From Service Manager to the Dashboard
Through SBN v95, the SBN Services running on a server were managed with SBN Service Manager — a Windows desktop program installed on the server itself, used to install the services, start and stop them, and read their logs. From v96 onward, when SBN Services moved to semantic versions (1.x), that program was replaced by the SBN Services Dashboard: a browser-based dashboard that ships and installs in the same package as the services it manages.
What replaced what
| Task | v95 and earlier | Current line (1.x) |
|---|---|---|
| Install the services | Run SBN Service Manager on the server and install each service from it | Run the packaged installer once — it sets up the services and the Dashboard together |
| Start / stop a service | Service Manager window on the server desktop | Dashboard, from any browser that can reach the server |
| View logs | Log pane in Service Manager | Dashboard log viewer, with live tailing and history per service |
| Change settings | Edit the service's configuration through Service Manager | Per-service settings editor in the Dashboard |
| Remote access | Remote desktop into the server | Browse to the Dashboard over HTTPS and sign in |
| Automation | None | API keys, issued and scoped from the Dashboard |
| Operating system | Windows only | Windows and Linux |
What this means when upgrading
SBN Service Manager is not included in the current packages, and there is nothing to install separately in its place. The installer registers the Dashboard as its own service on the box, which starts automatically with the server and stays running whether or not anyone is signed in.
Management moves to a browser. On the server itself, browse to https://localhost:9096; from another machine on the network, use the server's name in place of localhost, for example https://sbn-server:9096. The port is chosen at install time and defaults to 9096. Sign in as admin with the password set during installation, then change that password from the Account page.
Each server runs its own Dashboard and manages only that server's services. On a site with several SBN servers, each one has its own address and its own sign-in.
The Dashboard is served over HTTPS. The installer generates a certificate if none is supplied; browsers show a warning for it the first time, which you can continue past. