To get going in three easy steps

1. Download
2. Install Server Complete
3. Install Client

Download

There are two parts to The Boring Toolbox the Server and the Client (more here).  Please be sure to download both.  Below are the URLs to download the latest versions of each. 

Version 5.24.0813 (Professional, Corporate or Free Trial)

Released August 13, 2024
Latest Release Notes

• Server Complete:  Download Server Complete Version 5.24.0813
• Toolbox Client: Download Toolbox Client Version 5.24.0813

Pre-installation considerations

Before you install Boring Server v5, please consider the following in preparation.  

• Check System Requirements
  • Ensure that your system meets all the necessary requirements for installing the Boring Toolbox.
• Identify the User to run the Installer
  • The Boring Server installer will create a database on your existing SQL server, requiring the user running the installer to have the dbcreator role.
  • The user running the Milestone XProtect services (service account) will typically have those rights.
  • Double-check with your IT department to ensure that dbcreator permissions have not been removed from the service account after the XProtect installation.

Installing Boring Server v5.23.0905 and above

• Log into the Server
  • Log into the XProtect Management Server using the service account.
  • If logging in as the service account is not possible, log in with an admin user account.
• Prepare the Installer
  • Copy or move the Boring Toolbox server installer to the Milestone XProtect Management Server.
  • Unblock the installer file (right-click the file, select "Properties," and check "Unblock" if the option is available).
• Run the Installer
  • If you logged in as the service account, right-click the installer and select "Run as administrator."
  • If you logged in with an admin user account instead of the service account, right-click the Boring Toolbox installer and select "Run as different user." Enter the service account credentials.
  • This step ensures the installer has the necessary permissions to create the database on the SQL server.

Prerequisites

• The installer will first check if .NET 4.7.2 and .NET 6 are installed on the server.
  • You will be prompted to install the pre-requisites if not already installed.
• Next, it will check for the Microsoft IIS URL Rewrite module 

Video of a new installation or in-place upgrade (same procedure)

 

Step-by-step installation or upgrade process

• The installer will begin by checking for the necessary prerequisites

• Install .NET 6 Server Hosting

• .NET 6 Server Hosting typically requires a restart

• Install the IIS URL rewrite module

 

Install Server

• When the prerequisites are installed, you will go ahead and install the server.

• Check the box that your BAM Renewal Date expires after the release date of the software stated in the installer.
• Click Next

• Accept the EULA

• Choose your installation location.  Defaults are recommended here.

Database configuration (New Installations)

• Choose default to use BoringBase as the database name (Recommended)
• Choose custom to use a database name of your choosing
  • This is useful when you have multiple Milestone XProtect Management servers sharing the same SQL server

Database configuration (Upgrade)

• When upgrading from a previous version, the installer will automatically locate the database location and populate that for you.
• Please don't change this when you do an upgrade.

• Review installation parameters, if correct, press Install

Note:

• The Windows services will NOT start until you create a parent site.  See below.

Install the Client

• Copy the Client installer to the machine you use to manage Milestone XProtect
• Accept all defaults to finish the installation
• Activate the client

Create a Parent Site & Next Steps

Once logged into the client, you want to enable background services like live monitoring.  To do this, set up your parent site.  We have a great video series on getting started that will walk you through this process and how to navigate the Boring Toolbox.