secrets / unsafe)
+{os.linesep.join("- " + e.get("path", "") + " (" + e.get("reason", "") + ")" for e in excluded_all) or "- (none)"}
+
+## Notes
+{os.linesep.join("- " + n for n in notes_all) or "- (none)"}
 """
         with open(os.path.join(role_dir, "README.md"), "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
             f.write(readme)
@@ -2776,6 +3053,9 @@ Generated for package `{pkg}`.
     for r in ("cron", "logrotate"):
         if r in manifested_pkg_roles:
             tail_roles.append(r)
+    for r in common_tail_roles:
+        if r in manifested_pkg_roles and r not in tail_roles:
+            tail_roles.append(r)
 
     main_pkg_roles = [r for r in manifested_pkg_roles if r not in set(tail_roles)]
 
@@ -2809,7 +3089,7 @@ def manifest(
     fqdn: Optional[str] = None,
     jinjaturtle: str = "auto",  # auto|on|off
     sops_fingerprints: Optional[List[str]] = None,
-    merge_simple_packages: bool = False,
+    no_common_roles: bool = False,
 ) -> Optional[str]:
     """Render an Ansible manifest from a harvest.
 
@@ -2842,7 +3122,7 @@ def manifest(
                 out,
                 fqdn=fqdn,
                 jinjaturtle=jinjaturtle,
-                merge_simple_packages=merge_simple_packages,
+                no_common_roles=no_common_roles,
             )
             return None
 
@@ -2862,7 +3142,7 @@ def manifest(
             str(tmp_out),
             fqdn=fqdn,
             jinjaturtle=jinjaturtle,
-            merge_simple_packages=merge_simple_packages,
+            no_common_roles=no_common_roles,
         )
 
         enc = _encrypt_manifest_out_dir_to_sops(
diff --git a/enroll/rpm.py b/enroll/rpm.py
index 0314670..a036814 100644
--- a/enroll/rpm.py
+++ b/enroll/rpm.py
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ def list_installed_packages() -> Dict[str, List[Dict[str, str]]]:
     Uses `rpm -qa` and is expected to work on RHEL/Fedora-like systems.
 
     Output format:
-      {"pkg": [{"version": "...", "arch": "..."}, ...], ...}
+      {"pkg": [{"version": "...", "arch": "...", "group": "..."}, ...], ...}
 
     The version string is formatted as:
       - "<version>-<release>" for typical packages
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ def list_installed_packages() -> Dict[str, List[Dict[str, str]]]:
                 "rpm",
                 "-qa",
                 "--qf",
-                "%{NAME}\t%{EPOCHNUM}\t%{VERSION}\t%{RELEASE}\t%{ARCH}\n",
+                "%{NAME}\t%{EPOCHNUM}\t%{VERSION}\t%{RELEASE}\t%{ARCH}\t%{GROUP}\n",
             ],
             allow_fail=False,
             merge_err=True,
@@ -190,7 +190,11 @@ def list_installed_packages() -> Dict[str, List[Dict[str, str]]]:
         if epoch and epoch.isdigit() and epoch != "0":
             v = f"{epoch}:{v}"
 
-        pkgs.setdefault(name, []).append({"version": v, "arch": arch})
+        instance = {"version": v, "arch": arch}
+        if len(parts) >= 6 and parts[5].strip():
+            instance["group"] = parts[5].strip()
+
+        pkgs.setdefault(name, []).append(instance)
 
     for k in list(pkgs.keys()):
         pkgs[k] = sorted(
diff --git a/enroll/schema/state.schema.json b/enroll/schema/state.schema.json
index 482b014..11f8672 100644
--- a/enroll/schema/state.schema.json
+++ b/enroll/schema/state.schema.json
@@ -117,6 +117,14 @@
           "minLength": 1,
           "type": "string"
         },
+        "group": {
+          "minLength": 1,
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "section": {
+          "minLength": 1,
+          "type": "string"
+        },
         "version": {
           "minLength": 1,
           "type": "string"
@@ -364,6 +372,12 @@
           },
           "type": "array"
         },
+        "section": {
+          "type": [
+            "string",
+            "null"
+          ]
+        },
         "version": {
           "type": [
             "string",
@@ -394,6 +408,12 @@
             "has_config": {
               "type": "boolean",
               "default": true
+            },
+            "section": {
+              "type": [
+                "string",
+                "null"
+              ]
             }
           },
           "required": [
diff --git a/tests.sh b/tests.sh
index 126a87b..2435b6a 100755
--- a/tests.sh
+++ b/tests.sh
@@ -44,6 +44,13 @@ poetry run \
 	  --format json | jq
 DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt-get remove -y --purge cowsay
 
