.. _initial-setup:

=============
Initial Setup
=============

.. contents::
  :depth: 2
  :local:

Power On
--------
#. Connect your server to power and Ethernet.

    .. caution:: If you built StartOS from `source <https://github.com/start9labs/start-os>`_, it may take up to 20 minutes to first initialize.

#. Power the device on and select which mode you would like to continue in on the tab below:

  You can either boot your server as-is (headless mode) or add a monitor, mouse, and keyboard (kiosk mode).  Server Lite (Raspberry Pi) is currently headless **only**.  Headless is the default and recommended option.  All control of your server can be done from your computer or mobile device.

.. tabs::

    .. group-tab:: Headless Mode
        
        Ensure the device you are using (desktop/laptop or mobile) is connected to the same network as your server.
        
        .. caution:: Sometimes a router will have a "guest WiFi network," which might be different than the network your server is placed on via ethernet.
        
        Visit ``http://start.local`` from your web browser.
        
    .. group-tab:: Kiosk Mode
        
        Once your server boots, if you've attached a monitor, keyboard and mouse, you can set it up using the graphical kiosk mode.  A familiar browser interface will display the StartOS setup page.

#. Select "Start Fresh."

    .. figure:: /_static/images/setup/screen0-startfresh_or_recover.jpg
      :width: 50%
      :alt: Fresh Setup

    .. note:: The "Recover" button is used for :ref:`hardware upgrades <upgrade-hardware>`, :ref:`restoring from backup <backup-restore>`, data migration, or disaster recovery.

#. Select your storage drive

    .. figure:: /_static/images/setup/screen4-select_storage.jpg
      :width: 50%
      :alt: Select Drive

#. Create a master password for your server and click "Finish."

    .. warning:: Choose a strong master password.  Write it down.  Store it somewhere safe.  DO NOT LOSE IT.

   .. figure:: /_static/images/setup/screen5-set_password.jpg
      :width: 50%
      :alt: Create New Password

#. StartOS will initialize.  This can take up to a few minutes.

    .. figure:: /_static/images/setup/screen6-storage_initialize.jpg
      :width: 50%
      :alt: SSD Initialization

#. You are now hosting your own private server!

    .. tip:: If you are in headless mode, click "Download This Page" to save your server address and certificate info to your computer.

    .. figure:: /_static/images/setup/screen7-startfresh_complete.jpg
      :width: 50%
      :alt: Setup Complete

#. Next, you will need to :ref:`Trust Your Root CA<trust-ca>` on the device you are connecting from.  This is required and your server will not work properly with another device until complete.

    .. figure:: /_static/images/setup/screen9-startfresh_complete-savedfile-go_to_start_login.jpg
      :width: 50%
      :alt: Setup Complete

.. _setup-troubleshooting:

Troubleshooting
---------------
If you are experiencing issues with setup, try the following:

#. Confirm that the server is plugged into both power and Ethernet      
#. Confirm your phone/computer is **not** connected to a "Guest" network
#. Confirm your phone/computer is not using a VPN, or that if you are, that it allows LAN connections, such as the examples below:

    - Mullvad - Go to "Settings -> VPN Settings -> Local Network Sharing"
    - ProtonVPN - Go to "Preferences -> Connection -> Allow LAN Connections"

#. Visit or refresh (ctrl+shift+R - Linux/Windows, cmd+shift+R - Mac) the start.local page in a web browser
#. To avoid networking issues, it is recommended to use your `primary` router, not an extender or mesh router.
#. Very rarely, your firewall settings may block mDNS. In this case:

    - From your browser, navigate to your router configuration settings. This is usually an IP address such as 192.168.1.1. A simple web search will usually reveal how to access the router configuration settings for a particular brand.
    - Once in the router config settings, find the section that lists the devices on your network. You should see a device labeled ``start``. Take note of the associated IP address and enter it into your browser's URL field to enter the setup.

You can always to `reach out to support <https://start9.com/contact>`_ if you need a hand.