How-To Articles

1. Change content or execute events on a schedule, set up daily server shut down

Refer to the Events topic for more details.

2. Update/ Modify Server Date and Time

Go to Settings and scroll down to Time. Ensure the NTP option is enabled if your server has Internet access, or set the date and time manually.
Ensure that your location and time zone is specified correctly.
Click OK to apply the changes.

3. Set static IPs on Zero Clients

After setting up your Userful server, a recommended post-setup task is to set static IP addresses on your Zero clients. This will enable you to turn off DHCP services on the closed Zero client network thus, enhancing the security of the system.

This procedure only works with Zero Clients. IP address settings must be set manually on uClient adapters and LG devices.

From the Displays screen, edit the IP address field of a Zero Client. Disable DHCP, and enter the static IP you wish to assign to the device. Click OK.

Click Apply when all devices are changed. Each device will update in sequence, and the process may take up to 30 seconds per device.

To put a zero client back on DHCP simply reverse the above process. For example, if a zero client is going to be moved to a different subnet.

4. Enable USB Flash Drives on Zero Clients

Go to Settings and click on USB Storage Settings from the Storage Management section. Enable access to the USB storage.

5. Load content into Signage Player from the local server

If you are controlling Userful from the onboard station, and there is no network access for browser-based management, follow these steps:

Enable the USB Flash Drives in Userful Control Center, as described above.
Create a Linux Desktop source, either from an existing one or by creating a new one, and ensure your onboard display is mapped to it.

Log into the Linux Desktop session. You should now see your USB drive mounted on the desktop. Follow these steps to load files from it, in either an existing or a new signage player source.

You can map Userful as a Windows network drive for easy management of the content. Steps to achieve the same are as follows:

Navigate to Settings > Source Content Settings.
Enable the FTP and Network Share Access option.
Set a password and enable the Network Share Access option.

Open Windows Explorer and expand the ribbon.
Click on the Map Network Drive option.
Use \\192.168.1.101\share as the server path. Replace the IP address with your server's local IP address. A prompt appears.
Enter the username and password. The username is files and the password is set in the previous step.

7. Change the Resolution of the Display

This applies to Zero Clients or Userful uClient Adapters only.

Open the Userful Control Center's Displays tab.
Click on the Display for which you want to change the resolution.
Change the resolution as per your requirement from the drop-down menu in the Resolution field.
Click OK. The changes take effect immediately.

Change the server name

Open the Userful Control Center.
Click on the Settings tab.
Navigate to Settings > Change Server Name. Provide your server with a new name.
Click OK to make the changes take effect immediately.

8. Password Reset

Userful Manager Refer to this link.
Userful Control Center (Non-Administrators): Contact your system administrator.
Userful Control Center (Administrators): Contact Userful support.
Userful Control Center (Administrators, Offline System): Refer to the How to recover a root password in Red Hat-based Linux systems topic. Alternatively, you can also reinstall your system.

9. Update Userful or Software and Update Chrome Browser

On-Premise Servers
Cloud Servers: Cloud servers are always up-to-date.

10. Schedule a Server Power-On

Userful cannot turn itself on of its own accord, rather the BIOS or EFI of the system itself must be configured to power on at a certain time. Contact Userful for assistance in configuring the relevant BIOS settings if your system was sold by Userful. Otherwise, consult your vendor's documents.

11. Finding SystemID

Userful Manager: Click on the Server Details option in your Userful manager as shown below.

Userful Control Center: It is displayed in the top-right corner of your dashboard. Or, Navigate to Settings > Manage Licensing to view the id and other license details.

12. Report Broken or Defective Hardware, start an RMA

Contact Userful Support. Please include serial numbers from any Client devices possible.

13. Replace Defective Zero Clients or uClients

Navigate to Settings > Receiver Device Configuration.
Ensure that the option Automatically inherit the settings of offline devices is enabled. You do not need to disconnect or make any other UCC changes if this setting is enabled.

Disconnect and remove the old device, and replace it with the new device.
First, connect the network and display and then the power cable. If connecting a Zero Client, power the device on now.
The display should show a pairing code or the device will become available in Displays for assignment.
Assign the device, and it should seamlessly take the place of the offline device.
Apply necessary firmware or app updates, then ensure playback is resumed as normal. If necessary, stop and re-start the affected Zone.