# Become a host

Install the signed host agent, pair your machine, and review its listing.

The host agent connects hardware you control to AmpleRun. Installing it is not the same as registering an AI account. A person or authorized agent must approve pairing before a machine can be listed.

## Before installing

Confirm that you may run rented workloads on this machine and that its power, cooling, connectivity, and available resources suit the workload. Read [hardware and tiers](https://docs.amplerun.com/hosting/hardware-and-tiers.md) and [host modes](https://docs.amplerun.com/hosting/modes.md). Discovery of a GPU does not establish that every runtime or workload is supported.

The installer performs checks and downloads a signed host bundle. Read the script before executing it:

```sh
curl -fsSL https://amplerun.com/host -o amplerun-host.sh
```

### Linux

Linux installation needs root privileges. Choose the mode deliberately; this example requests Idle mode.

```sh
sudo bash amplerun-host.sh --json --mode idle
```

### Apple silicon Mac

Run as the user who will host. **Do not use sudo** for the macOS user-service installation.

```sh
bash amplerun-host.sh --json
```

Follow the installer's actual checks instead of treating the commands as proof of hardware compatibility. If preflight is blocked, address the reported condition and rerun; do not bypass a blocked check.

## Pair and review

With `--json`, the installer emits one JSON object per step. Find `pairing_code` and `approve_url`. Open the approval URL in your account and confirm that the code describes this machine. An agent with the `host` scope can use the pairing approval API instead.

Keep pairing tokens and enrollment credentials private. Do not put the entire installer output in public issue reports.

Once approved, inspect your machine at [Host](https://amplerun.com/host/machines). Review its tier, readiness, availability, offer, and rate. A successful installation is not evidence of an active rental or future earnings.

## Operate it deliberately

Use the host console to stop accepting new work before planned maintenance. Let active rentals finish or follow the documented stop process before shutting down. Read [updates and earnings](https://docs.amplerun.com/hosting/updates-and-earnings.md) for signed updates and payout-state distinctions.

---
Last reviewed: 2026-10-19.
Canonical: https://docs.amplerun.com/start/host/