README.md

@@ -213,6 +213,9 @@ Almost all configuration settings are optional and can be added one step at a ti
   - `matrix` to run concurrent models with a custom swap logic DSL
   - `hooks` to run things on startup
   - `macros` reusable snippets
+  - `routing.scheduler` to control how queued requests are ordered — see
+    [request priority](docs/request-priority.md) for the `X-LlamaSwap-Priority`
+    header that lets batch jobs yield to interactive requests
 - Model customization
   - `ttl` to automatically unload models
   - `aliases` to use familiar model names (e.g., "gpt-4o-mini")

config-schema.json

@@ -605,17 +605,37 @@
                                 "fifo"
                             ],
                             "default": "serial",
-                            "description": "Scheduler to use. 'serial' (default on this fork): strict one-model-at-a-time, requests run in exact arrival order, switching models evicts every other model first. 'fifo': throughput-oriented, batches same-model requests and allows parallel/co-resident models."
+                            "description": "Scheduler to use. 'serial' (default on this fork): strict one-model-at-a-time, highest-priority request runs next, switching models evicts every other model first. 'fifo': throughput-oriented, batches same-model requests and allows parallel/co-resident models. Both honour the per-request X-LlamaSwap-Priority header."
                         },
                         "settings": {
                             "type": "object",
                             "properties": {
+                                "serial": {
+                                    "type": "object",
+                                    "description": "Tunes how the serial scheduler scores waiting requests: score = X-LlamaSwap-Priority + swap affinity + aging. Ignored unless use is 'serial'.",
+                                    "properties": {
+                                        "agingDivisor": {
+                                            "type": "integer",
+                                            "minimum": 0,
+                                            "default": 60,
+                                            "description": "Seconds a request must wait to gain one priority point. 0 disables aging. Unbounded on purpose: aging is the only term allowed to promote a request across a priority band, which is what prevents starvation."
+                                        },
+                                        "swapAffinityBonus": {
+                                            "type": "integer",
+                                            "minimum": 0,
+                                            "maximum": 99,
+                                            "default": 10,
+                                            "description": "Bonus for a request that can be served without swapping models, so strict priority does not force a cold load on every dispatch. Capped below the 100-point band spacing so it can only break near-ties. 0 disables it, giving strict priority-then-arrival order."
+                                        }
+                                    },
+                                    "additionalProperties": false
+                                },
                                 "fifo": {
                                     "type": "object",
                                     "properties": {
                                         "priority": {
                                             "type": "object",
-                                            "description": "Per-model priority. Keys are model IDs, values are integers (default 0). Higher values are serviced first.",
+                                            "description": "Per-model priority. Keys are model IDs, values are integers (default 0). Higher values are serviced first. Added to the caller's X-LlamaSwap-Priority.",
                                             "additionalProperties": {
                                                 "type": "integer"
                                             }

config.example.yaml

@@ -559,23 +559,62 @@ routing:
   # scheduler: how queued requests are ordered and run.
   # - optional, default on this fork: "serial"
   # - valid values:
-  #   - "serial": strict one-model-at-a-time. Requests run in exact arrival
+  #   - "serial": strict one-model-at-a-time. Only one request runs at a time;
-  #     order; only one request runs at a time; switching to a different model
+  #     switching to a different model evicts every other running model first so
-  #     evicts every other running model first so a single model occupies memory
+  #     a single model occupies memory at a time. This ignores group/matrix
-  #     at a time. This ignores group/matrix co-residency entirely. The "fifo"
+  #     co-residency entirely. The "fifo" settings below do not apply.
-  #     settings below (priority) do not apply.
   #   - "fifo": throughput-oriented. Same-model requests are batched to reduce
   #     swaps and a model serves up to its concurrencyLimit in parallel; models
   #     in non-exclusive groups can run concurrently. Requests may be reordered.
+  #
+  # Callers set per-request priority with the X-LlamaSwap-Priority header
+  # (a signed integer; "interactive" = 100, "normal" = 0, "batch" = -100;
+  # absent or unparseable means 0). Both schedulers honour it. Scheduling is
+  # non-preemptive: priority applies when a job finishes, so an interactive
+  # request can still wait up to one full job duration.
   scheduler:
     use: serial
     settings:
+      # serial settings only apply when use: serial
+      #
+      # At each dispatch the serial scheduler runs the highest scoring waiting
+      # request, where:
+      #
+      #   score = X-LlamaSwap-Priority + swap affinity + aging
+      #
+      # Priority bands sit 100 apart, which leaves room for a caller to add a
+      # small per-user offset (a subscription tier, say) without crossing a
+      # band: a "max member" batch job at -98 beats other batch work but still
+      # loses to every normal request at 0.
+      serial:
+        # agingDivisor: seconds a request must wait to gain one priority point
+        # - optional, default: 60 (one point per minute)
+        # - 0 disables aging
+        # - unbounded on purpose: aging is the only term allowed to promote a
+        #   request across a band, which is what stops low-priority work from
+        #   starving. At 60, a batch job at -100 overtakes normal traffic after
+        #   ~100 minutes of waiting.
+        agingDivisor: 60
+
+        # swapAffinityBonus: bonus for a request that needs no model swap
+        # - optional, default: 10
+        # - must be 0..99, so it can only break near-ties and can never promote
+        #   a request into the next band
+        # - 0 disables it, giving strict priority-then-arrival order
+        # - cold loads are expensive, so this keeps a run of same-model requests
+        #   together instead of forcing a reload on every dispatch. Note this
+        #   means equal-priority requests are NOT served in strict arrival
+        #   order; set it to 0 if you need that.
+        swapAffinityBonus: 10
+
       # fifo settings only apply when use: fifo
       fifo:
         # priority: a dictionary of model ID -> priority
         # - optional, default: empty dictionary
         # - models default to priority 0
         # - higher priority requests are serviced first in the queue
+        # - added to the caller's X-LlamaSwap-Priority, so a model priority of
+        #   10 and a header of "batch" (-100) queue at -90
         priority:
           A: 10
           B: 5

docs/request-priority.md

@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+# Request priority
+
+A GPU is a size-1 resource: one job at a time. Without priorities, a single long
+job monopolises the box for its whole duration and every interactive request
+queues behind it. A 16-minute render blocking a chat completion is
+uncomfortable; a 12-hour batch render blocking everything for a day is not
+workable.
+
+Callers declare intent with a header, and the scheduler dispatches by score.
+
+## The header
+
+```
+X-LlamaSwap-Priority: 0      # normal — the default
+X-LlamaSwap-Priority: 100    # interactive, a human is waiting
+X-LlamaSwap-Priority: -100   # batch, nobody is watching
+```
+
+Priority is a **signed integer**; higher is more urgent. An absent or
+unparseable header means `0`. Values are not clamped — llama-swap trusts the
+caller.
+
+Named aliases resolve to numbers for convenience, but **the number is the
+interface**: callers may send any value.
+
+| alias         | value  |
+| ------------- | -----: |
+| `interactive` |  `100` |
+| `normal`      |    `0` |
+| `batch`       | `-100` |
+
+Priority is a property of the *caller's intent*, not of the model — the same
+model serves both an interactive request and a batch job — which is why it
+travels as a header rather than as per-model config. It also leaves the
+OpenAI-compatible request body untouched.
+
+```bash
+curl http://localhost:8080/v1/chat/completions \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
+  -H 'X-LlamaSwap-Priority: interactive' \
+  -d '{"model":"qwen3","messages":[{"role":"user","content":"hi"}]}'
+```
+
+## Bands and offsets
+
+The three anchors sit 100 apart. That spacing is deliberate: it leaves room for
+a caller to add a small per-user offset without ever crossing a band.
+
+| tier | offset |
+| ---- | -----: |
+| free |   `+0` |
+| pro  |   `+1` |
+| max  |   `+2` |
+
+A max member's batch job is `-100 + 2 = -98`: ahead of pro's `-99` and free's
+`-100`, and still **below** any normal request at `0`. A tier bonus breaks ties
+*inside* a band and can never promote across one.
+
+> **Invariant:** band spacing (100) must stay far larger than the largest offset
+> a caller adds plus `swapAffinityBonus`. Otherwise a max member's batch work
+> could outrank a free member's interactive request.
+
+## How the serial scheduler dispatches
+
+Scheduling is **non-preemptive**. A generation cannot be interrupted mid-sample
+without discarding the work, so priority applies at *dispatch* time: when a job
+finishes, the best-scoring waiting request goes next.
+
+```
+score = X-LlamaSwap-Priority + swap affinity + aging
+```
+
+| term                  | range   | crosses bands?          |
+| --------------------- | ------- | ----------------------- |
+| **request priority**  | any     | — it *is* the band      |
+| **swap affinity**     | `0..99` | **never**               |
+| **aging**             | `0..∞`  | **yes, deliberately**   |
+
+Equal scores keep arrival order.
+
+**Swap affinity** is a bounded bonus for a request that can run without a model
+swap. Cold loads are expensive, so this keeps a run of same-model requests
+together instead of forcing a reload on every dispatch. Because it is bounded
+well below the band spacing, it can only break near-ties — it can never promote
+batch work above interactive.
+
+**Aging** is `waited_seconds / agingDivisor`, and is unbounded on purpose: a
+batch job that has waited long enough *should* eventually beat normal traffic,
+or it starves. At the default divisor of 60 (one point per minute), a batch job
+at `-100` overtakes normal traffic after ~100 minutes of waiting.
+
+That asymmetry is the design: **bounded offsets express policy, unbounded aging
+prevents starvation.**
+
+### What priority does not fix
+
+Because dispatch is non-preemptive, an interactive request can still wait **up
+to one full job duration**. The complementary lever is client-side: a batch
+producer should submit **one unit at a time** and re-queue, so gaps are frequent.
+For a long render that means one shot per submission, not one 12-hour chain.
+
+Priority is also not fair-share. If one caller submits 200 batch jobs they all
+sit at the same priority, and llama-swap will work through them in order. Per-user
+fairness belongs in the client that submits the work.
+
+## Configuration
+
+```yaml
+routing:
+  scheduler:
+    use: serial
+    settings:
+      serial:
+        # Seconds of waiting per priority point. 0 disables aging.
+        agingDivisor: 60
+        # Bonus for a request needing no model swap. 0..99; 0 disables it.
+        swapAffinityBonus: 10
+```
+
+Setting `swapAffinityBonus: 0` gives strict priority-then-arrival order — with
+uniform priorities that is exact FIFO.
+
+The `fifo` scheduler honours the header too, adding it to the model's configured
+priority: a model at `10` with a `batch` header queues at `-90`.
+
+## Observability
+
+`GET /metrics` exports the queue in Prometheus text format, labelled by band
+(`interactive`, `normal`, `batch`):
+
+| metric                                        | type    | meaning                                              |
+| --------------------------------------------- | ------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
+| `llamaswap_scheduler_queue_depth`              | gauge   | requests waiting                                      |
+| `llamaswap_scheduler_queue_oldest_wait_seconds`| gauge   | how long the longest-waiting request has waited       |
+| `llamaswap_scheduler_dispatched_total`         | counter | requests dispatched                                   |
+| `llamaswap_scheduler_reorders_total`           | counter | dispatches where `aging` or `swap_affinity` changed the pick |
+
+The reorder counters are what make `agingDivisor` and `swapAffinityBonus`
+tunable rather than guesswork: they say how often each term actually changed
+which request went next.
+
+Every dispatched request also records its decision in the activity log:
+
+| key                    | meaning                                    |
+| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
+| `serial_priority`      | the caller's priority                      |
+| `serial_band`          | which band it fell in                      |
+| `serial_score`         | the score it won with                      |
+| `serial_queue_wait_ms` | how long it waited before dispatch          |
+
+That is what answers "why did my request take 20 minutes" after the fact.

