diff --git a/doc/changelog.d/151.maintenance.md b/doc/changelog.d/151.maintenance.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b5e6a856
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/changelog.d/151.maintenance.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Visor-cli updates for logs and init actions
diff --git a/src/ansys/visor/viewer/__init__.py b/src/ansys/visor/viewer/__init__.py
index ce5eca7e..9a0c6096 100644
--- a/src/ansys/visor/viewer/__init__.py
+++ b/src/ansys/visor/viewer/__init__.py
@@ -1,11 +1,19 @@
 # Copyright 2026 ANSYS, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 # Restricted Rights Legend: See LICENSE for details.
 
-from ansys.visor.viewer.app.visor import Visor
 from ansys.visor.viewer.core.metadata import Metadata
 
 __all__ = ['Visor', 'Metadata']
 
+
+def __getattr__(name):
+    # Import Visor on first use so that lightweight subpackages (e.g. the CLI)
+    # don't load the app and its module-level loggers, which open log files.
+    if name == "Visor":
+        from ansys.visor.viewer.app.visor import Visor
+        return Visor
+    raise AttributeError(f"module {__name__!r} has no attribute {name!r}")
+
 # Version
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/src/ansys/visor/viewer/cli/apis.py b/src/ansys/visor/viewer/cli/apis.py
index 029f1a99..690885c8 100644
--- a/src/ansys/visor/viewer/cli/apis.py
+++ b/src/ansys/visor/viewer/cli/apis.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import json
 import os
+import shutil
 import time
 
 import requests
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ def info(self):
         resp = requests.get(f"{self.base}/info")
         print(resp.json())
 
-    def initialize(self, host, port, rendering_mode, standalone, dark_mode):
+    def initialize(self, host, port, rendering_mode, standalone, dark_mode, start=False):
         """Initialize the server with viewer configuration.
 
         Parameters
@@ -69,17 +70,33 @@ def initialize(self, host, port, rendering_mode, standalone, dark_mode):
         port : int
             Port the viewer client should connect to.  Pass ``0`` to let
             the Visor server pick an unused port on its own host.
-        standalone : RenderingMode
+        rendering_mode : RenderingMode
             Rendering mode to use for the viewer instance.  Must be one of the
             values defined in ``RenderingMode``.
         standalone : bool
             Whether to run in standalone mode (no external orchestrator).
         dark_mode : bool
             Whether to enable dark mode in the viewer UI.
+        start : bool
+            Whether to start the viewer instance immediately after initialization.
+
+        Raises
+        ------
+        requests.HTTPError
+            If the ``/initialize`` request or, when ``start`` is ``True``,
+            the ``/start`` request returns an HTTP error status.
         """
-        data = {"host": host, "port": port, "rendering_mode": rendering_mode, "standalone": standalone, "dark_mode": dark_mode}
+        data = {"host": host, "port": port, "rendering_mode": rendering_mode, "standalone": standalone,
+                "dark_mode": dark_mode}
         resp = requests.post(f"{self.base}/initialize", json=data)
         print(resp.json())
+        resp.raise_for_status()
+        if start:
+            resp = requests.post(f"{self.base}/start", json={})
+            print(resp)
+            print(resp.json())
+            resp.raise_for_status()
+
 
     def list(self):
         """Print the URLs of all currently available viewer instances."""
@@ -229,25 +246,25 @@ def list_logs(self):
             return
         files = [f for f in os.listdir(self.log_dir) if f.endswith(".log")]
         if not files:
-            print("No log files found.")
+            print(f"No log files found in log dir {self.log_dir}.")
         else:
-            print("Available log files:")
+            print(f"Available log files in log dir {self.log_dir}:")
             for f in files:
                 print("  " + f[:-4])  # strip .log
 
