Knot Command Center setupcli · Server Mode No phone-home

Start Herefor organizers & helpers

Set up Knot on your computer, then connect the mobile app.

Knot is a trip command center. This guide is for the person running the server — usually on a Mac, Windows PC, Linux box, or cloud host. You run the setup utility once, finish the browser setup screen, then paste the server URL into the Knot app on phones.

Mac/Linux ./scripts/knot-cli Windows .\scripts\knot-cli.ps1 Machine JSON /content/knot-setupcli.json

00Choose Your Setup PathServer Mode vs Cloud Mode

Server Mode

You run Knot on a computer you control. The mobile app connects to that server's URL for sync, voice, camera capture, and the full planner.

Best for the full app experience on phones
Needs a URL phones can reach (not localhost)
Often home server + Tailscale, or your own domain

Cloud Mode

You deploy Knot to a hosted platform (Railway is built into the setup utility). The app still uses Server Mode — you paste the cloud HTTPS URL.

Good when you do not want a home PC running 24/7
Setup utility option 2) Railway
Use the https://….up.railway.app URL on phones

In the mobile app

Tap Connect to a server, paste your URL, and tap Connect. Open Setup notes in the app anytime — it points back to this page.

01Mac or Linuxterminal steps

Open Terminal. Go to your KNOT folder (the folder that contains scripts).

shell · mac / linux

cd /path/to/knot
chmod +x scripts/knot-cli
./scripts/knot-cli

Pick a deployment method — Docker (1) for most home servers and VPS boxes; Railway (2) for cloud; bare metal (3) if you are comfortable building from source.
Watch the terminal for Setup URL and Setup Code: OWNER-XXXXXXXX.
Open the Setup URL in a browser on this same computer (ends with /setup).
Enter the setup code, finish the wizard, then copy the server URL for phones.

02Windows PCpowershell steps

Open PowerShell. Go to your KNOT folder.

powershell · windows

cd C:\path\to\knot
.\scripts\knot-cli.ps1

If PowerShell blocks the script, run once: Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser RemoteSigned, then try again.

Follow the same menu as Mac/Linux. When finished, open the Setup URL on this PC and paste the final HTTPS URL into the mobile app.

03Cloud Hostingrailway path

Create a Railway account at railway.app if you do not have one.
Install the Railway CLI — brew install railway, npm install -g @railway/cli, or Railway's install script.
Run railway login once, then run the setup utility and choose 2) Railway.
When deploy finishes, open the HTTPS Setup URL. Find Setup Code: OWNER-XXXXXXXX in railway logs if needed.
Paste the Railway HTTPS URL into the Knot mobile app — never localhost on a phone.

04Phones & localhostcommon mistake

On a phone, localhost means the phone itself — not your Mac or Windows PC.

http://localhost is fine in a desktop browser on the same computer running Knot.
Phones and tablets need a URL that reaches the host — Wi‑Fi IP, Tailscale, your domain, or a cloud URL.
If it works on the host browser but not on the phone, you need a different URL for the phone.

05HTTPS, Tailscale & hosted URLsvoice needs secure

Your domain + Docker: enter a real domain in the setup utility; Caddy provisions HTTPS.
Tailscale Serve: install Tailscale on the host and family phones (same account). Run tailscale serve --bg 8787 and use the https://….ts.net URL on phones.
Railway / cloud: use the https:// URL the platform prints.
Voice on phones requires HTTPS on real devices — plain HTTP blocks the microphone.

06Using the URL in the Mobile AppServer Mode

Open Knot on iPhone, iPad, or Android.
Tap Connect to a server and paste the full URL (https://…).
Tap Connect. The app remembers the URL.
Connection error? See troubleshooting below or copy the safe AI prompt.

URL field is not for API keys

Paste only the web address (starts with https://). API keys go in Knot's setup or Settings screens on the server — never in the server URL field.

07API Keys, Safely Explainedprivate — never share in chat

Knot may ask for an AI provider key when you turn on concierge features. That key is yours — it lets Knot call the provider you chose.

Create the key on the provider's official website.
Paste it only into Knot's official setup field or trusted local config on your server.
Never paste API keys into public AI chats, screenshots, Discord, or texts.
If exposed, revoke the key in the provider dashboard and create a new one.

This page will never ask for your API key

Any chat or form that asks you to post your API key here is not official Knot support.

08Troubleshootingconnection & setup

Could not connect to the server.

Likely causes

Knot is not running on the host computer.
The server URL is wrong or missing https://.
The phone cannot reach the host computer's network.
You used localhost on a phone, but Knot runs on a different computer.
The server needs HTTPS or a secure tunnel for the current workflow.

Try this

Confirm Knot is running on the host computer.
Open the server URL in a browser on the host computer.
If using a phone, test the URL in the phone's browser.
Use the HTTPS Tailscale or hosted URL instead of localhost for phones and tablets.
Copy the JSON AI help prompt below and ask a trusted helper to diagnose it.

The paste button does not fill the server URL.

Try this

Copy the full URL again.
Tap the URL field and type the URL manually.
On a simulator, use simulator clipboard tools or type directly.
Make sure the copied value starts with http:// or https://.

The setup utility asks for an API key.

Try this

Create a key on the official provider website.
Paste only into Knot's official setup field or trusted local configuration.
Do not paste the key into public AI chats, screenshots, or messages.
If a key was exposed, revoke it and create a new one.

Voice does not work.

Try this

Use an HTTPS URL.
Use Tailscale Serve or a hosted server URL.
Confirm microphone permission is enabled on the mobile device.

09Copy This Prompt for Helpsafe to share — no secrets

Paste this into a trusted AI assistant (or give it to a tech-savvy friend). It deliberately excludes API keys and private tokens.

text · general setup helper

I am setting up Knot, the trip command center. Please walk me through the setup step by step. My host computer is: [Mac / Windows PC / Linux / server]. My mobile device is: [iPhone / iPad / Android phone / Android tablet]. I am trying to run one of these commands from the KNOT folder: macOS or Linux: ./scripts/knot-cli. Windows PowerShell: .\scripts\knot-cli.ps1. Please explain what I should click or type, what an API key is if Knot asks for one, and how to find the final server URL I need to paste into the mobile app. Do not ask me to share API keys, passwords, private tokens, or private setup codes. Official setup guide: https://knot.llmtech.net/setupcli

For a connection error, copy this JSON template (fill in your attempted URL only — no secrets):

json · connection error helper

{
  "ask": "Please help me diagnose why the Knot mobile app cannot reach this server URL. Explain the steps for a non-technical user. Do not ask me to share API keys, passwords, or private tokens.",
  "attempted_server_url": "[paste the server URL shown in the app]",
  "contains_secrets": false,
  "manual_url": "https://knot.llmtech.net/setupcli",
  "product": "Knot",
  "safe_to_share": true,
  "screen": "Server Mode connection error",
  "user_context": {
    "goal": "Connect the mobile app to a running Knot server",
    "host_computer": "Mac, Windows PC, Linux, or server",
    "mobile_device": "iOS or Android"
  },
  "visible_error": "Could not connect to the server."
}

10Machine facefor LLM / MCP clients

Agents should fetch the canonical JSON — same content as this page, structured for tools:

https://knot.llmtech.net/content/knot-setupcli.json

json · embedded canonical