internal/config/config.go

@@ -167,13 +167,67 @@ type SchedulerConfig struct {
 }
 
 type SchedulerSettings struct {
-	Fifo FifoConfig `yaml:"fifo"`
+	Fifo   FifoConfig   `yaml:"fifo"`
+	Serial SerialConfig `yaml:"serial"`
 }
 
 type FifoConfig struct {
 	Priority map[string]int `yaml:"priority"` // model ID -> priority, default 0
 }
 
+// Serial scheduler scoring defaults. See SerialConfig.
+const (
+	// DefaultAgingDivisor gives a waiting request one priority point per
+	// minute, so a batch job at -100 overtakes normal traffic after ~100
+	// minutes rather than starving behind it forever.
+	DefaultAgingDivisor = 60
+
+	// DefaultSwapAffinityBonus is large enough to break near-ties in favour
+	// of the already-loaded model (cold loads cost 2-3x) and far too small to
+	// promote a request across a 100-point priority band.
+	DefaultSwapAffinityBonus = 10
+)
+
+// SerialConfig tunes how the serial scheduler scores queued requests. At each
+// dispatch it picks the highest scoring waiting request, where
+//
+//	score = request priority + swap affinity + aging
+//
+// Both terms are pointers so an explicit 0 (disable) is distinguishable from
+// "unset" (use the default); read them through the accessors below.
+type SerialConfig struct {
+	// AgingDivisor is how many seconds a request must wait to gain one
+	// priority point. Aging is unbounded on purpose — it is the only term
+	// allowed to promote a request across a band, which is what stops a
+	// low-priority job from starving. 0 disables aging.
+	AgingDivisor *int `yaml:"agingDivisor"`
+
+	// SwapAffinityBonus is added to a request that can be served without
+	// swapping models, so strict priority does not force a cold load on every
+	// dispatch. Bounded well below the 100-point band spacing so it can only
+	// break near-ties, never promote batch work above interactive. 0 disables
+	// it, restoring strict priority-then-arrival order.
+	SwapAffinityBonus *int `yaml:"swapAffinityBonus"`
+}
+
+// GetAgingDivisor returns the configured aging divisor in seconds, or
+// DefaultAgingDivisor when unset.
+func (c SerialConfig) GetAgingDivisor() int {
+	if c.AgingDivisor == nil {
+		return DefaultAgingDivisor
+	}
+	return *c.AgingDivisor
+}
+
+// GetSwapAffinityBonus returns the configured swap affinity bonus, or
+// DefaultSwapAffinityBonus when unset.
+func (c SerialConfig) GetSwapAffinityBonus() int {
+	if c.SwapAffinityBonus == nil {
+		return DefaultSwapAffinityBonus
+	}
+	return *c.SwapAffinityBonus
+}
+
 type RouterConfig struct {
 	Use      string         `yaml:"use"` // "group" (default) | "matrix"
 	Settings RouterSettings `yaml:"settings"`

internal/config/config_test.go

@@ -1720,3 +1720,77 @@ routing:
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, 5, cfg.Routing.Scheduler.Settings.Fifo.Priority["gemma"])
 }
+
+func TestConfig_Routing_SerialDefaults(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg, err := LoadConfigFromReader(strings.NewReader(twoModels))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	serial := cfg.Routing.Scheduler.Settings.Serial
+	assert.Nil(t, serial.AgingDivisor, "unset should stay nil so the default applies")
+	assert.Equal(t, DefaultAgingDivisor, serial.GetAgingDivisor())
+	assert.Equal(t, DefaultSwapAffinityBonus, serial.GetSwapAffinityBonus())
+}
+
+// TestConfig_Routing_SerialExplicitZero verifies an explicit 0 disables a term
+// rather than falling back to the default — the reason both fields are pointers.
+func TestConfig_Routing_SerialExplicitZero(t *testing.T) {
+	yaml := twoModels + `
+routing:
+  scheduler:
+    use: serial
+    settings:
+      serial:
+        agingDivisor: 0
+        swapAffinityBonus: 0
+`
+	cfg, err := LoadConfigFromReader(strings.NewReader(yaml))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	serial := cfg.Routing.Scheduler.Settings.Serial
+	assert.Equal(t, 0, serial.GetAgingDivisor())
+	assert.Equal(t, 0, serial.GetSwapAffinityBonus())
+}
+
+func TestConfig_Routing_SerialSettings(t *testing.T) {
+	yaml := twoModels + `
+routing:
+  scheduler:
+    use: serial
+    settings:
+      serial:
+        agingDivisor: 30
+        swapAffinityBonus: 5
+`
+	cfg, err := LoadConfigFromReader(strings.NewReader(yaml))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	serial := cfg.Routing.Scheduler.Settings.Serial
+	assert.Equal(t, 30, serial.GetAgingDivisor())
+	assert.Equal(t, 5, serial.GetSwapAffinityBonus())
+}
+
+func TestConfig_Routing_SerialInvalidSettings(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		name     string
+		settings string
+		wantErr  string
+	}{
+		{"negative aging divisor", "agingDivisor: -1", "agingDivisor"},
+		{"negative affinity bonus", "swapAffinityBonus: -1", "swapAffinityBonus"},
+		// 100 would let the bonus promote a request into the next band.
+		{"affinity bonus reaches a band", "swapAffinityBonus: 100", "swapAffinityBonus"},
+	}
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			yaml := twoModels + `
+routing:
+  scheduler:
+    settings:
+      serial:
+        ` + c.settings + "\n"
+			_, err := LoadConfigFromReader(strings.NewReader(yaml))
+			require.Error(t, err)
+			assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), c.wantErr)
+		})
+	}
+}

internal/config/load.go

@@ -374,6 +374,16 @@ func LoadConfigFromReader(r io.Reader) (Config, error) {
 			return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("routing.scheduler.settings.fifo.priority references unknown model %q", modelID)
 		}
 	}
+	serialCfg := config.Routing.Scheduler.Settings.Serial
+	if d := serialCfg.AgingDivisor; d != nil && *d < 0 {
+		return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("routing.scheduler.settings.serial.agingDivisor: must be >= 0, got %d (0 disables aging)", *d)
+	}
+	// Capped below the 100-point band spacing so the bonus can only break
+	// near-ties. A bonus that could reach the next band would let a batch job
+	// on the loaded model outrank an interactive request that needs a swap.
+	if b := serialCfg.SwapAffinityBonus; b != nil && (*b < 0 || *b >= 100) {
+		return Config{}, fmt.Errorf("routing.scheduler.settings.serial.swapAffinityBonus: must be between 0 and 99, got %d (priority bands are 100 apart and the bonus must never cross one)", *b)
+	}
 
 	// Clean up hooks preload
 	if len(config.Hooks.OnStartup.Preload) > 0 {

internal/router/base.go

@@ -338,6 +338,17 @@ func (b *baseRouter) Handles(model string) bool {
 	return ok
 }
 
+// SchedulerStats returns a snapshot of the scheduler's queue. ok is false when
+// the configured scheduler does not report stats (only "serial" does today), in
+// which case callers should omit the metrics rather than emit zeroes.
+func (b *baseRouter) SchedulerStats() (scheduler.QueueStats, bool) {
+	reporter, ok := b.schedule.(scheduler.StatsReporter)
+	if !ok {
+		return scheduler.QueueStats{}, false
+	}
+	return reporter.QueueStats(), true
+}
+
 func (b *baseRouter) ProcessLogger(modelID string) (*logmon.Monitor, bool) {
 	if p, ok := b.processes[modelID]; ok {
 		return p.Logger(), true
@@ -420,8 +431,9 @@ func (b *baseRouter) ServeHTTP(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
 	}
 
 	hr := scheduler.HandlerReq{
-		Model: data.ModelID,
+		Model:    data.ModelID,
-		Ctx:   req.Context(),
+		Priority: data.Priority,
+		Ctx:      req.Context(),
 		// Unbuffered: a successful send on Respond proves the waiter is
 		// alive and consuming. grant() relies on this to avoid handing a
 		// handleFunc to a cancelled waiter and leaking the inFlight count.

