Location Tracking for Linux Devices

Tracking the real-time or periodic location of Linux devices can be essential for organizations with field teams, or mobility-dependent operations. Scalefusion enables IT administrators to monitor the geographical movement of Linux devices, ensure compliance, enhance security, and support recovery efforts in case of loss or theft all from the centralized Scalefusion Dashboard.

This article explains how to configure location tracking for Linux devices managed through Scalefusion and how to view the captured location data within the dashboard.

Prerequisites

1. The devices should have Tux agent version 3.5.0 and above installed.

2. Linux devices should be enrolled with Scalefusion.

Configuring Location Settings on Dashboard

Global Level

1. Login to Scalefusion Dashboard.

2. Navigate to Location & GeoFencing > Location Settings.

3. The following settings can be configured for Linux devices:

   1. Enable/Disable Location Tracking: Enable this setting to turn on Location tracking and set other configurations.

   2. Location Tracking Mode: Following are the modes for tracking Location:

      1. Essential

      2. Basic

      3. High Accuracy

      4. Fleet Tracking

   3. Location Collection Frequency: Choose a frequency in which the locations should be synced with the server and reflected on the dashboard. Frequencies differ on the basis of the Location Tracking Mode you have chosen

      Tracking Mode	Frequency
      Essential	Choose one from the following: 24 hours 12 hours 60 minutes
      Basic	Choose one from the following: 60 mins 30 mins 15 mins
      High Accuracy	Choose one from the following: 10 mins 5 mins 3 mins
      Fleet Tracking	Choose one from the following: 3 mins 2 mins 1 mins

   4. Once you have chosen the configurations, click the button SAVE SETTINGS

      

Google Maps API key

There is an option to switch to Google Maps for all map-related features if you wish. Switching to Google Maps would require a Google Maps API Key, which would require a valid Gmail account and setup of the Google Cloud Billing platform. To learn more about how to use this feature, please click here.

Profile level

These settings can also be configured at device profile level which will apply to the devices with that profile.

To configure Location settings at profile level:

1. Navigate to Device Profiles & Policies > Device Profiles

2. Create or Edit Linux Device Profile on which updates have to be configured

3. Navigate to Location Settings and toggle on the setting Override Global Location Settings

   Setting	Description
   Override Global Location Settings	If this is enabled, the settings that have been set through Location & Geofencing > Location Settings on the Dashboard get overridden. This also enables the rest of the Location settings and makes them configurable.
   Enable/Disable Location Tracking	Enable this setting to turn on Location tracking and set other configurations.
   Location Tracking Mode	There are four modes for tracking Location: Essential Basic High Accuracy Fleet Tracking
   Location Collection Frequency	Choose a frequency in which the locations should be synced with the server and reflected on the dashboard. Frequencies differ on the basis of the Location Tracking Mode you have chosen.
   Select Location API	Select how you want Scalefusion to determine and capture device location. You can choose from the following methods: Google Chrome Browser: When this method is selected, the Tux agent first checks whether Google Chrome is installed on the device. If available, Chrome is used to determine the device’s location. If Chrome is not installed, the agent falls back to the IP address based location API which has city-level accuracy. GPS Hardware: Uses the device’s physical GPS hardware to collect accurate real-time location data. Google Maps API: Uses Google’s location services through your organization’s Google Maps API key. Select this option if your organization has a Google Maps account and wants to leverage Google’s precise mapping and location capabilities. Note: Your Google Maps account will be billed according to the API usage generated based on the location settings configured here.

   
   

Where is Location Data Visible on the Dashboard?

Location information reported by devices can be viewed in the following sections of the Scalefusion Dashboard:

1. Device Details: View the most recent location of an individual device within its detailed device page.

2. Locations Page: Navigate to Locations & Geofencing > Locations to see all reported locations, including those from Linux devices.

3. Locations Report: Access summarized and historical location data through the Locations Report for audit, compliance, or tracking purposes.