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Turn a VPS into an always-on agent host

A minimal VPS checklist for persistent remote coding agents without keeping your laptop awake.

A small always-on Linux machine in a data center. Keeps repositories, tools, Herdr, and agent sessions running remotely.

Close the laptop without killing the work.
Mac mini and server rack representing a remote agent hostAgent hostMac · PC · VPS
Verified SSH
TalkTerm on iPhoneTalkTermiPhone · iPad

Start small

Choose a current Linux image, enough memory for the repositories and agents you actually run, and storage that can absorb build artifacts. Scale after measuring, not before.

Create a narrow trust boundary

  • Use a non-root account for Herdr and coding agents.
  • Authenticate with SSH keys and disable unused login methods.
  • Keep repositories and agent credentials scoped to this host.
  • Do not expose dashboards or Herdr sockets to the public internet.

Make sessions survive your phone

Keep terminal and agent sessions persistent with the session layer you already use; Herdr can add a native overview, but it is optional. The VPS itself needs a reliable boot path, disk space, and network access. Disconnect once and verify that the work is still there before relying on the host.

herdr status --json
herdr session list --json
herdr api snapshot

Add private access

Tailscale can give the VPS a stable private name and keep SSH off the public path. Restrict access to the devices and users that need the agent host.

Primary references