diff --git a/services/catalog/VERSION b/services/catalog/VERSION
index 09a3acfa138..bcaffe19b5b 100644
--- a/services/catalog/VERSION
+++ b/services/catalog/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.6.0
\ No newline at end of file
+0.7.0
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/services/catalog/openapi.json b/services/catalog/openapi.json
index ad9422734c8..896399a63b9 100644
--- a/services/catalog/openapi.json
+++ b/services/catalog/openapi.json
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   "info": {
     "title": "simcore-service-catalog",
     "description": "Manages and maintains a catalog of all published components (e.g. macro-algorithms, scripts, etc)",
-    "version": "0.6.0"
+    "version": "0.7.0"
   },
   "paths": {
     "/": {
@@ -136,6 +136,60 @@
         }
       }
     },
+    "/v0/services/{service_key}/{service_version}/labels": {
+      "get": {
+        "tags": [
+          "services"
+        ],
+        "summary": "Get Service Labels",
+        "operationId": "get_service_labels_v0_services__service_key___service_version__labels_get",
+        "parameters": [
+          {
+            "name": "service_key",
+            "in": "path",
+            "required": true,
+            "schema": {
+              "type": "string",
+              "pattern": "^simcore/services/((comp|dynamic|frontend))/([a-z0-9][a-z0-9_.-]*/)*([a-z0-9-_]+[a-z0-9])$",
+              "title": "Service Key"
+            }
+          },
+          {
+            "name": "service_version",
+            "in": "path",
+            "required": true,
+            "schema": {
+              "type": "string",
+              "pattern": "^(0|[1-9]\\d*)(\\.(0|[1-9]\\d*)){2}(-(0|[1-9]\\d*|\\d*[-a-zA-Z][-\\da-zA-Z]*)(\\.(0|[1-9]\\d*|\\d*[-a-zA-Z][-\\da-zA-Z]*))*)?(\\+[-\\da-zA-Z]+(\\.[-\\da-zA-Z-]+)*)?$",
+              "title": "Service Version"
+            }
+          }
+        ],
+        "responses": {
+          "200": {
+            "description": "Successful Response",
+            "content": {
+              "application/json": {
+                "schema": {
+                  "type": "object",
+                  "title": "Response Get Service Labels V0 Services  Service Key   Service Version  Labels Get"
+                }
+              }
+            }
+          },
+          "422": {
+            "description": "Validation Error",
+            "content": {
+              "application/json": {
+                "schema": {
+                  "$ref": "#/components/schemas/HTTPValidationError"
+                }
+              }
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    },
     "/v0/services/{service_key}/{service_version}/specifications": {
       "get": {
         "tags": [
diff --git a/services/catalog/setup.cfg b/services/catalog/setup.cfg
index ba46449cb68..401431f420a 100644
--- a/services/catalog/setup.cfg
+++ b/services/catalog/setup.cfg
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [bumpversion]
-current_version = 0.6.0
+current_version = 0.7.0
 commit = True
 message = services/catalog version: {current_version} → {new_version}
 tag = False
diff --git a/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/api/rest/_services_labels.py b/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/api/rest/_services_labels.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..bf02bb3b90f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/api/rest/_services_labels.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+from typing import Annotated, Any
+
+from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends
+from models_library.services import ServiceKey, ServiceVersion
+
+from ...services.director import DirectorApi
+from ..dependencies.director import get_director_api
+
+router = APIRouter()
+
+
+@router.get("/{service_key:path}/{service_version}/labels")
+async def get_service_labels(
+    service_key: ServiceKey,
+    service_version: ServiceVersion,
+    director_client: Annotated[DirectorApi, Depends(get_director_api)],
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    return await director_client.get_service_labels(service_key, service_version)
diff --git a/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/api/rest/_services_resources.py b/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/api/rest/_services_resources.py
index 009773aa2de..72080408663 100644
--- a/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/api/rest/_services_resources.py
+++ b/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/api/rest/_services_resources.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import logging
 import urllib.parse
 from copy import deepcopy
-from typing import Annotated, Any, Final, cast
+from typing import Annotated, Any, Final
 
 import yaml
 from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, HTTPException, status
@@ -131,12 +131,7 @@ async def _get_service_labels(
     director_client: DirectorApi, key: ServiceKey, version: ServiceVersion
 ) -> dict[str, Any] | None:
     try:
-        service_labels = cast(
-            dict[str, Any],
-            await director_client.get(
-                f"/services/{urllib.parse.quote_plus(key)}/{version}/labels"
-            ),
-        )
+        service_labels = await director_client.get_service_labels(key, version)
         _logger.debug(
             "received for %s %s",
             f"/services/{urllib.parse.quote_plus(key)}/{version}/labels",
diff --git a/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/api/rest/routes.py b/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/api/rest/routes.py
index dba2d4e014a..25f0d8e92e5 100644
--- a/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/api/rest/routes.py
+++ b/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/api/rest/routes.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
     _meta,
     _services,
     _services_access_rights,
+    _services_labels,
     _services_ports,
     _services_resources,
     _services_specifications,
@@ -38,6 +39,11 @@
     tags=_SERVICE_TAGS,
     prefix=_SERVICE_PREFIX,
 )
+v0_router.include_router(
+    _services_labels.router,
+    tags=_SERVICE_TAGS,
+    prefix=_SERVICE_PREFIX,
+)
 v0_router.include_router(
     _services_specifications.router,
     tags=_SERVICE_TAGS,
diff --git a/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/services/director.py b/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/services/director.py
index 41b975c4e60..8897f2c0a39 100644
--- a/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/services/director.py
+++ b/services/catalog/src/simcore_service_catalog/services/director.py
@@ -156,6 +156,17 @@ async def get_service(
         assert len(data) == 1  # nosec
         return ServiceMetaDataPublished.model_validate(data[0])
 
+    async def get_service_labels(
+        self,
+        service_key: ServiceKey,
+        service_version: ServiceVersion,
+    ) -> dict[str, Any]:
+        response = await self.get(
+            f"/services/{urllib.parse.quote_plus(service_key)}/{service_version}/labels"
+        )
+        assert isinstance(response, dict)  # nosec
+        return response
+
 
