diff --git a/agent-node/VERSION b/agent-node/VERSION
index b0f3d96..66c4c22 100644
--- a/agent-node/VERSION
+++ b/agent-node/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.0.8
+1.0.9
diff --git a/agent-node/install_service.py b/agent-node/install_service.py
index ee246d2..b05c7d2 100755
--- a/agent-node/install_service.py
+++ b/agent-node/install_service.py
@@ -79,7 +79,83 @@
     except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
         print(f"❌ Failed to load launchd service: {e}")
 
+def _is_systemd_available():
+    try:
+        # Check if systemd is running (PID 1)
+        with open("/proc/1/comm", "r") as f:
+            if "systemd" in f.read():
+                # Even if systemd is PID 1, --user might fail if no session D-Bus
+                r = subprocess.run(["systemctl", "--user", "list-units"], capture_output=True)
+                return r.returncode == 0
+    except:
+        pass
+    return False
+
+def install_linux_background_loop():
+    print("Systemd not available or refusing connection. Falling back to background loop (nohup)...")
+    
+    # Create a small control script to manage the background process
+    ctl_script = os.path.join(get_working_dir(), "cortex-ctl")
+    
+    script_content = f"""#!/bin/sh
+# Cortex Agent Control Script (Background-loop mode)
+PIDFILE="{get_working_dir()}/agent.pid"
+LOGFILE="{os.path.expanduser("~")}/.cortex/agent.out.log"
+
+case "$1" in
+  start)
+    if [ -f "$PIDFILE" ] && kill -0 $(cat "$PIDFILE") 2>/dev/null; then
+        echo "Agent is already running (PID $(cat $PIDFILE))"
+        exit 0
+    fi
+    echo "Starting Cortex Agent..."
+    mkdir -p "$(dirname "$LOGFILE")"
+    nohup {get_python_path()} {get_agent_main_path()} >> "$LOGFILE" 2>&1 &
+    echo $! > "$PIDFILE"
+    echo "Agent started (PID $!)"
+    ;;
+  stop)
+    if [ -f "$PIDFILE" ]; then
+        echo "Stopping Cortex Agent (PID $(cat $PIDFILE))..."
+        kill $(cat "$PIDFILE")
+        rm "$PIDFILE"
+    else
+        echo "Agent is not running"
+    fi
+    ;;
+  status)
+    if [ -f "$PIDFILE" ] && kill -0 $(cat "$PIDFILE") 2>/dev/null; then
+        echo "Agent is RUNNING (PID $(cat $PIDFILE))"
+    else
+        echo "Agent is STOPPED"
+    fi
+    ;;
+  logs)
+    tail -f "$LOGFILE"
+    ;;
+  *)
+    echo "Usage: $0 {{start|stop|status|logs}}"
+    exit 1
+esac
+"""
+    with open(ctl_script, "w") as f:
+        f.write(script_content)
+    os.chmod(ctl_script, 0o755)
+    
+    # Start it
+    try:
+        subprocess.run([ctl_script, "start"], check=True)
+        print("✅ Linux Background Service successfully started!")
+        print(f"Management script created at: {ctl_script}")
+        print(f"Use '{ctl_script} status' to check.")
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"❌ Failed to start background loop: {e}")
+
 def install_linux_systemd():
+    if not _is_systemd_available():
+        install_linux_background_loop()
+        return
+
     print("Installing Linux systemd user service...")
     
     service_content = f"""[Unit]
@@ -127,6 +203,8 @@
         print("  Logs: journalctl --user -u cortex-agent -f")
     except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
         print(f"❌ Failed to configure systemd service: {e}")
+        # Final fallback
+        install_linux_background_loop()
 
 def main():
     if not os.path.exists(get_agent_main_path()):