Quick Start

Welcome! This guide will get you from zero to managing your first server in under 5 minutes.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, you'll need:

A Linux server (Ubuntu 22.04+, CentOS Stream 9+, Debian 11+, or Fedora 38+)
Your server's IP address
SSH access to your server (username + password or SSH key)

Don't have a server yet? You can use:

AWS EC2 (Amazon Linux 2023, Ubuntu 22.04/24.04)
DigitalOcean Droplet (Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 LTS)
Google Compute Engine (Debian 12, Ubuntu 22.04/24.04)
Azure VMs (Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 LTS, CentOS Stream 9)
Any cloud provider with Linux VMs
A local VM (UTM for Mac, VirtualBox, VMware)
Raspberry Pi 4/5 with Raspberry Pi OS or Ubuntu

Guided Setup

Download CtrlOps

Download the latest version for your platform:

Download for Mac M1/M2/M3/M4

Download for Mac Intel

Download for Windows

Download for Linux

Install the Application

Mac: Open the .dmg file and drag CtrlOps to Applications
Windows: Run the installer and follow the prompts
Linux: Extract the archive and run ./ctrlops

Launch and Connect

Open CtrlOps
Click "Add Server" in the top right
Enter your server details:
- Name: My Server (any name you want)
- IP Address: Your server's IP
- Username: Usually root or your username
Upload your SSH key or enter password
Click "Connect"

Start Managing!

Once connected, you'll see:

Terminal: Execute commands with AI assistance
File Manager: Browse and edit files visually
Monitoring: Real-time CPU, RAM, and disk usage
Deployments: Set up automated deployments

The Human Element: Once connected, you’ll see the Agentic Persona selector. This isn't just a chatbot; it's a senior engineer tuned to your specific task—be it a midnight outage or a security audit.

Need Help?

Can't find your answer in the docs? We're here to help you get unstuck.

Email Support: support@ctrlops.io
Feature Requests: Reach out if you have an idea that would make CtrlOps better!
Need more help?: Join our Discord community

Next Steps

Now that you've established your first bridge, explore the AI Terminal to see how the system translates complex kernel states into plain, actionable engineering prose.