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Quick start

This page takes you from your first sign-in to an operator running /status on an Edge from the Privitty App. Each step links to the full guide for that task.

Before you begin

  • The setup link that your administrator sent to your email address.
  • A Linux host at your site with systemd and Docker or Podman, and the ability to run a command as root.
  • An authenticator app on your phone.
  • The operator's name and email address, and a device with the Privitty App.

Checklist

1. Sign in

  1. Open the email Set up your Watchtower account. The link is valid for 24 hours and works once.
  2. On Choose a password, enter a password of at least 12 characters and select Continue.
  3. On Set up your authenticator, scan the QR code, enter the 6-digit code and select Confirm.

See Users and roles.

2. Create a site

  1. In the sidebar, select Sites.
  2. Enter a name in New site, for example Plant 1, and select Create site.
  3. In the new site, enter a name in New group, for example Line A, and select Add group.

Only owners can create sites and groups. See Sites and groups.

3. Add an Edge

  1. In the sidebar, select Edges, then Add Edge.
  2. Choose the Site and Group.
  3. Optional: select Require approval before the device is activated.
  4. Select Create command and copy the command.
  5. Run the command as root on the Edge host within 15 minutes. It works once.

The dialog shows Waiting for the device…, then Waiting for approval… if you required approval, then Enrolled: <name>, then Online. See Edges list and Add Edge.

4. Approve the Edge

Skip this step if you did not require approval.

  1. In the sidebar, select Approvals.
  2. Check the Edge name, site, group and source IP address.
  3. Select Approve.

The Edge shows Online with status Active on the Edges page. See Approvals.

5. See assets and tag values

  1. On Edges, select the Edge name, then open the Assets tab.
  2. Select an asset to see each tag's latest value and a chart of the last hour.

Assets appear after you assign a template that defines them, and after the Edge shows In sync in the Sync column. See Templates and Assets, tags and live values.

6. Add an operator

  1. In the sidebar, select Operators.
  2. Enter the operator's Name and Email and select Create.
  3. On the operator's row, select Invite.

The operator receives an email. The Invite link panel also shows the link and a QR code once. The invite is valid for 48 hours and works once. See Operators and the App.

7. Enroll the Privitty App

The operator completes these steps in the Privitty App:

  1. Select Connect to Watchtower.
  2. Scan the QR code, or paste the privitty://enroll link.
  3. Select Send email code.
  4. Enter the 6-digit code from the email in Email code and select Confirm. The code expires in 10 minutes.

8. Grant access

  1. Open Edges, select the Edge, and open the Access tab.
  2. In App, choose the operator's App.
  3. Set Starts and Ends. Times use your browser's time zone.
  4. Select Device commands. Select Remote access too if the operator needs tunnels.
  5. Select Grant access.

The grant moves from scheduled to joining, then to active. See Grant access to an Edge.

9. Run /status in the App

  1. In the portal, check that the Edge shows In sync.
  2. In the App, open the chat with the Edge and type /.
  3. Choose /status.

The Edge replies with its agent version, operating system, uptime and state. See Device commands.

Next steps