Server Management

The Servers tab is the main entry point of ServerCC. From here you can add, edit, and manage all your remote servers.

Adding a Server

Tap the + button in the top-right corner of the Servers tab to add a new server.

Server Information

  • Server Name — A friendly name to identify this server (e.g., "Dev Server", "Production")
  • Host — The IP address or hostname of your server
  • Port — SSH port, defaults to 22
  • Username — Your SSH login username

Authentication

ServerCC supports two authentication methods:

  • Password — Enter your SSH password directly. Stored securely in iOS Keychain.
  • Private Key — Select an imported SSH key. Supports Ed25519 and RSA keys, including passphrase-protected keys. See SSH Keys for details.
Tip

If you don't have an SSH key yet, you can create one directly in the Add Server form — tap Add SSH Key to generate or import a key inline.

Environment Variables

You can configure environment variables that will be set when connecting to the server. Common variables include:

  • ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL — Custom API base URL (for proxies or alternative endpoints)
  • ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN — Authentication token for the Anthropic API

You can also add custom key-value pairs for any environment variable your workflow requires.

Tailscale

If your server is on a Tailscale network, you can connect to it without installing the system-wide Tailscale VPN. Toggle Connect via Tailscale and paste your Tailscale auth key. Use the Tailscale IP (e.g., 100.x.y.z) or MagicDNS hostname in the Host field.

See Built-in Tailscale for a detailed guide.

Workspace Root Directory

The workspace root directory is where ServerCC creates and manages workspaces on the server. The default is ~/.servercc. This setting cannot be changed after the server is created.

Server Detail

Tap a server in the list to view its detail screen. Here you can:

Connection Status

The server detail page shows a live connection status indicator. A green checkmark means the server is reachable. If there's an error, tap the status to see the full error message.

Claude Code Installation

The Claude Code section shows whether Claude Code and Codex are installed on the server and their versions. From here you can:

  • Install Claude Code — One-tap installation with real-time progress output
  • Upgrade Claude Code — Update to the latest version
  • Claude Code Settings — Configure Claude Code behavior on this server

If Claude Code or Codex is installed somewhere ServerCC can't auto-detect (a nonstandard prefix, a version manager, an unusual shell setup), tap Set custom path manually and pick the binary with the file browser. The status then shows Installed (custom path). Custom paths don't support in-app upgrades — update the CLI yourself and ServerCC will pick up the new version.

Tools

The Tools section collects the server-level utilities:

  • Pure Terminal — A direct SSH shell without Claude Code/Codex — useful for running system commands, checking logs, or general server administration
  • VNC — Connect to the server's remote desktop — see VNC Remote Desktop
  • Ports — Open any listening port over HTTP in an in-app browser — see Ports

Editing & Deleting Servers

In the server list:

  • Swipe left to reveal the Edit button — modify server name, host, port, credentials, or environment variables
  • Swipe right to reveal the Delete button — permanently removes the server and all its workspaces
Warning

Deleting a server also removes all associated workspaces from ServerCC. Files on the server itself are not deleted.

Connection Management

ServerCC manages SSH connections automatically:

  • Connection pooling — connections are shared and reused across features
  • Heartbeat — a 30-second heartbeat keeps connections alive
  • Auto-reconnect — dropped connections are automatically re-established
  • Idle cleanup — unused connections are closed after 60 seconds of inactivity