diff --git a/tools/server/CMakeLists.txt b/tools/server/CMakeLists.txt
index 1fccfdd17f..38db7816a9 100644
--- a/tools/server/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tools/server/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ set(TARGET_SRCS
     utils.hpp
     server-http.cpp
     server-http.h
+    server-models.cpp
+    server-models.h
 )
 set(PUBLIC_ASSETS
     index.html.gz
diff --git a/tools/server/server-models.cpp b/tools/server/server-models.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f8a10deb5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/server/server-models.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,441 @@
+#include "utils.hpp"
+#include "server-models.h"
+
+#include "download.h"
+
+#include <cpp-httplib/httplib.h>
+
+#include <functional>
+#include <thread>
+#include <mutex>
+#include <condition_variable>
+#include <spawn.h>
+#include <signal.h> // for kill()
+
+#if defined(__APPLE__) && defined(__MACH__)
+// macOS: use _NSGetExecutablePath to get the executable path
+#include <mach-o/dyld.h>
+#include <limits.h>
+#endif
+
+static std::filesystem::path get_server_exec_path() {
+#if defined(_MSC_VER)
+    wchar_t path[FILENAME_MAX] = { 0 };
+    GetModuleFileNameW(nullptr, path, FILENAME_MAX);
+    return std::filesystem::path(path);
+#elif defined(__APPLE__) && defined(__MACH__)
+    char small_path[PATH_MAX];
+    uint32_t size = sizeof(small_path);
+
+    if (_NSGetExecutablePath(small_path, &size) == 0) {
+        // resolve any symlinks to get absolute path
+        try {
+            return std::filesystem::canonical(std::filesystem::path(small_path));
+        } catch (...) {
+            return std::filesystem::path(small_path);
+        }
+    } else {
+        // buffer was too small, allocate required size and call again
+        std::vector<char> buf(size);
+        if (_NSGetExecutablePath(buf.data(), &size) == 0) {
+            try {
+                return std::filesystem::canonical(std::filesystem::path(buf.data()));
+            } catch (...) {
+                return std::filesystem::path(buf.data());
+            }
+        }
+        return std::filesystem::path(std::string(buf.data(), (size > 0) ? size : 0));
+    }
+#else
+    char path[FILENAME_MAX];
+    ssize_t count = readlink("/proc/self/exe", path, FILENAME_MAX);
+    return std::filesystem::path(std::string(path, (count > 0) ? count: 0));
+#endif
+}
+
+//
+// server_models
+//
+
+server_models::server_models(
+        const common_params & params,
+        int argc,
+        char ** argv,
+        char ** envp) : base_params(params) {
+    for (int i = 0; i < argc; i++) {
+        base_args.push_back(std::string(argv[i]));
+    }
+    for (char ** env = envp; *env != nullptr; env++) {
+        base_env.push_back(std::string(*env));
+    }
+    // TODO: allow refreshing cached model list
+    auto cached_models = common_list_cached_models();
+    for (const auto & model : cached_models) {
+        server_model_meta meta{
+            /* name        */ model.to_string(),
+            /* path        */ model.manifest_path,
+            /* path_mmproj */ "",
+            /* in_cache    */ true,
+            /* port        */ 0,
+            /* status      */ SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_UNLOADED
+        };
+        mapping[meta.name] = instance_t{0, std::thread(), meta};
+    }
+}
+
+void server_models::update_meta(const std::string & name, const server_model_meta & meta) {
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(mutex);
+    auto it = mapping.find(name);
+    if (it != mapping.end()) {
+        it->second.meta = meta;
+    }
+    cv.notify_all(); // notify wait_until_loaded
+}
+
+bool server_models::has_model(const std::string & name) {
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(mutex);
+    return mapping.find(name) != mapping.end();
+}
+
+std::optional<server_model_meta> server_models::get_meta(const std::string & name) {
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(mutex);
+    auto it = mapping.find(name);
+    if (it != mapping.end()) {
+        return it->second.meta;
+    }
+    return std::nullopt;
+}
+
+static int get_free_port(std::string host) {
+    httplib::Server s;
