How Atlas Works

The Big Picture

Atlas has three main parts:

1. The Dashboard — Your web interface for managing servers
2. The Cloud — Atlas servers that coordinate everything
3. The Daemon — A small program that runs on each game server

How It All Connects

When you install the Atlas Daemon on your server, it creates a secure connection to Atlas:

The daemon stays connected to Atlas using a WebSocket — a persistent, real-time connection:

• No open ports needed — Your server doesn't need to accept incoming connections
• Instant updates — See server status, logs, and metrics in real-time
• Automatic reconnection — If the internet dips, the daemon reconnects on its own

What the Daemon Does

The daemon runs alongside your game server and handles all the heavy lifting:

• Starts and stops your game server
• Monitors CPU, RAM, disk, and network usage
• Streams console output to your dashboard
• Detects issues like crashes, lag, or memory problems
• Executes commands you send from the dashboard
• Manages files on your server
• Runs automation scripts for updates and backups

Your Dashboard

The dashboard is where you do everything:

• Servers — View and manage all your game servers
• Fleet — Handle multiple servers across many clients (for hosts)
• Pipelines — Automate deployments and updates
• Support — Handle customer tickets
• AI Assistant — Get help with server management

Data Flow

Here's what happens when you take an action:

1. You click a button in the dashboard (like "Restart Server")
2. Atlas sends the command to your server via WebSocket
3. The daemon receives it and executes the command
4. Your server responds, and the daemon streams the result back
5. You see the result in your dashboard

This all happens in milliseconds, making it feel like you're directly interacting with your server.

Security

Atlas is built with security in mind:

• Encrypted connections — All data is encrypted in transit
• API keys — Each server has its own secure key
• Isolated access — File operations are restricted to your server's directory
• Command validation — You can restrict which commands can be run