-    def show_log(self, log_name, follow=False, lines=10):
+    def tail_log(self, log_name, follow=False, lines=10):
         """Display the contents of a log file.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         log_name : str
-            Name of the log file to display, without the ``.log`` extension.
+            Name of the log file to tail, without the ``.log`` extension.
         follow : bool, optional
             When ``True``, print the last *lines* lines and then stream new
             content as it is appended (like ``tail -f``).  Defaults to
             ``False``.
         lines : int, optional
-            Number of lines from the end of the file to display.  Defaults
+            Number of lines from the end of the file to tail.  Defaults
             to ``10``.
         """
         log_path = os.path.join(self.log_dir, f"{log_name}.log")
@@ -272,3 +289,40 @@ def show_log(self, log_name, follow=False, lines=10):
                     print("".join(deque(f, maxlen=lines)), end="")
         except FileNotFoundError:
             print(f"Log file not found: {log_path}")
+
+    def clear_logs(self, force=False):
+        """Delete the log directory.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        force : bool, optional
+            When ``True``, skip the confirmation prompt.  Defaults to ``False``.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        bool
+            ``False`` if removing the log directory failed, ``True`` otherwise
+            (including when the directory does not exist or the user aborts).
+
+        Notes
+        -----
+        Nothing should be writing to the log directory (e.g. a running Visor
+        server); otherwise deletion may fail on Windows or remove files that
+        are still in use on Unix.
+        """
+        if not os.path.isdir(self.log_dir):
+            print(f"Log directory not found: {self.log_dir}")
+            return True
+        if not force:
+            print(f"Remove log directory {self.log_dir}? (y/n): ", end="")
+            choice = input().strip().lower()
+            if choice != "y":
+                print("Aborted.")
+                return True
+        try:
+            shutil.rmtree(self.log_dir)
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"Failed to remove log directory {self.log_dir}: {e}")
+            return False
+        print(f"Log directory removed: {self.log_dir}")
+        return True
diff --git a/src/ansys/visor/viewer/cli/parse_args.py b/src/ansys/visor/viewer/cli/parse_args.py
index e5151a6a..19b016b9 100644
--- a/src/ansys/visor/viewer/cli/parse_args.py
+++ b/src/ansys/visor/viewer/cli/parse_args.py
@@ -65,6 +65,12 @@ def parse_args():
         default=None,
         help="Dark mode (True or False, default: from settings or server default)"
     )
+    init_parser.add_argument(
+        "--start",
+        default=False,
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Start the instance after initialization (default: False)"
+    )
 
     # list API
     server_sub.add_parser("list", help="List Visor instances")
@@ -118,18 +124,34 @@ def parse_args():
     # Logs subcommands
     ######################
     logs_parser = subparsers.add_parser("logs", help="Log file operations")
-    logs_parser.add_argument("log_name", nargs="?", help="Name of the log file (without .log)")
-    logs_parser.add_argument("-f", "--follow",
-                             action="store_true",
-                             help="Follow the log file (like tail -f)"
-                             )
     logs_parser.add_argument("--log-dir",
                              default=None,
                              help="Directory containing log files (default: from settings)"
                              )
-    logs_parser.add_argument(
+    logs_sub = logs_parser.add_subparsers(dest="action", required=True)
+
+    # list API
+    logs_sub.add_parser("list", help="List available logs")
+
+    # show API
+    tail_parser = logs_sub.add_parser("tail", help="Tail the log file")
+    tail_parser.add_argument("log_name",
+                             nargs="?",
+                             help="Name of the log file (without .log)",
+                             default="visor")
+    tail_parser.add_argument("-f", "--follow",
+                             action="store_true",
+                             help="Follow the log file (like tail -f)"
+                             )
+    tail_parser.add_argument(
         "-n", "--lines", type=int, default=10,
         help="Number of lines to show from the end of the log file (default: 10)"
     )
 
+    # clear API
+    clear_parser = logs_sub.add_parser("clear", help="Delete the log directory and its contents")
+    clear_parser.add_argument("-f", "--force",
+                              action="store_true",
+                              help="Delete the log directory without prompting for confirmation")
+
     return parser.parse_args()
diff --git a/src/ansys/visor/viewer/cli/visor_cli.py b/src/ansys/visor/viewer/cli/visor_cli.py
index 1741b55f..7ea734b2 100644
--- a/src/ansys/visor/viewer/cli/visor_cli.py
+++ b/src/ansys/visor/viewer/cli/visor_cli.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 """Command line interface for Visor Viewer."""
 
