FreeTAKServer 0.112

An open source server for the TAK family of applications.

FreeTAKServer

Welcome to the FreeTakServer (FTS) git repository.

FTS is a Python3 implementation of the TAK Server for devices like CivTAK , WinTAK and ITAK, it is cross-platform and is only dependent on python stdlib libraries. We use the Flask framework for web services. it's free and open source (released under the Eclipse Public License).

Use cases

FTS allows you to connect ATAK clients to share geo information, to chat with all the connected clients, exchange files and more. It intends to support all the major use cases of the original TAK server.

Community

This code is currently in BETA STAGE Check out our roadmap @ FreeTakServer#25 to see what is planned If you have any issues don't hesitate to bring it up https://github.com/Tapawingo/FreeTakServer/issues, as TAKFreeServer is still in development.

Donate back

the FTS team is working daily on the development of a open and free solution. We plan to do more that simply replicate the functionalities of the legacy TAK server, our road map includes integration with open source systems like LORA's Meshtastic, porting it to Android, having an open API and much more.

We are doing it for free because we believe that donating personal time to a cause its a endeavour that is worthy per-se, However, a part time, we are also spending our own money to:

• Maintain a Public server and a test server
• Investing in different technologies for R&D

if you feel that FTS is useful to you and you can donate in those challenging times please consider to send you contribution here: DONATE

You can also support the project by buying one of our t-shirts

NOTE: not a big fan of Paypal, but that is the easier way I found for an initial attempt. We may go to some more ethical system in future.

Public instance

we support a [public instance}(https://www.reddit.com/r/ATAK/wiki/index/freetakserver) of FTS.

• download the configuration {here}(https://drive.google.com/open?id=1IK1LfPN13EWikHaMyOuDDwIerNGz-Wl)
• use the Import manager in ATAK to import the configuration

Tell us what you think!

to discuss with the developer team Use the reddit server https://www.reddit.com/r/ATAK/ and the Discord chat https://discordapp.com/invite/XEPyhHA

Architecture

TAKFreeServer uses a MVC pattern, the concept of a COT is described in a set of Domain classes, generated from the UML model using a Model Driven Architecture approach. YOu can see the complete COT description {here}(https://github.com/FreeTAKTeam/FreeTakServer/blob/master/docs/FreeTakServer%20specs/COTDomainModel.pdf)

Documentation

under docs, you can find various documents including an UML model of the Domain classes involved in a COT event.

Requirements

• Python 3.6 (or better)

Installing and using FreeTakServer

Important Note: depending from the system you are using, the following commands may be executed using python3, Pip3 or in alternative python, Pip (without the 3).

Prerequisites

you will need to install Python 3, PIP before you can install FTS

• Install Python3

  sudo apt update && sudo apt install python3 && sudo apt install pip3` (Ubuntu)```

install FreeTakServer

Since version 0.8, FTS supports Pip installation, manual installation can be done with some modifications of the import paths, however we don't support it

sudo python -m pip install FreeTAKServer

Optional: check if installation is correctly executed and install any missing packages if prompted

sudo python -m pip check FreeTakServer 

note under windows it's installed under

C:\Users\user.name\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\PythonXX\Lib\site-packages

Run FreeTakServer

Linux

Run Server in console

sudo python3 -m FreeTAKServer.controllers.services.FTS -DataPackageIP [YourIP]

this will start the server with Port 8087 and API port 8080 on the IP defined in [yourIP]

other parameters you can use: -AutoStart: (weather the full server start or just the RestAPI, must be True or False) -CoTIP [yourIP] -DataPackageIP[yourIP] : set the IP where CoTs are send -CoTPort [aPort] : the port you want clients to connect to -DataPackagePort [anotherPort]: the port you want datapackages to be sent and received on

if you dont set any of the above, FTS will adopt a "Convention instead of Configuration" approach and try to set all from the configuation file

Open a new console in a separate window run FTS Command Line Interface with

python -m FreeTAKServer.views.CLI

to get a list of other supported commands type

help

Run Server as Demon

use this command to run FTS independently from your command window.

sudo nohup python3 -m FreeTAKServer.controllers.FTS -DataPackageIP [YourIP] &

Windows

go to the start menu and type cmd to start a command prompt open a console with admin rights

python3 -m FreeTAKServer.controllers.FTS -DataPackageIP [YourIP]

Troubleshooting

if, trying to start FTS you get an error 'package not found'

'package not found'

navigate to the physical location where the controllers are installed and start the server from there

Update FreeTakServer

if you already installed FTS with pip you can use

pip install FreeTAKServer --upgrade

client2client datapackages

If you have issues sending datapackages directly to clients via FTS, make sure -IP you specified can be reached from your device.
A quick way to test if it works is to take a picture with Quick Pic in ATAK and send it to another client. Please also note that for that test ATAK clients needs to be on different network (ie one on mobile and one on wifi), because if you run them in same network (wifi, vpn, etc) they will just use same multicast group, bypassing FTS completely.
When you post package to specific contact in ATAK, following happens:

1. Datapackage is uploaded to server, recorded in database and stored in FTS directory
2. Client receives payload with URL pointing to datapackage so ATAK can download it

Assuming you want to run open-to-everyone FTS instance, and you have server hosted somewhere, you need to specify public IP address in -IP argument. And just in case, -IP also accepts domain names.
If you run it at home and port forward on router doesn't work, check if you receive actual IP address and not being NATed and ports 8080 and 8087 are not filtered - you can ask your ISP about that.

Project Structure

• TakFreeServer
  • Controllers: Contains all the business Logic
  • Models: Contains all the COT object model
  • TAKLinuxService: a demon for linux OS
  • TakWinService: a service for the windows OS
• Docs: Usefull documentation regarding COTS and different logs to understand how those are implemented
• Model: a UML model in Sparx EnterpriseArchitect format (see https://sparxsystems.com/products/ea/trial/request.html).
• Old: Legacy versions