operating-remote

name	operating-remote
description	Use when the user mentions operating on a named remote host that has a Plexus `remotes/<host>/REMOTE.md` profile, such as squirts, dookie, steamy, or another homelab device. Before taking action, load durable host memory and live context with `remote-context.py <host>`. This is the host-scoped equivalent of CLAUDE.md/AGENTS.md for remote machines.
argument-hint	<host> [--json] [--no-probe]

Operating Remote Hosts With Plexus

Use this skill when the task is about a named remote machine and Plexus has a matching remotes/<host>/REMOTE.md profile.

Dynamic Context

If invoked with a host argument, use the injected context below as the current operating context before making changes:

!python3 "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT:-plugins/plexus}/scripts/remote-context.py" $ARGUMENTS

Required First Step

If the dynamic context block is empty, failed, or the skill was auto-triggered without $ARGUMENTS, identify the host from the user's request and run:

python3 "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT:-plugins/plexus}/scripts/remote-context.py" <host>

Use --no-probe only when the user asks for an offline plan or when SSH/live tools are unavailable.

How To Use The Context

Treat REMOTE.md as durable host memory: roles, important paths, access patterns, guardrails, and known quirks. Treat live probe output as the current state. If the two disagree, call out the discrepancy and prefer observed live state for operational decisions.

Operating Rules

• Use non-interactive SSH: ssh -o BatchMode=yes <host> <command>.
• Inspect before changing state: uptime, disk, memory, failed units, Docker containers, and recent syslog entries.
• Prefer host-specific guardrails in REMOTE.md over generic assumptions.
• For service work, capture enough before/after evidence to prove the change.
• If a task touches a reverse proxy, certificate, firewall, storage pool, or auth boundary, validate first and use a rollback path.

Related Context

Plexus pairs well with syslog-mcp: recent logs and AI/session history explain what changed before the current request. It also composes with service-specific skills like tailscale, unraid, create-swag-config, and homelab-map.