> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://simplecloud.app/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Installation

> Connect your first machine to SimpleCloud.

Install SimpleCloud from the dashboard. When setup finishes, the dashboard automatically detects your serverhost and opens your network.

## Before you begin

You need a Linux or macOS machine with `curl` and an internet connection. Use Linux for a production serverhost; macOS is useful for local testing. Windows is not supported yet.

Run setup with an account that can create files in the installation location. On Linux, the account also needs `sudo` access if setup must install a missing requirement.

## Connect your first serverhost

<Steps>
  <Step title="Sign in to the dashboard">
    Open the [SimpleCloud Dashboard](https://dash.simplecloud.app) and sign in.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create or join a network">
    Create a network, or join an existing one with an invitation code. The dashboard opens the setup wizard when your network does not have a serverhost yet.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure the serverhost">
    Choose the operating system, enter a recognizable name, and select how much memory SimpleCloud may use.

    The memory limit is the capacity available to Minecraft servers on this machine, so leave enough memory for the operating system. Keep Java 21 or newer selected. Setup installs the selected Java versions and other required software.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run the setup command">
    Open a terminal on the machine and change to the directory that should contain the installation. The command installs into a `simplecloud` folder there.

    Run the command shown in the dashboard and follow any prompts in the terminal.

    <Warning>
      The command contains a temporary login code. Do not share it or save it in scripts or documentation.
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Finish setup">
    Wait for the terminal to show **Setup complete**. The dashboard automatically detects the serverhost and opens your network.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Add another serverhost

Open **Settings > Server Hosts**, select **Add Host**, and run the generated command on the new machine. Use a new command for every serverhost.

If you want to use several machines together, continue with [Multi-root setup](/docs/en/manual/setup/multi-root).

## Install only the CLI

The dashboard command already installs the CLI. To install only the CLI on a Linux or macOS machine, run:

```bash theme={null}
curl -fsSL https://get.simplecloud.app | bash
```

Confirm that it is available:

```bash theme={null}
sc --version
```

This does not connect the machine as a serverhost. Use a dashboard-generated setup command when you want it to run Minecraft servers.

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="The shell cannot find sc">
    Open a new terminal and try `sc --version` again.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The setup command has expired">
    Return to the dashboard and generate a new command.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Setup cannot install a requirement">
    Make sure the machine has internet access. On Linux, use an account that can run `sudo`. Then run the setup command again.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The serverhost does not appear in the dashboard">
    First check whether the terminal reached **Setup complete**. If it did, check the serverhost status and recent logs:

    ```bash theme={null}
    sc status serverhost
    sc logs serverhost
    ```

    If setup did not finish, fix the error shown in the terminal, generate a new command in the dashboard, and try again from the same parent directory.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next step

Create a [server group](/docs/en/manual/setup/server-groups) for servers that scale with demand, or a [persistent server](/docs/en/manual/setup/persistent-servers) for one long-lived Minecraft server.