Quick Start
This guide walks you through setting up ServerCC and running your first Claude Code or Codex session on a remote server.
Prerequisites
- A remote server (Linux/macOS) with SSH access
- The server's IP address or hostname, SSH port, and login credentials (password or SSH key). If your server is on a Tailscale network, you can use the Tailscale IP — see Built-in Tailscale
- Node.js 18+ installed on the server (required by Claude Code)
Step 1: Add a Server
Open the Servers tab
Launch ServerCC. The Servers tab is the default landing screen. Tap the + button in the top-right corner.
Fill in server details
Enter a name for your server, the host (IP or hostname), port (default 22), and your username.
Choose authentication method
Select Password or Private Key. For key-based auth, you can import an existing SSH key or create one on the spot. Ed25519 and RSA keys are supported.
Save the server
Tap Add Server. ServerCC will create the server and automatically set up a default workspace.
Step 2: Install Claude Code
Open server details
Tap your newly added server to open the detail screen. You'll see the Claude Code section showing "Not Installed".
Install Claude Code
Tap the Install Claude Code button. ServerCC will run the installation on your server and show real-time progress. This usually takes less than a minute.
Step 3: Start a Claude Code Session
Enter a workspace
In the server detail screen, tap the default workspace (or any workspace you've created). You'll see the session picker.
Create a new session
Tap New Session. The terminal will open and Claude Code will start. If this is your first time, you'll need to log in — a login card will appear with instructions.
Step 4: Interact with Claude
Type your prompt
Use the input field at the bottom of the terminal to type messages to Claude. Press the send button to submit.
Use quick actions
When Claude asks for confirmation (yes/no prompts, edit approvals), quick action buttons appear automatically above the input field for one-tap responses.
Step 5: Background & Resume
Background a session
Tap the back button and select Background to keep the session running while you do other things. The session will appear in the Running tab.
Resume a session
Go to the Running tab and tap any session to reattach. You can also resume previous sessions from the workspace session picker.
You can also access a Pure Terminal (plain SSH shell without Claude Code) from the server detail screen — useful for running system commands directly.
Next Steps
Now that you have a working setup, explore the other features:
- Create workspaces for different projects and clone Git repositories
- Browse and upload files on your server via SFTP
- Install skills to extend Claude's capabilities
- Configure MCP servers for additional tools and integrations
- Run sessions in parallel — background a session and start another across different workspaces
- Connect via Tailscale — access servers on your Tailscale network without a system-wide VPN