+    int port = s.bind_to_any_port(host.c_str());
+    s.stop();
+    return port;
+}
+
+// helper to convert vector<string> to char **
+// pointers are only valid as long as the original vector is valid
+static std::vector<char *> to_char_ptr_array(const std::vector<std::string> & vec) {
+    std::vector<char *> result;
+    result.reserve(vec.size() + 1);
+    for (const auto & s : vec) {
+        result.push_back(const_cast<char*>(s.c_str()));
+    }
+    result.push_back(nullptr);
+    return result;
+}
+
+std::vector<server_model_meta> server_models::get_all_meta() {
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(mutex);
+    std::vector<server_model_meta> result;
+    for (const auto & [name, inst] : mapping) {
+        result.push_back(inst.meta);
+    }
+    return result;
+}
+
+void server_models::load(const std::string & name) {
+    auto meta = get_meta(name);
+    if (!meta.has_value()) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("model name=" + name + " is not found");
+    }
+
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(mutex);
+    if (meta->status != SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_FAILED && meta->status != SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_UNLOADED) {
+        SRV_INF("model %s is not ready\n", name.c_str());
+        return;
+    }
+
+    instance_t inst;
+    inst.meta        = meta.value();
+    inst.meta.port   = get_free_port(base_params.hostname);
+    inst.meta.status = SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_LOADING;
+
+    pid_t pid = 0;
+    {
+        std::string exec_path = get_server_exec_path().string();
+        SRV_INF("spawning server instance with name=%s on port %d\n", inst.meta.name.c_str(), inst.meta.port);
+
+        std::vector<std::string> child_args = base_args; // copy
+        if (inst.meta.in_cache) {
+            child_args.push_back("-hf");
+            child_args.push_back(inst.meta.name);
+        } else {
+            child_args.push_back("-m");
+            child_args.push_back(inst.meta.path);
+            if (!inst.meta.path_mmproj.empty()) {
+                child_args.push_back("--mmproj");
+                child_args.push_back(inst.meta.path_mmproj);
+            }
+        }
+        child_args.push_back("--alias");
+        child_args.push_back(inst.meta.name);
+        child_args.push_back("--port");
+        child_args.push_back(std::to_string(inst.meta.port));
+
+        std::vector<std::string> child_env = base_env; // copy
+        child_env.push_back("LLAMA_SERVER_ROUTER_PORT=" + std::to_string(base_params.port));
+
+        // TODO: add logging
+        SRV_INF("%s", "spawning server instance with args:\n");
+        for (const auto & arg : child_args) {
+            SRV_INF("  %s\n", arg.c_str());
+        }
+
+        std::vector<char *> argv = to_char_ptr_array(child_args);
+        std::vector<char *> envp = to_char_ptr_array(child_env);
+
+        if (posix_spawn(&pid, exec_path.c_str(), NULL, NULL, argv.data(), envp.data()) != 0) {
+            perror("posix_spawn");
+            throw std::runtime_error("failed to spawn server instance");
+        } else {
+            inst.pid = pid;
+            SRV_INF("spawned instance with pid %d\n", pid);
+        }
+    }
+
+    inst.th = std::thread([this, name, pid]() {
+        int exit_code = 0;
+        waitpid(pid, &exit_code, 0);
+        SRV_INF("instance with pid %d exited with status %d\n", pid, exit_code);
+        // note: if this is reached before std::move(inst) happens,
+        //       this will be blocked until lock_guard is released (no race condition)
+        this->update_status(name, exit_code == 0 ? SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_UNLOADED : SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_FAILED);
+    });
+    if (inst.th.joinable()) {
+        inst.th.detach();
+    }
+
+    mapping[name] = std::move(inst);
+    cv.notify_all();
+}
+
+void server_models::unload(const std::string & name) {
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(mutex);
+    auto it = mapping.find(name);
+    if (it != mapping.end()) {
+        if (it->second.pid != 0) {
+            SRV_INF("killing instance %s with pid %d\n", name.c_str(), it->second.pid);
