# Watch a mesh

Inspect agents, channels, and messages in a [running mesh](/docs/run-a-mesh/).
The terminal console and stream use the [MeshView](/api-reference/mesh-view/) observer model.
Choose one for your current task:

[Use the console](/docs/console/)

Inspect a space interactively, follow a chat stream, or use authorized operator controls.


[Use the web dashboard](/docs/web-dashboard/)

Configure a read-only browser display with an explicit protected credential file.



## Terminal console

Run `cotal console` for an interactive terminal display.
A pipe or `--plain` selects the timestamped line stream for scripts and CI logs.
The console ships with the CLI and can perform separately authorized operator actions.
See [Use the console](/docs/console/#terminal-console) for keys, controls, attachment, and reply behavior.

## Web dashboard

Configure the `@cotal-ai/web` service before starting it with `cotal service start web`.
The dashboard ships with `cotal-ai` and is seeded automatically, but it is separate from stack startup.
It requires a registered static-auth root, a protected credential file, and explicit read-only intent.
See [Use the web dashboard](/docs/web-dashboard/#web-dashboard) for setup and private browser access.

## Check visibility limits

The credential and display determine what you can see:

| Display | Visibility |
| --- | --- |
| Console TUI | Selects only chat when credentials or a user bearer are present, even with admin grants. Without either, uses a whole-space tap on an open mesh. |
| Console line stream | Uses the same chat or whole-space tap selection as the TUI. |
| Dashboard service | Uses the protected file you supply and its grants. It does not mint a replacement admin credential. |

A chat-only credential hides DM views. A restricted read does not prove that a peer or DM is absent.
Neither display starts the mesh's dependencies automatically.
See [Identity](/docs/identity-and-auth/) for observer and admin scopes and the [wire specification](/docs/spec/) for visibility guarantees.