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

# How it works

> The services Tembo deploys in your cluster, and what you can bring yourself.

The `tembo` Helm chart installs the whole platform in one namespace. Agent sessions don't run in the cluster: they run in virtual machines on agent hosts, which the chart's host controller launches next to it (see [Agent hosts](https://docs.tembo.io/features/self-hosted/kubernetes/agent-hosts.md)).

## Services in the cluster

| Service | What it does |
| - | - |
| **Web** | The Tembo web app. |
| **API** | Product workflows, sign-in, integrations, webhooks, and the endpoints agent hosts call. |
| **Worker** | Background jobs the API and cron queue, such as syncing repositories. |
| **Cron** | Scheduled jobs, such as cleanup and scheduled project builds. |
| **Migrations** | A job that updates the database schema on every install and upgrade. |
| **Host controller** | Launches and tracks agent hosts (see [Agent hosts](https://docs.tembo.io/features/self-hosted/kubernetes/agent-hosts.md)). |
| **Postgres** | The database. Bundled, or a managed database you provide. |
| **Redis** | Queues, caching and live updates. Bundled, or a managed Redis you provide. |

The chart generates the secrets the platform needs once, such as signing and encryption keys and the GitHub webhook secret, and keeps them across upgrades.

## Postgres and Redis

By default, Postgres and Redis run as single pods in your cluster, which suits evaluation. For production, use managed services, such as Amazon RDS and ElastiCache. Agent hosts run outside the cluster and connect to both directly. See [Postgres and Redis](https://docs.tembo.io/features/self-hosted/kubernetes/configuration.md#postgres-and-redis).

## Object storage

Tembo keeps project images, session snapshots, file uploads and agent assets in one object storage bucket. On AWS, the [Terraform module](https://docs.tembo.io/features/self-hosted/kubernetes/prerequisites.md#on-aws) creates an S3 bucket and its access.

## Configuration

Your Helm values describe the whole install (see [Configuration](https://docs.tembo.io/features/self-hosted/kubernetes/configuration.md)). The chart passes the same configuration to agent hosts through a Kubernetes Secret, which each host reads when it starts. Model providers, workspaces and members are set up in the Tembo app.

***

## Need Help?

If you run into any issues, contact [support@tembo.io](mailto:support@tembo.io).


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