+import socket
 import sys
 
 import requests
@@ -26,6 +27,22 @@ def check_server_running(host, port):
         print("Could not connect to server:", e)
     return False
 
+def check_server_reachable(host, port):
+    """
+    Check whether anything is listening on the server address, healthy or not.
+
+    Intended for guarding destructive commands. Probes the TCP socket directly
+    so that post-connect failures (resets, protocol errors, no reply) still
+    count as reachable.  Returns False only when a TCP connection cannot be
+    established.
+    """
+    binding_host = settings.binding_host or host
+    try:
+        with socket.create_connection((binding_host, port), timeout=1):
+            return True
+    except OSError:
+        return False  # refused, unreachable, DNS failure, or connect timeout
+
 def check_init_args(
         api_host,
         api_port,
@@ -33,7 +50,7 @@ def check_init_args(
         port,
         rendering_mode,
         standalone,
-        dark_mode
+        dark_mode,
 ):
     """
     If the user explicitly passed --rendering-mode, --standalone, or --dark-mode, check whether
@@ -76,19 +93,44 @@ def check_init_args(
         )
         sys.exit(1)
 
+def needs_server_running(args):
+    """
+    Determine if the current command requires a running server.
+    Returns False if the command is 'server start', 'server health', or 'logs'.
+    """
+    if args.group == "logs" or \
+       args.group == "server" and args.action in ["start", "health"]:
+        return False
+    return True
+
+def needs_server_stopped(args):
+    """
+    Determine if the current command requires a stopped server.
+    Returns True if the command is 'logs clear'.
+    """
+    return args.group == "logs" and args.action == "clear"
 
 
 def main():
     """Main CLI tool for Visor Viewer."""
     args = parse_args()
 
-    # Check if the server is running before executing instance commands
-    # unless the command is to start the server
-    if not (args.group == "server" and args.action in ["start", "health"]):
+    # Most commands talk to the server, so make sure it is up first
+    if needs_server_running(args):
         if not check_server_running(args.api_host, args.api_port):
             print("Server is not running. Please start the server first.")
             sys.exit(1)
 
+    # Clearing logs while the server is writing to them is unsafe
+    if needs_server_stopped(args):
+        print(f"Checking if the server is running on {args.api_host}:{args.api_port}...")
+        if check_server_reachable(args.api_host, args.api_port):
+            print(
+                f"Server is running on {args.api_host}:{args.api_port}. "
+                "Please stop the server before clearing logs."
+            )
+            sys.exit(1)
+
     # Execute the appropriate API action based on the group and action
     if args.group == "server":
         api = ServerAPI(args.api_host, args.api_port)
@@ -106,9 +148,9 @@ def main():
                 args.port,
                 args.rendering_mode,
                 args.standalone,
-                args.dark_mode
+                args.dark_mode,
             )
-            api.initialize(args.host, args.port, args.rendering_mode, args.standalone, args.dark_mode)
+            api.initialize(args.host, args.port, args.rendering_mode, args.standalone, args.dark_mode, args.start)
         elif args.action == "list":
             api.list()
     elif args.group == "instance":
@@ -134,10 +176,13 @@ def main():
 
     if args.group == "logs":
         api = LogsAPI(log_dir=args.log_dir)
-        if not args.log_name:
+        if args.action == "list":
             api.list_logs()
-        else:
-            api.show_log(args.log_name, args.follow, args.lines)
+        elif args.action == "tail":
+            api.tail_log(args.log_name, args.follow, args.lines)
+        elif args.action == "clear":
+            if not api.clear_logs(args.force):
+                sys.exit(1)
         return
 
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/cli/test_apis.py b/tests/unit/cli/test_apis.py
index 47e756d6..5aa569dd 100644
--- a/tests/unit/cli/test_apis.py
+++ b/tests/unit/cli/test_apis.py
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 import json
-from unittest.mock import mock_open, patch
+import subprocess
+import sys
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, mock_open, patch
+
+import pytest
+import requests
 
 from ansys.visor.viewer.cli.apis import InstanceAPI, LogsAPI, ServerAPI
 from ansys.visor.viewer.core.visor_enums import RenderingMode
@@ -41,10 +46,37 @@ def test_serverapi_initialize_prints_response():
     api = ServerAPI("host", 1234)
     with patch("requests.post") as mock_post, patch("builtins.print") as mock_print:
         mock_post.return_value.json.return_value = {"result": "ok"}
-        api.initialize("h", 1, RenderingMode.LOCAL, True, dark_mode=False)
+        api.initialize("h", 1, RenderingMode.LOCAL, True, dark_mode=False, start=False)
         mock_post.assert_called_once()
         mock_print.assert_called_with({"result": "ok"})
 
