diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 32b5a55..3991004 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -84,6 +84,8 @@ host;display-name;action1;action2;...
 Example:
 
 ```bash README.md
+SSH_USER="root"
+
 NODES=(
   "192.168.1.10;web-01;apt;reboot"
   "192.168.1.11;db-01;apt;cmd:systemctl restart postgresql"
@@ -106,7 +108,8 @@ Options:
 
 ## Notes
 
-- SSH connections currently use `root@host`
+- SSH connections use `root@host` by default and can be changed with `SSH_USER` in the config file
+- `cmd:<remote command>` is executed through a remote shell, so shell operators such as pipes, redirections, `&&`, and `||` are supported
 - The tool is interactive and intended for manual administration workflows
 - After execution, the log file is opened with `$EDITOR` when available, otherwise with `nano`, `vi`, or `less`
 - If no supported log viewer is available, the script keeps running and prints the log file path
diff --git a/bin/netupgrade b/bin/netupgrade
index 516e31f..7c2310f 100755
--- a/bin/netupgrade
+++ b/bin/netupgrade
@@ -58,23 +58,37 @@ loadConfig(){
 	fi
 }
 
+parseNode() {
+	local NODE_VALUE="${1}"
+	local -n NODE_FIELDS_REF="${2}"
+	IFS=';' read -r -a NODE_FIELDS_REF <<< "${NODE_VALUE}"
+}
+
+runSSH() {
+	local HOST="${1}"
+	shift
+	ssh "${SSH_USER}@${HOST}" "$@"
+}
+
 selectNodes(){
 	local -a OPTIONS=()
 	local -i INDEX=1
+	local -i I=0
+	local -a FIELDS=()
+	local DESC=""
+	local FIELD=""
+
 	for NODE in "${NODES[@]}"; do
-		# shellcheck disable=SC2206
-		local FIELDS=(${NODE//;/ })
-		local DESKSKIP=0
-		local DESC=""
-		for FIELD in "${FIELDS[@]}"; do
-			if [ ${DESKSKIP} -gt 1 ]; then
-				if [ "${DESC}" == "" ]; then
-					DESC="${FIELD/:*/}"
-				else
-					DESC="${DESC}|${FIELD/:*/}"
-				fi
+		FIELDS=()
+		DESC=""
+		parseNode "${NODE}" FIELDS
+		for ((I = 2; I < ${#FIELDS[@]}; ++I)); do
+			FIELD="${FIELDS[I]}"
+			if [ -z "${DESC}" ]; then
+				DESC="${FIELD%%:*}"
+			else
+				DESC="${DESC}|${FIELD%%:*}"
 			fi
-			DESKSKIP=$(( DESKSKIP + 1))
 		done
 		OPTIONS+=("${INDEX}:${FIELDS[0]}" "${FIELDS[1]} [${DESC}]" "${FULL}")
 		INDEX+=1
@@ -97,14 +111,14 @@ selectNodes(){
 	for ITM in ${SEL}; do
 		INDEX=1
 		for NODE in "${NODES[@]}"; do
-			# shellcheck disable=SC2206
-			local FIELDS=(${NODE//;/ })
+			FIELDS=()
+			parseNode "${NODE}" FIELDS
 			if [ "${ITM}" = "\"${INDEX}:${FIELDS[0]}\"" ]; then
 				for ((I = 2; I < ${#FIELDS[@]}; ++I)); do
-					if runCmd "${FIELDS[0]}" "${FIELDS[1]}" "${FIELDS[${I}]}"; then
-						RESULT+="Ok: ${FIELDS[1]} @ ${FIELDS[0]} : ${FIELDS[${I}]}\n"
+					if runCmd "${FIELDS[0]}" "${FIELDS[1]}" "${FIELDS[I]}"; then
+						RESULT+="Ok: ${FIELDS[1]} @ ${FIELDS[0]} : ${FIELDS[I]}\n"
 					else
-						RESULT+="Error: ${FIELDS[1]} @ ${FIELDS[0]} : ${FIELDS[${I}]}\n"
+						RESULT+="Error: ${FIELDS[1]} @ ${FIELDS[0]} : ${FIELDS[I]}\n"
 					fi
 				done
 			fi
@@ -127,136 +141,157 @@ selectNodes(){
 	echo -e "${RESULT}"
 }
 
-runCmd() { #$1=host $2=name #3=cmd
-	local -r HOST=${1}
-	local -r NAME=${2}
-	local -r CMD=${3//:*}
-	local -r CMDVAL=${3//*:}
+runCmd() { # $1=host $2=name $3=cmd
+	local -r HOST="${1}"
+	local -r NAME="${2}"
+	local -r ACTION="${3}"
+	local -r CMD="${ACTION%%:*}"
+	local -r CMDVAL="${ACTION#*:}"
 	local -i ERROR=0
-	echo "${NAME} @ ${HOST} : ${CMD}" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-	local TITLELENGTH=$((${#NAME} + ${#HOST} + ${#CMD} + 6))
+	local TITLELENGTH=0
 	local SUBTITLE="-----------------------------------------------------------------------------"
-	echo ${SUBTITLE:0:${TITLELENGTH}} | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
+	local YESARG=""
+
+	echo "${NAME} @ ${HOST} : ${CMD}" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
+	TITLELENGTH=$((${#NAME} + ${#HOST} + ${#CMD} + 6))
+	echo "${SUBTITLE:0:${TITLELENGTH}}" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
 	date +'%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S %A' | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
 	echo "" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
 	set -o pipefail
-	local YESARG=""
+
 	case ${CMD} in
 		reboot)
-			ssh root@"${HOST}" reboot | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
+			if ! runSSH "${HOST}" reboot | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
+				ERROR=1
+			fi
 		;;
 		apt)
-			if [ ${YES} == 1 ]; then
