Getting Started with Dashboard

This guide walks you through your first experience with the Manta Dashboard, from initial login to deploying your first swarm.

Note

Screenshots and detailed visual guides will be added in future updates. The interface is designed to be intuitive and self-explanatory.

First Login

Accessing the Dashboard

  1. Open your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge recommended)

  2. Navigate to your Manta platform URL

  3. You’ll see the login screen

Authentication

Enter your credentials provided by your administrator:

  • Username/Email: Your registered email address

  • Password: Your secure password

  • Remember Me: Optional for trusted devices

After successful login, you’ll be directed to the main dashboard.

Dashboard Layout

The dashboard consists of several key areas:

Header Bar

  • Platform logo and name

  • Global search

  • Notifications bell

  • User profile menu

Sidebar Navigation

  • Main sections (Clusters, Nodes, Modules, Swarms)

  • Quick actions

  • Settings access

Main Content Area

  • Context-dependent views

  • Data tables and visualizations

  • Action panels

Status Bar

  • System health indicators

  • Active connections

  • Performance metrics

Initial Setup

Step 1: Verify Your Profile

  1. Click on your profile icon (top right)

  2. Select “Profile Settings”

  3. Verify your information: - Email address - Organization - Role and permissions

  4. Generate API tokens if needed

Step 2: Explore Available Resources

Navigate through each section to familiarize yourself:

  • Clusters: View available computing clusters

  • Nodes: See connected computing nodes

  • Modules: Browse algorithm modules

  • Swarms: Check active and completed experiments

Step 3: Create Your First Cluster

If you have cluster creation permissions:

  1. Go to Clusters section

  2. Click “Create New Cluster”

  3. Fill in cluster details: - Cluster name - Description - Resource limits - Network configuration

  4. Click “Create”

  5. Save the generated tokens for node connection

Understanding the Interface

Color Coding

The dashboard uses consistent color coding:

  • Green: Active, healthy, successful

  • Yellow: Warning, pending, requires attention

  • Red: Error, failed, critical issue

  • Blue: Information, selected, in progress

  • Gray: Inactive, disabled, archived

Icons and Symbols

Common icons you’ll encounter:

  • 📊 Charts and analytics

  • ⚙️ Settings and configuration

  • 📁 Folders and organization

  • 🔄 Refresh and sync

  • ⬇️ Download and export

  • ➕ Add and create

  • 🗑️ Delete and remove

Interactive Elements

  • Hover: Additional information on hover

  • Click: Primary actions and navigation

  • Right-click: Context menus with more options

  • Drag & Drop: Reorder and organize items

Common Tasks

Viewing Cluster Status

  1. Navigate to Clusters

  2. Select a cluster from the list

  3. View detailed information: - Node count and status - Resource utilization - Active swarms - Recent activity

Monitoring a Swarm

  1. Go to Swarms section

  2. Click on an active swarm

  3. Monitor real-time: - Execution progress - Task distribution - Resource usage - Log streams

Downloading Results

  1. Navigate to Results

  2. Select completed swarm

  3. Choose export format: - JSON for raw data - CSV for spreadsheets - Visualizations as images

  4. Click “Download”

Customization Options

Dashboard Preferences

Access through Settings → Preferences:

  • Theme: Light or dark mode

  • Language: Interface language

  • Timezone: Display times in your timezone

  • Notifications: Alert preferences

  • Auto-refresh: Update intervals

Workspace Organization

  • Create custom views with filters

  • Save frequently used searches

  • Pin important resources

  • Set up quick access shortcuts

Tips for New Users

Navigation Tips

  • Use breadcrumbs to track your location

  • Bookmark frequently accessed pages

  • Use keyboard shortcuts for efficiency

  • Keep multiple tabs open for parallel work

Data Management

  • Use filters to find specific resources

  • Sort columns by clicking headers

  • Export data regularly for backup

  • Archive old experiments to reduce clutter

Performance Tips

  • Limit displayed rows in large tables

  • Close unused browser tabs

  • Disable auto-refresh when not needed

  • Use pagination for large datasets

Getting Help

In-Dashboard Help

  • Click the “?” icon for contextual help

  • Hover over info icons for tooltips

  • Check the status bar for system messages

External Resources

  • Documentation: This guide and related docs

  • Support: Contact your administrator

  • Community: Join the Manta user forum

Next Steps

Now that you’re familiar with the dashboard:

  1. Cluster Management - Learn cluster management

  2. Module Management - Understand module organization

  3. Swarm Management - Deploy your first swarm

  4. Monitoring and Observability - Master monitoring tools