Setting Up a Server

2019 status: Current

The server can be installed on any Debian Linux system (for example, on a desktop machine, a server in the cloud, an Intel NUC, or a Raspberry Pi). You can also set up a Linux VM on your machine using Vagrant.

You can also set up and run the server software on a MacOS computer, in a more limited way (enough to store and retrieve patient data so the Buendia app will work properly on your tablets, but without self-management functions like automatic backup and software update).

See Hardware Requirements for details on obtaining a server device, client devices, or network hardware.

The Buendia Server

A working Buendia server has the following installed:

• A working OpenMRS system
• The CIEL standard concept dictionary
• The Project Buendia additions to the standard dictionary
• The Project Buendia module

Below are instructions for 4 situations you might be in, whether you are doing a field deployment, or just trying it out.

Deployment on an Intel NUC

Installing Debian on the NUC

• First, download the Debian Stretch ISO image. The NUC has an oddball WiFi card in it, so the free firmware doesn't work. The easiest solution to this is to use the version of Debian Stretch that contains the non-free firmware from this page, and hope that Richard Stallman doesn't notice and get angry at you. Here is the direct download link as of 2019-06-14.
• Now flash the ISO image onto a USB stick. Balena has made an incredibly simple and friendly open-source flashing utility called Etcher, you should use it! It's here. Installation instructions on the Balena site.
• Put the USB stick into the NUC. You'll want a keyboard and HDMI-enabled monitor as well. Choose Install and follow the instructions!
  • MUCH MORE COULD BE SAID HERE!
    • Probably good to recommend a separate /home partition
    • Do it headless; choose no window system but yes to ssh server
    • Probably set up a user called Buendia with sudo privileges
• Edit the /etc/network/interfaces file. Add:

auto wlp2s0
iface wlp2s0 inet dhcp
    wpa-ssid mywifiname
    wpa-psk mywifipassword

• Reboot the server. It should now be on the wifi.
• from root, install sudo
• Install git
• Clone the repo and step into it

git clone https://github.com/projectbuendia/buendia
cd buendia

• Do the stuff in script here as follows:
• Enable apt to grab packages via https

sudo apt install apt-transport-https

• Add deb [trusted=yes] https://projectbuendia.github.io/builds/packages stable main java to /etc/apt/sources.list

• install the server

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y buendia-site-test buendia-server

• Use ip addr show to figure out what address the NUC is on on your local network. Go to that address: xx.xx.xx.xx:9000/openmrs. If you see the OpenMRS dashboard page, things probably worked.

Trying it out on a computer (Windows)

See the document Setting up a server: Windows.

Trying it out on a computer (Mac)

See the document Setting up a server: Mac.

Deployment on an Intel Edison (no longer used)

See Setting up an Intel Edison Server