internal/router/base_test.go

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
+	"sync"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/logmon"
 	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/process"
 	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/router/scheduler"
+	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/shared"
 )
 
 // These tests cover baseRouter's own machinery — the run loop, process
@@ -218,6 +220,76 @@ func TestBaseRouter_ContextCancel(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestBaseRouter_SerialPriorityHeader is the end-to-end path for issue #9: the
+// X-LlamaSwap-Priority header on an HTTP request reaches the serial scheduler
+// and changes which queued request runs next.
+//
+// "hold" occupies the single slot. batch and urgent queue behind it in that
+// order; when the slot frees, urgent must go first despite arriving later.
+// urgent blocks inside its handler, so observing urgent's handler entry proves
+// the scheduler chose it — if batch had won, batch's (unblocked) handler would
+// already have run by then.
+func TestBaseRouter_SerialPriorityHeader(t *testing.T) {
+	hold := newFakeProcess("hold")
+	hold.autoReady = true
+	hold.serveBlock = make(chan struct{})
+	batch := newFakeProcess("batch")
+	batch.autoReady = true
+	urgent := newFakeProcess("urgent")
+	urgent.autoReady = true
+	urgent.serveBlock = make(chan struct{})
+
+	conf := config.Config{HealthCheckTimeout: 5}
+	conf.Routing.Scheduler.Use = "serial"
+	b, err := newBaseRouter("test", conf, map[string]process.Process{
+		"hold": hold, "batch": batch, "urgent": urgent,
+	}, logmon.NewWriter(io.Discard), &stubPlanner{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("newBaseRouter: %v", err)
+	}
+	b.testProcessed = make(chan struct{}, 64)
+	go b.run()
+
+	releaseHold := sync.OnceFunc(func() { close(hold.serveBlock) })
+	releaseUrgent := sync.OnceFunc(func() { close(urgent.serveBlock) })
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		releaseHold()
+		releaseUrgent()
+		if !b.shuttingDown.Load() {
+			_ = b.Shutdown(time.Second)
+		}
+	})
+
+	serve := func(model, priority string) {
+		r := newRequest(model)
+		if priority != "" {
+			r.Header.Set(shared.PriorityHeader, priority)
+		}
+		go b.ServeHTTP(httptest.NewRecorder(), r)
+	}
+
+	serve("hold", "")
+	waitProcessed(t, b.testProcessed, 2) // OnRequest, then the swap completing
+	<-hold.serveStarted
+
+	// Both queue behind hold; batch arrives first.
+	serve("batch", "batch")
+	waitProcessed(t, b.testProcessed, 1)
+	serve("urgent", "interactive")
+	waitProcessed(t, b.testProcessed, 1)
+
+	releaseHold()
+
+	select {
+	case <-urgent.serveStarted:
+	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("interactive request never started")
+	}
+	if got := batch.serveCalls.Load(); got != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("batch serveCalls=%d want 0 — the batch job ran before the interactive request", got)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestBaseRouter_ModelNotFound(t *testing.T) {
 	a := newFakeProcess("a")
 	b := newTestBase(t, map[string]process.Process{"a": a}, &stubPlanner{})

internal/router/router.go

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/logmon"
 	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/process"
+	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/router/scheduler"
 	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/shared"
 )
 
@@ -49,4 +50,8 @@ type LocalRouter interface {
 	// modelID must be a real (non-alias) config key. Returns false when the
 	// model is not known to this router.
 	ProcessLogger(modelID string) (*logmon.Monitor, bool)
+
+	// SchedulerStats returns a snapshot of the scheduler's queue for metrics.
+	// ok is false when the configured scheduler does not report stats.
+	SchedulerStats() (scheduler.QueueStats, bool)
 }

internal/router/scheduler/fifo.go

@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ func (s *FIFO) grantHandler(req HandlerReq, modelID string) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if err := shared.SetReqData(req.Ctx, "fifo_priority", strconv.Itoa(s.cfg.Priority[req.Model])); err != nil {
+	if err := shared.SetReqData(req.Ctx, "fifo_priority", strconv.Itoa(s.priorityOf(req))); err != nil {
 		s.logger.Debugf("failed to set fifo_priority metadata: %v", err)
 	}
 
@@ -311,15 +311,22 @@ func (s *FIFO) startSwap(initial HandlerReq, evict, running []string) {
 	s.effects.StartSwap(initial.Model, evict)
 }
 
+// priorityOf is a request's effective queue priority: the caller's
+// X-LlamaSwap-Priority plus the model's configured priority. Both default to 0,
+// so a deployment that uses neither keeps plain FIFO order.
+func (s *FIFO) priorityOf(req HandlerReq) int {
+	return req.Priority + s.cfg.Priority[req.Model]
+}
+
 // enqueue inserts req into the queue in priority order: it goes just before the
-// first queued item whose priority is strictly lower, so higher-priority models
+// first queued item whose priority is strictly lower, so higher-priority
-// are serviced first while equal-priority requests keep their arrival (FIFO)
+// requests are serviced first while equal-priority requests keep their arrival
-// order. Priorities come from the FifoConfig; unlisted models default to 0.
+// (FIFO) order.
 func (s *FIFO) enqueue(req HandlerReq) {
-	p := s.cfg.Priority[req.Model]
+	p := s.priorityOf(req)
 	i := len(s.queued)
 	for j, q := range s.queued {
-		if s.cfg.Priority[q.Model] < p {
+		if s.priorityOf(q) < p {
 			i = j
 			break
 		}

internal/router/scheduler/fifo_test.go

@@ -571,6 +571,34 @@ func TestFIFO_PriorityQueueOrder(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestFIFO_RequestPriorityOrder verifies the caller's X-LlamaSwap-Priority is
+// added to the model's configured priority, so a batch caller for a
+// high-priority model still queues behind an interactive caller for a
+// low-priority one.
+func TestFIFO_RequestPriorityOrder(t *testing.T) {
+	eff := newFakeEffects()
+	for _, m := range []string{"z", "hot", "cold"} {
+		eff.states[m] = process.StateStopped
+	}
+	planner := &stubPlanner{evict: map[string][]string{"z": {"hot", "cold"}}}
+	cfg := config.FifoConfig{Priority: map[string]int{"hot": 10}}
+	s := NewFIFO("test", logmon.NewWriter(io.Discard), planner, cfg, nil, eff)
+
+	s.OnRequest(req("z")) // StartSwap(z, [hot, cold]) — everything else queues
+
+	s.OnRequest(HandlerReq{Model: "hot", Priority: shared.PriorityBatch})        // 10 - 100 = -90
+	s.OnRequest(HandlerReq{Model: "cold", Priority: shared.PriorityInteractive}) // 0 + 100 = 100
+
+	got := make([]string, len(s.queued))
+	for i, q := range s.queued {
+		got[i] = q.Model
+	}
+	want := []string{"cold", "hot"}
+	if len(got) != len(want) || got[0] != want[0] || got[1] != want[1] {
+		t.Fatalf("queue=%v want %v", got, want)
+	}
+}
+
 // TestFIFO_OnCancel_QueuedRequest verifies that cancelling a queued request
 // prevents drainQueue from ever starting a model load for it. Without OnCancel
 // the dead request would sit in the queue until a drain triggers a wasted swap.

internal/router/scheduler/scheduler.go

@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ type Effects interface {
 // New returns a Scheduler selected by conf.Routing.Scheduler.Use, configured from
 // conf and bound to the given planner and effects. Supported values are "fifo"
 // (throughput-oriented, batches same-model requests) and "serial" (strict
-// one-model-at-a-time, exact arrival order).
+// one-model-at-a-time, highest-priority-first).
 //
 // The deployment default is applied by config loading (LoadConfig sets Use to
 // "serial" when unset). The "" fallback here is the library default and remains
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ func New(conf config.Config, name string, logger *logmon.Monitor, planner Swappe
 		return NewFIFO(name, logger, planner, conf.Routing.Scheduler.Settings.Fifo, conf.Models, eff), nil
 	case "serial":
 		// Serial ignores the group planner: it always evicts every other model.
-		return NewSerial(name, logger, eff), nil
+		return NewSerial(name, logger, conf.Routing.Scheduler.Settings.Serial, eff), nil
 	default:
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unsupported scheduler type: %q", use)
 	}
@@ -118,12 +118,50 @@ func New(conf config.Config, name string, logger *logmon.Monitor, planner Swappe
 
 // HandlerReq is one in-flight ServeHTTP request waiting for a routing decision.
 type HandlerReq struct {
-	Model      string
+	Model string
+	// Priority is the caller's scheduling priority from the
+	// X-LlamaSwap-Priority header. Higher is more urgent, 0 is normal, and
+	// negative is batch work. Schedulers use it to order their queues.
+	Priority   int
 	Ctx        context.Context
 	Respond    chan HandlerResp
 	PositionCh chan int
 }
 
+// BandStats is the queue state for one priority band.
+type BandStats struct {
+	// Depth is how many requests are waiting in this band.
+	Depth int
+	// OldestWait is how long the longest-waiting request in this band has
+	// been queued, or 0 when the band is empty.
+	OldestWait time.Duration
+	// Dispatched counts requests in this band handed off since start.
+	Dispatched uint64
+}
+
+// QueueStats is a point-in-time snapshot of a scheduler's queue, for metrics.
+// The reorder counters answer "did the scoring function actually change
+// anything?" — without them, tuning aging and swap affinity is guesswork.
+type QueueStats struct {
+	// Bands is keyed by shared.PriorityBand and always carries an entry for
+	// every band in shared.PriorityBands, so metric series stay stable.
+	Bands map[string]BandStats
+	// AgingReorders counts dispatches where the aging term changed which
+	// request was picked.
+	AgingReorders uint64
+	// AffinityReorders counts dispatches where the swap-affinity term changed
+	// which request was picked.
+	AffinityReorders uint64
+}
+
+// StatsReporter is implemented by schedulers that can report queue statistics.
+// It is optional: callers type-assert and skip schedulers that do not provide
+// it. Unlike the Scheduler methods, QueueStats is called from arbitrary
+// goroutines (the /metrics handler) and must be safe for concurrent use.
+type StatsReporter interface {
+	QueueStats() QueueStats
+}
+
 // HandlerResp is the routing decision returned to a HandlerReq's caller: either
 // a handler to serve with, or an error.
 type HandlerResp struct {

internal/router/scheduler/serial.go

@@ -3,40 +3,101 @@ package scheduler
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"sort"
+	"strconv"
+	"sync"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/config"
 	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/logmon"
 	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/process"
+	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/shared"
 )
 
