How to install on DirectAdmin managed server

You are supposed to have a DirectAdmin VPS and a default or close to default DirectAdmin configured website - PHP, MySQL/MariaDB, Apache with SSL enabled, Nginx as a frontend proxy and SSL enabled.

Requirements

• A managed with DirectAdmin Linux server (VPS) with SSH access as a root user or with sudo
• A DirectAdmin managed website on this server with PHP, MySQL/MariaDB, Apache and SSL enabled
• telnet installed on the server: apt|yum install telnet
• shell_exec enabled in php.ini (how to check / enable shell_exec)

Make sure that PHP shell_exec is enabled: upload and navigate with your browser to a PHP file with the following content:

<?php print(shell_exec('date'));?>

It should display the current date and time. In case of an error or no output, enable shell_exec in php.ini by removing it from the list of disabled functions: disable_functions = exec,passthru,shell_exec,system,proc_open.

Alternative solution without shell_exec: see at the bottom of this page.

Step 1

Download blabws-server 32-bit or 64-bit, unzip and upload the folder blabws-server under /opt so that the absolute path to the blabws-server executable file is: /opt/blabws-server/blabws-server

• Upload in binary mode - the two files blabws-server on your computer & remote server must be exactly the same size
• Make sure the server is executable: chmod +x /opt/blabws-server/blabws-server or Filezilla » File Permissions » 755

Step 2

Add the following block to the Nginx config: DirectAdmin (login as admin) » Custom HTTPD config » {DOMAIN_NAME} » CustomTokens » CUSTOM4:

location /MyWsServer/ {
    proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:9002;
    proxy_http_version 1.1;
    proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
    proxy_set_header Connection "upgrade";
    proxy_read_timeout 600s;
    # connection will be closed after 600 seconds of inactivity
    }

and reload Nginx.

Step 3

Download BlaB! WS (client), unzip the content in an empty folder and upload it to your server under your website directory.

CHMOD blabws/config.php to 666, blabws/attachments to 777, navigate with your browser to YOUR_WEBSITE_URL.COM/blabws/index.php and follow the instructions (3 steps only).

Step 4

At the end of the installation process you'll see a link to the Admin CP - go to Server, and set:

• protocol: wss
• Server port: remove 9002 and leave the box empty
• ProxyPass token: MyWsServer

Save with OKAY, start your websocket server from BOARD » SERVER STATUS, press the ESC key to display the menu, hit EXIT to go to chat.

Done!