Station Setup Guide

This guide covers how to install, configure, and manage stations in FLOW.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

• An active license

Installation

Step 1: Open Station Management

Click the Manage Stations button in the sidebar to open the station management panel.

Step 2: Create a New Station

Click the New Station button to begin the station creation process.

Step 3: Configure Station Details

Fill out the station configuration form with the required information:

• Station Name: A descriptive name for your station
• Location: Physical location of the station
• Tags: A comma separated list of tags. Can be which hardware is connected to the station.
• Select License: Select an available license

Once complete, click Next to proceed.

Step 4: Copy the Registration Key

A unique Registration Key will be displayed. Copy this key and store it securely. You will need it when starting the station.

Security Note: The registration key is sensitive and should be treated like a password. Do not share it publicly or commit it to version control. The key is typically single-use and may expire if not used within a certain timeframe.

Step 5: Download the Station Software

Download the station executable for your platform:

Platform	Download	Notes
Windows	nsl.exe	May require allowing through Windows Defender
Linux	nsl	Run chmod +x nsl to make executable
macOS	nsl	Run chmod +x nsl to make executable. May require approval in System Settings > Privacy & Security

Step 6: Run and Register the Station

Run the downloaded executable from a terminal or command prompt:

Linux / macOS:

./nsl

Windows:

nsl.exe

When prompted, enter the Registration Key you copied in Step 4.

Step 7: Verify Connection

Return to the web interface and click Next. The setup wizard will wait for your station to connect.

Once connected, you will see a green checkmark indicating the station is online and ready.

Post-Installation Verification

After setup, verify your station is healthy:

1. Check the station list. Your new station should appear and be ready to connect
2. Connect to the station

Running as a Service

To keep your station running after logout or system restart, configure it as a background service.

Linux (systemd)

1. Create a service file:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/nsl-station.service

2. Add the following configuration:

[Unit]
Description=NSL Station
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
ExecStart=/path/to/nsl
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=10
User=your-username

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

3. Enable and start the service:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable nsl-station
sudo systemctl start nsl-station

4. Check status:

sudo systemctl status nsl-station

Windows

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
2. Create a scheduled task to run at startup:

schtasks /create /tn "NSL Station" /tr "C:\path\to\nsl.exe" /sc onstart /ru SYSTEM

Alternatively, use a service wrapper like NSSM for more control.

macOS (launchd)

1. Create a plist file:

nano ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.nordicspacelink.station.plist

2. Add the following configuration:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>com.nordicspacelink.station</string>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
        <string>/path/to/nsl</string>
    </array>
    <key>RunAtLoad</key>
    <true/>
    <key>KeepAlive</key>
    <true/>
</dict>
</plist>

3. Load the service:

launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.nordicspacelink.station.plist

Updating

The station can be updated from the UI. If you need to manually update the station:

1. Stop the running station (or stop the service if running as a service)
2. Download the new version from the web interface
3. Replace the existing executable with the new one
4. Start the station again

The station will automatically reconnect using its existing registration. No need to re-register.

Note: Check the release notes for any breaking changes that may require additional steps.

Uninstalling

To remove a station:

1. Remove from FLOW

1. Open Manage Stations in FLOW
2. Select the station you want to remove
3. Click Edit, click Advanced and then click delete

2. Stop the Station

If running directly:

# Press Ctrl+C in the terminal running the station

If running as a service:

Linux:

sudo systemctl stop nsl-station
sudo systemctl disable nsl-station
sudo rm /etc/systemd/system/nsl-station.service

macOS:

launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.nordicspacelink.station.plist
rm ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.nordicspacelink.station.plist

Windows (if using scheduled task):

schtasks /delete /tn "NSL Station" /f

Troubleshooting

Station doesn't connect

• Check network connectivity: Ensure the station host can reach the internet
• Verify the registration key: Make sure you copied the key correctly without extra spaces
• Check firewall settings: The station needs outbound HTTPS access (port 443)
• Review logs: Check the terminal output where the station is running for error messages

Permission denied (Linux/macOS)

If you see a "permission denied" error:

chmod +x nsl

macOS security warning

If macOS blocks the application:

1. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security
2. Look for a message about the blocked application
3. Click Open Anyway

Windows SmartScreen warning

If Windows SmartScreen blocks the application:

1. Click More info
2. Click Run anyway

Limitations

• You cannot run multiple stations on the same machine