+            kill(it->second.pid, SIGTERM);
+        }
+        it->second.meta.status = SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_UNLOADED;
+        cv.notify_all(); // notify status change
+    }
+}
+
+void server_models::unload_all() {
+    auto all_meta = get_all_meta();
+    for (const auto & meta : all_meta) {
+        unload(meta.name);
+    }
+}
+
+void server_models::update_status(const std::string & name, server_model_status status) {
+    auto meta = get_meta(name);
+    if (meta.has_value()) {
+        meta->status = status;
+        update_meta(name, meta.value());
+    }
+}
+
+void server_models::wait_until_loaded(const std::string & name) {
+    std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lk(mutex);
+    cv.wait(lk, [this, &name]() {
+        auto it = mapping.find(name);
+        if (it != mapping.end()) {
+            return it->second.meta.status == SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_LOADED ||
+                   it->second.meta.status == SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_FAILED;
+        }
+        return false;
+    });
+}
+
+void server_models::ensure_model_loaded(const std::string & name) {
+    auto meta = get_meta(name);
+    if (!meta.has_value()) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("model name=" + name + " is not found");
+    }
+    if (meta->status == SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_LOADED) {
+        return; // already loaded
+    }
+    load(name);
+    wait_until_loaded(name);
+}
+
+server_http_res_ptr server_models::proxy_request(const server_http_req & req, const std::string & method, const std::string & name) {
+    auto meta = get_meta(name);
+    if (!meta.has_value()) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("model name=" + name + " is not found");
+    }
+    ensure_model_loaded(name); // TODO: handle failure case
+    SRV_INF("proxying request to model %s at port %d\n", name.c_str(), meta->port);
+    auto proxy = std::make_unique<server_http_proxy>(
+            method,
+            base_params.hostname,
+            meta->port,
+            req.path,
+            req.headers,
+            req.body,
+            req.should_stop);
+    return proxy;
+}
+
+void server_models::notify_router_server_ready(const std::string & name) {
+    // send a notification to the router server that a model instance is ready
+    const char * router_port = std::getenv("LLAMA_SERVER_ROUTER_PORT");
+    if (router_port == nullptr) {
+        // no router server to notify, this is a standalone server
+        return;
+    }
+
+    httplib::Client cli("localhost", std::atoi(router_port));
+    cli.set_connection_timeout(0, 200000); // 200 milliseconds
+
+    httplib::Request req;
+    req.method = "POST";
+    req.path   = "/models/status";
+    req.set_header("Content-Type", "application/json");
+
+    json body;
+    body["model"] = name;
+    body["value"] = server_model_status_to_string(SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_LOADED);
+    req.body = body.dump();
+
+    SRV_INF("notifying router server that model %s is ready\n", name.c_str());
+    cli.send(std::move(req));
+    // discard response
+}
+
+
+//
+// server_http_proxy
+//
+
+// simple implementation of a pipe
+// used for streaming data between threads
+template<typename T>
+struct pipe_t {
+    std::mutex mutex;
+    std::condition_variable cv;
+    std::queue<T> queue;
+    std::atomic<bool> writer_closed{false};
+    std::atomic<bool> reader_closed{false};
+    void close_write() {
+        writer_closed.store(true);
+        cv.notify_all();
+    }
+    void close_read() {
+        reader_closed.store(true);
+        cv.notify_all();
+    }
+    bool read(T & output, const std::function<bool()> & should_stop) {
+        std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lk(mutex);
+        constexpr auto poll_interval = std::chrono::milliseconds(500);
+        while (true) {
+            if (!queue.empty()) {
+                output = std::move(queue.front());
+                queue.pop();
+                return true;
+            }
+            if (writer_closed.load()) {
+                return false; // clean EOF
+            }
+            if (should_stop()) {