 async def setup_director(
     app: FastAPI, tracing_settings: TracingSettings | None
diff --git a/services/catalog/tests/unit/conftest.py b/services/catalog/tests/unit/conftest.py
index 0bf1cc74f01..59ac3b929dc 100644
--- a/services/catalog/tests/unit/conftest.py
+++ b/services/catalog/tests/unit/conftest.py
@@ -393,11 +393,41 @@ def mocked_director_service_api_base(
         yield respx_mock
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def get_mocked_service_labels() -> Callable[[str, str], dict]:
+    def _(service_key: str, service_version: str) -> dict:
+        return {
+            "io.simcore.authors": '{"authors": [{"name": "John Smith", "email": "john@acme.com", "affiliation": "ACME\'IS Foundation"}]}',
+            "io.simcore.contact": '{"contact": "john@acme.com"}',
+            "io.simcore.description": '{"description": "Autonomous Nervous System Network model"}',
+            "io.simcore.inputs": '{"inputs": {"input_1": {"displayOrder": 1.0, "label": "Simulation time", "description": "Duration of the simulation", "type": "ref_contentSchema", "contentSchema": {"type": "number", "x_unit": "milli-second"}, "defaultValue": 2.0}}}',
+            "io.simcore.integration-version": '{"integration-version": "1.0.0"}',
+            "io.simcore.key": '{"key": "xxxxx"}'.replace("xxxxx", service_key),
+            "io.simcore.name": '{"name": "Autonomous Nervous System Network model"}',
+            "io.simcore.outputs": '{"outputs": {"output_1": {"displayOrder": 1.0, "label": "ANS output", "description": "Output of simulation of Autonomous Nervous System Network model", "type": "data:*/*", "fileToKeyMap": {"ANS_output.txt": "output_1"}}, "output_2": {"displayOrder": 2.0, "label": "Stimulation parameters", "description": "stim_param.txt file containing the input provided in the inputs port", "type": "data:*/*", "fileToKeyMap": {"ANS_stim_param.txt": "output_2"}}}}',
+            "io.simcore.thumbnail": '{"thumbnail": "https://www.statnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/3D-rat-heart.-iScience--768x432.png"}',
+            "io.simcore.type": '{"type": "computational"}',
+            "io.simcore.version": '{"version": "xxxxx"}'.replace(
+                "xxxxx", service_version
+            ),
+            "maintainer": "johnsmith",
+            "org.label-schema.build-date": "2023-04-17T08:04:15Z",
+            "org.label-schema.schema-version": "1.0",
+            "org.label-schema.vcs-ref": "",
+            "org.label-schema.vcs-url": "",
+            "simcore.service.restart-policy": "no-restart",
+            "simcore.service.settings": '[{"name": "Resources", "type": "Resources", "value": {"Limits": {"NanoCPUs": 4000000000, "MemoryBytes": 2147483648}, "Reservations": {"NanoCPUs": 4000000000, "MemoryBytes": 2147483648}}}]',
+        }
+
+    return _
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def mocked_director_service_api(
     mocked_director_service_api_base: respx.MockRouter,
     director_service_openapi_specs: dict[str, Any],
     expected_director_list_services: list[dict[str, Any]],
+    get_mocked_service_labels: Callable[[str, str], dict],
 ) -> respx.MockRouter:
     """
     STANDARD fixture to mock director service API
@@ -461,30 +491,7 @@ def _get_service_labels(request, service_key, service_version):
             return httpx.Response(
                 status_code=status.HTTP_200_OK,
                 json={
-                    "data": {
-                        "io.simcore.authors": '{"authors": [{"name": "John Smith", "email": "john@acme.com", "affiliation": "ACME\'IS Foundation"}]}',
-                        "io.simcore.contact": '{"contact": "john@acme.com"}',
-                        "io.simcore.description": '{"description": "Autonomous Nervous System Network model"}',
-                        "io.simcore.inputs": '{"inputs": {"input_1": {"displayOrder": 1.0, "label": "Simulation time", "description": "Duration of the simulation", "type": "ref_contentSchema", "contentSchema": {"type": "number", "x_unit": "milli-second"}, "defaultValue": 2.0}}}',
-                        "io.simcore.integration-version": '{"integration-version": "1.0.0"}',
-                        "io.simcore.key": '{"key": "xxxxx"}'.replace(
-                            "xxxxx", found["key"]
-                        ),
-                        "io.simcore.name": '{"name": "Autonomous Nervous System Network model"}',
-                        "io.simcore.outputs": '{"outputs": {"output_1": {"displayOrder": 1.0, "label": "ANS output", "description": "Output of simulation of Autonomous Nervous System Network model", "type": "data:*/*", "fileToKeyMap": {"ANS_output.txt": "output_1"}}, "output_2": {"displayOrder": 2.0, "label": "Stimulation parameters", "description": "stim_param.txt file containing the input provided in the inputs port", "type": "data:*/*", "fileToKeyMap": {"ANS_stim_param.txt": "output_2"}}}}',
-                        "io.simcore.thumbnail": '{"thumbnail": "https://www.statnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/3D-rat-heart.-iScience--768x432.png"}',
-                        "io.simcore.type": '{"type": "computational"}',
-                        "io.simcore.version": '{"version": "xxxxx"}'.replace(
-                            "xxxxx", found["version"]
-                        ),
-                        "maintainer": "iavarone",
-                        "org.label-schema.build-date": "2023-04-17T08:04:15Z",
-                        "org.label-schema.schema-version": "1.0",
-                        "org.label-schema.vcs-ref": "",
-                        "org.label-schema.vcs-url": "",
-                        "simcore.service.restart-policy": "no-restart",
-                        "simcore.service.settings": '[{"name": "Resources", "type": "Resources", "value": {"Limits": {"NanoCPUs": 4000000000, "MemoryBytes": 2147483648}, "Reservations": {"NanoCPUs": 4000000000, "MemoryBytes": 2147483648}}}]',
-                    }
+                    "data": get_mocked_service_labels(found["key"], found["version"])
                 },
             )
         return httpx.Response(
diff --git a/services/catalog/tests/unit/test_utils_service_labels.py b/services/catalog/tests/unit/test_utils_service_labels.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..950a30cbd89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/catalog/tests/unit/test_utils_service_labels.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+# pylint: disable=redefined-outer-name
+# pylint: disable=unused-argument
+
+from collections.abc import Callable
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock
+
+import pytest
+from fastapi import FastAPI
+from httpx import AsyncClient
+from respx import MockRouter
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def mock_engine(app: FastAPI) -> None:
+    app.state.engine = AsyncMock()
+
+
+async def test_get_service_labels(
+    postgres_setup_disabled: None,
+    mocked_director_service_api: MockRouter,
+    rabbitmq_and_rpc_setup_disabled: None,
+    background_tasks_setup_disabled: None,
+    mock_engine: None,
+    get_mocked_service_labels: Callable[[str, str], dict],
+    aclient: AsyncClient,
+):
+    service_key = "simcore/services/comp/ans-model"
+    service_version = "3.0.0"
+    result = await aclient.get(f"/v0/services/{service_key}/{service_version}/labels")
+    assert result.status_code == 200, result.text
+    assert result.json() == get_mocked_service_labels(service_key, service_version)
diff --git a/services/catalog/tests/unit/with_dbs/test_api_rest_services_resources.py b/services/catalog/tests/unit/with_dbs/test_api_rest_services_resources.py
index d9ef5ea328f..06bc37b97d6 100644
--- a/services/catalog/tests/unit/with_dbs/test_api_rest_services_resources.py
+++ b/services/catalog/tests/unit/with_dbs/test_api_rest_services_resources.py
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ class _ServiceResourceParams:
     ],
 )
 async def test_get_service_resources(
-    background_tasks_setup_disabled,
+    background_tasks_setup_disabled: None,
     rabbitmq_and_rpc_setup_disabled: None,
     mocked_director_service_labels: Route,
     client: TestClient,
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ def factory(services_labels: dict[str, dict[str, Any]]) -> None:
     ],
 )
 async def test_get_service_resources_sim4life_case(
-    background_tasks_setup_disabled,
+    background_tasks_setup_disabled: None,
     rabbitmq_and_rpc_setup_disabled: None,
     create_mock_director_service_labels: Callable,
     client: TestClient,
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ async def test_get_service_resources_sim4life_case(
 
 
 async def test_get_service_resources_raises_errors(
-    background_tasks_setup_disabled,
+    background_tasks_setup_disabled: None,
     rabbitmq_and_rpc_setup_disabled: None,
     mocked_director_service_labels: Route,
     client: TestClient,
diff --git a/services/catalog/tests/unit/with_dbs/test_services_services_api.py b/services/catalog/tests/unit/with_dbs/test_services_services_api.py
index 63f0fd06e56..bcfae48d319 100644
--- a/services/catalog/tests/unit/with_dbs/test_services_services_api.py
+++ b/services/catalog/tests/unit/with_dbs/test_services_services_api.py
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ async def director_client(app: FastAPI) -> DirectorApi:
 
