How to install the Fing Agent on Raspberry Pi

This guide will walk you through the process of installing the Fing-Agent snap package on your Raspberry Pi.  Follow these step-by-step instructions to successfully install the snap system on your Raspberry Pi and set up the Fing-Agent package.

Prerequisites

• A Raspberry Pi running a compatible a 64-bit or 32-bit Linux distribution (e.g., Raspbian).
• An active internet connection.

At this time, the Fing Agent is compatible with ARM-64 and ARM-32 as well. Additional architectures may be added in the future, as the product improves and evolves.

Before you begin

Before installing any new software, it's good practice to update your system packages. All commands may be executed directly on the Raspberry Pi, or from another device via Secure Shell protocol (SSH).  

Open a terminal and run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Install Snap

The Fing Agent is packaged as a snap. Snaps are a secure way to embed applications on Linux devices. A snap is an application containerised with all its dependencies, installed using a single command on any device running Linux. With snaps, software updates are automatic and resilient. Applications run fully isolated in their own sandbox, thus minimising security risks.

Snapd is the background service that manages and maintains snaps on your system. To install Snapd, enter the following command:

sudo apt install snapd

The core snap is required for running snap packages. Install it using the following command:

sudo snap install core

After installation, ensure that Snapd is enabled and running. Use the following command to install the Snapd service:

sudo snap install snapd --classic

Install Fing Agent

With Snapd installed and the core snap in place, you can now install the Fing-Agent snap package from the latest channel. Use the following command:

sudo snap install fing-agent 

After installing the Fing-Agent snap package, you need to run a script to connect all necessary plugs to interfaces. Execute the script with the following command:

/snap/fing-agent/current/script/connect-fing-agent.sh

The default installation folder of the Snap system is /snap. Depending on the operating system and your personal choice, it may be different on your hardware. If the command fails, please refer to the snap documentation to retrieve the root installation folder.

To ensure the Fing-Agent has been installed correctly, you can check the status of the snap with:

snap list fing-agent

This command should display information about the Fing-Agent snap, confirming that it is installed and running.

Updating  Fing Agent

Snaps update automatically, and by default, the snapd daemon checks for updates 4 times a day. Each update check is called a refresh. The scheduling and frequency can be configured according to your needs. Please refer to the official documentation to manage Snap updates for further details.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues during the installation process, try the following:

• Check Snapd Status: Ensure Snapd is running correctly.

sudo systemctl status snapd

• Reboot: Sometimes a simple reboot can resolve issues.

sudo reboot

• Consult Logs: Check system logs for any errors related to Snapd or the Fing-Agent snap.

journalctl -u snapd

Conclusion

You have now successfully installed the Fing-Agent snap package on your Raspberry Pi.  To activate the agent you will need:

• The Fing App running on your mobile
• An active subscription

Open the Fing App on your mobile, select the Account tab and tap on Add unit and follow the on-screen instructions to start the activation procedure.