Help
Installation and First Start
RailKernel guides you through its essential safety choices and command-station connections the first time it starts. You can begin without a command station and change every connection later.
Install RailKernel
Download the current RailKernel package for your operating system and complete the normal installation. On first start, RailKernel creates its working directories for configuration, projects, catalogues, languages, images and logs in the RailKernel folder inside your home directory.
Choose a language and confirm the first-run agreement
Choose your language at the top of the first-run window. The complete window changes immediately to that language. Open and read the License Agreement, then confirm its acceptance together with the two required safety statements about routing risks and your responsibility for safe operation. The two anonymous-data options are voluntary and may be enabled or disabled independently.
Configure connections
The Connections window lets you add zero or more command stations. For each connection, enter a clear display name, choose the command-station type and check its network address and port. Use the Enabled option only for stations RailKernel should connect to when it starts.
Let RailKernel scan the network
Press Scan network to let RailKernel search the local network for supported command stations. When a station is found, select it to add its detected connection details. Detection depends on the station and network configuration, so you can always enter or correct the details manually.
Continue with or without hardware
You do not need a command station to design a layout or explore RailKernel. Confirm the Connections window when the required entries are correct, or continue without an enabled station and add one later.
Change connections later
The initial choices are not permanent. Open Connections from the File menu whenever you want to add another command station, change an address or port, enable or disable a station, or remove a connection. After confirmation, RailKernel stops connections that are no longer required and starts the enabled connections.