Understanding Your Server Dashboard

Your server dashboard is the central hub for managing every aspect of your virtual server. From monitoring resource usage to performing power actions and configuring networking, the dashboard gives you full control through an intuitive web interface — no command line required for basic management tasks.

This guide walks you through every section of the server dashboard so you can manage your infrastructure with confidence.

Accessing the Server Dashboard

Log in to your Data Mammoth account.

Click Servers in the left navigation menu.

From the server list, click the name of the server you want to manage.

You will be taken directly to the server's detail dashboard, which is organized into several tabs and sections.

Dashboard Overview Panel

The top of the server dashboard displays a summary of your server's key information at a glance:

• Server Name — The label you assigned to the server (editable).
• Status — Current power state: Running, Stopped, or Rebooting.
• IP Address — Your server's primary IPv4 address (e.g., 203.0.113.10).
• Operating System — The installed OS and version.
• Plan — Your current hosting plan with resource allocation.
• Location — The data center region where your server is hosted.
• Uptime — How long the server has been running since the last boot.

Status Indicators

The status badge uses color coding for quick recognition:

Resource Usage Graphs

Below the overview panel, you will find real-time and historical resource usage graphs. These graphs update automatically and help you understand your server's performance patterns.

CPU Usage

The CPU graph shows the percentage of processor capacity currently in use. Sustained usage above 80% may indicate the need for optimization or a plan upgrade. For detailed guidance, see Monitoring Server Performance.

RAM Usage

The memory graph displays how much of your allocated RAM is in use. Linux servers often show high memory usage because the operating system caches data in RAM for performance — this is normal behavior and does not necessarily indicate a problem.

Disk Usage

The disk usage indicator shows how much of your total storage is consumed. Keep disk usage below 90% to ensure your server operates smoothly and has room for logs, temporary files, and updates.

Network Traffic

The network graph displays inbound and outbound bandwidth usage over time. Spikes in traffic may correlate with traffic surges, backups, or data transfers.

Power Controls

The power control section provides buttons for common server actions:

• Start — Power on a stopped server.
• Stop — Gracefully shut down the server (sends an ACPI shutdown signal).
• Restart — Perform a graceful reboot.
• Force Stop — Immediately power off the server without a graceful shutdown. Use this only when the server is unresponsive.
• Force Restart — Hard reboot the server. Use only as a last resort.

For a detailed explanation of each power action and when to use it, see How to Start, Stop, and Restart Your Server.

Networking Tab

The networking section displays all IP addresses assigned to your server, DNS configuration, and reverse DNS records.

• Primary IP — Your main public IPv4 address.
• Additional IPs — Any extra IP addresses you have purchased.
• IPv6 — Your IPv6 address, if enabled.
• Reverse DNS (PTR) — The hostname associated with your IP address for reverse lookups.

For full networking details, see Server Networking — IPs, DNS, Reverse DNS.

Console Access

The Console tab launches a browser-based terminal (VNC) that gives you direct access to your server, even if SSH is not working or the network is misconfigured. This is especially useful for troubleshooting boot issues or locked-out scenarios.

Learn more in Using the Web Console (VNC/NoVNC).

Settings and Configuration

The settings area of the dashboard lets you manage:

• Server Name / Label — Rename your server for easier identification. See Organizing Servers with Labels.
• Hostname — Change the hostname reported by the operating system. See Changing Your Server Hostname.
• SSH Keys — Add or remove SSH keys for secure, password-less authentication. See Managing SSH Keys.
• Add-ons — Enable or disable additional services like automated backups, extra IPs, or DDoS protection. See Managing Server Add-ons.

Activity Log

Every action performed on your server — whether by you, a team member, or an automated system — is recorded in the activity log. This includes power actions, configuration changes, plan upgrades, and more.

Access the log by clicking the Activity tab on your server dashboard. For more information, see Viewing Server Activity Log.

Quick Actions Menu

Many server dashboards include a quick actions dropdown or toolbar that provides shortcuts to common tasks:

• Reinstall operating system
• Create a snapshot
• Resize or upgrade the plan
• Open the web console
• View recent alerts

These shortcuts save time when you need to perform routine management tasks.

Tips for Effective Dashboard Use

• Bookmark your server dashboard for quick access to frequently managed servers.
• Set up labels to organize multiple servers by project, environment, or client. See Organizing Servers with Labels.
• Review resource graphs regularly to spot trends before they become problems.
• Check the activity log after any unexpected behavior to understand what changed.

What to Do Next

• Monitoring Server Performance (CPU, RAM, Disk, Network) — Dive deeper into performance monitoring.
• How to Start, Stop, and Restart Your Server — Learn about power management.
• Managing Server Add-ons — Enable backups, DDoS protection, and more.
• How to Upgrade Your Server Plan — Scale your resources when needed.