+# No common roles mode (tested later)
+ poetry run \
+ 	enroll manifest \
+ 	--harvest "${BUNDLE_DIR}2" \
+ 	--out "${ANSIBLE_DIR}2" \
+	--no-common-roles
+
 # Ansible test
 builtin cd "${ANSIBLE_DIR}"
 # Lint
@@ -51,3 +58,8 @@ ansible-lint "${ANSIBLE_DIR}"
 
 # Run
 ansible-playbook playbook.yml -i "localhost," -c local --check --diff
+
+# Test the --no-common-roles mode
+builtin cd "${ANSIBLE_DIR}2"
+ls "${ANSIBLE_DIR}2/roles"
+ansible-playbook playbook.yml -i "localhost," -c local --check --diff
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index dcdb6a7..6a89c58 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ def test_cli_manifest_subcommand_calls_manifest(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
         # Common manifest args should be passed through by the CLI.
         called["fqdn"] = kwargs.get("fqdn")
         called["jinjaturtle"] = kwargs.get("jinjaturtle")
+        called["no_common_roles"] = kwargs.get("no_common_roles")
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(cli, "manifest", fake_manifest)
     monkeypatch.setattr(
@@ -67,6 +68,36 @@ def test_cli_manifest_subcommand_calls_manifest(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
     assert called["out"] == str(tmp_path / "ansible")
     assert called["fqdn"] is None
     assert called["jinjaturtle"] == "auto"
+    assert called["no_common_roles"] is False
+
+
+def test_cli_manifest_no_common_roles_is_forwarded(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    called = {}
+
+    def fake_manifest(harvest_dir: str, out_dir: str, **kwargs):
+        called["harvest"] = harvest_dir
+        called["out"] = out_dir
+        called["no_common_roles"] = kwargs.get("no_common_roles")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cli, "manifest", fake_manifest)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        sys,
+        "argv",
+        [
+            "enroll",
+            "manifest",
+            "--harvest",
+            str(tmp_path / "bundle"),
+            "--out",
+            str(tmp_path / "ansible"),
+            "--no-common-roles",
+        ],
+    )
+
+    cli.main()
+    assert called["harvest"] == str(tmp_path / "bundle")
+    assert called["out"] == str(tmp_path / "ansible")
+    assert called["no_common_roles"] is True
 
 
 def test_cli_enroll_subcommand_runs_harvest_then_manifest(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
diff --git a/tests/test_debian.py b/tests/test_debian.py
index ed9df7a..64fe420 100644
--- a/tests/test_debian.py
+++ b/tests/test_debian.py
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ def test_list_installed_packages_parses_output():
     original_run = d.subprocess.run
 
     def fake_run(cmd, text, capture_output, check):
-        return P(0, "nginx\t1.18.0\tamd64\nvim\t8.2\tamd64\n")
+        return P(0, "nginx\t1.18.0\tamd64\tweb\nvim\t8.2\tamd64\teditors\n")
 
     d.subprocess.run = fake_run
     try:
@@ -177,6 +177,7 @@ def test_list_installed_packages_parses_output():
         assert "nginx" in result
         assert result["nginx"][0]["version"] == "1.18.0"
         assert result["nginx"][0]["arch"] == "amd64"
+        assert result["nginx"][0]["section"] == "web"
         assert "vim" in result
     finally:
         d.subprocess.run = original_run
diff --git a/tests/test_harvest.py b/tests/test_harvest.py
index 1b50da5..a54ce98 100644
--- a/tests/test_harvest.py
+++ b/tests/test_harvest.py
@@ -202,7 +202,12 @@ def test_harvest_dedup_manual_packages_and_builds_etc_custom(
     owned_etc = {"/etc/openvpn/server.conf"}
     etc_owner_map = {"/etc/openvpn/server.conf": "openvpn"}
     topdir_to_pkgs = {"openvpn": {"openvpn"}}
-    pkg_to_etc_paths = {"openvpn": ["/etc/openvpn/server.conf"], "curl": []}
+    # curl has a package-owned /etc path, but no changed/custom harvested
+    # artifacts. That should still be considered a simple package role.
+    pkg_to_etc_paths = {
+        "openvpn": ["/etc/openvpn/server.conf"],
+        "curl": ["/etc/curl/curlrc"],
+    }
 
     backend = FakeBackend(
         name="dpkg",
@@ -264,6 +269,9 @@ def test_harvest_dedup_manual_packages_and_builds_etc_custom(
     pkg_roles = st["roles"]["packages"]
     assert all(pr["package"] != "openvpn" for pr in pkg_roles)
     assert any(pr["package"] == "curl" for pr in pkg_roles)
+    curl_role = next(pr for pr in pkg_roles if pr["package"] == "curl")
+    assert curl_role["has_config"] is False
+    assert any("No changed or custom configuration" in n for n in curl_role["notes"])
 
