Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Fleet Manager and why would I need it?

Fleet Manager is a Claude Code plugin for managing multiple Linux servers over SSH from a single session. Instead of juggling SSH connections by hand, you maintain an inventory, set an active server and use clear commands for status, Docker, logs, file transfer and a fleet-wide health overview.

What does Fleet Manager cost?

Nothing. Fleet Manager is open source under the MIT license and completely free. It runs locally in your Claude Code — there is no cloud service and no subscription fees.

The first connection to a server fails — why?

Usually the host key is missing from your ~/.ssh/known_hosts. Fleet Manager uses BatchMode=yes and does not trust unknown hosts automatically — so the first connection fails on purpose. Register the key once after reviewing the fingerprint: ssh-keyscan -p <port> <host> >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts, then re-run /setup-ssh or /diag.

What is the difference between /copy and /sync?

/copy copies a single file or directory once (rsync, with an scp fallback). /sync mirrors a directory (rsync) and defaults to a dry run — ideal for reconciling recurring backups or deployments.

Why is /sync a dry run by default?

As a safeguard against accidental mass changes. Without --apply, /sync only shows what would change. Only with --apply does it transfer, and --delete (removing destination files) additionally requires the token --confirm-delete=<server>.

How do I protect critical Compose stacks from being stopped accidentally?

List the project names in the server profile under critical_compose_projects. /compose-down and /compose-update then require the token --confirm=<project> before touching those stacks.

My Docker only runs with sudo — does it still work?

Yes. /diag automatically probes several invocations (including sudo -n docker) and stores the working one as docker_cmd. This requires a passwordless sudoers entry, e.g. user ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: /usr/bin/docker.

Does my server data (IPs, users, keys) end up in Git?

No. Real profiles, the active server and the inventory (context/servers/*.md, context/active-server, context/inventory.md) are git-ignored. Only templates live in the repository — your topology never leaves your machine.

Do I need root access?

No. Fleet Manager connects with the SSH user you specify. Privileged actions on the server are handled there via group membership (e.g. docker) or passwordless sudo — not via root access from the plugin.

Can I control multiple servers at once?

Fleet Manager works on exactly one server per command. /health-summary walks the whole fleet sequentially (one row per server). Parallel rollout across many hosts like Ansible is not the use case.

How do I switch the active server?

Use /use <name> to set the active server permanently. For a one-off command, simply pass the server as an argument, e.g. /status vps-web — that overrides the active server for this call only.

How do I rotate the SSH key?

Delete ~/.ssh/fleet-manager_ed25519 along with its .pub file and run /setup-ssh again. The command is idempotent and creates a new key when needed, which you then deploy as usual.

How does Fleet Manager differ from synology-manager-plus?

synology-manager-plus specializes in Synology NAS devices (DSM, RAID, SMART). Fleet Manager is the generic counterpart for any Linux host — VPS, homelab servers, app machines. Both can be used side by side.