     # ensures manifest API cache is reset
     assert hasattr(manifest.get_service, "cache")
-    assert manifest.get_service.cache.clear()
+    assert await manifest.get_service.cache.clear()
 
     return director_api
 
diff --git a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/api/routes/dynamic_services.py b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/api/routes/dynamic_services.py
index 24db21cbd23..c7562ccf5cd 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/api/routes/dynamic_services.py
+++ b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/api/routes/dynamic_services.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 from models_library.projects import ProjectAtDB, ProjectID
 from models_library.projects_nodes_io import NodeID
 from models_library.service_settings_labels import SimcoreServiceLabels
-from models_library.services import ServiceKeyVersion
 from models_library.users import UserID
 from pydantic import NonNegativeFloat, NonNegativeInt
 from servicelib.fastapi.requests_decorators import cancel_on_disconnect
@@ -32,11 +31,13 @@
 from tenacity.stop import stop_after_delay
 from tenacity.wait import wait_fixed
 
+from ...api.dependencies.catalog import get_catalog_client
 from ...api.dependencies.database import get_repository
 from ...api.dependencies.rabbitmq import get_rabbitmq_client_from_request
 from ...core.dynamic_services_settings import DynamicServicesSettings
 from ...core.dynamic_services_settings.scheduler import DynamicServicesSchedulerSettings
 from ...modules import projects_networks
+from ...modules.catalog import CatalogClient
 from ...modules.db.repositories.projects import ProjectsRepository
 from ...modules.db.repositories.projects_networks import ProjectsNetworksRepository
 from ...modules.director_v0 import DirectorV0Client
@@ -104,6 +105,7 @@ async def list_tracked_dynamic_services(
 @log_decorator(logger=logger)
 async def create_dynamic_service(
     service: DynamicServiceCreate,
+    catalog_client: Annotated[CatalogClient, Depends(get_catalog_client)],
     director_v0_client: Annotated[DirectorV0Client, Depends(get_director_v0_client)],
     dynamic_services_settings: Annotated[
         DynamicServicesSettings, Depends(get_dynamic_services_settings)
@@ -114,9 +116,7 @@ async def create_dynamic_service(
     x_simcore_user_agent: str = Header(...),
 ) -> DynamicServiceGet | RedirectResponse:
     simcore_service_labels: SimcoreServiceLabels = (
-        await director_v0_client.get_service_labels(
-            service=ServiceKeyVersion(key=service.key, version=service.version)
-        )
+        await catalog_client.get_service_labels(service.key, service.version)
     )
 
     # LEGACY (backwards compatibility)
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ async def update_projects_networks(
         ProjectsRepository, Depends(get_repository(ProjectsRepository))
     ],
     scheduler: Annotated[DynamicSidecarsScheduler, Depends(get_scheduler)],
-    director_v0_client: Annotated[DirectorV0Client, Depends(get_director_v0_client)],
+    catalog_client: Annotated[CatalogClient, Depends(get_catalog_client)],
     rabbitmq_client: Annotated[
         RabbitMQClient, Depends(get_rabbitmq_client_from_request)
     ],
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ async def update_projects_networks(
         projects_networks_repository=projects_networks_repository,
         projects_repository=projects_repository,
         scheduler=scheduler,
-        director_v0_client=director_v0_client,
+        catalog_client=catalog_client,
         rabbitmq_client=rabbitmq_client,
         project_id=project_id,
     )
diff --git a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/cli/_core.py b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/cli/_core.py
index 67a99d4886f..bc7cc095898 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/cli/_core.py
+++ b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/cli/_core.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 from rich.live import Live
 from rich.table import Table
 from servicelib.services_utils import get_service_from_key
+from simcore_service_director_v2.modules.catalog import CatalogClient
 from tenacity.asyncio import AsyncRetrying
 from tenacity.stop import stop_after_attempt
 from tenacity.wait import wait_random_exponential
@@ -25,7 +26,6 @@
 from ..models.dynamic_services_scheduler import DynamicSidecarNamesHelper
 from ..modules import db, director_v0, dynamic_sidecar
 from ..modules.db.repositories.projects import ProjectsRepository
-from ..modules.director_v0 import DirectorV0Client
 from ..modules.dynamic_sidecar import api_client
 from ..modules.projects_networks import requires_dynamic_sidecar
 from ..utils.db import get_repository
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ async def async_project_save_state(project_id: ProjectID, save_attempts: int) ->
             if not await requires_dynamic_sidecar(
                 service_key=node_content.key,
                 service_version=node_content.version,
-                director_v0_client=DirectorV0Client.instance(app),
+                catalog_client=CatalogClient.instance(app),
             ):
                 continue
 
diff --git a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/catalog.py b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/catalog.py
index 6125c4cfb02..eb9eead1e9e 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/catalog.py
+++ b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/catalog.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 import httpx
 from fastapi import FastAPI, HTTPException, status
+from models_library.service_settings_labels import SimcoreServiceLabels
 from models_library.services import ServiceKey, ServiceVersion
 from models_library.services_resources import ServiceResourcesDict
 from models_library.users import UserID
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ def create(cls, app: FastAPI, **kwargs):
 
     @classmethod
     def instance(cls, app: FastAPI) -> "CatalogClient":
-        assert type(app.state.catalog_client) == CatalogClient  # nosec
+        assert isinstance(app.state.catalog_client, CatalogClient)  # nosec
         return app.state.catalog_client
 
     @handle_errors("Catalog", logger)
@@ -107,6 +108,18 @@ async def get_service_resources(
             return json_response
         raise HTTPException(status_code=resp.status_code, detail=resp.content)
 
+    async def get_service_labels(
+        self, service_key: ServiceKey, service_version: ServiceVersion
+    ) -> SimcoreServiceLabels:
+        resp = await self.request(
+            "GET",
+            f"/services/{urllib.parse.quote( service_key, safe='')}/{service_version}/labels",
+        )
+        resp.raise_for_status()
+        if resp.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK:
+            return SimcoreServiceLabels.model_validate(resp.json())
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=resp.status_code, detail=resp.content)
+
     async def get_service_specifications(
         self, user_id: UserID, service_key: ServiceKey, service_version: ServiceVersion
     ) -> dict[str, Any]:
diff --git a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/db/repositories/comp_tasks/_utils.py b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/db/repositories/comp_tasks/_utils.py
index b703691926f..1a59ecd0e18 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/db/repositories/comp_tasks/_utils.py
+++ b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/db/repositories/comp_tasks/_utils.py
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ async def _get_node_infos(
     ] = await asyncio.gather(
         _get_service_details(catalog_client, user_id, product_name, node),
         director_client.get_service_extras(node.key, node.version),
-        director_client.get_service_labels(node),
+        catalog_client.get_service_labels(node.key, node.version),
     )
     return result
 
diff --git a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/director_v0.py b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/director_v0.py
index ca211eb70dd..45b0b860e6c 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/director_v0.py
+++ b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/director_v0.py
@@ -14,8 +14,7 @@
 from models_library.api_schemas_directorv2.services import ServiceExtras
 from models_library.projects import ProjectID
 from models_library.projects_nodes_io import NodeID
-from models_library.service_settings_labels import SimcoreServiceLabels
-from models_library.services import ServiceKey, ServiceKeyVersion, ServiceVersion
+from models_library.services import ServiceKey, ServiceVersion
 from models_library.users import UserID
 from servicelib.fastapi.tracing import setup_httpx_client_tracing
 from servicelib.logging_utils import log_decorator
@@ -107,19 +106,6 @@ async def get_running_service_details(
             )
         raise HTTPException(status_code=resp.status_code, detail=resp.content)
 
