MeshCentral

MeshCentral is a free, open-source, self-hosted remote management server: you run it on your own machine, install a small agent on each computer, and get remote desktop, terminal and file access from any web browser. It suits sysadmins and MSPs who want TeamViewer-style reach without sending sessions through someone else’s cloud. If you searched for a MeshCentral download, the server is normally installed with npm rather than from a classic installer.

The project is led by Ylian Saint-Hilaire and released under the Apache License 2.0. It is under active development, with new releases every few weeks. The server is written in Node.js and runs on Windows, Linux, macOS and FreeBSD. It is light enough for a Raspberry Pi or a small cloud VM to handle a few hundred devices.

MeshCentral at a glance

What it does

• Browser-based remote desktop to Windows, Linux and macOS agents, with no client install on the technician side.
• Remote terminal (command prompt, PowerShell or shell) and a file manager for upload and download.
• Device groups with per-user and per-device rights, user groups, two-factor authentication and SSO options.
• Power actions (wake, sleep, restart), events log and optional local session recording.
• Intel AMT out-of-band management, including access to machines whose OS is down, on vPro hardware.
• Database choice: built-in NeDB by default, or MongoDB, PostgreSQL or MySQL/MariaDB for larger setups.
• MeshCentral Router for tunnelling TCP ports (for example RDP or SSH) through the agent connection.
• Official Docker images with variants per database backend.

How IT teams use it

Stand up a server on Linux

1. Install Node.js 20 or newer from your distribution or nodejs.org.
2. Create a folder and install the package as a normal user (the docs warn against running npm install with sudo):

   mkdir -p /opt/meshcentral
   cd /opt/meshcentral
   npm install meshcentral
   node node_modules/meshcentral

3. Open the server address in a browser and create the first account right away: the first account created becomes the server administrator.
4. Stop it with Ctrl+C and run node node_modules/meshcentral --install to register it as a background service.

Switch from LAN-only to internet access

Out of the box MeshCentral runs in LAN-only mode and agents find the server by multicast. To manage laptops outside the office, give the server a DNS name in meshcentral-data/config.json:

{
  "settings": {
    "cert": "mesh.example.com",
    "port": 443,
    "redirPort": 80
  },
  "domains": {
    "": { "title": "IT Remote", "newAccounts": false }
  },
  "letsencrypt": {
    "email": "it@example.com",
    "names": "mesh.example.com",
    "production": true
  }
}

Restart the service, check that the name resolves and that ports 80 and 443 reach the server, then download fresh agent installers. Agents carry the server address, so installers built before the change will not find the new name. Setting newAccounts to false stops strangers from self-registering.

Enrol computers and take control

1. In the web UI create a device group (for example “Office PCs”).
2. Click Add Agent, pick the OS and download the installer, or copy the Linux install command.
3. Run it on the target machine with admin or root rights; it appears in the group within a minute.
4. Open the device and use the Desktop, Terminal or Files tabs.

Install and first run

• Windows: install Node.js and use npm as above, or use the MeshCentral Installer for Windows from the official site (the docs say it is not meant for advanced users).
• Docker: images are published as ghcr.io/ylianst/meshcentral with -slim, -mongodb, -postgresql and -mysql variants. Data lives in /opt/meshcentral/meshcentral-data; mount a volume there or you lose certificates and config on rebuild.
• Ports: 443 for the web UI and agents, 80 for redirects and Let’s Encrypt, 4433 if you use Intel AMT CIRA (MPS).
• Hardening: the docs recommend running the server under a dedicated low-privilege user. That disables self-update and requires an external database, so updates are then done by hand.
• Versions: the npm registry can lag behind GitHub releases for a few days; on 1 October 2026 npm still offered 1.2.5.

Limitations

• You run the server: TLS, backups, updates, uptime and security are your job. A forgotten first-account setup on a public server is a real risk.
• The web UI is functional rather than polished, and the configuration file has hundreds of options with few guard rails.
• No vendor support contract; help comes from GitHub issues, docs and the community.
• Remote desktop is good for support work, not for video or graphics-heavy use.
• Releases are frequent; read the release notes before upgrading production servers.

MeshCentral vs alternatives

FAQ

Is MeshCentral free?

Yes. It is open source under Apache-2.0 with no device limit and no paid tier; your only costs are the server you run it on and your time.

What is the MeshCentral default login?

There is none. The first account created on a new server becomes the administrator, so create it immediately after the first start, before the server is reachable from the internet.

How do I install MeshCentral?

Install Node.js, run npm install meshcentral in an empty folder, start it with node node_modules/meshcentral, then add --install to run it as a service. Docker images are an alternative.

How do I update MeshCentral?

Administrators can upgrade from the server’s web interface when self-update is allowed, or reinstall the newer npm package and restart the service. Back up meshcentral-data first.

Can I run MeshCentral in Docker?

Yes. Official images live at ghcr.io/ylianst/meshcentral with tags per database backend; persist the meshcentral-data folder in a volume.

Is MeshCentral an RMM?

It covers the remote access and basic management side of an RMM (desktop, terminal, files, power, inventory). Patching and scripted policy work usually come from separate tools; some open-source RMM products use MeshCentral for their remote control.

MeshCentral vs RustDesk: which should I use?

MeshCentral is a browser-based management console for your own fleet; RustDesk is a desktop client focused on fast ID-based support sessions. Many admins use MeshCentral for unattended fleets and RustDesk for ad-hoc help.

Last checked against official sources: 1 October 2026 (developer website: meshcentral.com). Versions and licence terms change — confirm on the developer's site before deploying in production.