+                close_read(); // signal broken pipe to writer
+                return false; // cancelled / reader no longer alive
+            }
+            cv.wait_for(lk, poll_interval);
+        }
+    }
+    bool write(T && data) {
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(mutex);
+        if (reader_closed.load()) {
+            return false; // broken pipe
+        }
+        queue.push(std::move(data));
+        cv.notify_one();
+        return true;
+    }
+};
+
+server_http_proxy::server_http_proxy(
+        const std::string & method,
+        const std::string & host,
+        int port,
+        const std::string & path,
+        const std::map<std::string, std::string> & headers,
+        const std::string & body,
+        const std::function<bool()> should_stop) {
+    // shared between reader and writer threads
+    auto cli  = std::make_shared<httplib::Client>(host, port);
+    auto pipe = std::make_shared<pipe_t<msg_t>>();
+
+    // setup Client
+    cli->set_connection_timeout(0, 200000); // 200 milliseconds
+    this->status = 500; // to be overwritten upon response
+    this->cleanup = [pipe]() {
+        pipe->close_read();
+        pipe->close_write();
+    };
+
+    // wire up the receive end of the pipe
+    this->next = [pipe, should_stop](std::string & out) -> bool {
+        msg_t msg;
+        bool has_next = pipe->read(msg, should_stop);
+        if (!msg.data.empty()) {
+            out = std::move(msg.data);
+        }
+        return has_next; // false if EOF or pipe broken
+    };
+
+    // wire up the HTTP client
+    // note: do NOT capture `this` pointer, as it may be destroyed before the thread ends
+    httplib::ResponseHandler response_handler = [pipe, cli](const httplib::Response & response) {
+        msg_t msg;
+        msg.status = response.status;
+        for (const auto & [key, value] : response.headers) {
+            msg.headers[key] = value;
+        }
+        return pipe->write(std::move(msg)); // send headers first
+    };
+    httplib::ContentReceiverWithProgress content_receiver = [pipe](const char * data, size_t data_length, size_t, size_t) {
+        // send data chunks
+        // returns false if pipe is closed / broken (signal to stop receiving)
+        return pipe->write({{}, 0, std::string(data, data_length)});
+    };
+
+    // prepare the request to destination server
+    httplib::Request req;
+    {
+        req.method = method;
+        req.path = path;
+        for (const auto & [key, value] : headers) {
+            req.set_header(key, value);
+        }
+        req.body = body;
+        req.response_handler = response_handler;
+        req.content_receiver = content_receiver;
+    }
+
+    // start the proxy thread
+    SRV_DBG("start proxy thread %s %s\n", req.method.c_str(), req.path.c_str());
+    this->thread = std::thread([cli, pipe, req]() {
+        auto result = cli->send(std::move(req));
+        if (result.error() != httplib::Error::Success) {
+            auto err_str = httplib::to_string(result.error());
+            SRV_ERR("http client error: %s\n", err_str.c_str());
+            pipe->write({{}, 500, ""}); // header
+            pipe->write({{}, 0, "proxy error: " + err_str}); // body
+        }
+        pipe->close_write(); // signal EOF to reader
+        SRV_DBG("%s", "client request thread ended\n");
+    });
+    this->thread.detach();
+
+    // wait for the first chunk (headers)
+    msg_t header;
+    pipe->read(header, should_stop);
+    SRV_DBG("%s", "received response headers\n");
+    this->status  = header.status;
+    this->headers = header.headers;
+}
diff --git a/tools/server/server-models.h b/tools/server/server-models.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..094b287b56
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/server/server-models.h
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "common.h"
+#include "server-http.h"
+
+#include <queue>
+#include <mutex>
+#include <condition_variable>
+
+enum server_model_status {
+    SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_UNLOADED,
+    SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_LOADING,
+    SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_LOADED,
