Installing on Ubuntu and Debian

Server Scout installs seamlessly on Ubuntu and Debian systems using our automated installer. This guide covers the complete installation process and system-specific considerations for Debian-based distributions.

Prerequisites

Before installing Server Scout, ensure your system meets the basic requirements:

Bash 4.0 or later - This is standard on Ubuntu 18.04+ and Debian 10+, so you shouldn't need to worry about this requirement.

curl - Most Ubuntu and Debian installations include curl by default. If it's missing, install it with:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install curl

Tested Versions

Server Scout has been thoroughly tested on:

• Ubuntu: 18.04 LTS, 20.04 LTS, 22.04 LTS, 24.04 LTS
• Debian: 10 (Buster), 11 (Bullseye), 12 (Bookworm)

Installation

1. Log into your Server Scout dashboard and navigate to the "Add Server" section to obtain your unique installation command.

1. Run the one-line installer on your Ubuntu or Debian server:

curl -s https://app.serverscout.ie/agent/install.sh/install.sh | sudo bash -s -- YOUR_API_KEY

Replace YOURAPIKEY with the actual API key provided in your dashboard.

The installer will automatically:

• Download the Server Scout agent
• Install it to /opt/scout-agent/
• Create a systemd service
• Start the monitoring service

1. Verify the installation by checking the service status:

sudo systemctl status scout-agent

You should see output indicating the service is active and running.

Checking Logs

To monitor the agent's activity and troubleshoot any issues, use journalctl:

# View recent logs
sudo journalctl -u scout-agent

# Follow logs in real-time
sudo journalctl -u scout-agent -f

File Locations

Server Scout installs its components in standard Linux locations:

• Agent binary and scripts: /opt/scout-agent/
• Systemd service file: /etc/systemd/system/scout-agent.service
• Configuration: Stored within /opt/scout-agent/

Ubuntu and Debian Specific Features

Server Scout takes advantage of several Debian-specific system features:

Reboot Detection

The agent monitors /var/run/reboot-required, a file created by Ubuntu's unattended-upgrades package and similar Debian tools. This allows Server Scout to detect when your system requires a reboot after package updates, helping you maintain security and stability.

Package Updates

Server Scout checks for available package updates using:

apt list --upgradable

This provides accurate information about pending security updates and package upgrades, which appears in your Server Scout dashboard.

AppArmor Compatibility

Server Scout operates without any conflicts with AppArmor, Ubuntu's default security module. The agent runs with appropriate permissions and doesn't require any AppArmor profile modifications.

Managing the Service

Use standard systemd commands to manage the Server Scout agent:

# Start the service
sudo systemctl start scout-agent

# Stop the service
sudo systemctl stop scout-agent

# Restart the service
sudo systemctl restart scout-agent

# Enable auto-start at boot (done automatically during installation)
sudo systemctl enable scout-agent

# Check service status
sudo systemctl status scout-agent

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues:

1. Check the logs using journalctl -u scout-agent -f
2. Verify network connectivity to Server Scout's servers
3. Ensure your API key is correct by reviewing the installation command
4. Check system permissions - the agent needs to read system information

The installation process is designed to be robust and should work smoothly on all supported Ubuntu and Debian versions. If you encounter any issues, the logs will typically provide clear guidance on resolving them.