Start HELIO

Once you've downloaded HELIO, the next thing you want to do start it on your development PC or the target device. Since HELIO is a web application, it might feel a little different from traditional desktop tools at first. But don't worry, HELIO likes to think different but the startup process is actually very simple.

The HELIO Runtime is a tiny web server that serves both the HMIs and the HELIO IDE as web applications. The great thing about this: you can run all of HELIO using a simple browser, no heavy-weight installations needed! Let's see how this is done depending on the operating system or ecosystem you're targeting.

On Windows
On Linux
On macOS
On ctrlX OS

Extract the HELIO.zip archive

Since HELIO does not require any installation, you are basically done after extracting it. What you get is the so called HELIO Runtime Directory. Just move this directory from your Downloads folder to a safe location on your hard drive.

Where to store the Runtime Directory?

Don't worry too much about where to store the HELIO Runtime Directory before your first run.
HELIO stores its data in the HELIO Data Directory. So it is totally safe to move the Runtime later on.
If you want to keep things tidy you can learn about some best practices on the Multiple Runtime Versions page.

Start HELIO.exe

HELIO will be executed inside a new Terminal Window that should look like this:

Keep This Window Open

…as long as you want to use HELIO HMIs or the HELIO IDE.

Having trouble with the Windows Firewall?

Make Sure to Allow Access

HELIO opens a web server on your computer, which might prompt a Windows Firewall access request. Allow HELIO to communicate on these networks if you want HELIO to be accessible from a browser from within your local network.

Adjust the Firewall Later

You can also change these settings later. Refer to the Microsoft Documentation to find out where to locate the Firewall settings.

Open your browser

…and navigate to http://localhost:8512:

For a list of all the supported browsers see the Minimum System Requirements

Provide Your License Key

If you start HELIO on a machine for the first time and haven't activated it yet, HELIO will ask you for a license. Paste in your license key and submit. Keep in Mind that a HELIO Trial License can only be activated on 5 Seats.

←→

Sign into HELIO using the default IDE user

←→

Click the Sign In button in the upper right corner. Enter the default IDE user credentials that come pre-configured with each HELIO runtime:

Username	eve
Password	eve

Remove this default user and create a user with a secure password using the IDE User Manager as soon as you've signed in.

Extract the HELIO.zip archive

Since HELIO does not require any installation, you are basically done after extracting it. You can move the HELIO executable to a safe location on your hard drive.

Don't worry too much about where to store it before your first run.

Don't worry too much about where to store the HELIO Runtime Directory before your first run.
HELIO stores its data in the HELIO Data Directory. So it is totally safe to move the Runtime later on.
If you want to keep things tidy you can learn about some best practices on the Multiple Runtime Versions page.

Start the HELIO executable

…using the Terminal of your choice. The output of a successful start should look like this:

Open your browser

…and navigate to http://localhost:8512:

For a list of all the supported browsers see the Minimum System Requirements

Provide Your License Key

←→

Sign into HELIO using the default IDE user

←→

Click the Sign In button in the upper right corner. Enter the default IDE user credentials that come pre-configured with each HELIO runtime:

Username	eve
Password	eve

Remove this default user and create a user with a secure password using the IDE User Manager as soon as you've signed in.

Extract the HELIO.zip archive

Since HELIO does not require any installation, you are basically done after extracting it. You can move the HELIO executable to a safe location on your hard drive.

Where to store the Runtime Directory?

Don't worry too much about where to store the HELIO Runtime Directory before your first run.
HELIO stores its data in the HELIO Data Directory. So it is totally safe to move the Runtime later on.
If you want to keep things tidy you can learn about some best practices on the Multiple Runtime Versions page.

Start the HELIO executable

…using the Terminal of your choice. The output of a successful start should look like this:

Open your browser

…and navigate to http://localhost:8512:

For a list of all the supported browsers see the Minimum System Requirements

Provide Your License Key

←→

Sign into HELIO using the default IDE user

←→

Click the Sign In button in the upper right corner. Enter the default IDE user credentials that come pre-configured with each HELIO runtime:

Username	eve
Password	eve

Remove this default user and create a user with a secure password using the IDE User Manager as soon as you've signed in.

HELIO will be started automatically

When installing the HELIO app on your ctrlX OS device, the operating system will make sure to automatically start HELIO for you.

You can validate that HELIO is up an running by navigating to Settings > System Performance > Processes and making sure that there is an active HELIO process in process list.

Open HELIO IDE

Once the HELIO app is installed, a link to the HELIO IDE will be added to the main navigation.

Sign into HELIO using the default IDE user

←→

Click the Sign In button in the upper right corner. Enter the default IDE user credentials that come pre-configured with each HELIO runtime:

Username	eve
Password	eve

Remove this default user and create a user with a secure password using the IDE User Manager as soon as you've signed in.

Mission accomplished! HELIO is up and running. Time to run your first HMI…