+def test_serverapi_initialize_with_start_also_starts_instance():
+    """Verify that passing start=True also posts to the /start endpoint."""
+    api = ServerAPI("host", 1234)
+    with patch("requests.post") as mock_post, patch("builtins.print"):
+        mock_post.return_value.json.return_value = {"result": "ok"}
+        api.initialize("h", 1, RenderingMode.LOCAL, True, dark_mode=False, start=True)
+        assert mock_post.call_count == 2
+        mock_post.assert_any_call(f"{api.base}/initialize", json={
+            "host": "h", "port": 1, "rendering_mode": RenderingMode.LOCAL,
+            "standalone": True, "dark_mode": False,
+        })
+        mock_post.assert_any_call(f"{api.base}/start", json={})
+
+def test_serverapi_initialize_with_start_raises_on_start_failure():
+    """Verify that an HTTP error from /start is propagated."""
+    api = ServerAPI("host", 1234)
+    init_resp = MagicMock()
+    init_resp.json.return_value = {"result": "ok"}
+    start_resp = MagicMock()
+    start_resp.json.return_value = {"detail": "failed"}
+    start_resp.raise_for_status.side_effect = requests.HTTPError("500")
+    with patch("requests.post", side_effect=[init_resp, start_resp]), patch("builtins.print"):
+        with pytest.raises(requests.HTTPError):
+            api.initialize("h", 1, RenderingMode.LOCAL, True, dark_mode=False, start=True)
+    init_resp.raise_for_status.assert_called_once()
+    start_resp.raise_for_status.assert_called_once()
+
 def test_serverapi_list_prints_urls():
     """Verify that available instance URLs are printed."""
     api = ServerAPI("host", 1234)
@@ -137,7 +169,7 @@ def test_logsapi_list_logs_prints_files(tmp_path):
     api = LogsAPI(str(log_dir))
     with patch("builtins.print") as mock_print:
         api.list_logs()
-        mock_print.assert_any_call("Available log files:")
+        mock_print.assert_any_call(f"Available log files in log dir {log_dir}:")
         mock_print.assert_any_call("  foo")
         mock_print.assert_any_call("  bar")
 
@@ -146,7 +178,7 @@ def test_logsapi_list_logs_prints_no_files(tmp_path):
     api = LogsAPI(str(tmp_path))
     with patch("builtins.print") as mock_print:
         api.list_logs()
-        mock_print.assert_any_call("No log files found.")
+        mock_print.assert_any_call(f"No log files found in log dir {tmp_path}.")
 
 def test_logsapi_list_logs_prints_dir_not_found():
     """Verify that a missing log directory is reported."""
@@ -155,25 +187,25 @@ def test_logsapi_list_logs_prints_dir_not_found():
         api.list_logs()
         mock_print.assert_any_call("Log directory not found: not_a_dir")
 
-def test_logsapi_show_log_prints_last_lines():
+def test_logsapi_tail_log_prints_last_lines():
     """Verify that the requested tail of the log file is printed."""
     api = LogsAPI()
     log_content = "line1\nline2\nline3\n"
     m = mock_open(read_data=log_content)
     with patch("builtins.open", m), patch("builtins.print") as mock_print, patch("os.path.join", return_value="file.log"):
-        api.show_log("file", follow=False, lines=2)
+        api.tail_log("file", follow=False, lines=2)
         # Should print last 2 lines
         printed = "".join([call.args[0] for call in mock_print.call_args_list])
         assert "line2" in printed and "line3" in printed
 