     # Inventory provenance: openvpn should be observed via systemd unit.
     openvpn_obs = inv["openvpn"]["observed_via"]
diff --git a/tests/test_manifest.py b/tests/test_manifest.py
index a8eaf0f..3accec9 100644
--- a/tests/test_manifest.py
+++ b/tests/test_manifest.py
@@ -9,6 +9,80 @@ import pytest
 import enroll.manifest as manifest
 
 
+def _minimal_package_state(packages):
+    return {
+        "schema_version": 3,
+        "host": {"hostname": "test", "os": "debian", "pkg_backend": "dpkg"},
+        "inventory": {
+            "packages": {
+                p["package"]: {
+                    "version": "1.0",
+                    "arches": ["amd64"],
+                    "installations": [
+                        {
+                            "version": "1.0",
+                            "arch": "amd64",
+                            "section": p.get("section") or "misc",
+                        }
+                    ],
+                    "section": p.get("section") or "misc",
+                    "observed_via": [{"kind": "package_role", "ref": p["role_name"]}],
+                    "roles": [p["role_name"]],
+                }
+                for p in packages
+            }
+        },
+        "roles": {
+            "users": {
+                "role_name": "users",
+                "users": [],
+                "managed_files": [],
+                "excluded": [],
+                "notes": [],
+            },
+            "services": [],
+            "packages": packages,
+            "apt_config": {
+                "role_name": "apt_config",
+                "managed_files": [],
+                "excluded": [],
+                "notes": [],
+            },
+            "dnf_config": {
+                "role_name": "dnf_config",
+                "managed_files": [],
+                "excluded": [],
+                "notes": [],
+            },
+            "etc_custom": {
+                "role_name": "etc_custom",
+                "managed_files": [],
+                "excluded": [],
+                "notes": [],
+            },
+            "usr_local_custom": {
+                "role_name": "usr_local_custom",
+                "managed_files": [],
+                "excluded": [],
+                "notes": [],
+            },
+            "extra_paths": {
+                "role_name": "extra_paths",
+                "include_patterns": [],
+                "exclude_patterns": [],
+                "managed_files": [],
+                "excluded": [],
+                "notes": [],
+            },
+        },
+    }
+
+
+def _write_state(bundle: Path, state: dict) -> None:
+    bundle.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    (bundle / "state.json").write_text(json.dumps(state, indent=2), encoding="utf-8")
+
+
 def test_manifest_writes_roles_and_playbook_with_clean_when(tmp_path: Path):
     bundle = tmp_path / "bundle"
     out = tmp_path / "ansible"
@@ -181,7 +255,7 @@ def test_manifest_writes_roles_and_playbook_with_clean_when(tmp_path: Path):
         bundle / "artifacts" / "usr_local_custom" / "usr" / "local" / "bin" / "myscript"
     ).write_text("#!/bin/sh\necho hi\n", encoding="utf-8")
 
-    manifest.manifest(str(bundle), str(out))
+    manifest.manifest(str(bundle), str(out), no_common_roles=True)
 
     # Service role: systemd management should be gated on foo_manage_unit and a probe.
     tasks = (out / "roles" / "foo" / "tasks" / "main.yml").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
@@ -213,6 +287,365 @@ def test_manifest_writes_roles_and_playbook_with_clean_when(tmp_path: Path):
     assert "role: foo" in pb
 
