Install the Nebulis server
The server runs on the machine where your images live. Install it once, then open Nebulis from any browser or app on your network. Pick your operating system below.
Get the download-
Open the disk image
Double-click the
.dmgfile you downloaded (its name looks likenebulis-1.0.2-arm64.dmg). A Finder window opens showing the Nebulis app icon on the left and a shortcut to your Applications folder on the right. -
Drag Nebulis into Applications
Drag the Nebulis icon onto the Applications shortcut in the same window. Wait for the copy to finish, then eject the disk image from the Finder sidebar.
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Open Nebulis from Applications
Open your Applications folder and double-click Nebulis. Open it from there, not from the disk image. The first launch installs a small background service and offers to add a Desktop shortcut. Take the shortcut if you would rather not hunt for the menu bar icon later.
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Let it start
Nebulis has no Dock icon and no main window. It opens a window with the app running in it and opens your browser to
http://localhost:8080at the same time. A cold first start can take a few seconds while the database is set up. -
Find the menu bar icon
Look for the telescope glyph in the menu bar at the top of the screen. If the bar is crowded, click the
^chevron to reveal hidden icons. Click the telescope icon any time to bring Nebulis back. -
Open the menu
Clicking the icon opens the Nebulis menu. From here you can Open Nebulis (the app window), Open in Web Browser, set the HTTP Port, start or stop the service, toggle Start at Login, check for updates, and view logs.
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You're set up
Nebulis is now running. On this Mac, open
http://localhost:8080. From a phone, tablet, or another computer on the same network, use this Mac's IP address instead oflocalhost, for examplehttp://192.168.1.20:8080(or whatever port you have set).
Change the port
Nebulis serves on port 8080 by default. To change it, open the menu bar menu and edit the HTTP Port field, then press Return. The service restarts on the new port and the menu updates its address. Pick a port between 1 and 65535 that nothing else on the machine is using.
Open the web app in a browser
Open the menu bar menu and choose Open in Web Browser, or go to http://localhost:8080 yourself. To reach Nebulis from a phone, tablet, or another computer on the same network, use that machine's address instead of localhost, for example http://192.168.1.20:8080. The menu bar menu shows the current address under Open Nebulis.
Get the debug logs
For a quick diagnostics dump: open the menu bar menu and choose View Logs. Nebulis writes a report with the service status, recent log output, and disk and firewall checks, then opens it in a text editor. Save that file or copy its contents when you contact support.
For a detailed import trace: in the web app go to Settings → Diagnostics, turn on Debug logging, run the import or sync that is failing, then click Download .log.gz. Debug logging turns itself off after 15 minutes. Send us the .log.gz file.
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Double-click the installer
Double-click the
.exefile you downloaded (its name looks likenebulis-2.0.0-win.exe) to start the wizard. -
Allow it through SmartScreen
Windows may show a blue "Windows protected your PC" SmartScreen notice. This is expected and safe to dismiss: it appears because the installer is not signed with a paid certificate, not because anything is wrong. Click More info, then click Run anyway. Nebulis runs entirely on your local network and does not phone home.
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Approve the admin prompt
Windows asks for permission to make changes. Click Yes. This lets the installer register Nebulis as a service that starts automatically when the PC boots.
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Click Install
On the Ready to Install page, review the summary and click Install to begin copying files.
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Choose your port
On the Network Port page, keep the default of
8080or type another port. The installer opens a firewall rule for whatever you choose. If you are not sure, leave it as is. -
Finish the wizard
Leave Create a desktop shortcut checked and click through to the end. On the last page, Open Nebulis in your browser is checked by default. It waits for the server to answer before opening the tab, so a slow first boot does not land you on an error page.
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Find the tray icon
Look for the telescope icon in the system tray by the clock. On Windows 11 you may need to click the
^overflow arrow to see it. A one-time notification points at it the first time the service comes up. -
Open the menu
Left-click the icon to open the web app straight away. Right-click it for the full menu: Open Web UI, Check for Updates, View Logs, start / stop / restart the service, Start at Login, and Quit.
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You're set up
Nebulis is now running. On this PC, open
http://localhost:8080. From a phone, tablet, or another computer on the same network, use this PC's IP address instead oflocalhost, for examplehttp://192.168.1.20:8080(or whatever port you have set).
Change the port
The port is set during install. To change it, run nebulis-setup.exe again: the wizard reruns the Network Port page, replaces the old firewall rule with the new one, and keeps all your data. There is no port field in the tray menu on Windows.
Open the web app in a browser
Left-click the tray icon, or right-click it and choose Open Web UI. You can also go to http://localhost:8080 yourself (or your custom port). To reach Nebulis from another device on the same network, use the PC's address instead of localhost, for example http://192.168.1.20:8080. Hover the tray icon to see the active port.
Get the debug logs
For a quick diagnostics dump: right-click the tray icon and choose View Logs. Nebulis writes a report with the service status, recent log output, and disk and firewall checks, then opens it in Notepad. The raw service logs also live at C:\ProgramData\Nebulis\logs\.
For a detailed import trace: in the web app go to Settings → Diagnostics, turn on Debug logging, run the import or sync that is failing, then click Download .log.gz. Debug logging turns itself off after 15 minutes. Send us the .log.gz file.
Stuck on a step?
Email [email protected] with the diagnostics file or the .log.gz from the steps above.