+			if [ "${YES}" -eq 1 ]; then
 				YESARG="-y"
 			fi
 			echo "apt-get ${YESARG} update" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-			if ! ssh root@"${HOST}" apt-get ${YESARG} update | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
+			if ! runSSH "${HOST}" apt-get ${YESARG} update | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
 				ERROR=1
 			else
 				echo "" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
 				echo "apt-get ${YESARG} dist-upgrade" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-				if ! ssh root@"${HOST}" apt-get ${YESARG} dist-upgrade | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
+				if ! runSSH "${HOST}" apt-get ${YESARG} dist-upgrade | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
 					ERROR=1
 				fi
 				echo "" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
 				echo "apt-get ${YESARG} autoremove" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-				ssh root@"${HOST}" apt-get ${YESARG} autoremove | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
+				runSSH "${HOST}" apt-get ${YESARG} autoremove | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
 				echo "" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
 				echo "apt-get ${YESARG} autoclean" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-				ssh root@"${HOST}" apt-get ${YESARG} autoclean | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
+				runSSH "${HOST}" apt-get ${YESARG} autoclean | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
 				echo "" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
 				echo "apt-get ${YESARG} clean" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-				ssh root@"${HOST}" apt-get ${YESARG} clean | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
+				runSSH "${HOST}" apt-get ${YESARG} clean | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
 				echo "" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
 				echo "apt-get ${YESARG} purge" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-				ssh root@"${HOST}" apt-get ${YESARG} purge | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
+				runSSH "${HOST}" apt-get ${YESARG} purge | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
 				echo "" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
 			fi
 		;;
 		yum)
-			if [ ${YES} == 1 ]; then
+			if [ "${YES}" -eq 1 ]; then
 				YESARG="-y"
 			fi
 			echo "yum ${YESARG} update" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-			if ! ssh root@"${HOST}" yum ${YESARG} update | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
+			if ! runSSH "${HOST}" yum ${YESARG} update | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
 				ERROR=1
 			fi
 		;;
 		pkg)
-			if [ ${YES} == 1 ]; then
+			if [ "${YES}" -eq 1 ]; then
 				YESARG="-y"
 			fi
 			echo "pkg ${YESARG} update" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-			if ! ssh root@"${HOST}" pkg ${YESARG} update | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
+			if ! runSSH "${HOST}" pkg ${YESARG} update | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
 				ERROR=1
 			else
 				echo "" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
 				echo "pkg upgrade ${YESARG}" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-				if ! ssh root@"${HOST}" pkg upgrade ${YESARG} | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
-								ERROR=1
+				if ! runSSH "${HOST}" pkg upgrade ${YESARG} | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
+					ERROR=1
 				fi
 				echo "" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
 				echo "pkg autoremove ${YESARG}" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-				ssh root@"${HOST}" pkg autoremove ${YESARG} | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
+				runSSH "${HOST}" pkg autoremove ${YESARG} | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
 				echo "" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
 				echo "pkg clean ${YESARG}" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-				ssh root@"${HOST}" pkg clean ${YESARG} | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
+				runSSH "${HOST}" pkg clean ${YESARG} | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
 				echo "" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
 			fi
 		;;
 		pacman)
-			if [ ${YES} == 1 ]; then