+    SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_FAILED
+};
+
+static server_model_status server_model_status_from_string(const std::string & status_str) {
+    if (status_str == "unloaded") {
+        return SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_UNLOADED;
+    } else if (status_str == "loading") {
+        return SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_LOADING;
+    } else if (status_str == "loaded") {
+        return SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_LOADED;
+    } else if (status_str == "failed") {
+        return SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_FAILED;
+    } else {
+        throw std::runtime_error("invalid server model status");
+    }
+}
+
+static std::string server_model_status_to_string(server_model_status status) {
+    switch (status) {
+        case SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_UNLOADED: return "unloaded";
+        case SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_LOADING:  return "loading";
+        case SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_LOADED:   return "loaded";
+        case SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_FAILED:   return "failed";
+    }
+}
+
+struct server_model_meta {
+    std::string name;
+    std::string path;
+    std::string path_mmproj; // only available if in_cache=false
+    bool in_cache = false; // if true, use -hf; use -m otherwise
+    int port = 0;
+    server_model_status status = SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_UNLOADED;
+};
+
+struct server_models {
+private:
+    struct instance_t {
+        pid_t pid = 0;
+        std::thread th;
+        server_model_meta meta;
+    };
+
+    std::mutex mutex;
+    std::condition_variable cv;
+    std::map<std::string, instance_t> mapping;
+
+    common_params base_params;
+    std::vector<std::string> base_args;
+    std::vector<std::string> base_env;
+
+    void update_meta(const std::string & name, const server_model_meta & meta);
+
+public:
+    server_models(const common_params & params, int argc, char ** argv, char ** envp);
+
+    // check if a model instance exists
+    bool has_model(const std::string & name);
+
+    // return a copy of model metadata
+    std::optional<server_model_meta> get_meta(const std::string & name);
+
+    // return a copy of all model metadata
+    std::vector<server_model_meta> get_all_meta();
+
+    void load(const std::string & name);
+    void unload(const std::string & name);
+    void unload_all();
+
+    // update the status of a model instance
+    void update_status(const std::string & name, server_model_status status);
+
+    // wait until the model instance is fully loaded
+    // return when the model is loaded or failed to load
+    void wait_until_loaded(const std::string & name);
+
+    // load the model if not loaded, otherwise do nothing
+    void ensure_model_loaded(const std::string & name);
+
+    // proxy an HTTP request to the model instance
+    server_http_res_ptr proxy_request(const server_http_req & req, const std::string & method, const std::string & name);
+
+    // notify the router server that a model instance is ready
+    static void notify_router_server_ready(const std::string & name);
+};
+
+/**
+ * A simple HTTP proxy that forwards requests to another server
+ * and relays the responses back.
+ */
+struct server_http_proxy : server_http_res {
+    std::function<void()> cleanup = nullptr;
+public:
+    server_http_proxy(const std::string & method,
+                      const std::string & host,
+                      int port,
+                      const std::string & path,
+                      const std::map<std::string, std::string> & headers,
+                      const std::string & body,
+                      const std::function<bool()> should_stop);
+    ~server_http_proxy() {
+        if (cleanup) {
+            cleanup();
+        }
+    }
+private:
+    std::thread thread;
+    struct msg_t {
+        std::map<std::string, std::string> headers;
+        int status = 0;
+        std::string data;
+    };
+};
diff --git a/tools/server/server.cpp b/tools/server/server.cpp
index 3750c8fdb6..5377d79812 100644
--- a/tools/server/server.cpp
