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Tools-Only Hosts

Run tools for the network without needing a GPU or AI models.

What Are Tools-Only Hosts?

Tools-only hosts are DAISI host devices that run tools on behalf of other hosts without loading or running AI models. They are perfect for devices that lack GPU capability — such as phones, tablets, low-power servers, or any machine that can run .NET but doesn't have the hardware for AI inference.

When a tools-only host connects to the network, it loads all available tools (built-in, custom, and marketplace) but skips model download and loading. The orchestrator (ORC) excludes it from inference session routing, so it will never receive AI inference requests. Instead, it stands ready to execute tools when requested by other hosts.

How Tool Delegation Works

When an inference host encounters a tool call during a session, it can delegate that execution to a tools-only host. This happens through two paths:

ORC-Mediated Path

  1. The inference host sends an ExecuteToolRequest command to the ORC.
  2. The ORC finds an available tools-only host in the same account (least-recently-used first).
  3. The ORC forwards the request to the tools-only host.
  4. The tools-only host executes the tool and returns an ExecuteToolResponse.
  5. The ORC relays the response back to the inference host.

Direct Connect Path

If the tools-only host has Direct Connect enabled, inference hosts can call its ToolsRPC.Execute endpoint directly at port 4242, bypassing the ORC for lower latency.

Enabling Tools-Only Mode

There are three ways to enable tools-only mode on a host:

  • Manager UI — Go to your host's Settings page in the DAISI Manager and toggle the "Tools Only" switch. This works for both the ORC-level setting and the host's local settings.
  • Automatic on Mobile — When a DAISI Host is first run on Android or iOS, it automatically defaults to tools-only mode since mobile devices typically lack the GPU power for AI inference. You can override this in the Manager UI if desired.
  • Settings File — Set Host.ToolsOnly to true in your daisi-settings.json file.

What Changes in Tools-Only Mode

Capability Full Host Tools-Only Host
AI Model Loading Yes No — skipped at startup
Model Downloads Yes No — saves bandwidth and storage
Tool Loading Yes Yes — all tools load normally
Inference Sessions Yes No — excluded from routing
Tool Execution Requests Local only Yes — from ORC or direct connect
Skill Sync Yes Yes

Identifying Tools-Only Hosts

In the DAISI Manager host list, tools-only hosts are marked with a wrench icon next to their name. This makes it easy to see at a glance which of your hosts are dedicated tool runners versus full inference hosts.