-    @log_decorator(logger=logger)
-    async def get_service_labels(
-        self, service: ServiceKeyVersion
-    ) -> SimcoreServiceLabels:
-        resp = await self._request(
-            "GET",
-            f"services/{urllib.parse.quote_plus(service.key)}/{service.version}/labels",
-        )
-        resp.raise_for_status()
-        if resp.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK:
-            return SimcoreServiceLabels.model_validate(unenvelope_or_raise_error(resp))
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=resp.status_code, detail=resp.content)
-
     @log_decorator(logger=logger)
     async def get_running_services(
         self, user_id: UserID | None = None, project_id: ProjectID | None = None
diff --git a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/docker_service_specs/settings.py b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/docker_service_specs/settings.py
index 8c1849064ee..dcefb810c2c 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/docker_service_specs/settings.py
+++ b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/docker_service_specs/settings.py
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
     SimcoreServiceSettingLabelEntry,
     SimcoreServiceSettingsLabel,
 )
-from models_library.services import ServiceKeyVersion
 from models_library.services_resources import (
     CPU_100_PERCENT,
     DEFAULT_SINGLE_SERVICE_NAME,
@@ -29,7 +28,7 @@
     MATCH_SERVICE_VERSION,
 )
 
-from ....modules.director_v0 import DirectorV0Client
+from ....modules.catalog import CatalogClient
 from ..errors import DynamicSidecarError
 
 BOOT_OPTION_PREFIX = "DY_BOOT_OPTION"
@@ -193,7 +192,7 @@ def _assemble_key(service_key: str, service_tag: str) -> str:
 
 
 async def _extract_osparc_involved_service_labels(
-    director_v0_client: DirectorV0Client,
+    catalog_client: CatalogClient,
     service_key: str,
     service_tag: str,
     service_labels: SimcoreServiceLabels,
@@ -252,10 +251,8 @@ def remap_to_compose_spec_key() -> dict[str, SimcoreServiceLabels]:
         reverse_mapping[involved_key] = compose_service_key
 
         simcore_service_labels: SimcoreServiceLabels = (
-            await director_v0_client.get_service_labels(
-                service=ServiceKeyVersion(
-                    key=current_service_key, version=current_service_tag
-                )
+            await catalog_client.get_service_labels(
+                current_service_key, current_service_tag
             )
         )
         docker_image_name_by_services[involved_key] = simcore_service_labels
@@ -432,14 +429,12 @@ def _assemble_env_vars_for_boot_options(
 
 
 async def get_labels_for_involved_services(
-    director_v0_client: DirectorV0Client,
+    catalog_client: CatalogClient,
     service_key: ServiceKey,
     service_tag: ServiceVersion,
 ) -> dict[str, SimcoreServiceLabels]:
     simcore_service_labels: SimcoreServiceLabels = (
-        await director_v0_client.get_service_labels(
-            service=ServiceKeyVersion(key=service_key, version=service_tag)
-        )
+        await catalog_client.get_service_labels(service_key, service_tag)
     )
     log.info(
         "image=%s, tag=%s, labels=%s", service_key, service_tag, simcore_service_labels
@@ -451,7 +446,7 @@ async def get_labels_for_involved_services(
     labels_for_involved_services: dict[
         str, SimcoreServiceLabels
     ] = await _extract_osparc_involved_service_labels(
-        director_v0_client=director_v0_client,
+        catalog_client=catalog_client,
         service_key=service_key,
         service_tag=service_tag,
         service_labels=simcore_service_labels,
@@ -461,7 +456,7 @@ async def get_labels_for_involved_services(
 
 
 async def merge_settings_before_use(
-    director_v0_client: DirectorV0Client,
+    catalog_client: CatalogClient,
     *,
     service_key: ServiceKey,
     service_tag: ServiceVersion,
@@ -470,7 +465,7 @@ async def merge_settings_before_use(
     placement_substitutions: dict[str, DockerPlacementConstraint],
 ) -> SimcoreServiceSettingsLabel:
     labels_for_involved_services = await get_labels_for_involved_services(
-        director_v0_client=director_v0_client,
+        catalog_client=catalog_client,
         service_key=service_key,
         service_tag=service_tag,
     )
diff --git a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_event_create_sidecars.py b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_event_create_sidecars.py
index 8352cab1f8a..6ea9efc4e37 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_event_create_sidecars.py
+++ b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_event_create_sidecars.py
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@
 from ....catalog import CatalogClient
 from ....db.repositories.groups_extra_properties import GroupsExtraPropertiesRepository
 from ....db.repositories.projects import ProjectsRepository
-from ....director_v0 import DirectorV0Client
 from ...docker_api import (
     constrain_service_to_node,
     create_network,
@@ -52,7 +51,7 @@
     merge_settings_before_use,
 )
 from ._abc import DynamicSchedulerEvent
-from ._events_utils import get_allow_metrics_collection, get_director_v0_client
+from ._events_utils import get_allow_metrics_collection
 
 _logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -171,7 +170,7 @@ async def action(cls, app: FastAPI, scheduler_data: SchedulerData) -> None:
         # resources and placement derived from all the images in
         # the provided docker-compose spec
         # also other encodes the env vars to target the proper container
-        director_v0_client: DirectorV0Client = get_director_v0_client(app)
+
         # fetching project form DB and fetching user settings
         projects_repository = get_repository(app, ProjectsRepository)
 
@@ -188,8 +187,10 @@ async def action(cls, app: FastAPI, scheduler_data: SchedulerData) -> None:
         )
         _logger.info("%s", f"{boot_options=}")
 
+        catalog_client = CatalogClient.instance(app)
+
         settings: SimcoreServiceSettingsLabel = await merge_settings_before_use(
-            director_v0_client=director_v0_client,
+            catalog_client=catalog_client,
             service_key=scheduler_data.key,
             service_tag=scheduler_data.version,
             service_user_selection_boot_options=boot_options,
@@ -257,7 +258,6 @@ async def action(cls, app: FastAPI, scheduler_data: SchedulerData) -> None:
             rpc_client=rpc_client,
         )
 
-        catalog_client = CatalogClient.instance(app)
         user_specific_service_spec = (
             await catalog_client.get_service_specifications(
                 scheduler_data.user_id, scheduler_data.key, scheduler_data.version
diff --git a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_user_services.py b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_user_services.py
index 289cfc162c9..721e5ee7af0 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_user_services.py
+++ b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_user_services.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 from models_library.projects import ProjectAtDB
 from models_library.projects_nodes_io import NodeIDStr
 from models_library.service_settings_labels import SimcoreServiceLabels
-from models_library.services import ServiceKeyVersion, ServiceVersion
+from models_library.services import ServiceVersion
 from models_library.services_creation import CreateServiceMetricsAdditionalParams
 from pydantic import TypeAdapter
 from servicelib.fastapi.long_running_tasks.client import TaskId
@@ -19,16 +19,15 @@
     DynamicServicesSchedulerSettings,
 )
 from .....models.dynamic_services_scheduler import SchedulerData
+from .....modules.catalog import CatalogClient
 from .....modules.instrumentation import get_instrumentation, get_metrics_labels
 from .....utils.db import get_repository
 from ....db.repositories.groups_extra_properties import GroupsExtraPropertiesRepository
 from ....db.repositories.projects import ProjectsRepository
 from ....db.repositories.users import UsersRepository
-from ....director_v0 import DirectorV0Client
 from ...api_client import get_sidecars_client
 from ...docker_compose_specs import assemble_spec
 from ...errors import EntrypointContainerNotFoundError
-from ._events_utils import get_director_v0_client
 
 _logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -63,12 +62,10 @@ async def submit_compose_sepc(app: FastAPI, scheduler_data: SchedulerData) -> No
     # creates a docker compose spec given the service key and tag
     # fetching project form DB and fetching user settings
 
