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Client Install

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Wayne Bevan edited this page Oct 24, 2026 · 1 revision

Client install

On a computer that talks to a listener already running somewhere else. This computer does not open the HDMI switch.

The server should already be up: Quick start.

python3 -m pip install --upgrade tesmartctl
tesmartctl install

Choose Client. Then choose how this computer finds the listener.

mDNS

Choose mDNS / zeroconf (tesmartctl --via auto). If zeroconf is missing, the wizard offers to install tesmartctl[mdns].

It then scans the network and lists the listeners it finds, each with the address it would use:

Scanning the network for tesmartctl listeners...
Servers on the network. Which one should this client use?
  1) OfficeHDMI  http://192.168.1.20:8080
  2) LivingRoom  http://10.0.0.4:9090
  3) Type a different mDNS name

Pick the server. Press Enter to accept the one in brackets (a saved name when it is in the list, otherwise the first server). The chosen name is saved as TESMART_MDNS_NAME. The address from the scan is saved as TESMART_VIA, and later commands use it when a browse does not answer.

When this is the only server on the network, clients may omit the mDNS name:

tesmartctl --via auto kit
tesmartctl --via auto status

With more than one server, keep the name:

tesmartctl --via auto --mdns-name OfficeHDMI kit

If the scan finds nothing, you can still save the name the server advertises and connect when that listener is running. You can also type a different name than the ones listed.

Typed URL

Choose A listener URL when mDNS is blocked (guest Wi-Fi, AP isolation, a VLAN). Enter http://host:port. The wizard can GET /version before it saves.

tesmartctl --via http://192.168.1.20:8080 status
tesmartctl kit 'http://192.168.1.20:8080/kit?app=1'

After install

The wizard can write startup.txt in the current directory for future reference. Confirming saves the client settings and clears server HTTP keys on this computer, so this machine does not try to start its own listener.

Optional: install the local UI kit (pywebview) so tesmartctl kit opens a frameless window here. Chrome or Edge still open the kit if that package is not installed. The server still has to be serving /kit.

Discovery limits: mDNS. The questionnaire in full: Docs/install.md.

Getting started

Reference

Repo docs

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