Documentation
Installation Guide
Complete setup guide for Pulse v3.2 on Windows
System Requirements
| Operating System | Windows 10, Windows 11, or Windows Server 2019 / 2022 (64-bit only) |
| RAM | 4 GB minimum — 8 GB recommended for large log volumes |
| Disk Space | 10 GB free space minimum |
| Python | Python 3.13.x — download from python.org/downloads |
| PostgreSQL | PostgreSQL 17.x — download from postgresql.org/download/windows |
| Network | Port 5000 (web UI) · Port 514 UDP (syslog ingestion) |
| Browser | Chrome, Edge, or Firefox — latest version |
Downloads
Python 3.13Required
Download the Windows x86-64 installer. During install — check Add Python to PATH.
PostgreSQL 17Required
Download the Windows x86-64 installer. Set a strong password — you will need it during Pulse setup. Leave port as 5432.
Pulse v3.2 InstallerPulse
The Pulse_Setup_v3.2.exe Windows installer. Run after Python and PostgreSQL are installed.
Section 1 — Fresh Installation
Follow these steps in order. Do not skip steps — each one depends on the previous.
1
Install Python 3.13
Download from python.org/downloads/release/python-3130
Run the installer — on the first screen check "Add Python to PATH" before clicking Install.
Verify: open Command Prompt and run: python --version
2
Install PostgreSQL 17
Download from enterprisedb.com/downloads/postgres-postgresql-downloads
Choose version 17, Windows x86-64.
Set a strong password — write it down, you will need it.
Leave port as 5432 · Uncheck pgAdmin if not needed · click through defaults.
3
Create the database
Choose a name for your database — e.g. pulse_db, firewall_logs, or your company name (no spaces).
Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run (replace pulse_db with your chosen name):
"C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\17\bin\psql.exe" -U postgres -c "CREATE DATABASE pulse_db;"
4
Run the Pulse installer
Double-click Pulse_Setup_v3.2.exe.
Follow the wizard — it will open your browser to complete the database configuration.
Enter your PostgreSQL credentials including the database name you created in Step 3, then click Save & Continue.
5
Activate your license
After the database step, the wizard moves to the license screen.
Paste your CIS- license key and click Activate & Open Pulse.
6
Log in
Open http://localhost:5000
Default login: admin / admin123
Change your password immediately — Settings → Account.
7
Open firewall port (optional)
If other machines on the network need access to the dashboard:
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Pulse" dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=5000
8
Configure syslog
On your SonicWall: Log → Syslog → add this machine's IP, port 514, UDP.
On your FortiGate: Log & Report → Log Settings → syslog server → this machine's IP, port 514.
In Pulse: Settings → Syslog → Start Listener.
Environment Variables
Pulse can be configured using Windows environment variables as an alternative to the setup wizard. Set these as Administrator using setx VAR_NAME "value" /M— the /M flag sets them system-wide.
Database
| DB_HOST | localhost | PostgreSQL server hostname or IP |
| DB_PORT | 5432 | PostgreSQL port (default 5432) |
| DB_NAME | pulse_db | Database name you created in Step 3 — use your own chosen name |
| DB_USER | postgres | PostgreSQL username |
| DB_PASSWORD | your_password | PostgreSQL password set during install |
Firewall API (optional — Enterprise)
| SONICWALL_API_URL | https://192.168.1.1 | SonicWall management IP |
| SONICWALL_API_USER | admin | SonicWall admin username |
| SONICWALL_API_PASS | password | SonicWall admin password |
| FORTIGATE_API_URL | https://192.168.1.1 | FortiGate management IP |
| FORTIGATE_API_TOKEN | your-api-token | FortiGate REST API token |
| FORTIGATE_VDOM | root | FortiGate VDOM name |
Email Alerts (optional)
| SMTP_HOST | smtp.gmail.com | SMTP server for email alerts |
| SMTP_PORT | 587 | SMTP port (587 for TLS) |
| SMTP_USER | you@company.com | SMTP username / email address |
| SMTP_PASSWORD | app_password | SMTP password or app password |
| ALERT_EMAIL | admin@company.com | Where to send threat alerts |
Section 2 — Upgrading
1
Stop Pulse
schtasks /end /tn "PulseByCybrenexes"
2
Back up db.cfg
copy "C:\Program Files\Cybrenexes\Pulse\db.cfg" "C:\Backup\db.cfg"
3
Run new installer
Double-click the new Pulse_Setup_v3.2.exe — detects existing install and upgrades over it.
4
Run schema update
"C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\17\bin\psql.exe" -U postgres -d pulse_db -f "C:\Program Files\Cybrenexes\Pulse\schema.sql"
5
Restart
schtasks /run /tn "PulseByCybrenexes" then verify at http://localhost:5000
Troubleshooting
python is not recognized
Python was not added to PATH. Re-run the Python installer and check "Add Python to PATH" on the first screen.
Wrong password error on startup
Open db.cfg in C:\Program Files\Cybrenexes\Pulse\ and correct the DB_PASSWORD line. Restart Pulse.
Port 5000 already in use
Run: netstat -ano | findstr :5000 then: taskkill /f /pid XXXX (replace XXXX with the PID shown)
PostgreSQL service not running
Run: net start postgresql-x64-17
Cannot connect to database
Verify PostgreSQL is running, the database you created exists (check the name in db.cfg matches what you created), and the password is correct.
License key rejected
Make sure you are pasting the full key starting with CIS- including the long base64 section.
Pulse task not starting on boot
Open Task Scheduler (taskschd.msc) → find PulseByCybrenexes → right-click → Run. Check History tab for errors.
App starts but dashboard is blank
Wait 2 minutes after first start for rollup tables to populate. If still blank, import some logs first.