Server Setup
Walk through the process of configuring your server hardware, IP settings, and zero clients.
Cloud vs On-Premise Servers
This guide is for the configuration of On-Premise servers only. Cloud Servers are managed in Userful Manager.
Before You Begin
Before beginning Userful server setup, the following should be completed:
- All displays mounted and powered.
- Standard display installation procedures completed - RS232 daisy-chaining, IR receiver connected, and physical display alignment.
- Active network drops are run to each display or client.
- You are using a server purchased directly from Userful, therefore no OS installation, testing, or licensing is required.
- The Userful server is available for configuration, either in a temporary position or installed in the rack, with a temporary keyboard, mouse, and monitor attached to it.
- If at all possible, network connections with Internet access will allow Userful support staff to remotely assist.
Userful Setup Guide - ON-PREMISE - v4.4 August 2021.pdf
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Download the PDF of this guide here
Servers
Userful server appliances purchased directly from Userful are pre-configured with:
- The latest version of Userful OS at the time of shipping.
- All devices (capture cards, adapters, GPUs) installed and configured.
- Burn-in tests completed.
- License installed.
Standard
Professional+ and Enterprise
Standard Servers
- 1.Temporary USB keyboard and mouse.
- 2.Temporary display (DisplayPort compatibility required).
- 3.Network drop from the corporate LAN to the Onboard network adapter.
Userful Standard servers come with one Onboard 1Gb (1000Mbps) network adapter and one Additional 1Gb (1000Mbps) network adapter.
The Additional adapter will serve a separate or isolated network segment that connects to the client devices. Do not connect this adapter yet.
Both adapters are identical in performance, but it is recommended to connect the Onboard adapter to your existing corporate network in case external monitoring tools or functionality are desired, such as Wake on LAN.
Professional+ and Enterprise Servers
Userful Professional+ and Enterprise appliances omit dedicated onboard video and come with additional network adapters.
Userful Professional+ servers come equipped with a Quadro RTX 5000 GPU and two 4-port, 4K-capable HDMI capture cards or two 4-port, 1080p-capable SDI capture cards that include SDI-to-HDMI adapters.
Userful Enterprise servers come equipped with a Quadro RTX 6000 GPU and two 8-port, 1080p-capable SDI capture cards that include SDI-to-HDMI converters.
Both onboard network adapters have identical performance, connect either (but only one) to your corporate network.
The 10Gb adapter must serve a separate or isolated network segment that connects to the client devices. Do not connect this adapter yet.
Software Configuration
Once the physical connections are complete, power on the Userful system and use the attached display, keyboard, and mouse to complete some initial setup tasks.
Claim Code for Userful Manager
Initial Setup screen
The Initial Setup screen allows you to set administrator credentials, network IP settings, time zone settings, and accept the Userful and Blackmagic license terms.
On some configurations of Pro+ or Enterprise servers, you may be presented with this on your display instead of the above screens.
Enter the displayed URL in your browser to continue.
If the Userful server can not receive a DHCP IP address, you may be presented with this:
It is recommended that the server be allowed to take a DHCP lease. By default, all adapters are configured to accept DHCP leases.
Dual-Interface Network Configuration
All Userful-supplied servers ship with at least two network interfaces. We use the primary or onboard interface (either if there are more than one) to connect to your corporate network. This interface should be reserved for all system operations, including:
- UCC management and control
- Local or intranet connectivity for ingestion of IP-based sources
- Internet connectivity (optional) for remote management, online support, and software updates
The secondary interface supplied on many servers will be physically separate from the primary, as shown above. This interface should serve the exclusive purpose of connecting to a separate, isolated LAN or VLAN on which the clients sit.
Note that while Zero Clients can be completely isolated from all other network traffic, uClient devices require Internet connectivity.
Example of network segmentation for On-Premise systems
Primary Network Adapter
The primary adapter, connected to your corporate network, should be given a fixed IP address - either a static IP or a DHCP reservation - as that address will be used to manage Userful. This IP address is provisioned during the Initial Setup screen, or later from Network Settings.
The primary interface should not have a DHCP server enabled.
Example static IP configuration. See your network Administrator for the IP settings you should use
At this point in setup, you should now switch to managing Userful via a web browser from your own laptop or desktop.
- 1.Open a tab in a Web browser. Chrome on a laptop or desktop is recommended
- 2.Enter the IP address of the Userful server, displayed on the network adapter, into the address bar
- 3.You should be presented with the Cloud registration screen as above. If this is the case, click Get Started from the keyboard/mouse/monitor connected to the system, then switch back to your computer's browser to continue setup
- 4.Disconnect the keyboard, mouse, and monitor from the server
Managing Userful using peripherals connected to the system is not recommended as several key features will not work as intended. Using a web browser from your own device is the recommended method of administering Userful.
Secondary / Client Network Adapter
The Additional (on a Standard appliance) or 10Gb (on a Professional+ or Enterprise appliance) must be connected to a network segment designated for Userful client devices.
All IP addresses on this network should be fixed, either through static assignments or reservations.
Clients require a DHCP server to allow proper initial provisioning. This can be temporary while devices are unboxed and configured, or permanent. If the network itself does not have a DHCP server, the Userful interface can be configured to provide one, if given a static IP address.
In an otherwise empty network, the above settings can be used to provide simple connectivity for clients.
Note the Default Gateway setting - if more than one default gateway is configured in a system, you will experience connectivity issues when managing the server via web browser. DNS servers are not necessary.
Once the secondary network interface is connected to the appropriate network, the next step is to begin provisioning Clients.
Configure Server URL
If you are pairing a server with uClients, you must enter a URL for the server. This allows easy pairing of uClients across subnets and locally.
Enter a URL for your server. It must begin with the IP of the server's network interface that is connecting to the uClients.
For example, if the primary adapter is connected to the corporate network with an IP of 192.168.0.10, but the secondary adapter is connected to a network with an IP of 10.0.0.100, then in this field you would enter
10.0.0.100:9000/ucc.html.This information is sent to cloud-connect.userful.com which uClients will look to when acquiring pairing information. Once paired, all communication between uClients and the On-Premise server is direct. This allows uClients on different subnets or networks to pair to an On-Premise server.
Next Steps
If you are setting up with Zero Clients, go to:
If you are setting up with uClient on LG WebOS, go to:
If you are setting up with Userful uClient Adapters, go to:
If you are ready to familiarize yourself with the Control Center and maybe use Virtual Displays, go to:
Last modified 2d ago