Agent Communication
Relevant source files
The following files were used as context for generating this wiki page:
Agent Communication in Nexus Orchestrator is facilitated through a structured, local-first connectivity layer that bridges the gap between AI agents and their operating environments. The system functions as an autonomous infrastructure daemon, providing a "nervous system" for agents to interact with managed environments, SSH connectivity, and persistent state.
The communication architecture is built upon the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and integrated with LangGraph for workflow management. This ensures that agents can communicate securely within a Zero Trust framework while maintaining high levels of autonomy in infrastructure orchestration.
Sources: README.md:3-13
Connectivity Layer Architecture
The connectivity layer is the primary interface for agent-to-infrastructure communication. It leverages the Model Context Protocol (MCP) to standardize how agents access resources and tools.
Model Context Protocol (MCP) Integration
Nexus utilizes MCP as its core protocol for establishing a standardized communication channel. This allows different AI models and agents to interact with the underlying infrastructure via a unified interface, abstracting the complexities of SSH and environment management.
Infrastructure Daemon
The system operates as a background orchestration layer, managing the lifecycle of communication sessions and ensuring that context remains persistent across interactions.
The diagram above illustrates how the Nexus Orchestrator acts as a central hub (nervous system) between AI agents and target environments, governed by security policies.
Sources: README.md:5-18
Context and State Management
Communication in Nexus is not stateless. The system maintains a persistent context layer to track agent identities and their interactions.
AGENTS.md Tracking
The context/AGENTS.md file serves as a registry for all known AI agents interacting with the system. This registry tracks critical metadata required for secure communication and authorization.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Agent ID | Unique identifier for the AI agent |
| Description | Functional role or purpose of the agent |
| Trust Level | Security classification for OPA/Zero Trust policies |
Sources: context/AGENTS.md:1-10, README.md:17
Sequence of Agent Interaction
When an agent initiates a request, the communication flows through the orchestration and governance layers before execution.
This sequence ensures that every communication attempt is verified against the Zero Trust security model before infrastructure changes occur.
Sources: README.md:15-20, context/AGENTS.md:3-8
Orchestration and Governance
The communication flow is strictly managed by two primary layers:
- Orchestration Layer: Powered by LangGraph, this layer manages the logic of complex workflows. It determines the sequence of actions based on agent input and infrastructure state.
- Governance Layer: Utilizes Open Policy Agent (OPA) and Zero Trust principles. This layer ensures that non-human identities (AI agents) are authorized for the specific connectivity or environment management tasks they request.
Sources: README.md:16-19
Technical Components Summary
| Component | Technology | Role in Communication |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol | MCP | Standardizes agent-to-system messaging |
| Workflow | LangGraph | Manages stateful communication paths |
| Security | OPA | Validates agent communication requests |
| Persistence | Markdown/FS | Stores agent IDs and context state |
Sources: README.md:15-18, context/AGENTS.md:3-8
Conclusion
Agent Communication within Nexus Orchestrator is a robust, governed process that transforms simple AI requests into secure infrastructure actions. By synthesizing MCP, LangGraph, and OPA, Nexus provides a secure and persistent environment where AI agents can function as autonomous infrastructure managers while remaining within the bounds of organizational security policies.