Managing Servers
Last updated
Last updated
Click on the Open Control Center icon to expand your view of the server. The box expands to show the Userful Control Center and various shortcuts at the bottom of the screen.
Each marked function is a shortcut to different management aspects of the server. Take some time to click each and familiarize yourself with them. Note that clicking some icons a second time will open their respective applications in a new browser tab.
Tool | Function |
1 Home | Exits the expanded view and returns to the Userful Manager home view. |
2 Open Control Center | Opens the Userful Control Center. Click on it the second time to open UCC in a new browser tab. |
3 Show Control Room | Opens the Command & Control center. It requires an active C&C source. |
4 Show Dashboard | Opens the Supervisor Dashboard. It requires an active C&C source. |
5 Server Diagnostics | It is the shortcut to server diagnostics. It highlights system issues if any. |
6 Displays | It opens the Displays tab. |
7 Server Details | It displays server hardware, software, and licensing information. |
8 Upload Files | It allows remote upload of image and video files for the signage player source. |
9 Open Source Switcher | Opens the Source Switcher. |
10 Open Preset Switcher | Opens the Preset Switcher. It requires the existing presets. |
11 Printer Profiles | Opens CUPS. This is for Public Computing systems only. |
There are a few functions and shortcuts available for servers in the Userful manager.
Tool | Function |
Create Events | Shortcut to “Events” tab of UCC, where scheduled events and configuration changes can be made |
Event Switcher | A feature exclusive to Userful Manager, allows quick switching of created Events |
Usage Reports | Opens Usage Reports for the Organization |
Report a problem | Submit a trouble ticket. See Tickets for more information |
Install Additional Packages | Allows install of some optional software from Userful’s repositories |
Backup (Preview) | Creates a backup of most of the server’s settings. See backups below |
Restore (Preview) | Select a restore point and restore options from backups |
Copy Mapping | It allows copying configuration from one server to the other. |
Delete Server | Cloud servers: These are deleted completely, including the backups. On-Premise servers: It allows you to delete the backup server. If the server has not been decommissioned, rebooting the server will allow you to claim it again. |
Reboot | Reboots the server |
Userful Manager backups will back up just about every setting of a Userful server, including:
Mapping configuration (sources, mirror groups)
Video wall calibration and zones
Presets
Command & Control sources, and their own sources and saved layouts
Resource groups, user accounts, and user groups
Events
Many settings such as failover, file transfer settings, etc.
Some items are not backed and need to be addressed manually after a reinstall or replacement of the server
System user accounts still need to be re-created at the initial setup
Content files for Signage Player sources
IP addresses for network interfaces need to be set after a reinstall
Failover groups should be checked
Video walls will retain calibration and space settings, however, the display numbering may need to be re-set as endpoint devices (uClient, Zero Client) may not have connected and enumerated themselves in the same order
Using backups across different versions of Userful carries risks. While we make every effort to test the compatibility of backups from previous versions, issues are always a possibility. If you are upgrading by several versions (for example, from Userful 10.2 to 10.5) then it is recommended to run a system update rather than reinstall and restore from the backup.