-// Serial is a strict one-model-at-a-time scheduler. Unlike FIFO it never reorders
+// Serial is a strict one-model-at-a-time scheduler for a size-1 resource: at
-// or batches: requests run in exact arrival order and at most one request runs at
+// most one request runs at any instant, and when the next request targets a
-// any instant. When the next request targets a model other than the one loaded,
+// model other than the one loaded, every other running model is evicted and the
-// every other running model is evicted and the target is loaded before it runs,
+// target is loaded before it runs. A single model occupies memory at a time, at
-// so a single model occupies memory at a time — at the cost of throughput.
+// the cost of throughput.
-//
-// Example: A B C A is served as A B C A. The final A reloads its model even
-// though it ran first, because B and C displaced it in between. (FIFO, by
-// contrast, would batch the two A requests: A A B C.)
 //
 // Serial ignores group/eviction policy entirely: it always evicts every other
-// running model, regardless of how groups are configured. That is what makes the
+// running model, regardless of how groups are configured. That is what makes
-// single-model guarantee a property of the scheduler rather than of the config.
+// the single-model guarantee a property of the scheduler rather than of the
+// config.
 //
-// Like FIFO, every method runs on the router's single run-loop goroutine, so no
+// # Dispatch order
-// internal locking is needed.
+//
+// Scheduling is non-preemptive — a running job is never interrupted, because a
+// generation cannot be stopped mid-sample without discarding the work. Priority
+// applies at dispatch time: whenever the slot frees, the highest scoring
+// waiting request goes next, where
+//
+//		score = request priority + swap affinity + aging
+//
+//	  - request priority is the caller's X-LlamaSwap-Priority (0 by default).
+//	    Bands sit 100 apart: +100 interactive, 0 normal, -100 batch.
+//	  - swap affinity is a bounded bonus for a request that can run without a
+//	    model swap. Bounded well below the band spacing, so it only breaks
+//	    near-ties and can never promote batch work above interactive.
+//	  - aging is waited_seconds / agingDivisor, and is unbounded on purpose: it
+//	    is the only term allowed to cross a band, which is what stops a batch job
+//	    from starving behind an endless stream of normal traffic.
+//
+// Equal scores keep arrival order, so with default priorities and swap affinity
+// disabled this degrades to exact FIFO.
+//
+// The consequence of being non-preemptive is worth stating plainly: an
+// interactive request can still wait up to one full job duration. Priority
+// alone does not fix that — the complementary lever is client-side, where a
+// batch producer submits one unit at a time and re-queues so gaps are frequent.
+//
+// Like FIFO, every Scheduler method runs on the router's single run-loop
+// goroutine, so no internal locking is needed for queue state. QueueStats is
+// the exception: it is read from the /metrics handler, so the stats mirror it
+// reads is guarded by a mutex.
 type Serial struct {
 	name    string
 	logger  *logmon.Monitor
 	effects Effects
 
-	// queued holds requests in strict arrival order. It is never reordered.
+	// agingDivisor is how long a request must wait to gain one priority
-	queued []HandlerReq
+	// point. Zero disables aging.
+	agingDivisor time.Duration
+	// swapAffinityBonus is added to a request that needs no model swap. Zero
+	// disables the term.
+	swapAffinityBonus int
+
+	// now is the clock, injectable so tests can drive aging deterministically.
+	now func() time.Time
+
+	// queued holds waiting requests in arrival order. Dispatch picks by score
+	// rather than popping the head, but the slice itself is never reordered so
+	// index order remains arrival order — which is what makes equal scores
+	// break in favour of the earlier request.
+	queued []queuedReq
 
 	// active is the one request currently being processed (loading or serving),
 	// or nil when idle. phase is meaningful only while active != nil.
 	active *HandlerReq
 	phase  serialPhase
+
+	mu    sync.Mutex
+	stats serialStats
+}
+
+// queuedReq is one waiting request plus the arrival time aging is measured from.
+type queuedReq struct {
+	req      HandlerReq
+	enqueued time.Time
+}
+
+// serialStats mirrors queue state and dispatch counters for QueueStats. It is
+// written on the run loop and read by the metrics handler, both under mu.
+type serialStats struct {
+	depth            map[string]int
+	oldest           map[string]time.Time
+	dispatched       map[string]uint64
+	agingReorders    uint64
+	affinityReorders uint64
 }
 
 // serialPhase is the lifecycle stage of the active request.
@@ -50,67 +111,183 @@ const (
 
 // NewSerial builds a Serial scheduler. It takes no Swapper: eviction is always
 // "stop every other running model", so the group planner is not consulted.
-func NewSerial(name string, logger *logmon.Monitor, eff Effects) *Serial {
+func NewSerial(name string, logger *logmon.Monitor, cfg config.SerialConfig, eff Effects) *Serial {
 	return &Serial{
-		name:    name,
+		name:              name,
-		logger:  logger,
+		logger:            logger,
-		effects: eff,
+		effects:           eff,
+		agingDivisor:      time.Duration(cfg.GetAgingDivisor()) * time.Second,
+		swapAffinityBonus: cfg.GetSwapAffinityBonus(),
+		now:               time.Now,
+		stats: serialStats{
+			depth:      make(map[string]int),
+			oldest:     make(map[string]time.Time),
+			dispatched: make(map[string]uint64),
+		},
 	}
 }
 
-// OnRequest validates the model and appends the request to the tail of the queue,
+// OnRequest validates the model and appends the request to the queue, stamping
-// then tries to start the next job. Unknown models fail immediately.
+// its arrival time so aging can be measured, then tries to start the next job.
+// Unknown models fail immediately.
 func (s *Serial) OnRequest(req HandlerReq) {
 	if _, ok := s.effects.ModelState(req.Model); !ok {
 		s.logger.Debugf("%s: model %s not handled by this router", s.name, req.Model)
 		s.effects.GrantError(req, ErrModelNotFound)
 		return
 	}
-	s.queued = append(s.queued, req)
+	s.queued = append(s.queued, queuedReq{req: req, enqueued: s.now()})
-	broadcastQueuePositions(s.queued)
+	s.queueChanged()
 	s.startNext()
 }
 
-// startNext begins processing the head of the queue when nothing is active. It
+// startNext begins processing the highest scoring waiting request when nothing
-// fast-paths a request whose model is already the sole loaded-and-ready process;
+// is active. It fast-paths a request whose model is already the sole
-// otherwise it launches a swap that evicts every other running model first. The
+// loaded-and-ready process; otherwise it launches a swap that evicts every other
-// loop skips over requests for models that vanished (e.g. a config reload) and
+// running model first. The loop skips over requests for models that vanished
-// requests whose caller disconnected before they could be served.
+// (e.g. a config reload) and requests whose caller disconnected before they
+// could be served.
 func (s *Serial) startNext() {
 	if s.active != nil {
 		return // a job is already loading or serving
 	}
 	for len(s.queued) > 0 {
-		req := s.queued[0]
+		idx, score := s.pick()
-		s.queued = s.queued[1:]
+		q := s.queued[idx]
-		broadcastQueuePositions(s.queued)
+		s.queued = append(s.queued[:idx], s.queued[idx+1:]...)
+		s.queueChanged()
 
+		req := q.req
 		state, ok := s.effects.ModelState(req.Model)
 		if !ok {
 			s.effects.GrantError(req, ErrModelNotFound)
 			continue
 		}
 
+		waited := s.now().Sub(q.enqueued)
+		s.annotate(req, score, waited)
+
 		r := req
 		s.active = &r
 
 		evict := s.otherRunning(req.Model)
 		if state == process.StateReady && len(evict) == 0 {
 			// Already loaded and the only model running — serve immediately.
-			s.logger.Debugf("%s: serving model %s (already loaded)", s.name, req.Model)
+			s.logger.Debugf("%s: serving model %s (already loaded, priority %d, score %d, waited %s)",
+				s.name, req.Model, req.Priority, score, waited.Round(time.Millisecond))
 			if s.serve() {
+				s.recordDispatch(req.Priority)
 				return
 			}
 			continue // caller gone; pick the next request
 		}
 
-		s.logger.Debugf("%s: swapping to model %s, evicting %v", s.name, req.Model, evict)
+		s.logger.Debugf("%s: swapping to model %s (priority %d, score %d, waited %s), evicting %v",
+			s.name, req.Model, req.Priority, score, waited.Round(time.Millisecond), evict)
 		s.phase = phaseSwapping
+		s.recordDispatch(req.Priority)
 		s.effects.StartSwap(req.Model, evict)
 		return
 	}
 }
 
