Core Server Quick Start
This guide is for Companion Core Servers and other Companion Intelligence hardware — purpose-built machines that arrive ready to run.
What’s already installed
Your Core Server ships with every prerequisite in place. There is nothing to install:
| Status | |
|---|---|
| Docker | Preinstalled and running |
| Ollama | Preinstalled and running |
| Companion Hub | Preinstalled and running |
| Operating system | CI-OS, tuned for local inference |
Skip the software setup entirely. The Install Docker and Install Ollama walkthroughs are for people building a Hub on their own PC. You don’t need either. Go straight to powering on and creating your account below.
Building on your own PC or server instead? Start with Installation.
Follow these steps to get your appliance online, registered, and secured.
1. Hardware Setup
Power On
Connect the power cable to your machine and turn it on.
Wait for Boot
Allow the device a moment to initialize.
2. Account & Network Configuration
Note: This step lets you configure the device headlessly without attaching a monitor.
Create Your CI Account
On a separate computer or phone, sign in or register at:
https://hub.ci.computer
Organizations (shared access for teams and families) is not yet available. See Organizations for status.
Add Device
In your CI Account, click Add Device and follow the prompts to generate a pairing code.
Connect to Network
Enter your Wi-Fi or network credentials as prompted to complete the headless setup process.
3. Local Access & Registration
Once the device is connected to your network, you can access the onboard App Store.
Option A — Remote Access (Headless)
- Find your device’s Local IP Address (assigned by your router).
- Open your browser and navigate to:
http://YOUR_DEVICE_IP:5002
Option B — Direct Access
- Plug a keyboard, mouse, and monitor directly into the machine.
- Open the browser and navigate to:
http://localhost:5002
Final Setup
- You will see the App Store interface.
- Enter the pairing code from hub.ci.computer on the device registration screen (or complete pairing during first-time setup).
- Follow the on-screen instructions — DNS and tunnel setup can take a few minutes.
- Once complete, your Hub appears in your CI Account dashboard.
See Device Pairing for the full flow.
Important Security Step: Change Password
For security purposes, change the default Operating System password immediately if your appliance shipped with one.
Default OS Password
ci.computer!
Action
Go to your system settings or terminal and reset this to a secure custom password as soon as possible.
What’s next
Your Core Server is online and paired. From here the experience is identical to any other Hub — the setup wizard configures your agent, models, and apps, then you install whatever you like from the App Store.