# Keep agents running while your laptop sleeps

> Turn a Linux server into an always-on host that keeps your workspaces, agents and guests up when your computer is off.

Source: https://hivemind.griiken.com/guide/host/

Close your laptop and your agents keep working. A <Tooltip tip="A server that keeps your workspaces and agents running while your laptop sleeps." cta="Glossary" href="https://hivemind.griiken.com/guide/glossary/#host">host</Tooltip> is a server running `hive host`, with no desktop, that keeps your workspaces up.

<AgentPrompt description="Paste this into your coding agent on the server to make it an always-on Hivemind host." page="host">{`Make this Linux server an always-on Hivemind host that keeps my workspaces and agents running while my laptop sleeps.

1. If \`hive --version\` fails, install Hivemind: \`bash <(curl -fsSL https://hivemind.griiken.com/install.sh)\`. Check \`hive --version\` again; add \`~/.local/bin\` to PATH if needed.
2. Check the Hivemind app is not running on this machine. A host is refused while it runs.
3. Join my network. Ask me for my network link: it starts with \`hivemind://network/\`, and I get one by running \`hive network enrol-link\` on my network server. Run \`hive network use '<link>'\`. Then \`hive network doctor\` must print a line starting with ✓ for every relay.
4. Run it as a service that starts at boot: \`hive host install\`. If systemd needs something only I can do (a sudo, or enabling lingering for my user), ask me and wait. Never type a password.
5. Ask me which folders to serve as workspaces. For each, run \`hive host add <folder>\`.
6. Run \`hive host pair\` and leave it running. It prints six words, a link and a QR code, then waits. Give me the words and the link. Tell me to enter one of them in the app under Settings → Connect → Have a code? Join. The code works once, for five minutes. The command ends with "Paired with …" once I have entered it.

At the end, show \`hive host status\`. It must say \`hive host running\` and list the workspaces. Tell me \`hive host stop\` stops serving and \`hive host uninstall\` removes the service.`}</AgentPrompt>

![Diagram: Move a workspace to a host and back](https://hivemind.griiken.com/guide/images/host-move.svg)

- **Your computer** → **host**: **Move there** hands it the workspace. **Move here** brings it back.
- While the host has it, **guests** and **your phone** reach it there.
- The workspace, its agents and its people stay up while your computer is off.

## Before you start [#before-you-start]

- You need your own [network server](https://hivemind.griiken.com/guide/self-hosting/). Your computer reaches the host through it, not over ssh.
- A Linux server with systemd, where the Hivemind app does not run.
- About 10 minutes.

## Set it up [#set-it-up]

<Steps>
  <Step title="Join your network, on the server">
    ```bash
    hive network use '<your network link>'
    hive network doctor
    ```

    Check: every relay prints a line starting with `✓`.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Run the host at boot">
    ```bash
    hive host install
    ```

    To run it in the foreground instead, use `hive host run`.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Show a pairing code">
    ```bash
    hive host pair
    ```

    It prints six words, a link and a QR code. The code works once, for five minutes.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Pair it, on your computer">
    Open **Settings → Connect → Have a code? Join**. Enter the words if both are on the same network, or the link from anywhere.

    Check: `hive host pair` prints `Paired with …`. The host's workspaces show under **Open recent → On your devices**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Move a workspace there [#move-a-workspace-there]

| To | Press |
|---|---|
| Hand a workspace to the host | **Move there**, in **Settings → Connect**, under **People in this workspace** |
| Bring it back | **Move here**, in the workspace's banner |
| Carry on when the host is gone | **Host it here**, from the canvas as your computer last saw it |

The canvas, notes, people and invite links move with it. Terminals in frames on your computer keep running there, reached through the host.

## Serve and share from the host [#serve-and-share-from-the-host]

```bash
hive host add ~/work/api               # serve a folder as a workspace
hive share api --role edit --expires 2d
hive people requests                   # then: hive people allow 1
```

More on people and invites: [Share a workspace](https://hivemind.griiken.com/guide/multiplayer/).

## Check it worked [#check-it-worked]

```bash
hive host status
```

It prints `hive host running`, the device and person it runs as, its network, its workspaces, and the devices it is paired with.

## If it didn't [#if-it-didnt]

| You see | Do |
|---|---|
| The host is refused | The Hivemind app runs on this machine. Quit it: then the app serves the workspaces. |
| `Paired with …` never prints | The code expired after five minutes. Run `hive host pair` again. |
| The host is not under **On your devices** | Check both are on the same network: `hive network show` on each. |

More in [Troubleshooting](https://hivemind.griiken.com/guide/troubleshooting/).

## Good to know [#good-to-know]

- One host per machine.
- `hive ctl` works on the host as with the app. Commands that need a window, such as `focus`, `open-review` and views, are refused.
- Restarting or upgrading the host leaves its terminals and agents running.
- `hive host stop` stops serving. `hive host uninstall` removes the service.

## Related [#related]

- [Run agents on another computer](https://hivemind.griiken.com/guide/machines/), when you only want terminals and agents there.
- [Devices and hive-net](https://hivemind.griiken.com/guide/how-devices-connect/)

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