This guide describes how to install VisibleThread 7 on a fresh Windows Server.
VisibleThread can be deployed on Windows using one of the following configurations:
- Standard Installation (Recommended) — Apache web server and local PostgreSQL database.
- IIS Web Server — Microsoft IIS instead of the bundled Apache web server.
- External Database — An externally hosted PostgreSQL database instead of the bundled local PostgreSQL instance.
System requirements
Before installing VisibleThread, confirm that the server meets the minimum requirements.
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Processor: 2 CPU cores
- Disk space: 100 GB
VisibleThread Windows installations have been tested and verified on:
- Windows Server 2016
- Windows Server 2019
- Windows Server 2022
- Windows Server 2025
Important: VisibleThread requires TCP port 443 to be accessible to users connecting to the application through a web browser.
Download VisibleThread
Download the VisibleThread 7.3.5 Windows installer:
https://visiblethread.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/public/download/vtdocs_windows-x64_7_3_5.exe
Verify the installer
After downloading the installer, you can verify the MD5 checksum from a Windows Command Prompt:
certutil -hashfile vtdocs_windows-x64_7_3_5.exe MD5
The expected MD5 checksum is:
a7b5980324c6bd4ece27c73664f599d3
Important: If the calculated checksum does not match the value above, download the installer again before continuing.
Standard Installation (Recommended)
The standard installation is the recommended deployment method for most customer-hosted VisibleThread environments.
This configuration installs:
- VisibleThread
- Apache HTTP Server
- Local PostgreSQL 17 database
Apache is configured automatically as the reverse proxy for VisibleThread.
Run the installer
- Locate the downloaded installer:
vtdocs_windows-x64_7_3_5.exe
- Double-click the installer to start the installation wizard.
- Proceed through the installation wizard until you reach the component selection screen.
For a standard installation, leave both Apache and PostgreSQL selected.
Screenshot: Insert the installer component selection screenshot here.
Note: Apache is installed and configured automatically as part of the VisibleThread installation. No additional reverse proxy configuration is required for a standard deployment.
- Continue through the installer.
- Allow the installation to complete.
Verify the installation
After the installer completes, allow several minutes for VisibleThread to start.
Monitor the application log by running the following command in CMD (not PowerShell):
powershell -NoProfile -Command "Get-Content -Path 'C:\Program Files\VisibleThread\vtdocs\tomcat\logs\vtdocs.log' -Tail 20 -Wait"
Open a supported web browser and navigate to:
https://<VisibleThreadServerAddress>
Confirm that the VisibleThread sign-in screen loads successfully.
IIS Web Server Installation
Use this deployment method when Microsoft IIS will provide the reverse proxy and SSL termination instead of the bundled Apache web server.
Important: The VisibleThread installer does not configure IIS automatically. IIS must be configured separately after the VisibleThread installation completes.
Run the installer
- Locate and run:
vtdocs_windows-x64_7_3_5.exe
- Proceed through the installation wizard until you reach the component selection screen.
- Clear the Apache checkbox.
Leave PostgreSQL selected if the server will use the locally installed PostgreSQL database.
- Continue through the installation wizard.
- Allow the installation to complete.
Configure IIS
After the VisibleThread installation completes, configure Microsoft IIS as the reverse proxy and SSL termination point for VisibleThread.
Follow: IIS as a Reverse Proxy for VT Docs
Complete the IIS configuration before attempting to make VisibleThread available to end users.
Verify the installation
After configuring IIS, navigate to:
https://<VisibleThreadServerAddress>
Confirm that:
- The VisibleThread sign-in screen loads.
- HTTPS is functioning correctly.
- IIS successfully proxies requests to VisibleThread.
- You can sign in to the application.
External Database Installation
Use this deployment method when VisibleThread will connect to an externally hosted PostgreSQL database rather than installing PostgreSQL locally on the VisibleThread server.
The external PostgreSQL database should be provisioned and accessible from the VisibleThread server before beginning the installation.
Run the installer
- Locate and run:
vtdocs_windows-x64_7_3_5.exe
- Proceed through the installation wizard until you reach the component selection screen.
- Clear the PostgreSQL checkbox.
If you want the installer to configure Apache as the VisibleThread reverse proxy, leave Apache selected.
If the deployment will use IIS instead, clear both Apache and PostgreSQL.
The available configurations are therefore:
- Apache + external PostgreSQL: Leave Apache selected and clear PostgreSQL.
- IIS + external PostgreSQL: Clear both Apache and PostgreSQL.
- Continue through the installation wizard.
- Configure the VisibleThread installation to connect to the external PostgreSQL database using the database details for your environment.
- Allow the installation to complete.
Important: Ensure that the VisibleThread server can communicate with the external PostgreSQL server and that any required firewall rules, database permissions, and network access have been configured before completing the installation.
Verify the installation
After installation, allow VisibleThread several minutes to start and connect to the external database.
Navigate to:
https://<VisibleThreadServerAddress>
Confirm that:
- The VisibleThread sign-in screen loads successfully.
- VisibleThread can connect to the external PostgreSQL database.
- You can sign in to the application.
- The selected web server configuration is operating correctly.