Automatic monitoring agent installation

The easiest way to set up server monitoring with StackScout is to use our automatic monitoring agent installation process. It's a simple wizard that will guide through a few steps of providing the required access details, verifying them and will show you the connection status or any problems.

First, head over to Connect servers page by clicking the top right button on the Servers screen, which opens first after you log into StackScout.

Then select Automatic installation option.

You'll be presented with the first step of the installation process, Server details. It's a form that you need to fill in with the access details to the server or machine that you wish to monitor. 

The required fields are:

• Hostname - server hostname or external IP address. (which needs to be accessible from the Internet)
• Port - SSH port to connect to, usually it's 22, in which you can leave the default value unchanged.
• User - username used to connect - we support non-sudo users but in that case you'll also need to provide Sudo password below.
• Credentials - select a way that you'll be providing password/secrets. The available options are Password (requires you to type in the password), Select private key file (you can choose a private key from the disk), and Paste private key (you can paste the private key content into a textbox). Depending on the selected option, you'll be presented with a Password input field, Private key file picker, or Private key content text field. If you selected a private key option, you can also provide the Passphrase.
• Sudo password - we require a sudo password if the User credentials you provided are for a non-root user. (e.g. when you try to execute a sudo command using the provided user, the server asks for a sudo password)

Important note about security

StackScout does NOT, at any point, store any of the credentials that you provide in that form. The credentials are sent over secure TLS connection from the browser to StackScout, which then launches a self-contained installation program. Once the installation program finishes the work, (either successfully or with a failure) all credentials are erased from memory. They are NEVER stored in any database nor on disk.

Once you fill the credentials in the form, click Test credentials button to verify the access credentials are correct and StackScout is able to reach and connect to the machine. If the connection was established successfully, you'll see Credentials valid message and the Start installation button will become enabled.

Otherwise you'll see an error message, and you can view more details (including the response text from the machine) by hovering over the error.

You can click on the Start installation button to begin the monitoring agent installation process. You'll be see the steps in real time. We'll also show which step failed in case there was a problem.

If everything succeeded, you'll be presented with a button directing you back to the server list. Please keep in mind it may take a minute or two for the telemetry to start arriving and become available in StackScout. 

Connection problems

If you encounter any issues with establishing a connection automatically, you can always revert to manual installation process. See the relevant page with instructions.