---
title: "Run Amp threads on BoxCompute"
description: "Use BoxCompute computers as Amp's self-hosted orbs, with nothing to install."
---

> Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://boxcompute.ai/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Run Amp threads on BoxCompute

[Amp](https://ampcode.com) runs each thread on an *orb*, a machine of its own.
Connect BoxCompute as your orb provider and each Amp thread gets its own
BoxCompute computer, a Linux VM billed to your BoxCompute credit. BoxCompute
runs the provider for you, so nothing is installed or kept running on your
machine. This requires early access.

## Connect Amp

1. In Amp, open **Settings → Orbs → Add Orb Provider**, name it (for example
   `BoxCompute`) and copy the `aop_live_…` token. Amp shows it only once.
2. In [BoxCompute](https://app.boxcompute.ai), open **Menu → Settings → Amp**,
   paste the token and choose **Connect**. It shows **Connected** within a few
   seconds; if Amp refuses the token, Settings says so and you can paste a new one.
3. In Amp, start a new thread and choose **Orb → Self-Hosted →** the provider
   you named.

## What happens to the computer

- **A new thread** creates a Large computer (1.5 vCPU, 3 GiB of memory) named
  after the thread, in your first workspace. It appears under **Computers**.
  Starting a stopped one takes about 40 seconds.
- **An idle thread** is paused by Amp. Its computer stops and keeps its files;
  the next message starts it again.
- **A thread you delete** in Amp deletes its computer.
- **At your account's computer limit**, BoxCompute deletes the computer of your
  least recently used *paused* Amp thread to make room. Amp sets that thread up
  again the next time it runs. Your other computers are never touched.

## Billing

The computer's running time is charged to your BoxCompute credit at the Large
rate, like any other computer. Amp's own usage is billed by Amp. If your credit
runs out, the computer stops; add credit and send the thread a message to start
it again.

## Disconnect

In **Settings → Amp**, choose **Disconnect**. New Amp threads can no longer use
BoxCompute. Computers that existing threads created stay until you delete them.

## Security

- Your provider token is stored encrypted and is used only to run Amp's
  provider for your account. Settings shows only its last four characters.
- The short-lived token Amp issues for each thread is written to its computer
  as a file and kept where only root can read it, never in a command line.
- Amp runs inside the computer as `user`, with sudo, and with the computer's
  internet access. Treat it like any computer you give an agent.

Source: https://boxcompute.ai/docs/integrations/amp/index.mdx