+++ b/tools/server/server.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "chat.h"
 #include "utils.hpp"
 #include "server-http.h"
+#include "server-models.h"
 
 #include "arg.h"
 #include "common.h"
@@ -4452,6 +4453,8 @@ struct server_routes {
     const common_params & params;
     server_context & ctx_server;
     server_http_context & ctx_http; // for reading is_ready
+    std::unique_ptr<server_models> models = nullptr;
+
     server_routes(const common_params & params, server_context & ctx_server, server_http_context & ctx_http)
         : params(params), ctx_server(ctx_server), ctx_http(ctx_http) {}
 
@@ -5109,6 +5112,115 @@ public:
         return res;
     };
 
+
+    //
+    // endpoints for model management (aka router server)
+    //
+
+    server_http_context::handler_t get_router_props = [this](const server_http_req & req) {
+        std::string name = req.get_param("model");
+        if (name.empty()) {
+            // main instance
+            auto res = std::make_unique<server_res_generator>(ctx_server);
+            res->ok({
+                // TODO: add support for this on web UI
+                {"role",          "router"},
+                {"max_instances", 4}, // dummy value for testing
+                // this is a dummy response to make sure webui doesn't break
+                {"model_alias", "llama-server"},
+                {"model_path",  "none"},
+                {"default_generation_settings", {
+                    {"params", json{}},
+                    {"n_ctx",  0},
+                }},
+            });
+            return std::unique_ptr<server_http_res>(std::move(res));
+        }
+        return proxy_get(req);
+    };
+
+    server_http_context::handler_t proxy_get = [this](const server_http_req & req) {
+        std::string method = "GET";
+        std::string name = req.get_param("model");
+        models->ensure_model_loaded(name);
+        return models->proxy_request(req, method, name);
+    };
+
+    server_http_context::handler_t proxy_post = [this](const server_http_req & req) {
+        std::string method = "POST";
+        json body = json::parse(req.body);
+        std::string name = json_value(body, "model", std::string());
+        models->ensure_model_loaded(name);
+        return models->proxy_request(req, method, name);
+    };
+
+    server_http_context::handler_t post_router_models_load = [this](const server_http_req & req) {
+        auto res = std::make_unique<server_res_generator>(ctx_server);
+        json body = json::parse(req.body);
+        std::string name = json_value(body, "model", std::string());
+        auto model = models->get_meta(name);
+        if (!model.has_value()) {
+            res->error(format_error_response("model is not found", ERROR_TYPE_INVALID_REQUEST));
+            return res;
+        }
+        if (model->status == SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_LOADED) {
+            res->error(format_error_response("model is already loaded", ERROR_TYPE_INVALID_REQUEST));
+            return res;
+        }
+        models->load(name);
+        res->ok({{"success", true}});
+        return res;
+    };
+
+    // used by child process to notify the router about status change
+    server_http_context::handler_t post_router_models_status = [this](const server_http_req & req) {
+        auto res = std::make_unique<server_res_generator>(ctx_server);
+        json body = json::parse(req.body);
+        std::string model = json_value(body, "model", std::string());
+        std::string value = json_value(body, "value", std::string());
+        models->update_status(model, server_model_status_from_string(value));
+        res->ok({{"success", true}});
+        return res;
+    };
+
+    server_http_context::handler_t get_router_models = [this](const server_http_req &) {
+        auto res = std::make_unique<server_res_generator>(ctx_server);
+        json models_json = json::array();
+        auto all_models = models->get_all_meta();
+        for (const auto & model : all_models) {
+            models_json.push_back(json {
+                {"model",  model.name},
+                {"name",   model.name},
+                {"id",     model.name},
+                // TODO: other fields...
