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MegaNova API

SillyTavern Desktop (PC/Mac): Complete MegaNova API & Reverse Proxy Setup Guide

Tracy Giang

• 3 min read
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SillyTavern Desktop (PC/Mac): Complete MegaNova API & Reverse Proxy Setup Guide
SillyTavern Desktop (PC/Mac): Complete MegaNova API & Reverse Proxy Setup Guide

Setting up SillyTavern on a desktop operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux) gives you the ultimate roleplay experience. Running on PC or Mac unlocks full access to advanced extensions, lorebooks, custom UI themes, web search integration, and high-context prompt presets.

This complete guide will walk you through launching your SillyTavern desktop instance and connecting it seamlessly to MegaNova AI using either the official OpenAI-Compatible API or a Reverse Proxy endpoint.

Prerequisites

Before getting started, ensure you have the following ready:

  • Node.js installed on your system (v18 or higher recommended).
  • A working clone or download of the SillyTavern repository.
  • An active MegaNova AI account with a generated API Key.

Step 1: Launch Your SillyTavern Desktop Instance

  1. Open the folder where SillyTavern is installed on your computer.
  2. Launch the local server using the appropriate startup file for your operating system:
    (Alternatively, you can open Terminal/Command Prompt inside the folder and run node server.js).
  • Windows: Double-click start.bat.

Wait for the terminal to display the local address. Once ready, open your web browser and navigate to:

http://127.0.0.1:8000
  • macOS / Linux: Open your terminal, navigate to the folder, and run:
bash start.sh

Step 2: Retrieve Your MegaNova API Credentials

  1. Log into your MegaNova AI platform dashboard.
  2. Navigate to the API Keys section.
  3. Generate a new API key (or copy your existing key).
  4. Keep the dashboard open or paste the key somewhere safe.

Step 3: Configure MegaNova Connection in SillyTavern

Connecting MegaNova to SillyTavern takes less than a minute. Follow these exact steps inside the SillyTavern web interface:

  1. Access API Settings: Click the Plug Icon (API Connections) located in the top navigation bar.
  2. Select API Type:
  • Set API to Chat Completion.
  • Set Chat Completion Source to Custom (OpenAI Compatible) or Reverse Proxy.

3. Authenticate: Paste your copied key into the API Key box and click Connect / Test Connection.

4. Select Your Model: Once the connection is verified with a green status light, click the Model dropdown menu to fetch available models (e.g., meganova-ai/manta-mini-1.0 or other hosted LLMs).

5. Save Profile: Click Save to lock in your configuration as a preset for future sessions.

Enter Endpoint URL: Paste the official MegaNova Base URL into the Base URL / Proxy URL field:

https://inference.meganova.ai/v1

(Note: If your specific setup requires the full endpoint, use [https://inference.meganova.ai/v1/chat/completions](https://inference.meganova.ai/v1/chat/completions)).

Step 4: Optimal Presets & Advanced Formatting for Desktop

To get the best output quality and prevent generation errors when using MegaNova on PC/Mac, adjust the following settings in SillyTavern:

  • Context Size (Tokens): Set between 16384 and 32768 depending on the model's max limit.
  • Max Response Tokens: Set between 400 and 800 for natural conversational pacing.
  • Temperature: 0.7 – 0.9 (ideal for creative writing and roleplay).
  • Top P: 0.9 – 0.95.

Instruct Mode / Formatting

  • Under Advanced Formatting, ensure your Instruct Mode preset matches standard ChatML or OpenAI formats.
  • Clear any unnecessary entries in Custom Stopping Strings to prevent accidental early message cutoffs or blank outputs.

Troubleshooting Common Desktop Setup Issues

  • 401 Unauthorized Error: Double-check your API key for extra spaces or missing characters. Ensure the key is active on your MegaNova dashboard.
  • 400 Context Exceeded Error: Lower your Context Size slider in SillyTavern or prune your active Lorebook entries to free up context space.
  • Connection Refused (ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED): Check your firewall settings to ensure local port 8000 is allowed on your computer.

Your desktop environment is now fully equipped to harness MegaNova’s high-speed, unfiltered AI proxy roster! Enjoy seamless, high-context roleplay directly from your browser.

What’s Next?

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