-    director_v0_client: DirectorV0Client = get_director_v0_client(app)
+    catalog_client = CatalogClient.instance(app)
     simcore_service_labels: SimcoreServiceLabels = (
-        await director_v0_client.get_service_labels(
-            service=ServiceKeyVersion(
-                key=scheduler_data.key, version=scheduler_data.version
-            )
+        await catalog_client.get_service_labels(
+            scheduler_data.key, scheduler_data.version
         )
     )
 
diff --git a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_utils.py b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_utils.py
index 4a127e59e51..a516df060b1 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_utils.py
+++ b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/dynamic_sidecar/scheduler/_core/_events_utils.py
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 from models_library.projects_nodes_io import NodeID, NodeIDStr
 from models_library.rabbitmq_messages import InstrumentationRabbitMessage
 from models_library.service_settings_labels import SimcoreServiceLabels
-from models_library.services import ServiceKeyVersion
 from models_library.shared_user_preferences import (
     AllowMetricsCollectionFrontendUserPreference,
 )
@@ -52,6 +51,7 @@
     DockerStatus,
     SchedulerData,
 )
+from .....modules.catalog import CatalogClient
 from .....modules.instrumentation import (
     get_instrumentation,
     get_metrics_labels,
@@ -534,12 +534,10 @@ async def _restore_service_state_with_metrics() -> None:
     await limited_gather(*tasks, limit=3)
 
     # inside this directory create the missing dirs, fetch those form the labels
-    director_v0_client: DirectorV0Client = get_director_v0_client(app)
+    catalog_client = CatalogClient.instance(app)
     simcore_service_labels: SimcoreServiceLabels = (
-        await director_v0_client.get_service_labels(
-            service=ServiceKeyVersion(
-                key=scheduler_data.key, version=scheduler_data.version
-            )
+        await catalog_client.get_service_labels(
+            scheduler_data.key, scheduler_data.version
         )
     )
     service_outputs_labels = json.loads(
diff --git a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/projects_networks.py b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/projects_networks.py
index e18dfc24121..f58a5ddcfbf 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/projects_networks.py
+++ b/services/director-v2/src/simcore_service_director_v2/modules/projects_networks.py
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@
 from servicelib.utils import logged_gather
 
 from ..core.errors import ProjectNetworkNotFoundError
+from ..modules.catalog import CatalogClient
 from ..modules.db.repositories.projects import ProjectsRepository
 from ..modules.db.repositories.projects_networks import ProjectsNetworksRepository
-from ..modules.director_v0 import DirectorV0Client
 from ..modules.dynamic_sidecar.scheduler import DynamicSidecarsScheduler
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def _network_name(project_id: ProjectID, user_defined: str) -> DockerNetworkName
 async def requires_dynamic_sidecar(
     service_key: str,
     service_version: str,
-    director_v0_client: DirectorV0Client,
+    catalog_client: CatalogClient,
 ) -> bool:
     decoded_service_key = urllib.parse.unquote_plus(service_key)
 
@@ -62,11 +62,12 @@ async def requires_dynamic_sidecar(
     if service_type != "dynamic":
         return False
 
+    service_key_version = ServiceKeyVersion.model_validate(
+        {"key": decoded_service_key, "version": service_version}
+    )
     simcore_service_labels: SimcoreServiceLabels = (
-        await director_v0_client.get_service_labels(
-            service=ServiceKeyVersion.model_validate(
-                {"key": decoded_service_key, "version": service_version}
-            )
+        await catalog_client.get_service_labels(
+            service_key_version.key, service_key_version.version
         )
     )
     requires_dynamic_sidecar_: bool = simcore_service_labels.needs_dynamic_sidecar
@@ -176,7 +177,7 @@ async def _get_networks_with_aliases_for_default_network(
     project_id: ProjectID,
     user_id: UserID,
     new_workbench: NodesDict,
-    director_v0_client: DirectorV0Client,
+    catalog_client: CatalogClient,
     rabbitmq_client: RabbitMQClient,
 ) -> NetworksWithAliases:
     """
@@ -184,7 +185,9 @@ async def _get_networks_with_aliases_for_default_network(
     be on the same network.
     Return an updated version of the projects_networks
     """
-    new_networks_with_aliases: NetworksWithAliases = NetworksWithAliases.model_validate({})
+    new_networks_with_aliases: NetworksWithAliases = NetworksWithAliases.model_validate(
+        {}
+    )
 
     default_network = _network_name(project_id, "default")
     new_networks_with_aliases[default_network] = ContainerAliases.model_validate({})
@@ -194,13 +197,15 @@ async def _get_networks_with_aliases_for_default_network(
         if not await requires_dynamic_sidecar(
             service_key=node_content.key,
             service_version=node_content.version,
-            director_v0_client=director_v0_client,
+            catalog_client=catalog_client,
         ):
             continue
 
         # only add if network label is valid, otherwise it will be skipped
         try:
-            network_alias = TypeAdapter(DockerNetworkAlias).validate_python(node_content.label)
+            network_alias = TypeAdapter(DockerNetworkAlias).validate_python(
+                node_content.label
+            )
         except ValidationError:
             message = LoggerRabbitMessage(
                 user_id=user_id,
@@ -233,7 +238,7 @@ async def update_from_workbench(
     projects_networks_repository: ProjectsNetworksRepository,
     projects_repository: ProjectsRepository,
     scheduler: DynamicSidecarsScheduler,
-    director_v0_client: DirectorV0Client,
+    catalog_client: CatalogClient,
     rabbitmq_client: RabbitMQClient,
     project_id: ProjectID,
 ) -> None:
@@ -262,7 +267,7 @@ async def update_from_workbench(
         project_id=project_id,
         user_id=project.prj_owner,
         new_workbench=project.workbench,
-        director_v0_client=director_v0_client,
+        catalog_client=catalog_client,
         rabbitmq_client=rabbitmq_client,
     )
     logger.debug("%s", f"{existing_networks_with_aliases=}")
diff --git a/services/director-v2/tests/unit/test_modules_dynamic_sidecar_scheduler.py b/services/director-v2/tests/unit/test_modules_dynamic_sidecar_scheduler.py
index 5ffbc0ef96a..77c1e033ef6 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/tests/unit/test_modules_dynamic_sidecar_scheduler.py
+++ b/services/director-v2/tests/unit/test_modules_dynamic_sidecar_scheduler.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 
 import logging
 import re
-import urllib.parse
 from collections.abc import AsyncGenerator, Awaitable, Callable, Iterator
 from contextlib import asynccontextmanager, contextmanager
 from typing import Final
@@ -18,14 +17,12 @@
 from models_library.api_schemas_directorv2.dynamic_services_service import (
     RunningDynamicServiceDetails,
 )
-from models_library.service_settings_labels import SimcoreServiceLabels
 from models_library.services_enums import ServiceState
 from models_library.wallets import WalletID
 from pydantic import NonNegativeFloat
 from pytest_mock.plugin import MockerFixture
 from pytest_simcore.helpers.typing_env import EnvVarsDict
 from respx.router import MockRouter
-from simcore_service_director_v2.core.settings import AppSettings
 from simcore_service_director_v2.models.dynamic_services_scheduler import (
     DockerContainerInspect,
     DynamicSidecarStatus,
@@ -149,24 +146,6 @@ def mock_env(
     monkeypatch.setenv("S3_BUCKET_NAME", faker.pystr())
 
