FAQ

General

What OS is supported? Linux servers with Python 3. Use a sudo-capable user for install. The agent requires psutil for system monitoring and mysql-connector-python for MySQL features.

Do I need to open inbound ports? No. The agent makes an outbound WSS connection over 443. No inbound firewall rules needed.

Are SSH keys stored? No. Sessions use short-lived tokens and your server-side login credentials (which never leave your server).

How do I rotate a token? Generate a new install token in the dashboard and reinstall the agent. Old tokens are automatically invalidated.

How do I remove a server? Delete it in the dashboard, then stop/disable the agent service: sudo systemctl stop clipal-agent && sudo systemctl disable clipal-agent

What is the resource overhead? The agent is lightweight with minimal CPU/RAM footprint. Typical usage: <50MB RAM, <1% CPU under normal load.

Plans and Pricing

What's included in the free plan? Free plan includes: - 1 server - 15 AI command suggestions per month - Basic system metrics (CPU, RAM, Disk, Network) - Web terminal access - 24 hours of metric history

MySQL Optimizer shows preview mode with sample data.

What features require a paid plan? Paid plans unlock: - MySQL health monitoring and optimization - Slow query detection and tracking - AI query recommendations - Config change tracking and advisor - More servers (3 for Pro, 10 for Business) - Higher AI command limits (100-500/month)

What happens when I reach my AI command limit? You'll see a notification when approaching your limit. Once exceeded, you can either upgrade your plan or wait until the next billing cycle when limits reset.

Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan? Yes, anytime from your account settings. Upgrades are prorated; downgrades take effect at the next billing cycle.

MySQL Monitoring

How do I enable MySQL monitoring? On paid plans, edit /opt/clipal/clipal.conf and set:

mysql_enabled=true
mysql_host=localhost
mysql_user=your_mysql_user
mysql_password=your_mysql_password

Then restart: sudo systemctl restart clipal-agent

The MySQL user needs PROCESS privilege and SELECT on performance_schema.*.

What are query digests? Query digests are normalized SQL patterns that replace actual values with placeholders. For example: - Actual query: SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = 123 - Stored digest: SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = ?

This protects your data privacy while enabling query analysis. We never store actual data values.

Why aren't my MySQL metrics appearing? Check: 1. You have a paid plan (MySQL features are paid-only) 2. mysql_enabled=true in /opt/clipal/clipal.conf 3. MySQL credentials are correct 4. MySQL user has required permissions 5. Agent logs: journalctl -u clipal-agent -f

How do I bookmark queries? In the MySQL Optimizer, click the bookmark icon next to any query in the Slow Queries or Missing Indexes tabs. Bookmarked queries appear first in the list and are highlighted for easy tracking.

Data and Security

Is my query data sent to the AI provider? Only query digests (normalized patterns), config variables, and performance metrics are sent to OpenRouter for AI analysis. Actual data values are never sent. Don't include secrets in manual AI prompts.

Where is my data stored? - System and MySQL metrics: Our secure database (encrypted at rest) - Query digests: Stored without actual data values - Terminal sessions: Not logged or stored - Config files: On your server only (/opt/clipal/clipal.conf)

How long is data retained? - Metrics history: 24 hours of detailed data - Query digests: 7-day rolling window - Config change history: Kept indefinitely for audit purposes - Failed login attempts: 30 days