Articles in this section

See more

Add Claude Agent as a BasicOps Agent User

Avatar
Support Team
Updated
Follow

Before you start

Make sure you have the following ready before you begin.

  • A BasicOps Agent-User that has already been created and enabled
  • The BasicOps API key for that agent
  • A Claude Pro or Max subscription
  • A free Tailscale account, or the ability to create one during setup
  • A Linux server or local machine you can access
  • Your email address you use with your BasicOps account

The server can be a cloud VPS or a local virtual machine. It just needs to stay on so the agent can keep receiving BasicOps messages.

This article contains:

  1. Open a terminal on your server
  2. Run the setup command
  3. Add your BasicOps API Key
  4. Sign in to Claude
  5. Connect Tailscale
  6. Enable Tailscale Funnel
  7. Start the agent as a background service
  8. Test your agent in BasicOps
  9. Give your agent more abilities

Open a terminal on your server

Connect to your server over SSH.

ssh you@your-server-address

If you are already working directly on the server, you can skip this step.

Everything in the rest of this guide should be run on the server. Before you continue, confirm that your terminal prompt shows the server name, not your personal computer.

Run the setup command

Copy the agent installer onto the server and start the guided setup.

git clone https://github.com/jtoberbauer/basicops-agent-connect.git
cd basicops-agent-connect
bash scripts/setup-vps.sh

The setup installs the required dependencies, including Node, Tailscale, and the Claude app. It then builds the agent tool and starts the installer.

The first run can take a few minutes.

Add your BasicOps API key

The installer asks for your BasicOps API key first.

Paste the API key for the BasicOps agent you created, then press Enter. The input stays hidden while you type or paste it.

If the installer says the agent is not enabled, open the agent in BasicOps, turn it on, and run the setup command again.

bash scripts/setup-vps.sh

Enter the email address associated with your BasicOps Account

At the prompt, enter your email address. This should be the same address you use to log into your BasicOps account. This is used to let the agent know who they should introduce themselves to when installation is complete.

Sign in to Claude

Next, the installer prints a Claude sign-in link.

  1. Open the link in your browser.
  2. Sign in with your Claude account.
  3. Approve the connection.
  4. Return to the terminal.

The installer confirms the sign-in automatically. If Claude is already signed in on the server, this step may be skipped.

Connect Tailscale

The installer asks whether you already have a Tailscale account.

Do you already have a Tailscale account? [Y/n]

If you already have an account, answer Y.

If you need to create one, answer n. The installer will guide you through creating the free account in your browser.

The installer then prints a Tailscale login link.

  1. Open the link in your browser.
  2. Approve the machine in Tailscale.
  3. Return to the terminal.

Setup continues automatically after the machine is approved.

Enable Tailscale Funnel

Tailscale Funnel gives your agent a secure public address so BasicOps can send it messages.

If Funnel is not enabled on your Tailscale account yet, the installer pauses and shows a message similar to this:

Couldn't open the Tailscale Funnel.
This usually means Funnel isn't enabled on your tailnet yet.
Press Enter to re-check after enabling Funnel, or type 's' to skip:

Follow the URL or instructions shown in the terminal. If the installer does not provide a direct setup URL, complete these steps in Tailscale.

  1. Open the Tailscale DNS settings: https://login.tailscale.com/admin/dns
  2. Turn on HTTPS Certificates.
  3. Open the Tailscale Access Controls page: https://login.tailscale.com/admin/acls
  4. Add this block to the policy file:
"nodeAttrs": [
  { "target": ["autogroup:member"], "attr": ["funnel"] }
]
  1. Save the policy file.
  2. Return to the terminal and press Enter.

You only need to enable Funnel once per Tailscale account. Future agents on the same account should skip this step.

Start the agent as a background service

At the end of setup, the installer asks whether to run the agent as a background service.

Run as a background service (survives logout/reboot)? [Y/n]

Answer Y.

This keeps the agent running after you log out and restarts it if the server reboots.

When setup finishes, the agent registers its address with BasicOps and will send you a chat message.

Test your agent in BasicOps

Open BasicOps and respond to your agent or mention it in a task or project discussion.

 

For example:

@Your-Agent can you summarize this project for me?

The agent should respond within a few seconds.

If the agent does not respond:

  • Confirm the BasicOps agent is enabled.
  • Confirm the server is still running.
  • Confirm Tailscale Funnel is enabled.
  • Re-run the setup command and follow any error messages shown in the terminal.

Give your agent more abilities

After the agent is live, you can ask it how to add new skills.

For example, ask:

How do I connect you to GitHub?

or:

Add a skill that summarizes PDFs.

The agent will give you the commands to run on the server.

Related articles

Article is closed for comments.