+			if [ "${YES}" -eq 1 ]; then
 				YESARG="--noconfirm"
 			fi
 			echo "pacman -Sy ${YESARG} archlinux-keyring" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-			if ! ssh root@"${HOST}" pacman -Sy ${YESARG} archlinux-keyring | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
+			if ! runSSH "${HOST}" pacman -Sy ${YESARG} archlinux-keyring | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
 				ERROR=1
 			fi
 			echo "pacman -Syu ${YESARG}" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-			if ! ssh root@"${HOST}" pacman -Syu ${YESARG} | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
+			if ! runSSH "${HOST}" pacman -Syu ${YESARG} | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
+				ERROR=1
+			fi
+			echo "pacman orphan cleanup" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
+			if ! runSSH "${HOST}" sh -c 'yesarg="$1"; orphans=$(pacman -Qqtd 2>/dev/null || true); if [ -n "$orphans" ]; then pacman -Rns $yesarg $orphans; fi' sh "${YESARG}" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
+				ERROR=1
+			fi
+			echo "pacman -Sc ${YESARG}" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
+			if ! runSSH "${HOST}" pacman -Sc ${YESARG} | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
 				ERROR=1
 			fi
-			# shellcheck disable=SC2046
-			ssh root@"${HOST}" pacman -Rns $(pacman -Qqtd) ${YESARG} | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-			ssh root@"${HOST}" pacman -Sc ${YESARG} | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
 		;;
 		apk)
-			if [ ${YES} == 1 ]; then
+			if [ "${YES}" -eq 1 ]; then
 				YESARG="-y"
 			fi
 			echo "apk update" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-			if ! ssh root@"${HOST}" apk update | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
+			if ! runSSH "${HOST}" apk update | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
 				ERROR=1
 			fi
 			echo "apk upgrade" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-			if ! ssh root@"${HOST}" apk upgrade | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
+			if ! runSSH "${HOST}" apk upgrade | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
 				ERROR=1
 			fi
 		;;
 		cmd)
 			echo "cmd: ${CMDVAL}" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-			# shellcheck disable=SC2029
-			if ! ssh root@"${HOST}" "${CMDVAL}" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
+			if ! runSSH "${HOST}" sh -c "${CMDVAL}" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
 				ERROR=1
 			fi
 		;;
 		docker-stacks)
-			echo "docker stacks update" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-			echo "for each" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-			echo "  docker compose pull; docker compose up -d" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-			if ! ssh root@"${HOST}" 'for dir in '"${CMDVAL}"'/*; do (cd "${dir}"; docker compose pull; docker compose up -d); done; docker image prune -f' | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
-				ERROR=1
-			fi
-			echo "docker image prune -a -f" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-			if ! ssh root@"${HOST}" docker image prune -f | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"; then
+			echo "docker stacks update in ${CMDVAL}" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
+			if ! runSSH "${HOST}" sh -s -- "${CMDVAL}" <<'EOF' | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
+stack_root="$1"
+
+for dir in "$stack_root"/*; do
+	[ -d "$dir" ] || continue
+	(
+		cd "$dir" || exit 1
+		docker compose pull
+		docker compose up -d
+	) || exit 1
+done
+
+docker image prune -f
+EOF
+			then
 				ERROR=1
 			fi
 		;;
-		*) echo "Error: Command ${CMD} unknown" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}";;
+		*)
+			echo "Error: Command ${CMD} unknown" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
+			ERROR=1
+		;;
 	esac
 	echo "" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
 	echo "" | tee -a "${LOGFILENAME}"
-	if [ ${ERROR} == 1 ]; then
+	if [ "${ERROR}" -eq 1 ]; then
 		return 1
 	fi
 }
@@ -267,6 +302,7 @@ declare -i FULL=0
 declare CONFIGFILENAME="${HOME}/.config/netupgrade/index.cfg"
 declare LOGFILENAME="${HOME}/netupgrade.log"
 declare LOGVIEWER=""
+declare SSH_USER="root"
 declare -a NODES=()
 
 while [[ ${#} -gt 0 ]]; do
diff --git a/state.md b/state.md
