THE MANUAL / FROM DECISION TO DAY TWO

Your deployment field guide.

From choosing an architecture to operating and recovering an AI agent. Start where you are, and work through the decisions that matter.

8 GUIDES
Architecture01

Where should your AI agent run?

Choose between an API-backed agent server and self-hosted inference by examining workload, data boundaries, hardware, and operational responsibility.

6 min read
Cost planning02

The real cost of running an AI agent

Build a useful operating budget beyond the server price: model requests, retries, storage, backups, egress, and the resources that keep billing while idle.

6 min read
Deployment planning03

Plan your first Vultr agent server

A reference workflow for choosing a server, preparing SSH access, separating public and private ports, and verifying a deployment before it handles real work.

6 min read
Deployment planning04

Design an agent deployment with Docker Compose

A practical reference architecture for an API-backed agent, with explicit service boundaries, persistent state, private ports, secrets, and a recoverable update process.

6 min read
Networking05

Put an agent behind a domain and HTTPS

Plan DNS, Caddy certificate automation, private upstream connections, authentication, and ongoing verification without mistaking a padlock for access control.

6 min read
Security & operations06

An operations checklist for an agent with real tools

Define action boundaries, protect secrets, preserve useful logs, and prepare a recoverable deployment before granting an agent access to real systems.

6 min read
Recovery07

Back up an agent you can actually restore

Identify durable state, choose an application-consistent backup method, separate failure domains, and require real restoration evidence before trusting a recovery plan.

6 min read
Migration08

Move an agent server without losing control

Plan a reversible cutover, avoid two active writers, reconcile in-flight actions, and retire old infrastructure with verified data and billing cleanup.

6 min read