+// pick returns the index of the highest scoring queued request and its score.
+// It also accounts for whether the aging and swap-affinity terms changed the
+// outcome: each is recomputed with that term removed, and a different winner
+// means the term reordered this dispatch. The queue is never empty here.
+func (s *Serial) pick() (int, int) {
+	now := s.now()
+	resident, _ := s.noSwapModel()
+
+	idx, score := s.best(now, resident, true, true)
+	if len(s.queued) > 1 {
+		if other, _ := s.best(now, resident, false, true); other != idx {
+			s.countReorder(true)
+		}
+		if other, _ := s.best(now, resident, true, false); other != idx {
+			s.countReorder(false)
+		}
+	}
+	return idx, score
+}
+
+// best returns the index and score of the highest scoring queued request, with
+// the aging and swap-affinity terms individually switchable so pick can measure
+// their effect. Ties keep the earliest arrival because the queue is in arrival
+// order and the comparison is strictly greater-than.
+func (s *Serial) best(now time.Time, resident string, withAging, withAffinity bool) (int, int) {
+	bestIdx, bestScore := 0, 0
+	for i, q := range s.queued {
+		score := q.req.Priority
+		if withAffinity && resident != "" && q.req.Model == resident {
+			score += s.swapAffinityBonus
+		}
+		if withAging {
+			score += s.aging(q, now)
+		}
+		if i == 0 || score > bestScore {
+			bestIdx, bestScore = i, score
+		}
+	}
+	return bestIdx, bestScore
+}
+
+// aging converts how long a request has waited into priority points. It is
+// unbounded: a request that waits long enough eventually outranks anything.
+func (s *Serial) aging(q queuedReq, now time.Time) int {
+	if s.agingDivisor <= 0 {
+		return 0
+	}
+	waited := now.Sub(q.enqueued)
+	if waited <= 0 {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return int(waited / s.agingDivisor)
+}
+
+// noSwapModel returns the model that can be served without any swap: the sole
+// running process, when it is ready. Anything else — nothing loaded, a process
+// still loading, or more than one running — means every request costs a swap,
+// so no request earns the affinity bonus.
+func (s *Serial) noSwapModel() (string, bool) {
+	if s.swapAffinityBonus == 0 {
+		return "", false
+	}
+	running := s.effects.RunningModels()
+	if len(running) != 1 {
+		return "", false
+	}
+	for id, state := range running {
+		if state == process.StateReady {
+			return id, true
+		}
+	}
+	return "", false
+}
+
+// annotate records the dispatch decision on the request's context so it reaches
+// the activity log. This is how "why did my request take 20 minutes" gets
+// answered after the fact.
+func (s *Serial) annotate(req HandlerReq, score int, waited time.Duration) {
+	if req.Ctx == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	fields := [...]struct{ key, value string }{
+		{"serial_priority", strconv.Itoa(req.Priority)},
+		{"serial_band", shared.PriorityBand(req.Priority)},
+		{"serial_score", strconv.Itoa(score)},
+		{"serial_queue_wait_ms", strconv.FormatInt(waited.Milliseconds(), 10)},
+	}
+	for _, f := range fields {
+		if err := shared.SetReqData(req.Ctx, f.key, f.value); err != nil {
+			// Every key shares one context, so the first failure means none
+			// of them will land.
+			s.logger.Debugf("%s: failed to set %s metadata: %v", s.name, f.key, err)
+			return
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 // serve hands the active request its tracked handler. It returns true when the
 // request is now serving (await OnServeDone); false when the caller had already
 // disconnected, in which case active is cleared so the next job can start.
@@ -168,7 +345,7 @@ func (s *Serial) OnCancel(req HandlerReq) {
 	kept := s.queued[:0]
 	removed := false
 	for _, q := range s.queued {
-		if q.Respond == req.Respond {
+		if q.req.Respond == req.Respond {
 			removed = true
 			continue
 		}
@@ -177,7 +354,7 @@ func (s *Serial) OnCancel(req HandlerReq) {
 	s.queued = kept
 	if removed {
 		s.logger.Debugf("%s: cancelled request for model %s pruned from queue", s.name, req.Model)
-		broadcastQueuePositions(s.queued)
+		s.queueChanged()
 	}
 }
 
@@ -205,14 +382,14 @@ func (s *Serial) OnUnload(targets []string, timeout time.Duration) {
 	if len(s.queued) > 0 {
 		kept := s.queued[:0]
 		for _, q := range s.queued {
-			if targetSet[q.Model] {
+			if targetSet[q.req.Model] {
-				s.effects.GrantError(q, unloadErr)
+				s.effects.GrantError(q.req, unloadErr)
 				continue
 			}
 			kept = append(kept, q)
 		}
 		s.queued = kept
-		broadcastQueuePositions(s.queued)
+		s.queueChanged()
 	}
 
 	s.effects.StopProcesses(timeout, targets)
@@ -234,9 +411,10 @@ func (s *Serial) OnShutdown(err error) {
 		s.phase = phaseIdle
 	}
 	for _, q := range s.queued {
-		s.effects.GrantError(q, err)
+		s.effects.GrantError(q.req, err)
 	}
 	s.queued = nil
+	s.queueChanged()
 }
 
 // otherRunning returns every running model except target, sorted for
@@ -251,3 +429,108 @@ func (s *Serial) otherRunning(target string) []string {
 	sort.Strings(out)
 	return out
 }
+
+// queueChanged is called after every mutation of s.queued. It refreshes the
+// stats mirror and tells each waiter its new position.
+func (s *Serial) queueChanged() {
+	s.syncStats()
+	s.broadcastPositions()
+}
+
+// broadcastPositions sends each waiter its 1-indexed place in dispatch order
+// rather than arrival order, so a queued caller sees the position priority
+// actually earned it. The ranking is a snapshot: aging keeps moving, so a
+// position only holds until the next queue change.
+func (s *Serial) broadcastPositions() {
+	if len(s.queued) == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+	now := s.now()
+	resident, _ := s.noSwapModel()
+
+	scores := make([]int, len(s.queued))
+	order := make([]int, len(s.queued))
+	for i, q := range s.queued {
+		score := q.req.Priority
+		if resident != "" && q.req.Model == resident {
+			score += s.swapAffinityBonus
+		}
+		scores[i] = score + s.aging(q, now)
+		order[i] = i
+	}
+	// Stable so equal scores keep arrival order, matching best().
+	sort.SliceStable(order, func(a, b int) bool { return scores[order[a]] > scores[order[b]] })
+
+	ranked := make([]HandlerReq, len(order))
+	for rank, i := range order {
+		ranked[rank] = s.queued[i].req
+	}
+	broadcastQueuePositions(ranked)
+}
+
+// syncStats refreshes the per-band depth and oldest-arrival mirror that
+// QueueStats reads. Enqueue times are stored rather than durations so the wait
+// is computed fresh at read time instead of going stale between queue changes.
+func (s *Serial) syncStats() {
+	depth := make(map[string]int, len(shared.PriorityBands))
+	oldest := make(map[string]time.Time, len(shared.PriorityBands))
+	for _, q := range s.queued {
+		band := shared.PriorityBand(q.req.Priority)
+		depth[band]++
+		if t, ok := oldest[band]; !ok || q.enqueued.Before(t) {
+			oldest[band] = q.enqueued
+		}
+	}
+
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	s.stats.depth = depth
+	s.stats.oldest = oldest
+}
+
+// recordDispatch counts one request handed off, bucketed by band.
+func (s *Serial) recordDispatch(priority int) {
+	band := shared.PriorityBand(priority)
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	s.stats.dispatched[band]++
+}
+
+// countReorder records that aging (or swap affinity) changed which request a
+// dispatch picked.
+func (s *Serial) countReorder(aging bool) {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	if aging {
+		s.stats.agingReorders++
+	} else {
+		s.stats.affinityReorders++
+	}
+}
+
+// QueueStats implements StatsReporter. It is safe to call from any goroutine.
+func (s *Serial) QueueStats() QueueStats {
+	now := s.now()
+
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+
+	bands := make(map[string]BandStats, len(shared.PriorityBands))
+	for _, band := range shared.PriorityBands {
+		bs := BandStats{
+			Depth:      s.stats.depth[band],
+			Dispatched: s.stats.dispatched[band],
+		}
+		if t, ok := s.stats.oldest[band]; ok {
+			if wait := now.Sub(t); wait > 0 {
+				bs.OldestWait = wait
+			}
+		}
+		bands[band] = bs
+	}
+	return QueueStats{
+		Bands:            bands,
+		AgingReorders:    s.stats.agingReorders,
+		AffinityReorders: s.stats.affinityReorders,
+	}
+}

internal/router/scheduler/serial_test.go

@@ -1,13 +1,16 @@
 package scheduler
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"io"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/config"
 	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/logmon"
 	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/process"
+	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/shared"
 )
 
 // Serial methods all run on the router's single run-loop goroutine, so these
@@ -15,8 +18,36 @@ import (
 // req/reqCh helpers from fifo_test.go. A load completes via OnSwapDone and a
 // served request finishes via OnServeDone — the events the run loop delivers.
 
