Quick start

 

Setting up the PFBucketd server is straightforward, and a Quick Start guide is available below.

Once you have installed the PFBucketd server daemon on a machine and activated your entitlements, those entitlements can be used by any operator workstation that is able to connect to your server over your network.

   

1. Create an entitlement bucket

If you haven't done so already, you need to place your product entitlements in a bucket before they can be activated on your server.

See the Creating a Bucket guide for further information on how to do this.

   

2. Install the PFBucketd server daemon

Now that your product entitlements are prepared, you can install the PFBucketd daemon on your server.

Further details about the network ports used by the PFBucketd server are available on the Network Configuration page, along with information to help you start and stop PFBucketd if required.

   

3. Install the PFBucket desktop app

You now need to install the PFBucket desktop app.

This can be installed on the same machine as your PFBucketd server if you wish, or alternatively you can install it on any other machine that can communicate with your PFBucketd server over your local network, such as an IT administrator's laptop.

The PFBucket desktop app requires a temporary internet connection with The Pixel Farm's servers to activate or manage your entitlements, but once this is complete you can close the desktop app and no further outside network communication is required.

   

4. Log in to your PFBucketd server

Once the PFBucket desktop app is running, you can use it to log in to your PFBucketd server.

Open the 'Login/Logout' tab, enter your PFAccount number, and log in to your PFBucketd server using your bucket name and password, along with the IP address of your PFBucketd server:

If you are running the PFBucket desktop app on the same machine where you installed your PFBucketd server, you can use the local IP address 127.0.0.1

   

5. Activate your entitlements

After logging in, the Entitlements page will show a list of all your product entitlements. To activate all the entitlements in your bucket, click the 'Activate All' button:

This will generate a token for each entitlement and store it on your PFBucketd server:

   

6. Install your applications

Once your product entitlements are active on your server, you can download installers for your applications using the 'Downloads' tab, or by logging in to the PFAccount Admin Hub.

You can install your applications on any workstation on your local network that can communicate with your PFBucketd server.

   

7. Connect workstations to PFBucketd

When an application is launched on a client workstation, it will automatically attempt to contact your PFBucketd server on your local network and obtain an entitlement to run.

If a connection to PFBucketd cannot be made automatically, you can tell your client workstation the IP address of your PFBucketd server. Further information is available on the Connecting Workstations page.

   

8. Check your server status

When your PFBucketd server is up and running, you can view an information webpage to quickly see which entitlements are available without needing to run the PFBucket desktop app again.

Further information on how to do this is available on the Server Status page.