+                {"status", {
+                    {"value", server_model_status_to_string(model.status)}
+                }},
+            });
+        }
+        res->ok({{"data", models_json}});
+        return res;
+    };
+
+    server_http_context::handler_t post_router_models_unload = [this](const server_http_req & req) {
+        auto res = std::make_unique<server_res_generator>(ctx_server);
+        json body = json::parse(req.body);
+        std::string name = json_value(body, "model", std::string());
+        auto model = models->get_meta(name);
+        if (!model.has_value()) {
+            res->error(format_error_response("model is not found", ERROR_TYPE_INVALID_REQUEST));
+            return res;
+        }
+        if (model->status != SERVER_MODEL_STATUS_LOADED) {
+            res->error(format_error_response("model is not loaded", ERROR_TYPE_INVALID_REQUEST));
+            return res;
+        }
+        models->unload(name);
+        res->ok({{"success", true}});
+        return res;
+    };
+
+
 private:
     std::unique_ptr<server_res_generator> handle_completions_impl(
                 server_task_type type,
@@ -5502,7 +5614,7 @@ static server_http_context::handler_t ex_wrapper(server_http_context::handler_t
     };
 }
 
-int main(int argc, char ** argv) {
+int main(int argc, char ** argv, char ** envp) {
     // own arguments required by this example
     common_params params;
 
@@ -5550,6 +5662,36 @@ int main(int argc, char ** argv) {
     // register API routes
     server_routes routes(params, ctx_server, ctx_http);
 
+    bool is_router_server = params.model.path == DEFAULT_MODEL_PATH;
+    if (is_router_server) {
+        // setup server instances manager
+        routes.models.reset(new server_models(params, argc, argv, envp));
+
+        // proxy handlers
+        routes.post_props            = routes.proxy_post;
+        routes.post_completions      = routes.proxy_post;
+        routes.post_completions_oai  = routes.proxy_post;
+        routes.post_chat_completions = routes.proxy_post;
+        routes.post_infill           = routes.proxy_post;
+        routes.post_embeddings       = routes.proxy_post;
+        routes.post_embeddings_oai   = routes.proxy_post;
+        routes.post_rerank           = routes.proxy_post;
+        routes.post_tokenize         = routes.proxy_post;
+        routes.post_detokenize       = routes.proxy_post;
+        routes.post_apply_template   = routes.proxy_post;
+        routes.get_lora_adapters     = routes.proxy_get;
+        routes.post_lora_adapters    = routes.proxy_post;
+        routes.get_slots             = routes.proxy_get;
+        routes.post_slots            = routes.proxy_post;
+
+        // custom routes for router
+        routes.get_props  = routes.get_router_props;
+        routes.get_models = routes.get_router_models;
+        ctx_http.post("/models/load",   ex_wrapper(routes.post_router_models_load));
+        ctx_http.post("/models/unload", ex_wrapper(routes.post_router_models_unload));
+        ctx_http.post("/models/status", ex_wrapper(routes.post_router_models_status));
+    }
+
     ctx_http.get ("/health",              ex_wrapper(routes.get_health)); // public endpoint (no API key check)
     ctx_http.get ("/v1/health",           ex_wrapper(routes.get_health)); // public endpoint (no API key check)
     ctx_http.get ("/metrics",             ex_wrapper(routes.get_metrics));
@@ -5587,51 +5729,74 @@ int main(int argc, char ** argv) {
     // Start the server
     //
 
-    // setup clean up function, to be called before exit
-    auto clean_up = [&ctx_http, &ctx_server]() {
-        SRV_INF("%s: cleaning up before exit...\n", __func__);
-        ctx_http.stop();
-        ctx_server.queue_results.terminate();
-        llama_backend_free();
-    };
+    std::function<void()> clean_up;
 
-    // start the HTTP server before loading the model to be able to serve /health requests
-    if (!ctx_http.start()) {
-        clean_up();
-        LOG_ERR("%s: exiting due to HTTP server error\n", __func__);
-        return 1;
-    }
+    if (is_router_server) {
+        LOG_INF("%s: starting router server, no model will be loaded in this process\n", __func__);
+        ctx_http.is_ready.store(true);
 
-    // load the model
-    LOG_INF("%s: loading model\n", __func__);
+        clean_up = []() {
+            SRV_INF("%s: cleaning up before exit...\n", __func__);