 
-@pytest.fixture
-def mocked_director_v0(
-    minimal_config: AppSettings, scheduler_data: SchedulerData
-) -> Iterator[MockRouter]:
-    endpoint = minimal_config.DIRECTOR_V0.endpoint
-
-    with respx.mock as mock:
-        mock.get(
-            re.compile(
-                rf"^{endpoint}/services/{urllib.parse.quote_plus(scheduler_data.key)}/{scheduler_data.version}/labels"
-            ),
-            name="service labels",
-        ).respond(
-            json={"data": SimcoreServiceLabels.model_json_schema()["examples"][0]}
-        )
-        yield mock
-
-
 @pytest.fixture
 def mocked_dynamic_scheduler_events(mocker: MockerFixture) -> None:
     class AlwaysTriggersDynamicSchedulerEvent(DynamicSchedulerEvent):
diff --git a/services/director-v2/tests/unit/test_modules_project_networks.py b/services/director-v2/tests/unit/test_modules_project_networks.py
index 848b3629e10..2c233ad4297 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/tests/unit/test_modules_project_networks.py
+++ b/services/director-v2/tests/unit/test_modules_project_networks.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 import json
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Any, Iterable
+from typing import Any
 from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, call
 from uuid import UUID, uuid4
 
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ def mock_scheduler() -> AsyncMock:
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def mock_director_v0_client() -> AsyncMock:
+def mock_catalog_client() -> AsyncMock:
     return AsyncMock()
 
 
@@ -195,11 +195,11 @@ def fake_project_id() -> ProjectID:
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def mock_docker_calls(mocker: MockerFixture) -> Iterable[dict[str, AsyncMock]]:
+def mock_docker_calls(mocker: MockerFixture) -> dict[str, AsyncMock]:
     requires_dynamic_sidecar_mock = AsyncMock()
     requires_dynamic_sidecar_mock.return_value = True
     class_base = "simcore_service_director_v2.modules.dynamic_sidecar.scheduler._task.DynamicSidecarsScheduler"
-    mocked_items = {
+    return {
         "attach": mocker.patch(f"{class_base}.attach_project_network", AsyncMock()),
         "detach": mocker.patch(f"{class_base}.detach_project_network", AsyncMock()),
         "requires_dynamic_sidecar": mocker.patch(
@@ -208,8 +208,6 @@ def mock_docker_calls(mocker: MockerFixture) -> Iterable[dict[str, AsyncMock]]:
         ),
     }
 
-    yield mocked_items
-
 
 async def test_send_network_configuration_to_dynamic_sidecar(
     mock_scheduler: AsyncMock,
@@ -230,7 +228,7 @@ async def test_send_network_configuration_to_dynamic_sidecar(
 
 
 async def test_get_networks_with_aliases_for_default_network_is_json_serializable(
-    mock_director_v0_client: AsyncMock,
+    mock_catalog_client: AsyncMock,
     fake_project_id: ProjectID,
     dy_workbench_with_networkable_labels: dict[str, Any],
     user_id: PositiveInt,
@@ -241,6 +239,6 @@ async def test_get_networks_with_aliases_for_default_network_is_json_serializabl
         project_id=fake_project_id,
         user_id=user_id,
         new_workbench=dy_workbench_with_networkable_labels,
-        director_v0_client=mock_director_v0_client,
+        catalog_client=mock_catalog_client,
         rabbitmq_client=rabbitmq_client,
     )
diff --git a/services/director-v2/tests/unit/with_dbs/comp_scheduler/test_api_route_computations.py b/services/director-v2/tests/unit/with_dbs/comp_scheduler/test_api_route_computations.py
index 2d076c3fdf0..2178ce7bfcb 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/tests/unit/with_dbs/comp_scheduler/test_api_route_computations.py
+++ b/services/director-v2/tests/unit/with_dbs/comp_scheduler/test_api_route_computations.py
@@ -135,7 +135,6 @@ def mocked_director_service_fcts(
     minimal_app: FastAPI,
     fake_service_details: ServiceMetaDataPublished,
     fake_service_extras: ServiceExtras,
-    fake_service_labels: dict[str, Any],
 ) -> Iterator[respx.MockRouter]:
     # pylint: disable=not-context-manager
     with respx.mock(
@@ -151,12 +150,6 @@ def mocked_director_service_fcts(
         ).respond(
             json={"data": [fake_service_details.model_dump(mode="json", by_alias=True)]}
         )
-        respx_mock.get(
-            re.compile(
-                r"/services/simcore%2Fservices%2F(comp|dynamic|frontend)%2F[^/]+/\d+.\d+.\d+/labels"
-            ),
-            name="get_service_labels",
-        ).respond(json={"data": fake_service_labels})
 
         respx_mock.get(
             re.compile(
@@ -175,6 +168,7 @@ def mocked_catalog_service_fcts(
     minimal_app: FastAPI,
     fake_service_details: ServiceMetaDataPublished,
     fake_service_resources: ServiceResourcesDict,
+    fake_service_labels: dict[str, Any],
 ) -> Iterator[respx.MockRouter]:
     def _mocked_service_resources(request) -> httpx.Response:
         return httpx.Response(
@@ -223,6 +217,12 @@ def _mocked_services_details(
             ),
             name="get_service_resources",
         ).mock(side_effect=_mocked_service_resources)
+        respx_mock.get(
+            re.compile(
+                r"/services/simcore%2Fservices%2F(comp|dynamic|frontend)%2F[^/]+/\d+.\d+.\d+/labels"
+            ),
+            name="get_service_labels",
+        ).respond(json=fake_service_labels)
         respx_mock.get(
             re.compile(
                 r"services/(?P<service_key>simcore%2Fservices%2F(comp|dynamic|frontend)%2F[^/]+)/(?P<service_version>[^\.]+.[^\.]+.[^/\?]+).*"
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ def mocked_catalog_service_fcts_deprecated(
     minimal_app: FastAPI,
     fake_service_details: ServiceMetaDataPublished,
     fake_service_extras: ServiceExtras,
-):
+) -> Iterator[respx.MockRouter]:
     def _mocked_services_details(
         request, service_key: str, service_version: str
     ) -> httpx.Response:
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ def _mocked_services_details(
         }
 
         data = {
-            **ServiceGet.model_config["json_schema_extra"]["examples"][0],
+            **ServiceGet.model_json_schema()["examples"][0],
             **data_published,
             **deprecated,
         }  # type: ignore
@@ -402,8 +402,8 @@ async def test_computation_create_validators(
 
 async def test_create_computation(
     minimal_configuration: None,
-    mocked_director_service_fcts,
-    mocked_catalog_service_fcts,
+    mocked_director_service_fcts: respx.MockRouter,
+    mocked_catalog_service_fcts: respx.MockRouter,
     product_name: str,
     fake_workbench_without_outputs: dict[str, Any],
     registered_user: Callable[..., dict[str, Any]],
@@ -678,8 +678,8 @@ async def test_create_computation_with_wallet_with_no_clusters_keeper_raises_503
 
 async def test_start_computation_without_product_fails(
     minimal_configuration: None,
-    mocked_director_service_fcts,
-    mocked_catalog_service_fcts,
+    mocked_director_service_fcts: respx.MockRouter,
+    mocked_catalog_service_fcts: respx.MockRouter,
     product_name: str,
     fake_workbench_without_outputs: dict[str, Any],
     registered_user: Callable[..., dict[str, Any]],
@@ -702,8 +702,8 @@ async def test_start_computation_without_product_fails(
 
 async def test_start_computation(
     minimal_configuration: None,
-    mocked_director_service_fcts,
-    mocked_catalog_service_fcts,
+    mocked_director_service_fcts: respx.MockRouter,
+    mocked_catalog_service_fcts: respx.MockRouter,
     product_name: str,
     fake_workbench_without_outputs: dict[str, Any],
     registered_user: Callable[..., dict[str, Any]],
@@ -734,8 +734,8 @@ async def test_start_computation(
 
 async def test_start_computation_with_project_node_resources_defined(
     minimal_configuration: None,
-    mocked_director_service_fcts,
-    mocked_catalog_service_fcts,
+    mocked_director_service_fcts: respx.MockRouter,
+    mocked_catalog_service_fcts: respx.MockRouter,
     product_name: str,
     fake_workbench_without_outputs: dict[str, Any],
     registered_user: Callable[..., dict[str, Any]],
@@ -779,8 +779,8 @@ async def test_start_computation_with_project_node_resources_defined(
 
