Web User Interface

The Asset Manager includes a built-in web server that provides a browser-based interface for uploading and managing assets. This allows team members to contribute media from any device on the network — laptops, tablets, or smartphones — without needing the WATCHOUT Producer application installed. The Web UI is particularly valuable during collaborative setup and rehearsal phases when multiple people need to add or review content simultaneously.

How It Works

The Web UI is an embedded web application served directly by the Asset Manager process on port 3023. It is compiled into the Asset Manager binary and does not require a separate web server installation. When the Asset Manager starts, the web server starts automatically — there is no additional configuration needed.

Files uploaded through the Web UI enter the same processing pipeline as files added through the Producer:

1. Upload — the browser sends the file over HTTP to the Asset Manager.
2. Storage — the file is written to the Asset Manager's internal storage.
3. Optimization — the optimizer transcodes the file using the current codec mapping and quality settings (see Asset Manager Settings).
4. Distribution — the optimized file is transferred to display servers when the show is online.

Assets uploaded via the Web UI appear in the Producer's Assets window in real time — the Asset Manager uses Server-Sent Events (SSE) to push state updates to all connected clients.

Accessing the Web UI

1. Ensure the Asset Manager node is running and the show is loaded.
2. Open a web browser on any device on the same network.
3. Navigate to:

http://<asset-manager-ip>:3023

Replace with the IP address or hostname of the node designated as the Asset Manager.

You can also open the Web UI directly from the Producer: right-click in the Assets window and choose Asset Web. This opens your default browser and navigates to the correct address automatically.

Features

The web interface provides the following capabilities:

Upload Details

File Size Limit

The Web UI accepts uploads up to approximately 3.9 GB (4,194,304,000 bytes) per request. This limit applies to the HTTP request body and is shared across all API endpoints. Files larger than this limit must be added through the Producer's drag-and-drop interface or via the Asset Watcher.

Upload Progress

Large files display upload progress in the web interface. Once the upload completes:

1. The asset appears in the Producer's Assets window immediately (in Uploading state).
2. Optimization begins as soon as the upload finishes.
3. The asset transitions through Optimizing → Ok states.
4. Once optimized, the asset is ready for distribution to display servers.

Multiple Uploads

Multiple files can be uploaded in parallel. Each upload is tracked independently with its own progress indicator. Uploads do not block each other or prevent the operator from using the Producer simultaneously.

Browser Compatibility

The Web UI is built with Vue 3 and the Quasar framework, targeting modern browsers:

Internet Explorer is not supported. The interface is responsive and adapts to different screen sizes, including tablets and smartphones.

Security Considerations

The Web UI has no authentication — it is accessible to anyone who can reach the Asset Manager's IP address and port on the network. This is by design for ease of use in controlled AV environments, but it means anyone on the network can upload, browse, or delete assets.

For production environments:

• Use a dedicated network for WATCHOUT systems, physically or logically separated from general-purpose networks.
• Apply firewall rules to restrict access to port 3023 to trusted devices only. The WATCHOUT installer includes predefined firewall rules that can be configured for this purpose.
• Use VLANs to isolate the WATCHOUT network segment from other traffic.
• Disable the Web UI at the network level if it is not needed — block port 3023 on the Asset Manager node's firewall.

Relationship to Other Ingestion Methods

The Web UI is one of several ways to add media to a show. Choose the method that fits your workflow:

All methods feed into the same optimization pipeline and produce identical results. The choice is purely about workflow convenience. See Asset Manager for an overview of all ingestion options.

Best Practices

• Share the URL with your team. At the start of setup, share the Asset Manager URL (http://:3023) with all team members who need to contribute content. This saves time compared to collecting files on USB drives or email.
• Use folders to organize uploads. Create folders in the Web UI before team members start uploading. This prevents all files from landing in the root of the asset tree.
• Monitor from the Producer. While others upload via the Web UI, the operator should monitor the Assets window in the Producer to verify that uploads complete successfully and optimization proceeds as expected.
• Test connectivity first. Before relying on the Web UI during a show, verify that the device can reach the Asset Manager. Open the URL in a browser and confirm the interface loads. Firewall rules, network segmentation, or IP address changes can silently break access.

Troubleshooting