COS – SD Linux Installation

Last Updated on March 23, 2026

This topic describes how to install the COS – SD software on a Linux device. DRC provides an easy‑to‑use wizard to install the COS – SD software.

Important: To access COS, you must have the Test Setup – Central Office Services permission.

  1. To launch the wizard and start the installation, on a Linux device that meets the COS – SD system requirements sign in to your state’s Portal site, select MY APPLICATIONS–General Information–Downloads, and click the Central Office Services (COS) Installer icon () to download the COS installer.
  2. After the file is downloaded, start a terminal session and navigate to your Downloads directory by using the cd command. Verify that the coinstaller file is in the Downloads directory by using the ls command.
  3. After you have downloaded the installation file, you must make the downloaded file executable. Enter the following command (all Linux commands are case-sensitive), and press Enter to convert the coinstaller file to an executable file:
    chmod a+x coinstaller
  4. If the conversion was successful, enter the following command to run the file and start the installation:
    sudo ./coinstaller
    The sudo command gives you temporary administrator privileges.
  5. If prompted, enter your administrator password. Linux will launch the wizard to start the installation.
  6. When the Setup – Central Office window displays, click Next to continue or Quit to exit the installation.
  7. The Installation Folder window displays. Indicate where to install COS and where to store downloaded content.
    1. Click Next to select the default locations or Browse… to select different locations. DRC recommends using the default locations.
  8. The Proxy Host window displays. You can use this window to specify a separate proxy server for the COS – SDs.
      • If you plan to use a proxy server, enter the URL of the proxy server in the Proxy Host field.
      • If you do not plan to use a proxy server, leave the field blank.
        Click Next.
  9. The Ready to Install window displays. Click Install.
  10. During the installation, a window displays indicating the progress of the installation. If necessary, click Cancel to end the installation process.
  11. When the installation is completed, the Creating Maintenance Tool window displays. This window indicates the status of the Maintenance Tool installation. When it is installed, click Next.
  12. The Configure Service Ports window displays. On this window you can specify the port to use for Content Hosting (labeled the Base port). COS uses the base port to determine which ports to use for the Content Management, Relay, and Restricted Proxy services (labeled as Additional ports). Although there are four consecutive numbers, you need to enter only the base port number in the Base port field.
      • After you specify the base port, COS automatically selects the next three consecutively numbered ports. For example, if you specify 11223 for the base port, COS attempts to use ports 11224, 11225, and 11226.
      • Note: COS requires four port numbers even if the device being configured will not use all of them. DRC recommends using the default values: 55222, 55223, 55224, and 55225.
  13. After you select your ports, but before you click Next, click Test to verify that the ports selected are available on the device.
      • If the Installer dialog box indicates that the ports are not available, select a different base port and repeat this step until you find ports.
      • If the Installer dialog box indicates that the ports are available, click OK and Next or click Cancel to exit the installation.
      • Important: The ports you select may be blocked at the time of testing despite being available during installation. At testing time, verify that these ports are available and allowlisted on your COS – SD’s firewall. If the ports are blocked and/or not allowlisted, the Testing Device will encounter a Connection Error that will prevent it from being used for testing.
  14. The Completing the Central Office Wizard window displays.
    1. Important: From the Completing the Central Office Wizard window, highlight, copy, and save the URL that is displayed (if necessary, you can use it to resume the process at this point without reinstalling COS). Paste the URL into a Chrome browser and use it to sign on to your state’s Portal site.
    2. After you paste the URL and sign on, you can click Finish.