 
+def test_manifest_groups_simple_packages_by_section_by_default(tmp_path: Path):
+    bundle = tmp_path / "bundle"
+    out = tmp_path / "ansible"
+    state = _minimal_package_state(
+        [
+            {
+                "package": "curl",
+                "role_name": "curl",
+                "section": "net",
+                "has_config": False,
+                "managed_files": [],
+                "managed_dirs": [],
+                "managed_links": [],
+                "excluded": [],
+                "notes": [],
+            },
+            {
+                "package": "rsync",
+                "role_name": "rsync",
+                "section": "net",
+                "has_config": False,
+                "managed_files": [],
+                "managed_dirs": [],
+                "managed_links": [],
+                "excluded": [],
+                "notes": [],
+            },
+            {
+                "package": "vim",
+                "role_name": "vim",
+                "section": "editors",
+                "has_config": False,
+                "managed_files": [],
+                "managed_dirs": [],
+                "managed_links": [],
+                "excluded": [],
+                "notes": [],
+            },
+            {
+                "package": "nginx",
+                "role_name": "nginx",
+                "section": "httpd",
+                "has_config": True,
+                "managed_files": [],
+                "managed_dirs": [],
+                "managed_links": [],
+                "excluded": [],
+                "notes": [],
+            },
+        ]
+    )
+    _write_state(bundle, state)
+
+    manifest.manifest(str(bundle), str(out))
+
+    assert (out / "roles" / "net").exists()
+    assert (out / "roles" / "editors").exists()
+    assert (out / "roles" / "httpd").exists()
+    assert not (out / "roles" / "curl").exists()
+    assert not (out / "roles" / "rsync").exists()
+    assert not (out / "roles" / "vim").exists()
+    assert not (out / "roles" / "nginx").exists()
+
+    net_defaults = (out / "roles" / "net" / "defaults" / "main.yml").read_text(
+        encoding="utf-8"
+    )
+    assert "- curl" in net_defaults
+    assert "- rsync" in net_defaults
+
+    pb = (out / "playbook.yml").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    assert "role: net" in pb
+    assert "role: editors" in pb
+    assert "role: httpd" in pb
+
+
+def test_manifest_no_common_roles_preserves_package_roles(tmp_path: Path):
+    bundle = tmp_path / "bundle"
+    out = tmp_path / "ansible"
+    state = _minimal_package_state(
+        [
+            {
+                "package": "curl",
+                "role_name": "curl",
+                "section": "net",
+                "has_config": False,
+                "managed_files": [],
+                "managed_dirs": [],
+                "managed_links": [],
+                "excluded": [],
+                "notes": [],
+            },
+            {
+                "package": "vim",
+                "role_name": "vim",
+                "section": "editors",
+                "has_config": False,
+                "managed_files": [],
+                "managed_dirs": [],
+                "managed_links": [],
+                "excluded": [],
+                "notes": [],
+            },
+        ]
+    )
+    _write_state(bundle, state)
+
+    manifest.manifest(str(bundle), str(out), no_common_roles=True)
+
+    assert (out / "roles" / "curl").exists()
+    assert (out / "roles" / "vim").exists()
+    assert not (out / "roles" / "net").exists()
+    assert not (out / "roles" / "editors").exists()
+
+
+def test_manifest_groups_excluded_package_paths_into_common_roles(tmp_path: Path):
+    bundle = tmp_path / "bundle"
+    out = tmp_path / "ansible"
+    state = _minimal_package_state(
+        [
+            {
+                "package": "secret-agent",
+                "role_name": "secret_agent",
+                "section": "net",
+                "has_config": False,
+                "managed_files": [],
+                "managed_dirs": [],
+                "managed_links": [],
+                "excluded": [
+                    {"path": "/etc/secret-agent/key", "reason": "possible_secret"}
+                ],
+                "notes": [],
+            }
+        ]
+    )
+    _write_state(bundle, state)
+
+    manifest.manifest(str(bundle), str(out))
+
+    assert (out / "roles" / "net").exists()
+    assert not (out / "roles" / "secret_agent").exists()
+    readme = (out / "roles" / "net" / "README.md").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    assert "/etc/secret-agent/key" in readme
+
+
+def test_manifest_groups_managed_package_config_into_common_role(tmp_path: Path):
+    bundle = tmp_path / "bundle"
+    out = tmp_path / "ansible"
+    (bundle / "artifacts" / "nginx" / "etc" / "nginx").mkdir(
+        parents=True, exist_ok=True
+    )
+    (bundle / "artifacts" / "nginx" / "etc" / "nginx" / "nginx.conf").write_text(
+        "worker_processes auto;\n", encoding="utf-8"
+    )
+    state = _minimal_package_state(
+        [
+            {
+                "package": "nginx",
+                "role_name": "nginx",
+                "section": "httpd",
+                "has_config": True,
+                "managed_files": [
+                    {
+                        "path": "/etc/nginx/nginx.conf",
+                        "src_rel": "etc/nginx/nginx.conf",
+                        "owner": "root",
+                        "group": "root",
+                        "mode": "0644",
+                        "reason": "modified_conffile",
+                    }
+                ],
+                "managed_dirs": [
+                    {
+                        "path": "/etc/nginx",
+                        "owner": "root",
+                        "group": "root",
+                        "mode": "0755",
+                        "reason": "parent_of_managed_file",
+                    }
+                ],
+                "managed_links": [],
+                "excluded": [],
+                "notes": [],
+            }
+        ]
+    )
+    _write_state(bundle, state)
+
+    manifest.manifest(str(bundle), str(out))
+
+    assert (out / "roles" / "httpd").exists()
