diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..27ffb99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# python artifacts
+*/__pycache__
+__pycache__/
+*.pyo
+*.pyc
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 31b5e2f..0a6cc9e 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
 websockets>=12.0
+psutil>=5.9.0
diff --git a/stats_server.py b/stats_server.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cc7963f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/stats_server.py
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""WebSocket server that sends real Pi system stats every 2 seconds.
+
+Drop-in replacement for mock_server.py. Same port (8765), same JSON schema,
+same 2s push interval. Services remain mocked until systemd integration is added.
+"""
+
+import asyncio
+import json
+import random
+import time
+from datetime import datetime
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import psutil
+import websockets
+
+# Prime the CPU percent counter (first call always returns 0.0)
+psutil.cpu_percent(interval=None)
+
+# Network baseline for delta calculation
+_prev_net = psutil.net_io_counters()
+_prev_net_time = time.monotonic()
+
+
+def _get_cpu_temp() -> float:
+    """Read CPU temperature with fallback for different Pi OS versions."""
+    try:
+        temps = psutil.sensors_temperatures()
+        if "cpu_thermal" in temps and temps["cpu_thermal"]:
+            return round(temps["cpu_thermal"][0].current, 1)
+    except (AttributeError, KeyError):
+        pass
+
+    # Fallback: read sysfs directly (value is in millidegrees)
+    thermal_path = Path("/sys/class/thermal/thermal_zone0/temp")
+    try:
+        millidegrees = int(thermal_path.read_text().strip())
+        return round(millidegrees / 1000.0, 1)
+    except (FileNotFoundError, ValueError, PermissionError):
+        return 0.0
+
+
+def _get_net_throughput() -> tuple[float, float]:
+    """Calculate network rx/tx in kbps since last call."""
+    global _prev_net, _prev_net_time
+
+    now = time.monotonic()
+    current = psutil.net_io_counters()
+    elapsed = now - _prev_net_time
+
+    if elapsed <= 0:
+        return 0.0, 0.0
+
+    rx_kbps = round((current.bytes_recv - _prev_net.bytes_recv) * 8 / (elapsed * 1000), 1)
+    tx_kbps = round((current.bytes_sent - _prev_net.bytes_sent) * 8 / (elapsed * 1000), 1)
+
+    _prev_net = current
+    _prev_net_time = now
+
+    return rx_kbps, tx_kbps
+
+
+def _mock_services() -> list[dict]:
+    """Mocked service status — same logic as mock_server.py."""
+    return [
+        {"name": "docker", "status": random.choice(["running", "running", "running", "stopped"])},
+        {"name": "pihole", "status": random.choice(["running", "running", "running", "stopped"])},
+        {"name": "nginx", "status": random.choice(["running", "running", "stopped"])},
+        {"name": "sshd", "status": "running"},
+    ]
+
+
+def _local_time_fields() -> dict:
+    """Current local time as broken-down fields for RTC sync."""
+    now = datetime.now()
+    return {
+        "y": now.year,
+        "mo": now.month,
+        "d": now.day,
+        "h": now.hour,
+        "m": now.minute,
+        "s": now.second,
+    }
+
+
+def generate_stats() -> dict:
+    mem = psutil.virtual_memory()
+    disk = psutil.disk_usage("/")
+    rx_kbps, tx_kbps = _get_net_throughput()
+
+    return {
+        "cpu_pct": psutil.cpu_percent(interval=None),
+        "mem_pct": round(mem.percent, 1),
+        "mem_used_mb": int(mem.used // (1024 * 1024)),
+        "disk_pct": round(disk.percent, 1),
+        "cpu_temp": _get_cpu_temp(),
+        "uptime_hrs": round((time.time() - psutil.boot_time()) / 3600, 1),
+        "net_rx_kbps": rx_kbps,
+        "net_tx_kbps": tx_kbps,
+        "services": _mock_services(),
+        "timestamp": int(time.time()),
+        "local_time": _local_time_fields(),
+    }
+
+
+async def handler(websocket):
+    addr = websocket.remote_address
+    print(f"Client connected: {addr}")
+    try:
+        while True:
+            stats = generate_stats()
+            await websocket.send(json.dumps(stats))
+            await asyncio.sleep(2)
+    except websockets.ConnectionClosed:
+        print(f"Client disconnected: {addr}")
+
+
+async def main():
+    print("Pi stats server starting on ws://0.0.0.0:8765")
+    async with websockets.serve(handler, "0.0.0.0", 8765):
+        await asyncio.Future()  # run forever
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    asyncio.run(main())