# Start a Holesail server

It is quite easy to share a port securely with holesail:

```
holesail --live <PORT>
```

Supported flags:

| Option   | Purpose                                      | Required / Optional                           |
| -------- | -------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| --live   | Port to expose / set live                    | Required                                      |
| --host   | Listen to a custom host                      | Optional. Default is 127.0.0.1                |
| --public | Use public connection mode                   | Optional. Default is private connection mode. |
| --key    | Connect to a server using its key            | Optional. Automatically generated by default  |
| --force  | Bypass custom connection string length limit | Optional. Default is false                    |
| --log    | Start debug logging                          | Optional.                                     |

<mark style="color:orange;">Examples:</mark>

1. Start a Holesail server on port 3000 with default host and private mode:

```
holesail --live 3000
```

2. Start a Holesail server on port 3000 for sharing with third parties (public connection string):

```
holesail --live 3000 --public
```

3. Start a Holesail server on port 3000 with a custom host and custom connection string:

```
holesail --live 3000 --host 192.168.1.1 --key "my-custom-key-string"
```

4. Start a holesail server with custom connection key and its smaller than 32 characters:

```
holesail --live 4545 --key "its-quite-small" --force
```

You can combine multiple options according to your needs. After executing any of the command above, you will get a QR code and a connection string along with some basic information.

<figure><img src="https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1232882914635681823/1390098304104140943/image.png?ex=6867056e&#x26;is=6865b3ee&#x26;hm=c0f8c70030796bf6ed70422f0237a448bf6a19b54b44147032b6a47bc0517b33&#x26;=&#x26;format=webp&#x26;quality=lossless&#x26;width=759&#x26;height=370" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.holesail.io/usage-guide/start-a-holesail-server.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.