Unattended Bridge installation

Lobster Bridge can be configured with a configuration file for an automatic setup with the first start.

Downloading the installation file

On the Lobster Data Platform, under “Configuration → Connections → Bridge connections“, use the context menu and option “Download configuration for unattended installation“ to download the installation file (<Bridge alias>_unattended-install.json).

{
  "base" : {
    "uuid" : "69afa599-14d6-4e14-8d82-bf981d43eb77",
    "secret" : "OBF:gby0gby2gby4gby6gby8gbyagbycgbye"
  }
}

As you can see, the minimal JSON file only contains the UUID of the Bridge and the (obfuscated) password. Optionally, the user account settings can be specified.

{
    "base": {
        "uuid": "69afa599-14d6-4e14-8d82-bf981d43eb77",
        "secret": "OBF:gby0gby2gby4gby6gby8gbyagbycgbye"
    },
    "user": {
        "login": "myusername",
        "name": "myname",
        "password": "mypassword",
        "email": "john.doe@example.com"
    }
}

Basically, the file just contains the information you would manually enter during the Bridge configuration in an attended Bridge installation.

Starting the Bridge

Place the file inside your Lobster Bridge installation folder and start the Bridge.

The configuration file is read and all the information it contains is entered automatically.

The Bridge and Platform Certificates are exchanged and the tunnel is started.

Installation logging (console)

...
Started HTTP-server 'Main Server'
Http servers started
unattended installation configuration found: C:\Lobster\LobsterBridge\bridge_unattended-install.json
Lobster Bridge Server started in 11121 ms, system is ready...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unattended installation: user 'myusername'created successfully
Unattended installation for bridge my_bridge with id 7319dc79-9c19-4184-9e75-483d6e5a4777
Unattended installation: bridge credentials installed successfully
Unattended installation: bridge certificate created successfully
Unattended installation: platform public certificate read successfully
...

In case of an error, the Bridge will start without the unattended configuration. Correct the configuration file and restart the Bridge to retry the unattended configuration or log into the Bridge for a manual configuration → See section Attended Bridge installation.

Possible problems:

• The Bridge has already credentials stored (the unattended installation does not overwrite existing credentials).

• Wrong secret or UUID.

• The Bridge Gateway/Registry is not reachable (check ports, firewall, etc.).

...
Started HTTP-server 'Main Server'
Http servers started
unattended installation configuration found: C:\Lobster\LobsterBridge\bridge_unattended-install.json
Lobster Bridge Server started in 9895 ms, system is ready...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
unattended installation: bridge credentials already installed. Skipping installation.
...

...
Started HTTP-server 'Main Server'
Http servers started
unattended installation configuration found: C:\Lobster\LobsterBridge\bridge_unattended-install.json
Lobster Bridge Server started in 10346 ms, system is ready...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unattended installation: user 'john.doe' created successfully
Unattended installation error: Wrong UUID used for bridge '7319dc79-9c19-4184-9e75-483d6e5a4778'. Client returned http status '404'. : Wrong UUID used for bridge '7319dc79-9c19-4184-9e75-483d6e5a41e5xxx'. Client returned http status '404'.
Unattended installation was not successful, see log entries above.
...