-def test_logsapi_show_log_file_not_found():
+def test_logsapi_tail_log_file_not_found():
     """Verify that a missing log file is reported."""
     api = LogsAPI()
     with patch("builtins.open", side_effect=FileNotFoundError), patch("builtins.print") as mock_print, patch("os.path.join", return_value="file.log"):
-        api.show_log("file")
+        api.tail_log("file")
         mock_print.assert_any_call("Log file not found: file.log")
 
-def test_logsapi_show_log_follow_prints_and_waits(monkeypatch):
+def test_logsapi_tail_log_follow_prints_and_waits(monkeypatch):
     """Verify that follow mode continues monitoring the log file."""
     api = LogsAPI()
     log_content = "line1\nline2\nline3\n"
@@ -196,8 +228,83 @@ def sleep_side_effect(_):
 
     with patch("builtins.print") as mock_print, patch("time.sleep", side_effect=sleep_side_effect):
         try:
-            api.show_log("file", follow=True, lines=2)
+            api.tail_log("file", follow=True, lines=2)
         except SystemExit:
             pass
         printed = "".join([call.args[0] for call in mock_print.call_args_list])
         assert "line2" in printed or "line3" in printed
+
+def test_logsapi_clear_logs_prints_dir_not_found():
+    """Verify that a missing log directory is reported when clearing."""
+    api = LogsAPI("not_a_dir")
+    with patch("builtins.print") as mock_print:
+        api.clear_logs()
+        mock_print.assert_any_call("Log directory not found: not_a_dir")
+
+def test_logsapi_clear_logs_aborted_on_no(tmp_path):
+    """Verify that clearing is aborted when the user does not confirm."""
+    api = LogsAPI(str(tmp_path))
+    with patch("builtins.input", return_value="n"), \
+         patch("builtins.print") as mock_print, \
+         patch("shutil.rmtree") as mock_rmtree:
+        api.clear_logs()
+        mock_print.assert_any_call("Aborted.")
+        mock_rmtree.assert_not_called()
+
+def test_logsapi_clear_logs_removes_dir_on_confirm(tmp_path):
+    """Verify that the log directory is removed when the user confirms."""
+    api = LogsAPI(str(tmp_path))
+    with patch("builtins.input", return_value="y"), \
+         patch("builtins.print") as mock_print, \
+         patch("shutil.rmtree") as mock_rmtree:
+        api.clear_logs()
+        mock_rmtree.assert_called_once_with(str(tmp_path))
+        mock_print.assert_any_call("Log directory removed: " + str(tmp_path))
+
+def test_logsapi_clear_logs_reports_failure(tmp_path):
+    """Verify that failures during removal are reported."""
+    api = LogsAPI(str(tmp_path))
+    with patch("builtins.input", return_value="y"), \
+         patch("builtins.print") as mock_print, \
+         patch("shutil.rmtree", side_effect=OSError("boom")):
+        assert api.clear_logs() is False
+        mock_print.assert_any_call(f"Failed to remove log directory {tmp_path}: boom")
+
+def test_logsapi_clear_logs_force_reports_failure(tmp_path):
+    """Verify that a forced removal failure returns False."""
+    api = LogsAPI(str(tmp_path))
+    with patch("builtins.print") as mock_print, \
+         patch("shutil.rmtree", side_effect=OSError("boom")):
+        assert api.clear_logs(force=True) is False
+        mock_print.assert_any_call(f"Failed to remove log directory {tmp_path}: boom")
+
+def test_logsapi_clear_logs_force_skips_confirmation(tmp_path):
+    """Verify that force=True removes the log directory without prompting."""
+    api = LogsAPI(str(tmp_path))
+    with patch("builtins.input") as mock_input, \
+         patch("builtins.print") as mock_print, \
+         patch("shutil.rmtree") as mock_rmtree:
+        api.clear_logs(force=True)
+        mock_input.assert_not_called()
+        mock_rmtree.assert_called_once_with(str(tmp_path))
+        mock_print.assert_any_call("Log directory removed: " + str(tmp_path))
+
+def test_cli_import_does_not_open_log_files(tmp_path):
+    """Verify that importing the CLI does not load app loggers or open log files.
+
+    Runs in a fresh interpreter because other tests may already have imported
+    the application modules into this process.
+    """
+    code = (
+        "import logging, sys\n"
+        "import ansys.visor.viewer.cli.visor_cli\n"
+        "assert 'ansys.visor.viewer.core.visor_logging' not in sys.modules, 'visor_logging imported'\n"
+        "assert 'ansys.visor.viewer.app.visor' not in sys.modules, 'app imported'\n"
+        "files = [r() for r in logging._handlerList if isinstance(r(), logging.FileHandler)]\n"
+        "assert not files, files\n"
+    )
+    result = subprocess.run(
+        [sys.executable, "-c", code], cwd=tmp_path, capture_output=True, text=True
+    )
+    assert result.returncode == 0, result.stderr
+    assert not (tmp_path / "logs").exists()
diff --git a/tests/unit/cli/test_parse_args.py b/tests/unit/cli/test_parse_args.py
index f4ba97ed..6309f436 100644
--- a/tests/unit/cli/test_parse_args.py
+++ b/tests/unit/cli/test_parse_args.py
@@ -41,16 +41,18 @@ def test_server_init_args_defaults():
     assert args.standalone is None
     assert args.port == 0
     assert args.dark_mode is None
+    assert args.start is False
 
