How to install SquaredUp DS Standalone using the installer

Installing SquaredUp DS Standalone takes just 5 minutes. It can be installed on any server and does not require any new databases.

Which installation method should I choose?

There are a couple of options for installing SquaredUp DS Standalone:

• Deployment via the Azure Marketplace

• Installation via the installer

Use the installer if you don't want to use the Marketplace (for example, because you want to install SquaredUp DS Standalone in AWS or an on-prem machine).

See How to deploy SquaredUp DS Standalone from the Azure Marketplace

This articles covers how to install SquaredUp DS Standalone for the first time using the installer.

If you have an earlier version of SquaredUp DS Standalone already installed, then the installer will update your installation.

Step by step guides on how to update SquaredUp DS Standalone:

For upgrades to minor versions:

• How to upgrade SquaredUp DS Standalone

For upgrades to major versions:

• SquaredUp DS Standalone was released with v5. When the next major version is available the article link will be shown here.

Video Guide

The video below (4 mins) runs through the steps detailed in this article:

What you need

• A downloaded installer
• Your SquaredUp DS Standalone license activation key. You will have received this by email following your purchase or free trial.
• A server to install on (see below)

• A compatible browser (make sure the server's default browser is not set to Internet Explorer)

SquaredUp DS works best with the latest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox and Safari on desktop & mobile.

On SquaredUp DS v5 Internet Explorer is not supported. Older browsers may show a blank page.

• A user who is a local administrator on the server.

A restart of the server may be required.

Where to install

SquaredUp DS Standalone can be installed on any Windows Server or Windows 10 VM or on-prem machine. The setup application will automatically install IIS and any other prerequisites.

Use the installer if you don't want to use the Marketplace (for example, because you want to install SquaredUp DS Standalone in AWS or an on-prem machine).

As Internet Explorer is not supported, check that another browser is set as the server's default browser (search Windows > default apps).

Here is what we recommend:

• Ideally, provision a new server dedicated to hosting SquaredUp DS
• Alternatively, install it on an existing Web Console Server

For more information, see System Requirements, Server Spec and Sizing

Run the installer

1. Run the installer .exe on the machine that you want to be your SquaredUp DS server.

2. Click Next

   

3. Accept the License Agreement and click Install.

   

   Prerequisites will be installed if not installed already.

   A restart of the server may be required.

   If your server has restarted the install should resume when the server restarts, but you may need to click Deploy SquaredUp DS from the Start menu.

4. Click Next to move on to check the deployment location.

   

5. Check the installation details and click next.

   

   Deployment location settings

   SquaredUp DS can be installed in two different layouts:

   • As an application as a subfolder of the Default Web Site. This is the default installer layout.

   • At the website root, this layout is used to deploy SquaredUp DS to a dedicated web site.

   Application

   

   The default installer layout is Application and the physical path is configured as a subfolder of the Default Web Site. The SquaredUp DS installer will create the application and app pool automatically based on the information that is provided, assuming that the Default Web Site exists.

   

   While the physical path in this configuration does not necessarily need to be a subfolder of the web site’s physical path, it must not be set to the same path as the web site. For instance, if the Default Web Site’s physical path is C:\inetpub\wwwroot as shown in the screenshot below, then the Physical disk path set in the SquaredUp DS installer would typically be C:\inetpub\wwwroot\SquaredUpv5, but it must not be C:\inetpub\wwwroot. Doing this would cause SquaredUp DS to exhibit unexpected behavior.

   

   This layout should also be selected if SquaredUp DS is to be installed as an Application underneath a web site other than the Default Web Site. As is the case with installing to the Default Web Site, the target web site must already exist in IIS. Update the Website field on the Paths tab of the installer to match the target web site name and set the Physical disk path field to an appropriate path, ensuring that this path is different to the target web site’s physical path.

   Website root

   

   The Website root layout is used to deploy SquaredUp DS to a dedicated web site. In this instance, the Physical disk path will match the web site’s physical path. The SquaredUp DS installer will create the web site and application pool automatically using the information provided, so there is no need to manually create the web site prior to installing SquaredUp DS.

   

   

   Setting the Pool Identity

   With the layout selected, the log on account for the SquaredUp DS app pool can be configured. By default this is set to Network Service, but it can be changed to a domain account if needed:

   

   See How to check and modify the application pool identity

   Configuring the SCOM Management Server Address

   Optionally, the SCOM server address can be entered into the installer at this point, but this information is also requested later on in the installation wizard.

   

6. If SSL is not already configured for the chosen website, then the Configure SSL Binding page will appear. You will need to choose whether you want to configure an SSL certificate.

   Existing Certificate	Use this option to choose an existing SSL certificate.
   Create Self-Signed Certificate	The installer will create a new self-signed certificate, set to expire after 12 months.
   None	This will not configure any SSL bindings. You can configure an appropriate binding manually within IIS later if you wish.

   For more information about these options see How to configure TLS/SSL (HTTPS)

   

7. Click Finish once the deployment is complete.

   

Logon to SquaredUp DS for the first time

Clicking Launch at the end of the installation will open SquaredUp DS Standalone in a browser.

If it doesn't open automatically browse to the URL for SquaredUp DS, which by default on the server is http://localhost/SquaredUpv5 .

If the browser appears blank when browsing to SquaredUp DS, ensure the server's default browser is not set to Internet Explorer, which is no longer supported. To check your default browser, search Windows > default apps.

Supported browsers

SquaredUp DS works best with the latest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox and Safari on desktop & mobile.

On SquaredUp DS v5 Internet Explorer is not supported. Older browsers may show a blank page.

Before you can get started, SquaredUp DS Standalone has to complete some final configuration of your environment, such as activating your license.

SquaredUp DS setup wizard

1. Log in to SquaredUp DS as an administrator user.

   

2. Paste in your activation key, and click Activate.

   You will have received your activation key by email following your request for your free forever license.

   If you have not received a license key please contact SquaredUp Support.

   

   If your server is not connected to the internet (or the online activation didn't work because of proxy settings) click offline activation (see How to activate your license offline (manual activation))

   If you have any problems activating see Troubleshooting licensing and activation or contact SquaredUp Support

3. Click Import to install a set of pre-built dashboards to help you get started using SquaredUp DS.

   
   

4. Setup is now complete and the Getting Started page will be displayed.

Next steps

1. Take a look at the SquaredUp DS Getting Started playlist on YouTube.
2. Invite users to view a SquaredUp DS dashboard: How to share a dashboard
3. Manage which users can access SquaredUp DS: How to manage Named Users
4. Set up a SquaredUp DS administrator(s). To manage SquaredUp DS you will need to be a SquaredUp DS administrator, see How to make a user a SquaredUp DS administrator
5. Give dashboard authors permission to create dashboards. A SquaredUp DS administrator will need to give users or groups author permission to a Team Folder, within which they can create and edit dashboards. See Team Folders
6. Get access to your API data: How to add a Web API provider
7. Configure Open Access dashboards. Open Access enables easy sharing of dashboards, that do not require authentication to view. See Sharing Dashboards with anyone - Open Access
8. Create your first dashboard: How to create a dashboard