# Session Handoff - September 9, 2025 (Part 2)
## SSL Investigation & Hosting Decision Point

### Current Status: MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH + DECISION POINT

We successfully proved the MCP server works externally but discovered critical RunPod SSL limitations. Now testing a potential bypass solution or preparing for hosting migration.

## 🎯 Key Achievements This Session

### ✅ MCP Server Fully Functional
- **External Access Confirmed**: User successfully connected from Windows/Chrome to `https://213.173.105.105:17686/mcp`
- **SSE Streaming Works**: Server-Sent Events functioning correctly
- **Health Endpoint**: `https://213.173.105.105:17686/health` returning proper JSON

### ✅ Comprehensive Research Completed
- **RunPod Networking**: Mapped all port types and limitations
- **MCP Requirements**: Confirmed need for proper SSL certificates
- **Alternative Solutions**: Evaluated hosting options with pros/cons

## ❌ Current SSL Challenge

### The Problem
- **HSTS Blocking**: `https://smoothcurves.nexus:17686/mcp` fails with HSTS errors
- **Port Mapping Issue**: Internal 443 → External 17689 breaks Let's Encrypt validation
- **Redirect Loop**: HTTP requests redirect to HTTPS on wrong external port

### Test Results from User (Chrome/Windows)
1. ✅ **https://213.173.105.105:17686/mcp** - CONNECTED! (self-signed cert warning)
2. ❌ **https://smoothcurves.nexus:17686/mcp** - HSTS blocking, no ignore option
3. ❌ **http://smoothcurves.nexus:80** - Redirects to HTTPS then fails
4. ✅ **http://a29fq2z8gihgna-80.proxy.runpod.net** - Shows Let's Encrypt validation message

## 🔍 Discovery: Symmetrical Port Solution

### Key Finding
RunPod ports above 70000 use **symmetrical mapping** (internal = external) and bypass proxy limitations entirely.

### Proposed Test
- **MCP Server**: Port 73444 → 73444 (direct TCP, no 100-second timeout)
- **HTTPS**: Port 70443 → 70443 (direct TCP, standard SSL)
- **Domain**: `https://smoothcurves.nexus:70443/mcp`

## 📋 Files Created This Session

### Documentation
- `docs/HOSTING_OPTIONS_AND_RUNPOD_FINDINGS.md` - Complete analysis and DigitalOcean recommendation
- `docs/SYMMETRICAL_PORT_TEST_PLAN.md` - Detailed test strategy for port >70000 approach
- `docs/SESSION_HANDOFF_2025_09_09_PART2.md` - This handoff document

### Research Findings
- RunPod HTTP proxy: 100-second timeout (kills SSE connections)
- MCP requires proper SSL certificates (not proxy certificates)
- DigitalOcean VPS: $12/month, standard networking, 1-hour setup

## 🚀 Next Actions (Choose One Path)

### Option A: Test Symmetrical Ports (30-minute experiment)
```bash
# After pod reset with TCP ports 73444, 70443:
cd /projects/Human-Adjacent-Coordination
./scripts/runpod-complete-setup.sh

# Update MCP server port
sed -i 's/SSE_PORT=3444/SSE_PORT=73444/' scripts/start-sse-production.sh

# Test symmetrical mapping
curl -v https://smoothcurves.nexus:70443/health
```

### Option B: Migrate to DigitalOcean VPS (1-hour setup)
```bash
# On new $12/month DigitalOcean droplet:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y nodejs npm nginx git certbot python3-certbot-nginx
git clone <repo-url>
cd Human-Adjacent-Coordination
npm install
sudo certbot --nginx -d smoothcurves.nexus
```

## 🎯 Recommendation

**For Production MCP Hosting**: DigitalOcean VPS wins due to:
- Standard SSL on ports 80/443 (no custom port complexity)
- No SSE connection timeouts
- Native SSH access for development
- Predictable $12/month cost

**Test Strategy**: Try symmetrical ports (30 min max), then migrate to DigitalOcean if issues persist.

## Environment State Before Pod Reset

### Working Components
- MCP server code: Functional, externally accessible
- Automation scripts: Proven recovery from pod reset
- Domain DNS: Pointing to 213.173.105.105
- Let's Encrypt setup: Ready for port 80 validation

### Port Mappings (Current)
- 80 → 80 (HTTP, Let's Encrypt validation working)
- 443 → 17689 (HTTPS, problematic for SSL)
- 3444 → 17686 (MCP server, working with self-signed)
- 22 → 17685 (SSH)

### Required Changes for Symmetrical Port Test
1. Add TCP ports: 73444, 70443
2. Update `scripts/start-sse-production.sh`: Change port to 73444
3. Create nginx config for HTTPS on port 70443
4. Test `https://smoothcurves.nexus:70443/mcp`

## Critical Files for Recovery
- `/projects/Human-Adjacent-Coordination/scripts/runpod-complete-setup.sh` - Full environment restoration
- `/projects/root-home/` - SSH keys, shell history, development environment
- All documentation in `/docs/` folder

---

**Status**: Ready for pod reset or migration decision
**Timeline**: 30 minutes for symmetrical port test, 1 hour for DigitalOcean migration
**Success Probability**: 85% RunPod fix, 95% DigitalOcean migration