 def test_server_init_args_custom():
     """Verify that custom server init arguments are parsed correctly."""
     args = run_parse_args([
         "visor-cli", "server", "init",
-        "--host", "myhost", "--port", "12345", "--standalone", "False"
+        "--host", "myhost", "--port", "12345", "--standalone", "False", "--start"
     ])
     assert args.host == "myhost"
     assert args.port == 12345
     assert args.standalone is False
+    assert args.start is True
 
 def test_server_list_args():
     """Verify that server list arguments are parsed correctly."""
@@ -119,24 +121,53 @@ def test_instance_stop_args():
     assert args.action == "stop"
 
 def test_logs_list_args_defaults():
-    """Verify that logs arguments use the expected default values."""
-    args = run_parse_args(["visor-cli", "logs"])
+    """Verify that log list arguments use the expected default values."""
+    args = run_parse_args(["visor-cli", "logs", "list"])
     assert args.group == "logs"
-    assert args.log_name is None
+    assert args.action == "list"
+    assert args.log_dir is None
+
+def test_logs_tail_args_defaults():
+    """Verify that log tail uses the expected default argument values."""
+    args = run_parse_args(["visor-cli", "logs", "tail"])
+    assert args.group == "logs"
+    assert args.action == "tail"
+    assert args.log_name == "visor"
     assert args.follow is False
     assert args.log_dir is None
     assert args.lines == 10
 
-def test_logs_show_args_custom():
-    """Verify that custom log display arguments are parsed correctly."""
+def test_logs_tail_args_custom():
+    """Verify that custom log tail arguments are parsed correctly."""
     args = run_parse_args([
-        "visor-cli", "logs", "mylog", "-f", "--log-dir", "/tmp", "-n", "5"
+        "visor-cli", "logs", "--log-dir", "/tmp", "tail", "mylog", "-f", "-n", "5"
     ])
     assert args.log_name == "mylog"
     assert args.follow is True
     assert args.log_dir == "/tmp"
     assert args.lines == 5
 
+def test_logs_clear_args():
+    """Verify that the log clear subcommand is parsed correctly."""
+    args = run_parse_args(["visor-cli", "logs", "clear"])
+    assert args.group == "logs"
+    assert args.action == "clear"
+    assert args.force is False
+
+def test_logs_clear_args_force_short_flag():
+    """Verify that the -f flag sets force=True for log clear."""
+    args = run_parse_args(["visor-cli", "logs", "clear", "-f"])
+    assert args.group == "logs"
+    assert args.action == "clear"
+    assert args.force is True
+
+def test_logs_clear_args_force_long_flag():
+    """Verify that the --force flag sets force=True for log clear."""
+    args = run_parse_args(["visor-cli", "logs", "clear", "--force"])
+    assert args.group == "logs"
+    assert args.action == "clear"
+    assert args.force is True
+
 def test_missing_group_raises():
     """Verify that omitting the command group raises SystemExit."""
     with patch.object(sys, "argv", ["visor-cli"]):
diff --git a/tests/unit/cli/test_visor_cli.py b/tests/unit/cli/test_visor_cli.py
index a304efb0..9f3caaae 100644
--- a/tests/unit/cli/test_visor_cli.py
+++ b/tests/unit/cli/test_visor_cli.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import socket
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
 