+    assert not (out / "roles" / "nginx").exists()
+    defaults = (out / "roles" / "httpd" / "defaults" / "main.yml").read_text(
+        encoding="utf-8"
+    )
+    assert "- nginx" in defaults
+    assert "dest: /etc/nginx/nginx.conf" in defaults
+    assert (out / "roles" / "httpd" / "files" / "etc" / "nginx" / "nginx.conf").exists()
+
+
+def test_manifest_groups_systemd_units_into_common_role(tmp_path: Path):
+    bundle = tmp_path / "bundle"
+    out = tmp_path / "ansible"
+    (bundle / "artifacts" / "network_manager" / "etc" / "NetworkManager").mkdir(
+        parents=True, exist_ok=True
+    )
+    (
+        bundle
+        / "artifacts"
+        / "network_manager"
+        / "etc"
+        / "NetworkManager"
+        / "NetworkManager.conf"
+    ).write_text("[main]\n", encoding="utf-8")
+
+    state = {
+        "schema_version": 3,
+        "host": {"hostname": "test", "os": "debian", "pkg_backend": "dpkg"},
+        "inventory": {
+            "packages": {
+                "network-manager": {
+                    "version": "1.0",
+                    "arches": ["amd64"],
+                    "installations": [
+                        {"version": "1.0", "arch": "amd64", "section": "net"}
+                    ],
+                    "section": "net",
+                    "observed_via": [
+                        {"kind": "systemd_unit", "ref": "NetworkManager.service"}
+                    ],
+                    "roles": ["network_manager", "network_manager_dispatcher"],
+                }
+            }
+        },
+        "roles": {
+            "users": {
+                "role_name": "users",
+                "users": [],
+                "managed_files": [],
+                "excluded": [],
+                "notes": [],
+            },
+            "services": [
+                {
+                    "unit": "NetworkManager.service",
+                    "role_name": "network_manager",
+                    "packages": ["network-manager"],
+                    "active_state": "active",
+                    "sub_state": "running",
+                    "unit_file_state": "enabled",
+                    "condition_result": "yes",
+                    "managed_files": [
+                        {
+                            "path": "/etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf",
+                            "src_rel": "etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf",
+                            "owner": "root",
+                            "group": "root",
+                            "mode": "0644",
+                            "reason": "modified_conffile",
+                        }
+                    ],
+                    "managed_dirs": [],
+                    "managed_links": [],
+                    "excluded": [],
+                    "notes": [],
+                },
+                {
+                    "unit": "NetworkManager-dispatcher.service",
+                    "role_name": "network_manager_dispatcher",
+                    "packages": ["network-manager"],
+                    "active_state": "inactive",
+                    "sub_state": "dead",
+                    "unit_file_state": "enabled",
+                    "condition_result": "no",
+                    "managed_files": [],
+                    "managed_dirs": [],
+                    "managed_links": [],
+                    "excluded": [],
+                    "notes": [],
+                },
+            ],
+            "packages": [],
+            "apt_config": {
+                "role_name": "apt_config",
+                "managed_files": [],
+                "excluded": [],
+                "notes": [],
+            },
+            "dnf_config": {
+                "role_name": "dnf_config",
+                "managed_files": [],
+                "excluded": [],
+                "notes": [],
+            },
+            "etc_custom": {
+                "role_name": "etc_custom",
+                "managed_files": [],
+                "excluded": [],
+                "notes": [],
+            },
+            "usr_local_custom": {
+                "role_name": "usr_local_custom",
+                "managed_files": [],
+                "excluded": [],
+                "notes": [],
+            },
+            "extra_paths": {
+                "role_name": "extra_paths",
+                "include_patterns": [],
+                "exclude_patterns": [],
+                "managed_files": [],
+                "excluded": [],
+                "notes": [],
+            },
+        },
+    }
+    _write_state(bundle, state)
+
+    manifest.manifest(str(bundle), str(out))
+
+    assert (out / "roles" / "net").exists()
+    assert not (out / "roles" / "network_manager").exists()
+    assert not (out / "roles" / "network_manager_dispatcher").exists()
+    defaults = (out / "roles" / "net" / "defaults" / "main.yml").read_text(
+        encoding="utf-8"
+    )
+    assert "- network-manager" in defaults
+    assert "name: NetworkManager.service" in defaults
+    assert "name: NetworkManager-dispatcher.service" in defaults
+    assert "dest: /etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf" in defaults
+    tasks = (out / "roles" / "net" / "tasks" / "main.yml").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    assert "Ensure grouped unit enablement matches harvest" in tasks
+
+
+def test_manifest_fqdn_implies_no_common_roles(tmp_path: Path):
+    bundle = tmp_path / "bundle"
+    out = tmp_path / "ansible"
+    state = _minimal_package_state(
+        [
+            {
+                "package": "curl",
+                "role_name": "curl",
+                "section": "net",
+                "has_config": False,
+                "managed_files": [],
+                "managed_dirs": [],
+                "managed_links": [],
+                "excluded": [],
+                "notes": [],
+            }
+        ]
+    )
+    _write_state(bundle, state)
+
+    manifest.manifest(str(bundle), str(out), fqdn="host1.example.test")
+
+    assert (out / "roles" / "curl").exists()
+    assert not (out / "roles" / "net").exists()
+
+
 def test_manifest_site_mode_creates_host_inventory_and_raw_files(tmp_path: Path):
     """In --fqdn mode, host-specific state goes into inventory/host_vars."""
 