 async def test_start_computation_with_deprecated_services_raises_406(
     minimal_configuration: None,
-    mocked_director_service_fcts,
-    mocked_catalog_service_fcts_deprecated,
+    mocked_director_service_fcts: respx.MockRouter,
+    mocked_catalog_service_fcts_deprecated: respx.MockRouter,
     product_name: str,
     fake_workbench_without_outputs: dict[str, Any],
     fake_workbench_adjacency: dict[str, Any],
diff --git a/services/director-v2/tests/unit/with_dbs/test_api_route_dynamic_services.py b/services/director-v2/tests/unit/with_dbs/test_api_route_dynamic_services.py
index a44b2838431..fd1d43e25aa 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/tests/unit/with_dbs/test_api_route_dynamic_services.py
+++ b/services/director-v2/tests/unit/with_dbs/test_api_route_dynamic_services.py
@@ -163,17 +163,11 @@ async def mock_retrieve_features(
     ) as respx_mock:
         if is_legacy:
             service_details = RunningDynamicServiceDetails.model_validate(
-                RunningDynamicServiceDetails.model_config["json_schema_extra"][
-                    "examples"
-                ][0]
+                RunningDynamicServiceDetails.model_json_schema()["examples"][0]
             )
             respx_mock.post(
                 f"{service_details.legacy_service_url}/retrieve", name="retrieve"
-            ).respond(
-                json=RetrieveDataOutEnveloped.model_config["json_schema_extra"][
-                    "examples"
-                ][0]
-            )
+            ).respond(json=RetrieveDataOutEnveloped.model_json_schema()["examples"][0])
 
             yield respx_mock
             # no cleanup required
@@ -216,12 +210,12 @@ async def _mocked_context_manger(*args, **kwargs) -> AsyncIterator[int]:
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
-def mocked_director_v0_service_api(
+def mocked_catalog_service_api(
     minimal_app: FastAPI, service: dict[str, Any], service_labels: dict[str, Any]
 ) -> Iterator[MockRouter]:
     # pylint: disable=not-context-manager
     with respx.mock(
-        base_url=minimal_app.state.settings.DIRECTOR_V0.endpoint,
+        base_url=minimal_app.state.settings.DIRECTOR_V2_CATALOG.api_base_url,
         assert_all_called=False,
         assert_all_mocked=True,
     ) as respx_mock:
@@ -229,16 +223,27 @@ def mocked_director_v0_service_api(
         respx_mock.get(
             f"/services/{urllib.parse.quote_plus(service['key'])}/{service['version']}/labels",
             name="service labels",
-        ).respond(json={"data": service_labels})
+        ).respond(json=service_labels)
+
+        yield respx_mock
+
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def mocked_director_v0_service_api(
+    minimal_app: FastAPI, service: dict[str, Any], service_labels: dict[str, Any]
+) -> Iterator[MockRouter]:
+    # pylint: disable=not-context-manager
+    with respx.mock(
+        base_url=minimal_app.state.settings.DIRECTOR_V0.endpoint,
+        assert_all_called=False,
+        assert_all_mocked=True,
+    ) as respx_mock:
         respx_mock.get(
             f"/running_interactive_services/{service['node_uuid']}",
             name="running interactive service",
         ).respond(
             json={
-                "data": RunningDynamicServiceDetails.model_config["json_schema_extra"][
-                    "examples"
-                ][0]
+                "data": RunningDynamicServiceDetails.model_json_schema()["examples"][0]
             }
         )
 
@@ -255,9 +260,7 @@ def get_stack_status(node_uuid: NodeID) -> RunningDynamicServiceDetails:
             raise DynamicSidecarNotFoundError(node_uuid=node_uuid)
 
         return RunningDynamicServiceDetails.model_validate(
-            RunningDynamicServiceDetails.model_config["json_schema_extra"]["examples"][
-                0
-            ]
+            RunningDynamicServiceDetails.model_json_schema()["examples"][0]
         )
 
