How to Install FreeTAKServer (FTS) for Situational Awareness

FreeTAKServer (FTS) is a Python3-based implementation of a TAK server designed to support situational awareness, data synchronization, mission planning, and more. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the easiest installation methods for FTS using DigitalOcean (cloud) and Raspberry Pi 4.

1. Installing FTS on DigitalOcean (Cloud)

Prerequisites:

• Create a DigitalOcean account and set up a droplet with Ubuntu 22.04 as the OS.

Installation Steps:

1. Create the Droplet:
   • In your DigitalOcean dashboard, create a new droplet. Choose Ubuntu 22.04 as the operating system.
2. Access Your Droplet:
   • Once your droplet is created, access it via SSH. Replace <your_droplet_ip> with your droplet’s IP address: ssh root@<your_droplet_ip>
3. Run the Installation Script:
   • Once logged in, execute the following command to download and run the FTS installation script: wget -qO - bit.ly/freetakhub2 | sudo bash
4. Complete the Installation:
   • The script will automatically handle the setup. Wait for it to complete, and FTS will be up and running on your droplet.
5. Access the Web Interface:
   • Once installed, you can access the FTS web administration interface by opening a browser and navigating to: http://<your_droplet_ip>:8080
   • Login with the default credentials (you may want to change them after installation).

2. Installing FTS on Raspberry Pi 4 (Single Board Computer)

Prerequisites:

• A Raspberry Pi 4 with Ubuntu 22.04 server x64 installed on an SD card.

Installation Steps:

1. Prepare Your Raspberry Pi:
   • Flash the Ubuntu 22.04 server x64 image to an SD card using a tool like Raspberry Pi Imager or Balena Etcher.
   • Insert the SD card into your Raspberry Pi 4, power it on, and connect to your network.
2. Identify the IP Address:
   • Once the Raspberry Pi is booted up, identify its IP address. You can use a tool like ifconfig or find it via your router’s admin page.
3. Set the Environment Variable:
   • Open a terminal on the Raspberry Pi and set the IP address environment variable: export MY_IPA=<your_raspberry_pi_ip_address>
4. Run the Installation Script:
   • Execute the installation command: wget -qO - bit.ly/freetakhub2 | sudo bash -s -- --ip-addr ${MY_IPA}
5. Complete the Installation:
   • The script will handle the installation process. After the script completes, your Raspberry Pi will be ready to run FTS.
6. Access the Web Interface:
   • On a browser, visit the following URL: http://<your_raspberry_pi_ip>:8080
   • You should now be able to access the FTS web interface and begin configuring your server.

3. Other Installation Methods

If you’re using another platform or need more advanced configuration options, refer to the ZeroTouch Installer documentation to customize the installation process based on your specific needs. You can find more details on this in the ZeroTouch Installer documentation.

4. Accessing the FTS Web Interface

After installation, you can access the FTS web interface by navigating to http://<server_ip>:8080 in a browser. The web interface allows you to:

• Manage users and devices
• Upload and retrieve data packages
• Configure mission planning and task lists

5. Federation and Advanced Configuration

FTS supports federation services, allowing you to connect multiple FTS instances. If you’re planning to federate your server with others, follow the steps in the Federation Service documentation.

Conclusion

Installing FreeTAKServer is straightforward, whether you’re deploying it on a cloud instance like DigitalOcean or a local Raspberry Pi 4. With its robust feature set for situational awareness, FTS provides powerful tools for managing operations and tasks in real-time. Follow the steps in this guide to get started, and explore the additional resources available on the FreeTAKServer documentation page.

If you encounter any issues, feel free to reach out to the FreeTAKTeam via their Discord server or visit their YouTube channel for tutorials and more!