Chapter 14: Remote Services — connect servers, email and file transfers

This chapter covers Lyra Code's "remote powers": connecting your own servers, email, cloud drives and FTP. In plain words: let the AI on your phone "remote-control" your other computers and accounts. (For MCP, see Chapter 15.)

Reading time: about 20 minutes.

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14.1 First, what can remote integration do? (examples)

• SSH: you have a Linux cloud server; you want the AI to check logs, restart services, deploy projects;
• Email: you have a QQ/163/Gmail mailbox; you want the AI to read unread mail and draft replies;
• WebDAV: you use a cloud drive (Nutstore, Nextcloud, etc.); the AI uploads/downloads files and backs up automatically;
• FTP/SFTP: you have a traditional FTP space; the AI uploads files to it.

All remote features follow the same safety pattern:

List accounts first, then operate. Every operation needs your confirmation. Credentials are stored only on your device.

14.2 Account management rules

• All remote configs (SSH, email, WebDAV, FTP) are managed in the app's config manager;
• When adding accounts, missing passwords, keys and private keys must be provided by you — the AI never invents them;
• When identity is unclear, the AI lists existing accounts first for you to confirm, then operates;
• After changing a password, old account IDs become invalid — re-list to get fresh ones.

How do I add an account?

Either way works:

1. Fill it yourself: Settings → Config manager → add SSH/Email/WebDAV…, enter host, user, password;
2. Let the AI fill it: just say "add a WebDAV account, address xxx, username xxx, password xxx" — the AI walks through the config flow (the password stays on your device).

14.3 SSH: connect to your server

What it is: SSH is the standard way to connect to Linux/Windows servers. Once configured, the AI can run commands on the server just like on your phone.

You need: server address, port (default 22), username, password (or private key); both password and key authentication are supported.

Example:

Check the disk usage on my server: run df -h via ssh_exec

Safety points (must read for beginners):

• Every command needs confirmation;
• Before installing software or changing config remotely, the AI checks the server's OS, CPU, memory, disk and permissions;
• When reading logs, check size and line count first, read only a small slice (ls -lh app.log && tail -50 app.log);
• No interactive programs (vim, top, nested ssh);
• Don't chain "install, modify, restart" into one command — do it step by step with your confirmation at each step.

Note

Highly interactive commands are poorly supported — never run complex strongly-interactive commands. (Nothing much would happen if you did…)

14.4 Email (IMAP / SMTP): let the AI handle mail

What it is:

• IMAP: reading your mailbox (inbox, drafts…);
• SMTP: sending email.

Support for connecting to SMTP and IMAP mail servers has been available since version 3.5.0 — you can have the AI operate your mail and assist with handling it.

Typical use: list unread mail → extract key points → draft a reply → you review and send.

Pipeline:

List accounts → List folders → List emails → Read one / save draft / send

Safety points:

• Reading doesn't change state: reading an email does not mark it as read;
• Text only: inline images and attachment bytes are never shown to the AI (prevents leaks);
• Attachments go to quarantine: downloaded attachments sit in an isolated directory that the AI never reads — scan them with antivirus yourself before opening;
• Sending needs a fresh confirmation every time, and possibly-duplicate deliveries are never auto-retried; the email-send confirmation is enforced — it is not auto-approved just because no-approval mode is on;
• The safer way: have the AI save a draft (to the drafts folder), review it, then send manually in your mailbox;
• Don't reply to yourself: never reply to emails sent by the configured account itself.

Note

Some mail providers don't allow direct password login — they use an authorization code (app-specific password), and this feature may need to be enabled separately before external apps can connect.

14.5 WebDAV: use your cloud drive as "cloud backup"

What it is: WebDAV is a network file protocol supported by Nutstore, Nextcloud, Cloudreve, 123 Cloud Drive and more (most self-hosted and third-party WebDAV servers). Once configured, the AI treats the cloud drive as a remote folder.

Typical uses:

• Upload/download files: webdav_upload_from_workspace / webdav_download_to_workspace;
• Cloud backups: export Lyra Code backups directly to WebDAV (see Chapter 20 "Backup & Migration");
• Browse the drive: webdav_list (prefer listing over searching — it's more intuitive).

14.6 FTP / FTPS / SFTP: classic file transfer

What it is: the old-school file transfer protocol, handy for older servers, virtual hosts and website operations.

• Listing, searching, uploading and downloading all supported;
• Supported by almost all servers and PC devices — very useful for website admins;
• Credentials, passive mode and other parameters are maintained in the config (check these first when connections fail).

14.7 Natural-language config management: just speak

You don't need to memorize any config menus — say it in plain language:

Add a WebDAV account: https://dav.example.com, user alice, password ********
Update the private key of SSH server "nas" with this new private key content
Disable FTP account server-02

The AI lists current configs to confirm identity first, then applies the change (with your confirmation).

14.8 Beginner FAQ

Q: Do I have to configure all of these? A: No. Configure only what you use. A chat-only user needs nothing.

Q: Where are my account passwords stored? Is it safe? A: On your phone, locally; backups don't export keys by default. That's safer than cloud notes — but still set a lock screen.

Q: Can the AI peek at my emails? A: Only when you ask it to; reading doesn't change state, attachments never enter the chat, and sending always requires your confirmation.

Q: Can't connect to server/mailbox? A: Check in order: ① correct credentials? ② correct port and encryption (SSL/STARTTLS)? ③ network reachable? ④ re-list accounts after a password change.

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End of chapter · Next: MCP — plug in external tools