diff --git a/service/api_client.go b/service/api_client.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6640994
--- /dev/null
+++ b/service/api_client.go
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+package service
+
+import (
+	"axolotl/models"
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/url"
+)
+
+type apiClient struct {
+	base string
+	user string
+	http *http.Client
+}
+
+func (c *apiClient) User() string { return c.user }
+
+func (c *apiClient) do(method, path string, body any) (*http.Response, error) {
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	if body != nil {
+		if err := json.NewEncoder(&buf).Encode(body); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+	req, err := http.NewRequest(method, c.base+path, &buf)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	req.Header.Set("X-Ax-User", c.user)
+	if body != nil {
+		req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+	}
+	return c.http.Do(req)
+}
+
+func apiDecode[T any](resp *http.Response) (T, error) {
+	var v T
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+	if resp.StatusCode >= 400 {
+		var e struct{ Error string }
+		json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&e)
+		return v, fmt.Errorf("%s", e.Error)
+	}
+	return v, json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&v)
+}
+
+func (c *apiClient) GetByID(id string) (*models.Node, error) {
+	resp, err := c.do("GET", "/nodes/"+id, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return apiDecode[*models.Node](resp)
+}
+
+func (c *apiClient) List(filter ListFilter) ([]*models.Node, error) {
+	q := url.Values{}
+	for _, r := range filter.Rels {
+		if r.Target == "" {
+			q.Add("rel", string(r.Type))
+		} else {
+			q.Add("rel", string(r.Type)+":"+r.Target)
+		}
+	}
+	path := "/nodes"
+	if len(q) > 0 {
+		path += "?" + q.Encode()
+	}
+	resp, err := c.do("GET", path, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return apiDecode[[]*models.Node](resp)
+}
+
+func (c *apiClient) Add(input AddInput) (*models.Node, error) {
+	resp, err := c.do("POST", "/nodes", input)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return apiDecode[*models.Node](resp)
+}
+
+func (c *apiClient) Update(id string, input UpdateInput) (*models.Node, error) {
+	resp, err := c.do("PATCH", "/nodes/"+id, input)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return apiDecode[*models.Node](resp)
+}
+
+func (c *apiClient) Delete(id string) error {
+	resp, err := c.do("DELETE", "/nodes/"+id, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+	if resp.StatusCode >= 400 {
+		var e struct{ Error string }
+		json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&e)
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s", e.Error)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (c *apiClient) ListUsers() ([]*models.Node, error) {
+	resp, err := c.do("GET", "/users", nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return apiDecode[[]*models.Node](resp)
+}
+
+func (c *apiClient) AddUser(name string) (*models.Node, error) {
+	resp, err := c.do("POST", "/users", map[string]string{"name": name})
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return apiDecode[*models.Node](resp)
+}
+
diff --git a/service/config.go b/service/config.go
index 34f9dd6..798f5b5 100644
--- a/service/config.go
+++ b/service/config.go
@@ -19,5 +19,7 @@ type Config interface {
 	DeleteAlias(name string) error
 	ListAliases() ([]*Alias, error)
 	GetServerConfig() ServerConfig
+	// GetRemoteConfig returns the remote server address and whether remote mode is enabled.
+	GetRemoteConfig() (ServerConfig, bool)
 	Save() error
 }
diff --git a/service/config_file.go b/service/config_file.go
index edfe654..4f6f20d 100644
--- a/service/config_file.go
+++ b/service/config_file.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ type fileConfig struct {
 	User        string       `json:"user"`
 	UserAliases []*Alias     `json:"aliases"`
 	Serve       ServerConfig `json:"serve"`
+	Remote      ServerConfig `json:"remote"`
 }
 
 var defaultAliases = []*Alias{
@@ -141,6 +142,17 @@ func (c *fileConfig) ListAliases() ([]*Alias, error) {
 	return result, nil
 }
 
+func (c *fileConfig) GetRemoteConfig() (ServerConfig, bool) {
+	if c.Remote.Host == "" {
+		return ServerConfig{}, false
+	}
+	port := c.Remote.Port
+	if port == 0 {
+		port = 7000
+	}
+	return ServerConfig{Host: c.Remote.Host, Port: port}, true
+}
+
 func (c *fileConfig) GetServerConfig() ServerConfig {
 	host := c.Serve.Host
 	if host == "" {
diff --git a/service/node_service.go b/service/node_service.go
index c901116..e5f7929 100644
--- a/service/node_service.go
+++ b/service/node_service.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"axolotl/models"
 	"axolotl/store"
 	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
 )
 
 // NodeService is the single entry point for all node operations.
@@ -76,6 +77,10 @@ func GetNodeService(cfg Config) (NodeService, error) {
 	if user == "" {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no user configured: run 'ax user set <username>' first")
 	}
+	if rc, ok := cfg.GetRemoteConfig(); ok {
+		base := fmt.Sprintf("http://%s:%d", rc.Host, rc.Port)
+		return &apiClient{base: base, user: user, http: &http.Client{}}, nil
+	}
 	st, err := store.FindAndOpenSQLiteStore()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err