+// newSerial builds a Serial with the production defaults: aging at one point
+// per minute, swap affinity at +10.
 func newSerial(eff Effects) *Serial {
-	return NewSerial("test", logmon.NewWriter(io.Discard), eff)
+	return NewSerial("test", logmon.NewWriter(io.Discard), config.SerialConfig{}, eff)
+}
+
+// newSerialCfg builds a Serial with explicit scoring settings. Passing 0 for
+// either term disables it.
+func newSerialCfg(eff Effects, agingDivisor, swapAffinityBonus int) *Serial {
+	return NewSerial("test", logmon.NewWriter(io.Discard), config.SerialConfig{
+		AgingDivisor:      &agingDivisor,
+		SwapAffinityBonus: &swapAffinityBonus,
+	}, eff)
+}
+
+// fakeClock replaces a Serial's clock with one the test advances by hand, so
+// aging is exercised without sleeping.
+type fakeClock struct{ t time.Time }
+
+func newFakeClock(s *Serial) *fakeClock {
+	c := &fakeClock{t: time.Date(2026, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)}
+	s.now = func() time.Time { return c.t }
+	return c
+}
+
+func (c *fakeClock) advance(d time.Duration) { c.t = c.t.Add(d) }
+
+// reqP is a HandlerReq carrying an explicit caller priority.
+func reqP(model string, priority int) HandlerReq {
+	return HandlerReq{Model: model, Priority: priority}
 }
 
 // lastStart returns the most recent StartSwap record.
@@ -181,15 +212,18 @@ func TestSerial_SameModelConsecutive_NoReload(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// TestSerial_StrictArrivalOrder is the core guarantee: qwen36, qwen35, sdxl,
+// TestSerial_StrictArrivalOrder covers the scoring function's degenerate case:
-// qwen36 execute in EXACTLY that order with evictions between each model switch,
+// with equal priorities and swap affinity disabled, qwen36, qwen35, sdxl,
-// including reloading qwen36 at the end even though it ran first.
+// qwen36 execute in EXACTLY that order with evictions between each model
+// switch, including reloading qwen36 at the end even though it ran first.
+// Aging cannot reorder them either — they all arrive at the same instant, so
+// they age at the same rate.
 func TestSerial_StrictArrivalOrder(t *testing.T) {
 	eff := newFakeEffects()
 	for _, m := range []string{"qwen36", "qwen35", "sdxl"} {
 		eff.states[m] = process.StateStopped
 	}
-	s := newSerial(eff)
+	s := newSerialCfg(eff, config.DefaultAgingDivisor, 0)
 
 	for _, m := range []string{"qwen36", "qwen35", "sdxl", "qwen36"} {
 		s.OnRequest(req(m))
@@ -243,6 +277,312 @@ func sameOrder(a, b []string) bool {
 	return true
 }
 
+// stepModel completes the current load+serve for model and returns control to
+// the scheduler so it dispatches the next queued request.
+func stepModel(t *testing.T, s *Serial, eff *fakeEffects, model string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if len(eff.starts) > 0 {
+		if st := eff.starts[len(eff.starts)-1]; st.model == model {
+			for _, e := range st.evict {
+				eff.states[e] = process.StateStopped
+			}
+			eff.states[model] = process.StateReady
+			s.OnSwapDone(SwapDone{ModelID: model})
+		}
+	}
+	s.OnServeDone(ServeDoneEvent{ModelID: model})
+}
+
+// TestSerial_HigherPriorityDispatchesFirst is the point of the whole exercise:
+// a batch job already queued must yield to an interactive request that arrives
+// later, because dispatch order is by score, not arrival.
+func TestSerial_HigherPriorityDispatchesFirst(t *testing.T) {
+	eff := newFakeEffects()
+	for _, m := range []string{"running", "batch", "interactive"} {
+		eff.states[m] = process.StateStopped
+	}
+	s := newSerial(eff)
+
+	s.OnRequest(reqP("running", shared.PriorityNormal))          // dispatches immediately
+	s.OnRequest(reqP("batch", shared.PriorityBatch))             // queued first...
+	s.OnRequest(reqP("interactive", shared.PriorityInteractive)) // ...but this jumps it
+
+	stepModel(t, s, eff, "running")
+
+	if got := eff.startsFor("interactive"); got != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("StartSwap(interactive)=%d want 1 (must overtake the queued batch job)", got)
+	}
+	if got := eff.startsFor("batch"); got != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("StartSwap(batch)=%d want 0 (still waiting behind interactive)", got)
+	}
+
+	stepModel(t, s, eff, "interactive")
+	if got := eff.startsFor("batch"); got != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("StartSwap(batch)=%d want 1 once nothing outranks it", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestSerial_TierOffsetBreaksTieWithinBand verifies the composition rule the
+// design depends on: a small per-caller offset orders requests inside a band
+// and never promotes one across a band. A "max member" batch job at -98 beats
+// other batch work but still loses to every normal request at 0.
+func TestSerial_TierOffsetBreaksTieWithinBand(t *testing.T) {
+	eff := newFakeEffects()
+	for _, m := range []string{"running", "free", "max", "normal"} {
+		eff.states[m] = process.StateStopped
+	}
+	s := newSerialCfg(eff, 0, 0) // isolate the priority term
+
+	s.OnRequest(reqP("running", 0))
+	s.OnRequest(reqP("free", shared.PriorityBatch))    // -100
+	s.OnRequest(reqP("max", shared.PriorityBatch+2))   // -98, max tier
+	s.OnRequest(reqP("normal", shared.PriorityNormal)) // 0
+
+	stepModel(t, s, eff, "running")
+	if got := eff.startsFor("normal"); got != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("StartSwap(normal)=%d want 1 (a tier bonus must not cross a band)", got)
+	}
+
+	stepModel(t, s, eff, "normal")
+	if got := eff.startsFor("max"); got != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("StartSwap(max)=%d want 1 (max tier outranks free within the batch band)", got)
+	}
+
+	stepModel(t, s, eff, "max")
+	if got := eff.startsFor("free"); got != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("StartSwap(free)=%d want 1 (last)", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestSerial_AgingPreventsStarvation verifies the one term allowed to cross
+// bands: a batch job that has waited long enough eventually beats an
+// interactive request that arrived just now.
+func TestSerial_AgingPreventsStarvation(t *testing.T) {
+	eff := newFakeEffects()
+	for _, m := range []string{"running", "batch", "interactive"} {
+		eff.states[m] = process.StateStopped
+	}
+	s := newSerialCfg(eff, 60, 0) // one point per minute, no affinity
+	clock := newFakeClock(s)
+
+	s.OnRequest(reqP("running", shared.PriorityNormal))
+	s.OnRequest(reqP("batch", shared.PriorityBatch)) // -100
+
+	// The batch job waits long enough to gain 201 points: -100 + 201 = 101,
+	// just past a fresh interactive request at +100.
+	clock.advance(201 * time.Minute)
+	s.OnRequest(reqP("interactive", shared.PriorityInteractive))
+
+	stepModel(t, s, eff, "running")
+	if got := eff.startsFor("batch"); got != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("StartSwap(batch)=%d want 1 (aging must eventually beat a fresh interactive request)", got)
+	}
+	if got := eff.startsFor("interactive"); got != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("StartSwap(interactive)=%d want 0 (outranked by the aged batch job)", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestSerial_AgingCannotCrossBandTooEarly is the other half of aging: a batch
+// job that has waited only a little still loses to interactive traffic.
+func TestSerial_AgingCannotCrossBandTooEarly(t *testing.T) {
+	eff := newFakeEffects()
+	for _, m := range []string{"running", "batch", "interactive"} {
+		eff.states[m] = process.StateStopped
+	}
+	s := newSerialCfg(eff, 60, 0)
+	clock := newFakeClock(s)
+
+	s.OnRequest(reqP("running", shared.PriorityNormal))
+	s.OnRequest(reqP("batch", shared.PriorityBatch))
+	clock.advance(30 * time.Minute) // -100 + 30 = -70
+	s.OnRequest(reqP("interactive", shared.PriorityInteractive))
+
+	stepModel(t, s, eff, "running")
+	if got := eff.startsFor("interactive"); got != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("StartSwap(interactive)=%d want 1 (30 minutes is not enough aging)", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestSerial_SwapAffinity_PrefersResidentModel verifies the bounded bonus keeps
+// the model cache from thrashing: with equal priorities, a queued request for
+// the already-loaded model runs before earlier requests that would each force a
+// cold load.
+func TestSerial_SwapAffinity_PrefersResidentModel(t *testing.T) {
+	eff := newFakeEffects()
+	for _, m := range []string{"qwen36", "qwen35", "sdxl"} {
+		eff.states[m] = process.StateStopped
+	}
+	s := newSerial(eff) // affinity +10 by default
+
+	for _, m := range []string{"qwen36", "qwen35", "sdxl", "qwen36"} {
+		s.OnRequest(req(m))
+	}
+
+	stepModel(t, s, eff, "qwen36") // qwen36 now resident and ready
+	if got := eff.served("qwen36"); got != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("served(qwen36)=%d want 2 (the trailing qwen36 should skip the swap queue)", got)
+	}
+	if len(eff.starts) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("starts=%+v want only the initial qwen36 load (no reload)", eff.starts)
+	}
+
+	stepModel(t, s, eff, "qwen36")
+	if got := eff.startsFor("qwen35"); got != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("StartSwap(qwen35)=%d want 1 once no resident request remains", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestSerial_SwapAffinity_CannotCrossBand verifies the bonus is bounded: an
+// interactive request that needs a cold load still beats a batch job for the
+// already-resident model.
+func TestSerial_SwapAffinity_CannotCrossBand(t *testing.T) {
+	eff := newFakeEffects()
+	eff.states["resident"] = process.StateReady
+	eff.states["cold"] = process.StateStopped
+	s := newSerialCfg(eff, 0, 99) // the largest bonus config permits
+
+	s.OnRequest(reqP("resident", shared.PriorityNormal)) // dispatches immediately
+	s.OnRequest(reqP("resident", shared.PriorityBatch))  // queued, would get +99
+	s.OnRequest(reqP("cold", shared.PriorityInteractive))
+
+	s.OnServeDone(ServeDoneEvent{ModelID: "resident"})
+	if got := eff.startsFor("cold"); got != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("StartSwap(cold)=%d want 1 (-100+99 must still lose to +100)", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestSerial_DispatchSetsMetadata verifies the dispatch decision is recorded on
+// the request context, which is what puts it in the activity log.
+func TestSerial_DispatchSetsMetadata(t *testing.T) {
+	eff := newFakeEffects()
+	eff.states["hold"] = process.StateReady
+	eff.states["a"] = process.StateStopped
+	s := newSerialCfg(eff, 60, 0)
+	clock := newFakeClock(s)
+
+	s.OnRequest(req("hold")) // serves immediately, occupying the slot
+
+	ctx := shared.SetContext(context.Background(), shared.ReqContextData{ModelID: "a", Metadata: make(map[string]string)})
+	s.OnRequest(HandlerReq{Model: "a", Priority: shared.PriorityBatch, Ctx: ctx})
+
+	clock.advance(2 * time.Minute) // -100 + 2 aging points
+	s.OnServeDone(ServeDoneEvent{ModelID: "hold"})
+
+	// a is dispatched (and annotated) here; finish its load so it is granted.
+	eff.states["hold"] = process.StateStopped
+	eff.states["a"] = process.StateReady
+	s.OnSwapDone(SwapDone{ModelID: "a"})
+
+	data, ok := shared.ReadContext(eff.lastServeReq.Ctx)
+	if !ok {
+		t.Fatal("context data missing from granted request")
+	}
+	want := map[string]string{
+		"serial_priority":      "-100",
+		"serial_band":          shared.BandBatch,
+		"serial_score":         "-98",
+		"serial_queue_wait_ms": "120000",
+	}
+	for k, v := range want {
+		if got := data.Metadata[k]; got != v {
+			t.Errorf("%s = %q, want %q", k, got, v)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// TestSerial_QueueStats checks the numbers the /metrics endpoint reports:
+// per-band depth and wait while queued, dispatch counts after the fact, and the
+// reorder counters that say whether the scoring terms changed anything.
+func TestSerial_QueueStats(t *testing.T) {
+	eff := newFakeEffects()
+	for _, m := range []string{"running", "batch", "interactive"} {
+		eff.states[m] = process.StateStopped
+	}
+	s := newSerialCfg(eff, 60, 0)
+	clock := newFakeClock(s)
+
+	s.OnRequest(reqP("running", shared.PriorityNormal)) // dispatched, not queued
+	s.OnRequest(reqP("batch", shared.PriorityBatch))
+	clock.advance(5 * time.Minute)
+	s.OnRequest(reqP("interactive", shared.PriorityInteractive))
+
+	stats := s.QueueStats()
+	if got := stats.Bands[shared.BandBatch].Depth; got != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("batch depth=%d want 1", got)
+	}
+	if got := stats.Bands[shared.BandBatch].OldestWait; got != 5*time.Minute {
+		t.Errorf("batch oldest wait=%s want 5m", got)
+	}
+	if got := stats.Bands[shared.BandInteractive].Depth; got != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("interactive depth=%d want 1", got)
+	}
+	if got := stats.Bands[shared.BandNormal].Depth; got != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("normal depth=%d want 0 (it dispatched immediately)", got)
+	}
+	if got := stats.Bands[shared.BandNormal].Dispatched; got != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("normal dispatched=%d want 1", got)
+	}
+
+	// Dispatching interactive over the older batch job is priority doing its
+	// job, not aging: with only 5 minutes of aging the winner is unchanged.
+	stepModel(t, s, eff, "running")
+	stats = s.QueueStats()
+	if got := stats.Bands[shared.BandInteractive].Dispatched; got != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("interactive dispatched=%d want 1", got)
+	}
+	if stats.AgingReorders != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("aging reorders=%d want 0", stats.AgingReorders)
+	}
+	if stats.AffinityReorders != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("affinity reorders=%d want 0 (affinity disabled)", stats.AffinityReorders)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestSerial_QueueStats_CountsReorders verifies each scoring term is credited
+// when it actually changes the dispatch decision.
+func TestSerial_QueueStats_CountsReorders(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("aging", func(t *testing.T) {
+		eff := newFakeEffects()
+		for _, m := range []string{"running", "old", "new"} {
+			eff.states[m] = process.StateStopped
+		}
+		s := newSerialCfg(eff, 60, 0)
+		clock := newFakeClock(s)
+
+		s.OnRequest(reqP("running", 0))
+		s.OnRequest(reqP("old", -10))
+		clock.advance(30 * time.Minute) // old: -10 + 30 = 20
+		s.OnRequest(reqP("new", 0))     // new: 0
+
+		stepModel(t, s, eff, "running")
+		if got := eff.startsFor("old"); got != 1 {
+			t.Fatalf("StartSwap(old)=%d want 1 (aging promoted it)", got)
+		}
+		if got := s.QueueStats().AgingReorders; got != 1 {
+			t.Errorf("aging reorders=%d want 1", got)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("swap affinity", func(t *testing.T) {
+		eff := newFakeEffects()
+		eff.states["resident"] = process.StateReady
+		eff.states["cold"] = process.StateStopped
+		s := newSerialCfg(eff, 0, 10)
+
+		s.OnRequest(req("resident"))     // dispatches immediately
+		s.OnRequest(reqP("cold", 5))     // higher priority, but needs a swap
+		s.OnRequest(reqP("resident", 0)) // +10 affinity beats it
+		s.OnServeDone(ServeDoneEvent{ModelID: "resident"})
+
+		if got := eff.served("resident"); got != 2 {
+			t.Fatalf("served(resident)=%d want 2 (affinity outranked the cold request)", got)
+		}
+		if got := s.QueueStats().AffinityReorders; got != 1 {
+			t.Errorf("affinity reorders=%d want 1", got)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
 func TestSerial_SwapError_FailsCallerAndAdvances(t *testing.T) {
 	eff := newFakeEffects()
 	eff.states["a"] = process.StateStopped

