Documentation
Learn how to use RCAN Viewer for professional CAN bus analysis
Demo Video
Watch a complete walkthrough of RCAN Viewer's features, from basic CAN message monitoring to advanced filtering and analysis.
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Installation Guide
Ubuntu / Debian / Linux Mint
1. Install Dependencies
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y \
libgl1 libglib2.0-0 libfontconfig1 libfreetype6 \
libx11-6 libxcb1 libxkbcommon0 libegl1 \
libdbus-1-3 libexpat1 libuuid1 libpng16-16 \
zlib1g libzstd1 libgssapi-krb5-2 libbrotli1 \
libstdc++6 libgcc-s1
2. Download and Run
wget https://rcantools.com/downloads/RCAN-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x RCAN-x86_64.AppImage
./RCAN-x86_64.AppImage
Note: Ubuntu 24.04 users may need libpng16-16t64 and libglib2.0-0t64 instead.
Arch Linux / Manjaro
1. Install Dependencies
sudo pacman -Sy --noconfirm \
mesa glib2 fontconfig freetype2 libx11 libxcb \
libxkbcommon libglvnd dbus expat util-linux-libs \
libpng zlib zstd krb5 brotli gcc-libs fuse2
2. Download and Run
wget https://rcantools.com/downloads/RCAN-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x RCAN-x86_64.AppImage
./RCAN-x86_64.AppImage
Fedora / RHEL / CentOS
1. Install Dependencies
sudo dnf install -y \
mesa-libGL glib2 fontconfig freetype libX11 libxcb \
libxkbcommon mesa-libEGL dbus-libs expat libuuid \
libpng zlib libzstd krb5-libs brotli libstdc++ libgcc
2. Download and Run
wget https://rcantools.com/downloads/RCAN-x86_64.AppImage
chmod +x RCAN-x86_64.AppImage
./RCAN-x86_64.AppImage
Getting Started
First Launch
When you first launch RCAN Viewer, it will check for missing system dependencies. If any are found, you'll be prompted to install them automatically.
Important: The AppImage will ask for your sudo password to install system dependencies if needed. This is a one-time setup.
Basic Workflow
-
1
Connect to CAN Interface
Set up your SocketCAN interface or use virtual CAN (vcan) for testing
-
2
Monitor CAN Traffic
View real-time CAN messages in the main window
-
3
Apply Filters
Use filters to focus on specific CAN IDs or message types
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4
Analyze and Export
Analyze patterns, decode messages, and export data for further analysis
SocketCAN Setup
Virtual CAN (for Testing)
Set up a virtual CAN interface for testing without hardware:
sudo modprobe vcan
sudo ip link add dev vcan0 type vcan
sudo ip link set up vcan0
Hardware CAN Interface
Configure a physical CAN interface (e.g., can0) at 500 kbit/s:
sudo ip link set can0 type can bitrate 500000
sudo ip link set up can0
Troubleshooting
AppImage won't run or shows "permission denied"
Make sure the AppImage is executable:
chmod +x RCAN-x86_64.AppImage
Missing library errors
The AppImage should prompt you to install missing dependencies automatically. If it doesn't, install them manually using the commands in the Installation Guide.
Can't connect to CAN interface
Check that your CAN interface is up:
ip link show
Make sure your user has permission to access the CAN interface or run with sudo.
Graphics/display issues
If you experience graphics glitches, try forcing software rendering:
LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1 ./RCAN-x86_64.AppImage
Frequently Asked Questions
Is RCAN Viewer open source?
No, RCAN Viewer is proprietary commercial software. A license is required for commercial use.
What CAN interfaces are supported?
RCAN Viewer works with any CAN interface supported by Linux SocketCAN, including popular USB CAN adapters and embedded CAN controllers.
Can I use this on Wayland?
Yes! RCAN Viewer built with Qt 6 supports both X11 and Wayland natively. It will automatically detect your display server.
How do I update to a new version?
Simply download the latest AppImage from the download page and replace your old one. All settings are preserved.
Need More Help?
Contact our support team for technical assistance and licensing inquiries
Contact Support