Linux agent — Installation

The RDS agent for Linux (version 2.0 or later) turns a Debian or Ubuntu PC into a player managed from the RDS panel. It starts with the machine, with no desktop, full screen, in web kiosk or playlist mode. It ships as a .deb package.

The previous Linux agent, written in Python (PromoBrowser), is discontinued. See Python agent (previous).

Requirements

Debian 12 or 13, or Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 LTS, 64-bit (x86_64 / amd64).
ARM64 (beta): Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 with a 64-bit system. See ARM64 (beta).
Root access (sudo). No desktop environment needed.
An internet connection.

Install

In Downloads → Linux Kiosk Agent press Download .deb.
From the folder the package was downloaded to, install it with apt:
```
sudo apt install ./rds-agent_<version>_amd64.deb
```
apt also installs every system dependency. Use apt, not dpkg -i: dpkg does not resolve dependencies and fails with a list of missing packages.
The agent is enabled to start at every boot. Restart the machine, or start it now:
```
sudo systemctl start rds-agent
```

If the machine had the Python agent (kiosk-browser), the installation disables it so the two do not fight over the screen.

ARM64 (beta)

There is a version of the Linux agent for ARM64, meant for Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 running a 64-bit system (Debian 12 or later, or 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS). It is in beta: it has the same content as the x86_64 version, but it has not been tested on real ARM hardware yet, which is why it does not appear in Downloads yet.

If you want to try it, write to support@digitalsignagerds.com and we will send you the package. It installs the same way as the x86_64 version:

sudo apt install ./rds-agent_<version>_arm64.deb

On 32-bit ARM devices (armhf) the Python agent is still needed.

Pair

At start-up the screen shows Link this screen, with a QR code and a short code. Scan the QR with your phone (signed in to the panel), or open the address shown and enter the code. The code renews itself when it expires. See Pair by QR.

Without QR: in the screen's settings menu, Server tab, fill in Server address, User and Device identifier (RDSXXXX), press Test connection and then Save. See Settings on the screen.

Update

The agent updates from RDS, without reinstalling: Device panel → Agent version. Details. You can also install a newer .deb by hand with the same apt install command; the pairing is kept.

Uninstall

sudo apt remove rds-agent

Python agent (previous)

The Python agent (PromoBrowser) is the previous Linux agent. It is discontinued: it gets no new features and is supported until 31 December 2026. It does not include remote display control, updates from RDS or scheduled restart; the panel shows those features disabled on a machine running it.

On a Raspberry Pi 4/5 with a 64-bit system you can try the ARM64 (beta) agent; the Python agent remains the option for 32-bit ARM devices (armhf). It also serves to reinstall a machine that already used it. It installs from Downloads → Raspberry Pi / ARM (Python agent), as root:

curl -fsSL https://rds.digitalsignagerds.com/install.sh | bash
systemctl start kiosk-browser

Its settings open by typing 12345 or with 5 taps in the top-left corner (default password 0000). Its service is kiosk-browser and its log journalctl -u kiosk-browser -f.