Connect an external agent

Pair Orca with an eligible agent on the account owner's computer, verify its status, and revoke it safely.

Use a connected agent when you want eligible Orca tasks to run through an agent on the account owner's computer. You keep Orca's existing proposal review while using that independently operated environment. It is an alternative execution path for Orca, not a general CorTeX API and not a second collaboration account.

Check eligibility and local requirements#

Pairing is available only to eligible Standard or Pro accounts while the account is included in the feature rollout. The local computer needs a compatible shell, curl, and either shasum or sha256sum; it does not need Node, Bun, Python, jq, or a CorTeX CLI.

Only pair a computer controlled under your research and institutional policy. The connection belongs to the account, so another signed-in browser for the same account can later send work to that local relay.

Pair the relay#

1. Sign in and open the CorTeX connection page.
2. Request a pairing launcher and read the displayed instructions.
3. Copy the complete launcher promptly; its one-use pairing capability expires after two minutes.
4. Run it in the intended local environment.
5. Return to CorTeX and wait for the status to become Connected and Idle.

The launcher downloads a content-addressed relay file, verifies its displayed SHA-256 digest, and executes the verified private temporary file. It does not use curl | bash. Inspect the visible source and digest link before running it if your environment requires review.

Keep the relay available during work#

Leave the relay process running while Orca should use the connection. CorTeX reports connected, offline, idle, or busy state from recent relay activity. A paired but offline relay cannot start connected work and does not silently select the built-in model instead.

One agent handles its admitted queue in order. If the local process exits, network access fails, or the computer sleeps, restore the relay and confirm the status before retrying. Do not start several copies with the same configuration to increase throughput.

Revoke or replace the connection#

Choose Disconnect agent when the computer is lost, reassigned, no longer trusted, or should stop receiving work. Revocation invalidates pairing and mailbox credentials, including active admission. Issuing a new pairing also replaces the previous connection generation, so the old relay cannot return later with its saved credential.

Account deletion revokes the connection. Losing paid eligibility also prevents an old credential from becoming valid after a later upgrade. To verify the route, confirm Connected and Idle, then send a bounded Orca request such as “Shorten this sentence without changing its numerical claim.” Check that the intended agent receives it. After revocation, verify that the connection page shows disconnected. Continue with Use Orca to send a bounded task and review its proposed changes.