index 0f0eb04..914d27b 100644
--- a/state.md
+++ b/state.md
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ The tool:
 2. Expects a `NODES` array populated with entries formatted like:
    `host;display-name;action1;action2;...`
 3. Displays an interactive multi-select checklist using `whiptail`
-4. Executes the selected actions on each selected host through `ssh root@host`
+4. Executes the selected actions on each selected host through SSH, using `root@host` by default or `SSH_USER@host` when configured
 5. Writes execution logs to `~/netupgrade.log`
 6. Opens the log with `$EDITOR` when available, otherwise `nano`, `vi`, or `less`; if none is available, it prints the log path, then optionally removes the log file
 
@@ -57,18 +57,15 @@ Supported action types currently include:
 - The configuration format and supported actions are now documented in more detail
 
 ### 2. Shell robustness concerns
-- Node parsing relies on replacing `;` with spaces and re-splitting:
-  this is fragile if values contain spaces or special characters
-- Quoting is inconsistent across the script
 - Config files are sourced directly, which is flexible but implies arbitrary code execution
-- The script does not use a stricter shell safety baseline
+- The script still has some quoting-sensitive areas and does not use a stricter shell safety baseline
+- The `NODES` parsing was hardened to split on `;` with `IFS`/`read -r -a`, which now preserves spaces in action values such as `cmd:...`
 
 ### 3. Remote execution correctness and safety
-- SSH user is hardcoded to `root`
-- `cmd:<...>` intentionally allows arbitrary remote command execution, which should be treated as a powerful unsafe feature
-- Some remote command constructions are brittle
-- The `pacman` orphan-removal command appears incorrect because command substitution is evaluated locally instead of remotely
-- The `docker-stacks` remote loop should be reviewed carefully for quoting and path safety
+- SSH execution now goes through a dedicated `runSSH` helper and the SSH user is configurable via `SSH_USER`, defaulting to `root`
+- `cmd:<...>` intentionally allows arbitrary remote command execution and is now executed through a remote shell, which improves support for shell operators but remains a powerful unsafe feature
+- The `pacman` orphan-removal command was corrected so orphan detection happens on the remote host instead of locally
+- The `docker-stacks` remote loop was rewritten to pass the stack root as an argument to a remote shell script, improving quoting and path handling
 
 ### 4. UX and dependency issues
 - Required runtime dependencies are now checked at startup (`ssh`, `whiptail`, `sed`, `tee`, `rm`, `touch`)
@@ -92,10 +89,9 @@ Supported action types currently include:
 ## Recommended direction
 
 ### Short term
-- Correct the remote command bugs, especially for `pacman`
-- Improve parsing of node entries to avoid whitespace-splitting issues
-- Review `docker-stacks` remote command quoting and behavior
-- Consider making SSH user, log path, and editor configurable
+- Review the remaining quoting-sensitive areas, especially around remote shell command construction
+- Consider making log path and editor configurable
+- Revisit the log summary insertion method, which still relies on `sed -i` string interpolation
 
 ### Medium term
 - Improve parsing of node entries to avoid whitespace-splitting issues
@@ -116,6 +112,11 @@ Supported action types currently include:
 - Log viewer selection was made more flexible: `$EDITOR` is preferred, then `nano`, `vi`, or `less`
 - `nano` is no longer a strict runtime dependency
 - The unsupported `-b` option remains unimplemented and is no longer shown in help output
+- `NODES` parsing was hardened to preserve spaces in action values by splitting on `;` with `IFS` and `read -r -a`
+- SSH calls were centralized through a `runSSH` helper and `SSH_USER` is now configurable, defaulting to `root`
+- The `pacman` orphan cleanup now runs entirely on the remote host instead of evaluating orphan detection locally
+- The `docker-stacks` action was rewritten to use a remote shell script with the stack directory passed as an argument
+- Unknown actions and reboot SSH failures now propagate error status more consistently
 
 ## Change guidance
 - Preserve backward compatibility for existing config files where possible