     module_base = "simcore_service_director_v2.modules.dynamic_sidecar.scheduler"
@@ -289,9 +292,7 @@ def remove_service(node_uuid: NodeID, *ars: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
     [
         pytest.param(
             *ServiceParams(
-                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_config["json_schema_extra"][
-                    "example"
-                ],
+                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_json_schema()["example"],
                 service_labels=SimcoreServiceLabels.model_json_schema()["examples"][0],
                 exp_status_code=status.HTTP_307_TEMPORARY_REDIRECT,
                 is_legacy=True,
@@ -300,9 +301,7 @@ def remove_service(node_uuid: NodeID, *ars: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         ),
         pytest.param(
             *ServiceParams(
-                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_config["json_schema_extra"][
-                    "example"
-                ],
+                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_json_schema()["example"],
                 service_labels=SimcoreServiceLabels.model_json_schema()["examples"][1],
                 exp_status_code=status.HTTP_201_CREATED,
                 is_legacy=False,
@@ -311,9 +310,7 @@ def remove_service(node_uuid: NodeID, *ars: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         ),
         pytest.param(
             *ServiceParams(
-                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_config["json_schema_extra"][
-                    "example"
-                ],
+                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_json_schema()["example"],
                 service_labels=SimcoreServiceLabels.model_json_schema()["examples"][2],
                 exp_status_code=status.HTTP_201_CREATED,
                 is_legacy=False,
@@ -325,6 +322,7 @@ def remove_service(node_uuid: NodeID, *ars: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
 def test_create_dynamic_services(
     minimal_config: None,
     mocked_director_v0_service_api: MockRouter,
+    mocked_catalog_service_api: MockRouter,
     mocked_director_v2_scheduler: None,
     client: TestClient,
     dynamic_sidecar_headers: dict[str, str],
@@ -367,9 +365,7 @@ def test_create_dynamic_services(
     [
         pytest.param(
             *ServiceParams(
-                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_config["json_schema_extra"][
-                    "example"
-                ],
+                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_json_schema()["example"],
                 service_labels=SimcoreServiceLabels.model_json_schema()["examples"][0],
                 exp_status_code=status.HTTP_307_TEMPORARY_REDIRECT,
                 is_legacy=True,
@@ -378,9 +374,7 @@ def test_create_dynamic_services(
         ),
         pytest.param(
             *ServiceParams(
-                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_config["json_schema_extra"][
-                    "example"
-                ],
+                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_json_schema()["example"],
                 service_labels=SimcoreServiceLabels.model_json_schema()["examples"][1],
                 exp_status_code=status.HTTP_200_OK,
                 is_legacy=False,
@@ -389,9 +383,7 @@ def test_create_dynamic_services(
         ),
         pytest.param(
             *ServiceParams(
-                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_config["json_schema_extra"][
-                    "example"
-                ],
+                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_json_schema()["example"],
                 service_labels=SimcoreServiceLabels.model_json_schema()["examples"][2],
                 exp_status_code=status.HTTP_200_OK,
                 is_legacy=False,
@@ -402,6 +394,7 @@ def test_create_dynamic_services(
 )
 def test_get_service_status(
     mocked_director_v0_service_api: MockRouter,
+    mocked_catalog_service_api: MockRouter,
     mocked_director_v2_scheduler: None,
     client: TestClient,
     service: dict[str, Any],
@@ -431,9 +424,7 @@ def test_get_service_status(
     [
         pytest.param(
             *ServiceParams(
-                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_config["json_schema_extra"][
-                    "example"
-                ],
+                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_json_schema()["example"],
                 service_labels=SimcoreServiceLabels.model_json_schema()["examples"][0],
                 exp_status_code=status.HTTP_307_TEMPORARY_REDIRECT,
                 is_legacy=True,
@@ -442,9 +433,7 @@ def test_get_service_status(
         ),
         pytest.param(
             *ServiceParams(
-                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_config["json_schema_extra"][
-                    "example"
-                ],
+                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_json_schema()["example"],
                 service_labels=SimcoreServiceLabels.model_json_schema()["examples"][1],
                 exp_status_code=status.HTTP_204_NO_CONTENT,
                 is_legacy=False,
@@ -453,9 +442,7 @@ def test_get_service_status(
         ),
         pytest.param(
             *ServiceParams(
-                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_config["json_schema_extra"][
-                    "example"
-                ],
+                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_json_schema()["example"],
                 service_labels=SimcoreServiceLabels.model_json_schema()["examples"][2],
                 exp_status_code=status.HTTP_204_NO_CONTENT,
                 is_legacy=False,
@@ -467,9 +454,10 @@ def test_get_service_status(
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "can_save, exp_save_state", [(None, True), (True, True), (False, False)]
 )
-def test_delete_service(
+def test_delete_service(  # pylint:disable=too-many-arguments
     docker_swarm: None,
     mocked_director_v0_service_api: MockRouter,
+    mocked_catalog_service_api: MockRouter,
     mocked_director_v2_scheduler: None,
     mocked_service_awaits_manual_interventions: None,
     client: TestClient,
@@ -509,9 +497,7 @@ def dynamic_sidecar_scheduler(minimal_app: FastAPI) -> DynamicSidecarsScheduler:
     [
         pytest.param(
             *ServiceParams(
-                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_config["json_schema_extra"][
-                    "example"
-                ],
+                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_json_schema()["example"],
                 service_labels=SimcoreServiceLabels.model_json_schema()["examples"][1],
                 exp_status_code=status.HTTP_201_CREATED,
                 is_legacy=False,
@@ -522,6 +508,7 @@ def dynamic_sidecar_scheduler(minimal_app: FastAPI) -> DynamicSidecarsScheduler:
 def test_delete_service_waiting_for_manual_intervention(
     minimal_config: None,
     mocked_director_v0_service_api: MockRouter,
+    mocked_catalog_service_api: MockRouter,
     mocked_director_v2_scheduler: None,
     client: TestClient,
     dynamic_sidecar_headers: dict[str, str],
@@ -558,9 +545,7 @@ def test_delete_service_waiting_for_manual_intervention(
     [
         pytest.param(
             *ServiceParams(
-                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_config["json_schema_extra"][
-                    "example"
-                ],
+                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_json_schema()["example"],
                 service_labels=SimcoreServiceLabels.model_json_schema()["examples"][0],
                 exp_status_code=status.HTTP_200_OK,
                 is_legacy=True,
@@ -569,9 +554,7 @@ def test_delete_service_waiting_for_manual_intervention(
         ),
         pytest.param(
             *ServiceParams(
-                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_config["json_schema_extra"][
-                    "example"
-                ],
+                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_json_schema()["example"],
                 service_labels=SimcoreServiceLabels.model_json_schema()["examples"][1],
                 exp_status_code=status.HTTP_200_OK,
                 is_legacy=False,
@@ -580,9 +563,7 @@ def test_delete_service_waiting_for_manual_intervention(
         ),
         pytest.param(
             *ServiceParams(
-                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_config["json_schema_extra"][
-                    "example"
-                ],
+                service=DynamicServiceCreate.model_json_schema()["example"],
                 service_labels=SimcoreServiceLabels.model_json_schema()["examples"][2],
                 exp_status_code=status.HTTP_200_OK,
                 is_legacy=False,
@@ -595,6 +576,7 @@ def test_retrieve(
     minimal_config: None,
     mock_retrieve_features: MockRouter | None,
     mocked_director_v0_service_api: MockRouter,
+    mocked_catalog_service_api: MockRouter,
     mocked_director_v2_scheduler: None,
     client: TestClient,
     service: dict[str, Any],
@@ -607,8 +589,7 @@ def test_retrieve(
         response.status_code == exp_status_code
     ), f"expected status code {exp_status_code}, received {response.status_code}: {response.text}"
     assert (
-        response.json()
-        == RetrieveDataOutEnveloped.model_config["json_schema_extra"]["examples"][0]
+        response.json() == RetrieveDataOutEnveloped.model_json_schema()["examples"][0]
     )
 
 
diff --git a/services/director-v2/tests/unit/with_dbs/test_cli.py b/services/director-v2/tests/unit/with_dbs/test_cli.py
index 1892e2a5a38..91d8f8a773e 100644
--- a/services/director-v2/tests/unit/with_dbs/test_cli.py
+++ b/services/director-v2/tests/unit/with_dbs/test_cli.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 from collections.abc import AsyncIterable, AsyncIterator, Awaitable, Callable
 from contextlib import asynccontextmanager
 from typing import Any
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock
 
 import pytest
 import respx
@@ -89,7 +90,7 @@ def mock_save_service_state(mocker: MockerFixture) -> None:
 def mock_save_service_state_as_failing(mocker: MockerFixture) -> None:
     async def _always_raise(*args, **kwargs) -> None:
         msg = "I AM FAILING NOW"
-        raise Exception(msg)  # pylint: disable=broad-exception-raised
+        raise Exception(msg)  # pylint: disable=broad-exception-raised  # noqa: TRY002
 
     mocker.patch(
         "simcore_service_director_v2.modules.dynamic_sidecar.api_client._public.SidecarsClient.save_service_state",
@@ -107,9 +108,7 @@ def mock_get_node_state(mocker: MockerFixture) -> None:
     mocker.patch(
         "simcore_service_director_v2.cli._core._get_dy_service_state",
         return_value=DynamicServiceGet.model_validate(
-            RunningDynamicServiceDetails.model_config["json_schema_extra"]["examples"][
-                0
-            ]
+            RunningDynamicServiceDetails.model_json_schema()["examples"][0]
         ),
     )
 
@@ -119,6 +118,14 @@ def task_id(faker: Faker) -> str:
     return f"tas_id.{faker.uuid4()}"
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def mock_catalog_instance(mocker: MockerFixture) -> None:
+    mocker.patch(
+        "simcore_service_director_v2.modules.catalog.CatalogClient.instance",
+        return_value=AsyncMock(),
+    )
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 async def mock_close_service_routes(
     mocker: MockerFixture, task_id: str
@@ -181,6 +188,7 @@ def _format_cli_error(result: Result) -> str:
 
 
 def test_project_save_state_ok(
+    mock_catalog_instance: None,
     mock_requires_dynamic_sidecar: None,
     mock_save_service_state: None,
     cli_runner: CliRunner,
@@ -206,6 +214,7 @@ def test_project_save_state_ok(
 
 
 def test_project_save_state_retry_3_times_and_fails(
+    mock_catalog_instance: None,
     mock_requires_dynamic_sidecar: None,
     mock_save_service_state_as_failing: None,
     cli_runner: CliRunner,
diff --git a/services/director/src/simcore_service_director/api/rest/_services.py b/services/director/src/simcore_service_director/api/rest/_services.py
index 157f5305d1b..a82699331ce 100644
--- a/services/director/src/simcore_service_director/api/rest/_services.py
+++ b/services/director/src/simcore_service_director/api/rest/_services.py
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ async def list_service_labels(
     service_key: ServiceKey,
     service_version: ServiceVersion,
 ) -> Envelope[dict[str, Any]]:
+    # NOTE: avoid using this directly via `director` service, call it via `catalog` service
     _logger.debug(
         "Retrieving service labels with service_key %s, service_version %s",
         service_key,