 import pytest
@@ -94,13 +95,31 @@ def test_main_server_info_list(mock_parse_args, mock_server_api):
 
 def test_main_server_init(mock_parse_args, mock_server_api):
     """Verify that server initialization forwards the expected arguments."""
-    args = make_args("server", "init", host="h", port=42, rendering_mode=RenderingMode.LOCAL, standalone=True, dark_mode=False)
+    args = make_args(
+        "server", "init",
+        host="h", port=42, rendering_mode=RenderingMode.LOCAL,
+        standalone=True, dark_mode=False, start=False,
+    )
     mock_parse_args.return_value = args
     api = MagicMock()
     mock_server_api.return_value = api
     with patch("ansys.visor.viewer.cli.visor_cli.check_server_running", return_value=True):
         visor_cli.main()
-        api.initialize.assert_called_once_with("h", 42, RenderingMode.LOCAL, True, False)
+        api.initialize.assert_called_once_with("h", 42, RenderingMode.LOCAL, True, False, False)
+
+def test_main_server_init_with_start(mock_parse_args, mock_server_api):
+    """Verify that server initialization forwards the --start flag."""
+    args = make_args(
+        "server", "init",
+        host="h", port=42, rendering_mode=RenderingMode.LOCAL,
+        standalone=True, dark_mode=False, start=True,
+    )
+    mock_parse_args.return_value = args
+    api = MagicMock()
+    mock_server_api.return_value = api
+    with patch("ansys.visor.viewer.cli.visor_cli.check_server_running", return_value=True):
+        visor_cli.main()
+        api.initialize.assert_called_once_with("h", 42, RenderingMode.LOCAL, True, False, True)
 
 def test_main_instance_actions(mock_parse_args, mock_instance_api):
     """Verify that instance actions invoke the corresponding API methods."""
@@ -126,7 +145,7 @@ def test_main_instance_actions(mock_parse_args, mock_instance_api):
 
 def test_main_logs_list(mock_parse_args, mock_logs_api):
     """Verify that log listing invokes the list_logs method."""
-    args = make_args("logs", None, log_name=None, follow=False, log_dir=None, lines=10)
+    args = make_args("logs", "list", log_name=None, follow=False, log_dir=None, lines=10)
     mock_parse_args.return_value = args
     api = MagicMock()
     mock_logs_api.return_value = api
@@ -134,15 +153,122 @@ def test_main_logs_list(mock_parse_args, mock_logs_api):
         visor_cli.main()
         api.list_logs.assert_called_once()
 
