Install and launch KLSTR.ctrl

KLSTR.ctrl is a desktop app for macOS and Windows. This first step of the getting-started tutorial installs it and opens it for the first time. Once it runs, KLSTR.ctrl keeps itself up to date: it checks for a new version at startup and every hour after that.

Before you start

• A supported computer. macOS 13 (Ventura) or later, on an Apple Silicon or an Intel Mac, or a 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 PC.
• An Ethernet port on the computer, built in or through an adapter, for the lighting network later on. You don't need it to install or to try the demo.
• Internet access for the download. KLSTR.ctrl also uses it later to check for app updates and to fetch firmware, but it works offline.
• No account. Installing and using KLSTR.ctrl needs no KLSTR.cloud login.

Install KLSTR.ctrl

Answer the first-launch prompts

Depending on your computer and network, KLSTR.ctrl or the operating system can ask you something on the first launch. None of these appear every time.

Intel build on Apple Silicon (macOS)

If you installed the Intel version on an Apple Silicon Mac, a warning titled Intel build on Apple Silicon opens right after launch. The Intel version runs through Rosetta 2 and is much slower, especially with many devices online. Click Download Apple Silicon version to get the right download, then replace the app in the Applications folder. Continue anyway lets you work with the slow version for now. The warning comes back at every launch until you replace the app.

Local Network access (macOS)

The first time KLSTR.ctrl talks to devices on your network, macOS asks whether it may find and connect to devices on your local network. This happens once you select a network interface (see Connect KLSTR.ctrl to your network), not at install time. The prompt carries KLSTR.ctrl's own explanation: "KLSTR.ctrl discovers, monitors and configures KLSTR lighting fixtures and nodes on your local network."

Click Allow. Without this permission KLSTR.ctrl cannot reach any device: they all show as offline. If you clicked Don't Allow by mistake, see macOS blocks local network access.

Windows Firewall (Windows)

The first time KLSTR.ctrl opens its network connections, Windows Defender Firewall can ask whether to allow KLSTR.ctrl on your networks. Allow it, at least for the network type your lighting network uses. If you allow only private networks while Windows treats the lighting network as public, KLSTR.ctrl finds no devices.

Update available

When a newer version of KLSTR.ctrl is available, a dialog asks Version: … is available, do you want update now? and shows the changelog (on Windows its title is Found update). Click Yes to download it (a progress window shows the download) and restart into the new version, or No to keep working. See Update KLSTR.ctrl.

Notice from KLSTR

KLSTR can publish a short notice for your version of KLSTR.ctrl, for example about a known issue. It opens in a dialog at startup. Click Dismiss to close it, or tick Hide for 1 week first so it stays away for a week. When the notice links to more information, a button next to Dismiss opens it.

What you should see

The main window opens on the Network Topology tab, still empty. At the top left, next to the KLSTR.ctrl logo and version, the header shows KLSTR.one and KLSTR.nano, each with a red status dot: no network interface is selected yet. At the top right, Build Mode is active.

KLSTR.ctrl does not ask for a network interface by itself. The next step of this tutorial shows you around with demo devices first.

If something goes wrong

Related

• Tour KLSTR.ctrl in demo mode
• Connect KLSTR.ctrl to your network
• Update KLSTR.ctrl
• macOS blocks local network access
• Settings: Updates