Let your AI agent look at your server — on the same screen, over the same SSH, without ever handing it a shell

Maintaining an older VPS with an AI agent involves constant interaction between human and machine. The AI agent requests information such as service status and configuration files, which the user provides via terminal or SFTP client. The idea behind sshboard is to allow the AI agent to view the server's status on the same screen without providing access to a full shell. This maintains transparency while granting the agent minimal, controlled access.

sshboard functions as a desktop application, displaying server data in real-time on the user's screen. The agent receives commands through MCP (Machine Control Protocol), allowing it to perform specific actions like listing directories, reading files, and checking system information. These actions are visible to the user, who can approve or reject each command as it occurs.

The application restricts the agent's abilities further by limiting write access to pre-defined directories, with an hourly usage cap. Commands requiring elevated privileges are treated separately, prompting a password prompt that is not stored by the system. Users retain full control over their local machines, with sshboard not accessing any sensitive data or keys.

To implement sshboard, users can download and install the application from the releases page, then register connections within the app or import existing SSH configurations. The agent can then be queried to investigate issues with services or applications on the server. However, it is not designed to autonomously fix problems or replace existing SSH tools. Instead, it offers an additional layer of oversight for system administrators managing legacy infrastructure.