internal/server/api.go

@@ -293,15 +293,25 @@ func (s *Server) startPreload() {
 	}()
 }
 
-// handleMetrics serves Prometheus-format performance metrics. Returns 503 when
+// handleMetrics serves Prometheus-format metrics: system/GPU performance plus
-// performance monitoring is disabled.
+// the scheduler's request queue. Returns 503 only when neither source is
+// available — performance monitoring disabled and a scheduler that does not
+// report queue stats.
 func (s *Server) handleMetrics(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-	if s.perf == nil {
+	queueStats, hasQueueStats := s.local.SchedulerStats()
+	if s.perf == nil && !hasQueueStats {
 		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusServiceUnavailable)
 		w.Write([]byte("# performance monitor not available\n"))
 		return
 	}
-	s.perf.MetricsHandler().ServeHTTP(w, r)
+
+	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "text/plain; version=0.0.4; charset=utf-8")
+	if s.perf != nil {
+		s.perf.MetricsHandler().ServeHTTP(w, r)
+	}
+	if hasQueueStats {
+		writeSchedulerMetrics(w, queueStats)
+	}
 }
 
 func handleHealth(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {

internal/server/api_test.go

@@ -8,10 +8,12 @@ import (
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/config"
 	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/logmon"
 	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/process"
+	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/router/scheduler"
 	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/shared"
 )
 
@@ -301,6 +303,8 @@ func TestServer_HandleUpstream_MetricsSkipsGET(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestServer_HandleMetrics_Unavailable(t *testing.T) {
+	// No perf monitor and a scheduler that reports no queue stats: nothing to
+	// serve.
 	s := newTestServer(newStubRouter(nil, ""), newStubRouter(nil, ""))
 
 	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
@@ -310,6 +314,44 @@ func TestServer_HandleMetrics_Unavailable(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestServer_HandleMetrics_SchedulerQueue verifies the scheduler queue is
+// exported even when performance monitoring is off, and that every band gets a
+// series so the label set stays stable while the queue drains.
+func TestServer_HandleMetrics_SchedulerQueue(t *testing.T) {
+	local := newStubRouter(nil, "")
+	local.queueStats = &scheduler.QueueStats{
+		Bands: map[string]scheduler.BandStats{
+			shared.BandInteractive: {Depth: 2, OldestWait: 3 * time.Second, Dispatched: 41},
+			shared.BandBatch:       {Depth: 1, Dispatched: 7},
+		},
+		AgingReorders:    5,
+		AffinityReorders: 9,
+	}
+	s := newTestServer(local, newStubRouter(nil, ""))
+
+	w := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	s.ServeHTTP(w, httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "/metrics", nil))
+	if w.Code != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("status = %d, want 200", w.Code)
+	}
+
+	body := w.Body.String()
+	for _, want := range []string{
+		`llamaswap_scheduler_queue_depth{band="interactive"} 2`,
+		`llamaswap_scheduler_queue_depth{band="normal"} 0`,
+		`llamaswap_scheduler_queue_depth{band="batch"} 1`,
+		`llamaswap_scheduler_queue_oldest_wait_seconds{band="interactive"} 3`,
+		`llamaswap_scheduler_dispatched_total{band="interactive"} 41`,
+		`llamaswap_scheduler_dispatched_total{band="batch"} 7`,
+		`llamaswap_scheduler_reorders_total{cause="aging"} 5`,
+		`llamaswap_scheduler_reorders_total{cause="swap_affinity"} 9`,
+	} {
+		if !strings.Contains(body, want) {
+			t.Errorf("missing %q in:\n%s", want, body)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestServer_Redirects(t *testing.T) {
 	s := newTestServer(newStubRouter(nil, ""), newStubRouter(nil, ""))
 

internal/server/metrics_scheduler.go

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+package server
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+
+	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/router/scheduler"
+	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/shared"
+)
+
+// writeSchedulerMetrics emits the request queue in Prometheus text format.
+//
+// The reorder counters are the ones that matter for tuning: they say how often
+// aging or swap affinity actually changed which request went next. Without
+// them, choosing agingDivisor and swapAffinityBonus is guesswork.
+func writeSchedulerMetrics(w io.Writer, stats scheduler.QueueStats) {
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "# HELP llamaswap_scheduler_queue_depth Requests waiting in the scheduler queue, by priority band\n")
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "# TYPE llamaswap_scheduler_queue_depth gauge\n")
+	for _, band := range shared.PriorityBands {
+		fmt.Fprintf(w, "llamaswap_scheduler_queue_depth{band=%q} %d\n", band, stats.Bands[band].Depth)
+	}
+
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "# HELP llamaswap_scheduler_queue_oldest_wait_seconds How long the longest-waiting queued request has waited, by priority band\n")
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "# TYPE llamaswap_scheduler_queue_oldest_wait_seconds gauge\n")
+	for _, band := range shared.PriorityBands {
+		fmt.Fprintf(w, "llamaswap_scheduler_queue_oldest_wait_seconds{band=%q} %g\n", band, stats.Bands[band].OldestWait.Seconds())
+	}
+
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "# HELP llamaswap_scheduler_dispatched_total Requests dispatched by the scheduler, by priority band\n")
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "# TYPE llamaswap_scheduler_dispatched_total counter\n")
+	for _, band := range shared.PriorityBands {
+		fmt.Fprintf(w, "llamaswap_scheduler_dispatched_total{band=%q} %d\n", band, stats.Bands[band].Dispatched)
+	}
+
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "# HELP llamaswap_scheduler_reorders_total Dispatches where a scoring term changed which request was picked\n")
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "# TYPE llamaswap_scheduler_reorders_total counter\n")
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "llamaswap_scheduler_reorders_total{cause=\"aging\"} %d\n", stats.AgingReorders)
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "llamaswap_scheduler_reorders_total{cause=\"swap_affinity\"} %d\n", stats.AffinityReorders)
+}

internal/server/server_test.go

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/logmon"
 	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/process"
 	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/router"
+	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/router/scheduler"
 	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/shared"
 )
 