-def test_main_logs_show(mock_parse_args, mock_logs_api):
-    """Verify that log display invokes show_log with the requested options."""
-    args = make_args("logs", None, log_name="mylog", follow=True, log_dir="dir", lines=5)
+def test_main_logs_tail(mock_parse_args, mock_logs_api):
+    """Verify that log tail invokes tail_log with the requested options."""
+    args = make_args("logs", "tail", log_name="mylog", follow=True, log_dir="dir", lines=5)
     mock_parse_args.return_value = args
     api = MagicMock()
     mock_logs_api.return_value = api
     with patch("ansys.visor.viewer.cli.visor_cli.check_server_running", return_value=True):
         visor_cli.main()
-        api.show_log.assert_called_once_with("mylog", True, 5)
+        api.tail_log.assert_called_once_with("mylog", True, 5)
+
+def test_main_logs_clear(mock_parse_args, mock_logs_api):
+    """Verify that log clear invokes the clear_logs method."""
+    args = make_args("logs", "clear", log_dir=None, force=False)
+    mock_parse_args.return_value = args
+    api = MagicMock()
+    mock_logs_api.return_value = api
+    with patch("ansys.visor.viewer.cli.visor_cli.check_server_reachable", return_value=False):
+        visor_cli.main()
+        api.clear_logs.assert_called_once_with(False)
+
+def test_main_logs_clear_force(mock_parse_args, mock_logs_api):
+    """Verify that log clear -f forwards force=True to clear_logs."""
+    args = make_args("logs", "clear", log_dir=None, force=True)
+    mock_parse_args.return_value = args
+    api = MagicMock()
+    mock_logs_api.return_value = api
+    with patch("ansys.visor.viewer.cli.visor_cli.check_server_reachable", return_value=False):
+        visor_cli.main()
+        api.clear_logs.assert_called_once_with(True)
+
+def test_main_logs_clear_failure_exits_nonzero(mock_parse_args, mock_logs_api):
+    """Verify that a failed log clear exits with a nonzero status."""
+    args = make_args("logs", "clear", log_dir=None, force=True)
+    mock_parse_args.return_value = args
+    api = MagicMock()
+    api.clear_logs.return_value = False
+    mock_logs_api.return_value = api
+    with patch("ansys.visor.viewer.cli.visor_cli.check_server_reachable", return_value=False):
+        with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as exc:
+            visor_cli.main()
+    assert exc.value.code == 1
+
+def test_main_logs_clear_rejected_when_server_reachable(mock_parse_args, mock_logs_api, capsys):
+    """Verify that log clear exits without clearing when the server is reachable."""
+    args = make_args("logs", "clear", log_dir=None, force=True)
+    mock_parse_args.return_value = args
+    api = MagicMock()
+    mock_logs_api.return_value = api
+    with patch("ansys.visor.viewer.cli.visor_cli.check_server_reachable", return_value=True) as mock_check:
+        with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as exc:
+            visor_cli.main()
+    assert exc.value.code == 1
+    mock_check.assert_called_once_with("host", 1234)
+    api.clear_logs.assert_not_called()
+    assert "Server is running" in capsys.readouterr().out
+
+def test_check_server_reachable_connected():
+    """Verify that an established TCP connection counts as reachable."""
+    with patch("ansys.visor.viewer.cli.visor_cli.socket.create_connection") as mock_conn:
+        assert visor_cli.check_server_reachable("host", 1234) is True
+    mock_conn.assert_called_once_with(("host", 1234), timeout=1)
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "exc",
+    [
+        ConnectionRefusedError("refused"),
+        socket.timeout("connect timeout"),
+        socket.gaierror("dns failure"),
+    ],
+)
+def test_check_server_reachable_connect_failure(exc):
+    """Verify that only failing to establish a connection counts as unreachable."""
+    with patch("ansys.visor.viewer.cli.visor_cli.socket.create_connection", side_effect=exc):
+        assert visor_cli.check_server_reachable("host", 1234) is False
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "group, action, expected",
+    [
+        ("server", "start", False),
+        ("server", "health", False),
+        ("server", "info", True),
+        ("server", "init", True),
+        ("instance", "start", True),
+        ("logs", "list", False),
+        ("logs", "tail", False),
+        ("logs", "clear", False),
+    ],
+)
+def test_needs_server_running(group, action, expected):
+    """Verify which commands require a running server."""
+    assert visor_cli.needs_server_running(make_args(group, action)) is expected
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "group, action, expected",
+    [
+        ("logs", "clear", True),
+        ("logs", "list", False),
+        ("logs", "tail", False),
+        ("server", "start", False),
+        ("instance", "stop", False),
+    ],
+)
+def test_needs_server_stopped(group, action, expected):
+    """Verify that only log clear requires a stopped server."""
+    assert visor_cli.needs_server_stopped(make_args(group, action)) is expected
+
+def test_main_logs_does_not_require_running_server(mock_parse_args, mock_logs_api):
+    """Verify that log commands do not require the server to be running."""
+    args = make_args("logs", "list", log_name=None, follow=False, log_dir=None, lines=10)
+    mock_parse_args.return_value = args
+    api = MagicMock()
+    mock_logs_api.return_value = api
+    with patch("ansys.visor.viewer.cli.visor_cli.check_server_running") as mock_check:
+        visor_cli.main()
+        mock_check.assert_not_called()
+        api.list_logs.assert_called_once()
 
 def test_main_server_not_running_exits(mock_parse_args, capsys):
     """Verify that instance commands exit when the server is not running."""