How to access the Dashboard

  • Article

Published: April 26, 2010

Updated: March 30, 2011

Applies To: Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials

You can access the Windows SBS 2011 Essentials Dashboard by using of one of following methods. The method you choose depends on whether you are accessing the dashboard from the server, from a computer that is connected to the Windows SBS 2011 Essentials network, or from a remote computer.

  • Access the Dashboard from the server

  • Access the Dashboard from a computer that is connected to the network

  • Access the Dashboard from a remote computer

Note

You must be a network administrator to complete this procedure.

Access the Dashboard from the server

When you install Windows SBS 2011 Essentials, the setup process creates a shortcut to the Dashboard at the following locations:

  • On the desktop

  • On the Start menu

  • In the Windows SBS 2011 Essentials folder under All Programs

To access the Dashboard from the server

  • Click the Start button, click All Programs, and then click Dashboard.

Note

If a shortcut to the Dashboard does not appear when you click All Programs, type Dashboard in the Search box, and then press ENTER.

Access the Dashboard from a computer that is connected to the network

After you join a computer to the network, administrators can use the Windows SBS 2011 Essentials Launchpad to access the Server Dashboard from the computer.

To access the Dashboard by using the Launchpad

  1. From a computer that is joined to the network, click the Start button, and then click Launchpad.

  2. On the Launchpad Sign in page, type your username and password, and then press ENTER.

  3. On the Launchpad menu, click Dashboard.

  4. On the Dashboard Sign in page, enter your network administrator credentials, and then press ENTER.

    A remote desktop connection to the Windows SBS 2011 Essentials Dashboard opens.

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Access the Dashboard from a remote computer

When you are working from a remote computer, you can access the Windows SBS 2011 Essentials Dashboard by using the Remote Web Access site.

To access the Dashboard by using Remote Web Access

  1. From the remote computer, open an Internet browser, such as Internet Explorer.

  2. In the Internet browser address bar, type **https://remote.**DomainName, where DomainName is the external domain name of your organization (such as contoso.com).

  3. Type your username and password to log on to the Remote Web Access site.

  4. In the Computers section of the Remote Web Access Home page; locate your server and click Connect.

    A remote desktop connection to the Windows SBS 2011 Essentials Dashboard opens.

Note

If your server does not appear in the Computers section of the Home page, click Connect to more computers, find your server in the list, and then click the server to connect to it.
To give a user permission to access the Dashboard from Remote Web Access, open the Properties page for the user account, and then select the Server Dashboard option on the Remote Web Access tab.

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