@@ -631,10 +1064,10 @@ def test_manifest_orders_cron_and_logrotate_at_playbook_tail(tmp_path: Path):
         ln.strip().removeprefix("- ").strip() for ln in pb if ln.startswith("    - ")
     ]
 
-    # Ensure tail ordering.
-    assert roles[-2:] == ["role: cron", "role: logrotate"]
+    # Ensure the grouped role containing cron/logrotate is still ordered after users.
+    assert roles[-1] == "role: misc"
+    assert roles.index("role: users") < roles.index("role: misc")
     assert "role: users" in roles
-    assert roles.index("role: users") < roles.index("role: cron")
 
 
 def test_yaml_helpers_fallback_when_yaml_unavailable(monkeypatch):
@@ -1367,7 +1800,7 @@ def test_manifest_avoids_package_role_collision_with_flatpak_singleton(tmp_path)
     bundle.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
     (bundle / "state.json").write_text(json.dumps(state, indent=2), encoding="utf-8")
 
-    manifest.manifest(str(bundle), str(out))
+    manifest.manifest(str(bundle), str(out), no_common_roles=True)
 
     flatpak_defaults = (out / "roles" / "flatpak" / "defaults" / "main.yml").read_text(
         encoding="utf-8"
diff --git a/tests/test_rpm.py b/tests/test_rpm.py
index 3aeccc8..ff8c1e7 100644
--- a/tests/test_rpm.py
+++ b/tests/test_rpm.py
@@ -149,9 +149,9 @@ def test_list_manual_packages_uses_yum_fallback(monkeypatch):
 
 def test_list_installed_packages_parses_epoch_and_sorts(monkeypatch):
     out = (
-        "bash\t0\t5.2.26\t1.el9\tx86_64\n"
-        "bash\t1\t5.2.26\t1.el9\taarch64\n"
-        "coreutils\t(none)\t9.1\t2.el9\tx86_64\n"
+        "bash\t0\t5.2.26\t1.el9\tx86_64\tSystem Environment/Shells\n"
+        "bash\t1\t5.2.26\t1.el9\taarch64\tSystem Environment/Shells\n"
+        "coreutils\t(none)\t9.1\t2.el9\tx86_64\tSystem Environment/Base\n"
     )
     monkeypatch.setattr(
         rpm, "_run", lambda cmd, allow_fail=False, merge_err=False: (0, out)
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ def test_list_installed_packages_parses_epoch_and_sorts(monkeypatch):
     pkgs = rpm.list_installed_packages()
     assert pkgs["bash"][0]["arch"] == "aarch64"  # sorted by arch then version
     assert pkgs["bash"][0]["version"].startswith("1:")
+    assert pkgs["bash"][0]["group"] == "System Environment/Shells"
     assert pkgs["coreutils"][0]["version"] == "9.1-2.el9"