+            llama_backend_free();
+        };
 
-    if (!ctx_server.load_model(params)) {
-        clean_up();
-        if (ctx_http.thread.joinable()) {
-            ctx_http.thread.join();
+        if (!ctx_http.start()) {
+            clean_up();
+            LOG_ERR("%s: exiting due to HTTP server error\n", __func__);
+            return 1;
         }
-        LOG_ERR("%s: exiting due to model loading error\n", __func__);
-        return 1;
+
+        shutdown_handler = [&](int) {
+            ctx_http.stop();
+        };
+
+    } else {
+        // setup clean up function, to be called before exit
+        clean_up = [&ctx_http, &ctx_server]() {
+            SRV_INF("%s: cleaning up before exit...\n", __func__);
+            ctx_http.stop();
+            ctx_server.queue_results.terminate();
+            llama_backend_free();
+        };
+
+        // start the HTTP server before loading the model to be able to serve /health requests
+        if (!ctx_http.start()) {
+            clean_up();
+            LOG_ERR("%s: exiting due to HTTP server error\n", __func__);
+            return 1;
+        }
+
+        // load the model
+        LOG_INF("%s: loading model\n", __func__);
+
+        if (!ctx_server.load_model(params)) {
+            clean_up();
+            if (ctx_http.thread.joinable()) {
+                ctx_http.thread.join();
+            }
+            LOG_ERR("%s: exiting due to model loading error\n", __func__);
+            return 1;
+        }
+
+        ctx_server.init();
+        ctx_http.is_ready.store(true);
+
+        LOG_INF("%s: model loaded\n", __func__);
+
+        ctx_server.queue_tasks.on_new_task([&ctx_server](server_task && task) {
+            ctx_server.process_single_task(std::move(task));
+        });
+
+        ctx_server.queue_tasks.on_update_slots([&ctx_server]() {
+            ctx_server.update_slots();
+        });
+
+        shutdown_handler = [&](int) {
+            // this will unblock start_loop()
+            ctx_server.queue_tasks.terminate();
+        };
     }
 
-    ctx_server.init();
-    ctx_http.is_ready.store(true);
-
-    LOG_INF("%s: model loaded\n", __func__);
-
-    ctx_server.queue_tasks.on_new_task([&ctx_server](server_task && task) {
-        ctx_server.process_single_task(std::move(task));
-    });
-
-    ctx_server.queue_tasks.on_update_slots([&ctx_server]() {
-        ctx_server.update_slots();
-    });
-
-    shutdown_handler = [&](int) {
-        // this will unblock start_loop()
-        ctx_server.queue_tasks.terminate();
-    };
-
 #if defined (__unix__) || (defined (__APPLE__) && defined (__MACH__))
     struct sigaction sigint_action;
     sigint_action.sa_handler = signal_handler;
@@ -5646,16 +5811,32 @@ int main(int argc, char ** argv) {
     SetConsoleCtrlHandler(reinterpret_cast<PHANDLER_ROUTINE>(console_ctrl_handler), true);
 #endif
 
-    LOG_INF("%s: server is listening on %s\n", __func__, ctx_http.listening_address.c_str());
-    LOG_INF("%s: starting the main loop...\n", __func__);
-    // this call blocks the main thread until queue_tasks.terminate() is called
-    ctx_server.queue_tasks.start_loop();
+    if (is_router_server) {
+        LOG_INF("%s: router server is listening on %s\n", __func__, ctx_http.listening_address.c_str());
+        ctx_http.is_ready.store(true);
+        ctx_http.thread.join(); // keep the main thread alive
 
-    clean_up();
-    if (ctx_http.thread.joinable()) {
-        ctx_http.thread.join();
+        // when the HTTP server stops, clean up and exit
+        clean_up();
+
+        // TODO @ngxson : why the models are already unloaded without this line?
+        // routes.models->unload_all();
+    } else {
+        LOG_INF("%s: server is listening on %s\n", __func__, ctx_http.listening_address.c_str());
+        LOG_INF("%s: starting the main loop...\n", __func__);
+
+        // optionally, notify router server that this instance is ready
+        server_models::notify_router_server_ready(params.model_alias);
+
+        // this call blocks the main thread until queue_tasks.terminate() is called
+        ctx_server.queue_tasks.start_loop();
+
+        clean_up();
+        if (ctx_http.thread.joinable()) {
+            ctx_http.thread.join();
+        }
+        llama_memory_breakdown_print(ctx_server.ctx);
     }
-    llama_memory_breakdown_print(ctx_server.ctx);
 
     return 0;
 }