Installing Watcher Cluster or Single¶

Installation main steps¶

1. Install Flussonic Watcher on the managing server. Skip the steps marked "For cluster only" if you have just one server. PostgreSQL, Flussonic Central and Flussonic Media Server are installed together with Watcher and configured automatically.

   To create a Cluster, proceed with the following steps:

2. Install Flussonic Media Server on all streaming servers.

3. Add the streamers to the Watcher settings.

All the steps are described below.

You can also update or roll back Watcher as described in Updating Watcher or rolling back to previous version.

Installing Flussonic Watcher¶

1) On the server where you plan to run Watcher execute the commands:

wget -q -O /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/flussonic.gpg http://apt.flussonic.com/binary/gpg.key;
echo "deb http://apt.flussonic.com binary/" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/flussonic.list;
apt update;

Then use one of the following commands:

1) The installation wizard will prompt you to enter the necessary data: administrator's login and password, license key, and the path to the DVR where the archive will be stored.

Enter the requested information and wait for the installation to complete.

3) Open Watcher web UI at http://(Watcher server address). Use login and password you set at the installation.

The installation for single-server mode is now complete.

If you want to create a cluster, you will need to prepare streamers and set up Watcher to work as part of a cluster (see next steps).

Domain settings¶

For Watcher to work correctly, make sure to configure the DNS zone for the managing server. You need to add the A record in the DNS zone settings for your domain, and specify the hostname in it. This hostname must also be registered in the operating system on the managing server. This is necessary for streamers in you cluster, as well as Agents and mobile apps to access the server.

To check that the hostname resolves, run the hostname -f command on the server; it must return the correct hostname specified in the DNS settings, for example, example.com.

(For cluster only) Installing Flussonic Media Server on streamers¶

Flussonic Media Server shall be installed on all streaming servers.

1. Run the command:

   curl -sSf https://flussonic.com/public/install.sh | sh

2. Start Flussonic Media Server:

   service flussonic start

3. Go to http://FLUSSONIC-IP/admin, activate the license and set the following:

   1. On the Config page, change the administrator's login and password
   2. On the Cluster page, specify cluster_key: it must be the same as the cluster key for Flussonic Watcher; you can see it on the Streamers page in the profile of default localhost streamer created at installation.

4. Set the same date and time on the streamer as on managing server. For example, you can use the timedatectl utility for that.

(For cluster only) Creating a cluster (multiple server mode)¶

Creating a cluster means to add streamers (streaming servers) in the settings of Flussonic Watcher. Streamers (streaming servers) are servers intended to stream video from IP cameras. You must add at least one streamer on which IP cameras are added to configuration. This will allow you to start receiving video from cameras in cluster mode.

When the streaming server is ready for work, you need to add it in the settings of Flussonic Watcher:

1. Go to Health
2. Click Create a streamer

3. Enter the required settings:

   • API URL – the domain name of the streaming server.
   • Cluster key – the cluster key used in the cluster (the cluster_key option in the configuration file) that identifies a streamer belonging to a particular cluster.
   • Click Issue by LetsEncrypt to issue an SSL certificate for the server so that it can be accessed over HTTPS.

These and other settings are described in details on the Adding and configuring streamers page.