Adding Your First Server

Getting your first server monitored with Server Scout is a straightforward process that takes just a few minutes. This guide will walk you through adding a server to your dashboard and organising it properly.

Accessing the Add Server Function

Once you're logged into your Server Scout dashboard, you'll find the "Add Server" button prominently displayed. This is typically located in the top-right corner of your dashboard or may appear as a prominent call-to-action if you haven't added any servers yet.

Click the "Add Server" button to begin the setup process.

Configuring Your Server Details

After clicking "Add Server", you'll be presented with a simple form to configure your new server:

1. Enter a Display Name

Choose a descriptive name for your server that will help you identify it easily in your dashboard. Good examples include:

• web-server-prod-01
• database-primary
• api-gateway-london
• backup-server-office

This display name is purely for your organisation and doesn't affect the monitoring functionality.

2. Select Server Groups (Optional)

Before generating the install command, you can assign your server to one or more groups. Server groups are excellent for organisation, especially as your infrastructure grows. You might create groups such as:

• Production - for live servers
• Development - for testing environments
• Database Servers - for all database instances
• Web Servers - for frontend and API servers
• Dublin Office - for geographical organisation

If you haven't created any groups yet, don't worry—you can add your server to groups later or create new groups as needed.

Installing the Monitoring Agent

Once you've configured the basic details, Server Scout will generate a unique installation command for your server.

3. Copy the Generated Command

Server Scout will display a command similar to this:

curl -sSL https://app.serverscout.ie/agent/install.sh/install.sh | bash -s -- --key=your-unique-api-key-here

Important: This command contains your unique API key, which associates the server with your account. Keep this key secure and don't share it publicly.

4. Run the Command on Your Target Server

Connect to your target server via SSH and run the copied command with root privileges:

sudo curl -sSL https://app.serverscout.ie/agent/install.sh/install.sh | bash -s -- --key=your-unique-api-key-here

The installation script will:

• Download the lightweight Server Scout agent
• Configure it with your API key
• Set up the monitoring service
• Start collecting system metrics immediately

The entire process typically takes 30-60 seconds, depending on your server's internet connection.

Verifying the Installation

5. Check Your Dashboard

Return to your Server Scout dashboard. Within seconds of running the install command, your new server should appear in the server list. You'll see:

• The server's display name
• Current status (online/offline)
• Basic system information
• Initial metric data

The monitoring agent begins collecting data immediately, so you should see CPU usage, memory consumption, disk space, and network activity within moments.

Organising with Server Groups

If you didn't assign your server to a group during setup, you can easily do so afterwards:

1. Click on your server name in the dashboard
2. Select "Edit Server" or look for group management options
3. Choose existing groups or create new ones
4. Save your changes

Groups make it much easier to manage larger infrastructures by allowing you to:

• Filter servers by environment or function
• Apply bulk actions to similar servers
• Organise alerts and notifications
• Generate grouped reports

Next Steps

With your first server successfully added and monitoring data flowing in, you can explore Server Scout's other features such as setting up alerts, configuring notification channels, or adding additional servers to build a comprehensive monitoring setup.

Remember that each server requires its own unique install command, so repeat this process for each additional server you want to monitor.