Linux/Nightscout install

Google Cloud Nightscout » Linux/Nightscout install

Now, we will update Linux on our virtual machine and install Nightscout on it. You must have FreeDNS and a Google Project set up, and you should have already created a virtual machine to proceed. There are also video clips on this page that may be helpful.

Bootstrap
Estimated time: 5-10 minutes

Open a terminal.

Copy and paste the following highlighted line into the terminal of your Nighscout virtual machine, then press Enter.
⚠️Caution: Be very careful not to copy this into any other computer, as it could overwrite its contents.

You will see a notification. Click OK to acknowledge it.
This step will take a few minutes to complete. You will then see either a note or a status page.
The following table shows possible messages and their meanings:

Incorrect choice	Clue	Outcome
Nothing		All good ✅
Region		Not free ❌
Machine type		Not free ❌
Disk type		Not free ❌
Disk size		Unused resource Not free ❌
Firewall		Disconnect ❌
Ubuntu		Incompatibility ❌

If the note directs you to create a new virtual machine, or if any item above the horizontal line on the status page is red, it means you made an incorrect selection during the virtual machine setup. If this is a new virtual machine with no database yet, delete the virtual machine and repeat the virtual machine step.

If you did not get a notification to recreate the machine due to an incorrect Ubuntu version and nothing is red above the horizontal line on the status page, click OK to close it. Any red notes below the horizontal line are expected at this stage and can be ignored.
You will see this menu:

If you need a break, this is a good time.

Phase 1
You must complete the Bootstrap strap before proceeding.
Estimated time: 15-20 minutes

To continue the installation, go to the Google Cloud setup submenu, select Item 1 - “Install Nightscout Phase 1”, and press Enter.

This step will take about 15 minutes.
If SSH disconnects and you see a disconnect message, please reconnect and run “Install Nightscout Phase 1” again.
Some error messages are expected and can be ignored.

Please be patient while the process completes.

If you need a break, this is a good time.

Phase 2
You must complete Phase 1 before proceeding.
You will be asked to provide an email address at this stage. See this page if you’re wondering why.
Estimated time: 10-15 minutes

To proceed, go to the Google Cloud setup submenu, select Item 2 “Install Nightscout Phase 2”, and press Enter.

You will be asked to choose an API_SECRET, which is required to access Nightscout.
Choose a password that excludes the following characters, or select Cancel to keep the existing one.

$ " ' \ SPACE @ / %

You will be prompted to enter your FreeDNS user ID and password.

Your user ID is not your email address.
If you don’t remember your FreeDNS user ID, log into FreeDNS, where your user ID will be displayed in the right pane at the top.
Alternatively, check the verification email from FreeDNS when you first signed up.

After entering your user ID and password, press Enter to submit.
If you have multiple subdomains, you will be asked to specify the one you want to use. Enter the first few characters of your subdomain and press Enter.

Handling Errors

If you see a message directing you to exit and retry due to an internal error, follow these steps:
1- Exit and try again.
2- If prompted about an existing certificate, choose option 2.
3- If you are asked to retry again, close the window.
4- Open a new terminal window.
5- From the menu, select Reboot server.
6- Wait 30 seconds, then click Retry to reconnect.
7- Run Install Nightscout Phase 2 again.

You may also encounter an error about too many requests. Follow the provided instructions in that case.

Final Steps

1- After a successful setup, enter an email address for security notices when prompted.
2- Once restarted, you will see a disconnect message. Wait 30 seconds, and Nightscout will be running.
3- To verify successful phse 2 completion, check the logs on the main menu.

If this is a new site, you will still need to set up your uploader.

This is a good time to take a break if needed.