How to install - Debian/Ubuntu + Nginx

Requirements

• Debian 8+ or Ubuntu 16.04+ server/VPS with Nginx, PHP5/PHP7 and MySQL/MariaDB
• Access to that server via SSH as a root user
• PHP shell_exec enabled in php.ini (alternatively see Server as a systemd service below)
• telnet installed: apt install telnet

Step 1

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

Make sure that the file is executable: chmod +x /opt/blabws-server/blabws-server or Filezilla » File Permissions » 755

Step 2

Add to the config file of Nginx inside the server block of your website:

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
    }

Save the file and restart Nginx: systemctl restart nginx

Step 3

Download BlaB! WS (client), unzip the content in an empty folder and upload it to your server under your website root directory. CHMOD blabws/config.php to 666, blabws/attachments to 777 and navigate with your browser to YOUR-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:

• Server port: remove 9002 and leave the box empty
• ProxyPass token: MyWsServer
• protocol: ws if you do not use SSL; wss if Nginx is configured with SSL

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

Done!

Server as a systemd service

Alternative: without telnet and shell_exec (client 19.01 and above)

• Admin CP » Server » SystemdService click on systemd service and save the file when prompted: blabws.service
• Upload blabws.service in /lib/systemd/system, if no such directory: /etc/systemd/system
• Run systemctl start blabws and check if your chat is working properly
• Run systemctl enable blabws to enable the service on boot