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ type stubRouter struct {
 	running       map[string]process.ProcessState
 	unloadCalls   atomic.Int32
 	loggers       map[string]*logmon.Monitor
+	queueStats    *scheduler.QueueStats
 }
 
 func newStubRouter(models []string, response string) *stubRouter {
@@ -57,6 +59,13 @@ func (s *stubRouter) ProcessLogger(modelID string) (*logmon.Monitor, bool) {
 	return nil, false
 }
 
+func (s *stubRouter) SchedulerStats() (scheduler.QueueStats, bool) {
+	if s.queueStats == nil {
+		return scheduler.QueueStats{}, false
+	}
+	return *s.queueStats, true
+}
+
 // newTestServer wires a Server with stub routers and a built mux.
 func newTestServer(local router.LocalRouter, peer router.Router) *Server {
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())

internal/shared/http.go

@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ type ReqContextData struct {
 	ModelID          string
 	Streaming        bool
 	SendLoadingState bool
+	// Priority is the caller's scheduling priority, read from PriorityHeader.
+	// Higher is more urgent; 0 (PriorityNormal) is the default. See priority.go.
+	Priority int
 	// Metadata is a request-scoped key/value bag that handlers may mutate
 	// while processing. The metrics middleware copies it into ActivityLogEntry.
 	Metadata map[string]string
@@ -118,6 +121,7 @@ func FetchContext(r *http.Request, cfg config.Config) (ReqContextData, error) {
 		if mc, ok := cfg.Models[realName]; ok {
 			data.SendLoadingState = mc.SendLoadingState != nil && *mc.SendLoadingState
 		}
+		data.Priority = RequestPriority(r)
 		*r = *r.WithContext(SetContext(r.Context(), data))
 		return data, nil
 	}
@@ -137,6 +141,7 @@ func extractUpstreamContext(r *http.Request, cfg config.Config) (ReqContextData,
 		ApiKey:           ExtractAPIKey(r),
 		Streaming:        r.URL.Query().Get("stream") == "true",
 		SendLoadingState: sendLoadingState(cfg, realName),
+		Priority:         RequestPriority(r),
 		Metadata:         make(map[string]string),
 	}, true
 }

internal/shared/priority.go

@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+package shared
+
+import (
+	"net/http"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// PriorityHeader carries the caller's scheduling priority. Priority is a
+// property of the caller's intent, not of the model — the same model serves
+// both an interactive request and a batch job — so it travels as a header
+// rather than as per-model configuration, and leaves the OpenAI-compatible
+// request body untouched.
+const PriorityHeader = "X-LlamaSwap-Priority"
+
+// Priority band anchors. The number is the interface: callers may send any
+// signed integer, and these names are conveniences that resolve to a value.
+//
+// Bands are spaced 100 apart so a consumer can add a small per-caller offset
+// (a subscription tier, say) on top of a band without ever promoting a request
+// across one: a "max member" batch job at -98 still loses to every normal
+// request at 0.
+const (
+	PriorityInteractive = 100 // a human is waiting
+	PriorityNormal      = 0   // the default
+	PriorityBatch       = -100
+)
+
+// bandHalfWidth is how far a priority may sit from a band anchor and still be
+// reported as that band. It is half the 100-point band spacing, so every
+// integer belongs to exactly one band.
+const bandHalfWidth = 50
+
+// Band names used for metrics labels, ordered most to least urgent.
+const (
+	BandInteractive = "interactive"
+	BandNormal      = "normal"
+	BandBatch       = "batch"
+)
+
+// PriorityBands is every band name, in descending order of urgency. Metrics
+// emit a series per band regardless of whether any request currently occupies
+// it, so the label set stays stable.
+var PriorityBands = []string{BandInteractive, BandNormal, BandBatch}
+
+var priorityAliases = map[string]int{
+	"interactive": PriorityInteractive,
+	"normal":      PriorityNormal,
+	"batch":       PriorityBatch,
+}
+
+// ParsePriority resolves a PriorityHeader value to a signed integer. A numeric
+// value is used as-is; a recognised alias resolves to its anchor. Anything
+// absent or unparseable is PriorityNormal, so a malformed header degrades to
+// the default rather than failing the request.
+//
+// Values are deliberately not clamped: the caller composes band, tier offset
+// and anything else it wants into one number, and llama-swap honours it.
+func ParsePriority(value string) int {
+	value = strings.TrimSpace(value)
+	if value == "" {
+		return PriorityNormal
+	}
+	if n, err := strconv.Atoi(value); err == nil {
+		return n
+	}
+	if n, ok := priorityAliases[strings.ToLower(value)]; ok {
+		return n
+	}
+	return PriorityNormal
+}
+
+// RequestPriority reads PriorityHeader off r and resolves it. See ParsePriority.
+func RequestPriority(r *http.Request) int {
+	return ParsePriority(r.Header.Get(PriorityHeader))
+}
+
+// PriorityBand buckets a priority into the band it belongs to, for metrics
+// labels. Values beyond the anchors saturate: +1000 is still "interactive".
+func PriorityBand(priority int) string {
+	switch {
+	case priority >= PriorityInteractive-bandHalfWidth:
+		return BandInteractive
+	case priority <= PriorityBatch+bandHalfWidth:
+		return BandBatch
+	default:
+		return BandNormal
+	}
+}

internal/shared/priority_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+package shared
+
+import (
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/mostlygeek/llama-swap/internal/config"
+)
+
+func TestShared_ParsePriority(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name  string
+		value string
+		want  int
+	}{
+		{"absent", "", PriorityNormal},
+		{"zero", "0", 0},
+		{"positive", "100", 100},
+		{"negative", "-100", -100},
+		{"explicit plus", "+42", 42},
+		{"surrounding space", "  100  ", 100},
+		{"large value is not clamped", "100000", 100000},
+		{"alias interactive", "interactive", PriorityInteractive},
+		{"alias normal", "normal", PriorityNormal},
+		{"alias batch", "batch", PriorityBatch},
+		{"alias is case insensitive", "Batch", PriorityBatch},
+		{"tier offset on a band", "-98", -98},
+		{"unknown alias falls back to normal", "urgent", PriorityNormal},
+		{"garbage falls back to normal", "!!", PriorityNormal},
+		{"float falls back to normal", "1.5", PriorityNormal},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if got := ParsePriority(tc.value); got != tc.want {
+				t.Errorf("ParsePriority(%q)=%d want %d", tc.value, got, tc.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestShared_RequestPriority(t *testing.T) {
+	r := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "/v1/models", nil)
+	if got := RequestPriority(r); got != PriorityNormal {
+		t.Errorf("no header: got %d want %d", got, PriorityNormal)
+	}
+
+	r.Header.Set(PriorityHeader, "batch")
+	if got := RequestPriority(r); got != PriorityBatch {
+		t.Errorf("batch header: got %d want %d", got, PriorityBatch)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestShared_PriorityBand pins the bucketing the metrics labels rely on. The
+// important cases are the tier offsets: a max member's batch job at -98 must
+// still report as batch, not normal.
+func TestShared_PriorityBand(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		priority int
+		want     string
+	}{
+		{PriorityInteractive, BandInteractive},
+		{PriorityInteractive + 2, BandInteractive}, // max tier, interactive
+		{1000, BandInteractive},                    // saturates
+		{50, BandInteractive},                      // lower edge
+		{49, BandNormal},
+		{PriorityNormal, BandNormal},
+		{2, BandNormal}, // max tier, normal
+		{-49, BandNormal},
+		{-50, BandBatch}, // upper edge
+		{PriorityBatch + 2, BandBatch},
+		{PriorityBatch, BandBatch},
+		{-1000, BandBatch}, // saturates
+	}
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		if got := PriorityBand(tc.priority); got != tc.want {
+			t.Errorf("PriorityBand(%d)=%q want %q", tc.priority, got, tc.want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// TestShared_FetchContext_Priority verifies the header reaches the request
+// context, which is what carries it to the scheduler. Both entry points into
+// FetchContext are covered: the normal body-parsed path and /upstream/<model>.
+func TestShared_FetchContext_Priority(t *testing.T) {
+	cfg := config.Config{Models: map[string]config.ModelConfig{"m1": {}}}
+
+	cases := []struct {
+		name   string
+		path   string
+		header string
+		want   int
+	}{
+		{"body path, no header", "/v1/chat/completions", "", PriorityNormal},
+		{"body path, alias", "/v1/chat/completions", "interactive", PriorityInteractive},
+		{"body path, number", "/v1/chat/completions", "-98", -98},
+		{"upstream path", "/upstream/m1/v1/chat/completions", "batch", PriorityBatch},
+	}
+
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			r := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, c.path, strings.NewReader(`{"model":"m1"}`))
+			r.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+			if c.header != "" {
+				r.Header.Set(PriorityHeader, c.header)
+			}
+
+			data, err := FetchContext(r, cfg)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("FetchContext: %v", err)
+			}
+			if data.Priority != c.want {
+				t.Errorf("Priority=%d want %d", data.Priority, c.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}