Cloudways Managed AI Agents run on infrastructure that Cloudways sets up and secures for you, which means root or sudo (admin-level) access is not available or needed.
If you want to add extra tools or features to your agent, such as connecting it to a new service, you can do this safely using NPM, a simple package installer that works without special permissions.
This article walks you through the exact steps to install a custom package on your Managed AI Agent, using the Google Workspace CLI as an example, and shows you how to confirm it is installed correctly.
What You Will Learn
This article explains how to add extra tools (called "packages") to your Managed AI Agent on Cloudways. You do not need root or admin access to do this. You only need a few minutes and access to your agent's terminal.
Quick Summary
Custom packages are installed using npm, a tool for installing add-ons for your agent. You do not need root or sudo (admin) access, and Cloudways does not provide it on Managed AI Agents.
You install packages from inside your agent's own application folder, not from the main server folder.
This guide uses one example, the Google Workspace CLI package, to show you the exact steps. The same steps work for almost any other npm package.
Before You Start
You will need:
A Managed AI Agent already running on Cloudways. If you have not created one yet, see How to Get Started with Managed AI Agents on Cloudways.
A way to connect to your agent using SSH. SSH is a secure way to connect to the server and run commands. You can use either:
The SSH terminal built into the Cloudways Platform (no extra software needed), or
A terminal app on your own computer (such as Terminal on Mac or Linux, or PuTTY on Windows).
What is "root" or "sudo" access?
On many servers, "root" or "sudo" access lets a user make unrestricted changes to the entire server.
Cloudways Managed AI Agents do not provide this level of access, because Cloudways manages and secures the server for you.
This is expected and is not a limitation you need to work around, the steps below are the supported way to add packages.
What is NPM?
npm (Node Package Manager) is a tool that downloads and installs small pieces of software, called packages, that add new features to your agent.
It does not require admin or root access, which is why it is the supported method on Managed AI Agents.
How to Install Custom Packages on Cloudways Managed AI Agents
Step #1 - Find Your SSH Login Details:
Log in to your Cloudways Platform account.
Click on Managed AI Agent from the Cloudways AI section in the left sidebar menu.
Click on your desired Managed AI Agent.
Go to the agent's Access Details tab to find your SSH credentials (IP address, username, and password).
You can use these same details whether you connect using:
The in-platform SSH terminal (opens directly in your browser, no setup needed), or
A terminal app on your own computer.
Step #2 - Connect to Your Agent via SSH:
Option A: Using the in-platform terminal
From your agent's dashboard, open the SSH terminal option.
It will connect automatically using your agent's login details.
Option B: Using your own computer's terminal
Open Terminal (Mac/Linux) or your SSH tool of choice (Windows).
Enter the SSH command using the address and username from Step 1. For example:
ssh -p <port> <username>@<ip-address>
When asked, enter the password from Step #1.
Step #3 - Go to the Correct Folder:
Once connected, make sure you are in your agent's application folder, not the main server folder. You can check your current folder by typing:
pwd
This command shows your current location. It should point to your agent's home or application directory (for example, something like /home/youragentname), not the top-level server root.
Step #4 - Install the Package:
To install a package, type the following command, replacing packagename with the name of the package you want:
npm i @packagename
Example: Installing the Google Workspace CLI:
npm i @googleworkspace/cli
You do not need root or sudo access to run this command. If you see warning messages about "funding" or "audit," these are informational and do not mean the installation failed.
Note:
Looking for a different package? You can find the exact install command for any package onnpmjs.com, just search for the package name and copy the command shown on its page.
Step #5 - Confirm the Package Installed Correctly:
To check that your package installed successfully, type:
npm list
This command shows a list of all packages currently installed in your folder. Look for the package name you just installed in the list.
If you see the package name listed, the installation was successful.
Tip:
Can't find the package you need on npm, or unsure if it's supported? Reach out to us via chat, and our team will check if it can be requested for your agent.
Installing Other Packages
This guide uses the Google Workspace CLI as an example because it is one of the most requested packages. You can install almost any other npm package the same way.
To find the exact install command for a different package:
Visit npmjs.com.
Search for the package you want.
Copy the install command shown on the package's page (it will usually look like
npm i @package-name).Run that command in your agent's terminal, following Steps 1–5 above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need root or admin access to install a package?
No. All custom packages on Managed AI Agents are installed through NPM, which does not require root or sudo access.
Can I request root access for my agent?
Root access is not available on Managed AI Agents, since Cloudways manages and secures the server for you. The NPM method above is the supported way to add custom packages.
What if the package I want is not on NPM?
Currently, only packages available through NPM are supported for installation on Managed AI Agents.
Where can I find more package names?
Visit npmjs.com to search for available packages and their install commands.
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That's it! We hope this article was helpful.