> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.steerholm.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Add a server

> Register an MCP server with Steerholm and confirm it's running.

A server is any MCP server you want your agents to reach — a git server, a
filesystem server, a database, an internal HTTP service. You register it with
Steerholm once; from then on it lives on the plane, and you decide which agents may
reach it by [granting access](/guides/managing-access).

<Note>
  Registering a server exposes nothing on its own. No agent can reach it until you
  grant access — Steerholm is default-deny.
</Note>

## Register the server

Steerholm runs two kinds of MCP server: **stdio** servers it launches from a
command, and **remote** servers it connects to over HTTP. Give `--command` for one
or `--url` for the other — the type is inferred.

```bash theme={null}
# Stdio — Steerholm launches and supervises the process
holm add server git --command "uvx mcp-server-git"

# Remote — Steerholm connects to an already-running HTTP server
holm add server remote-api --url "http://localhost:8000/mcp"
```

Pass configuration or secrets to a stdio server with `--env` (repeatable) — for
example a database connection string:

```bash theme={null}
holm add server db \
  --command "uvx postgres-mcp" \
  --env "DATABASE_URI=postgresql://user:pass@localhost/app"
```

`holm show server` masks env values, so secrets don't print back.

## Confirm it's running

`list servers` shows every server with its transport and live status; `show server`
adds the tools it provides and which agents have been granted access:

```bash theme={null}
holm list servers
holm show server git
```

A healthy stdio server shows `running` with a tool count. If it never comes up, see
[Troubleshooting](/guides/troubleshooting).

## Add more than one

Every server you add lives on the same plane — add as many as you need:

```bash theme={null}
holm add server filesystem --command "npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem ~/docs"
holm add server internal-api --url "http://localhost:9000/mcp"
```

An agent connects to Steerholm in one place and sees only the tools its policy
allows, across every server it's been granted. Wiring those grants is covered in
[Managing access](/guides/managing-access).

## Remove a server

Removes the server from Steerholm and stops its process (for stdio servers). Agents
can no longer reach it:

```bash theme={null}
holm remove server git
```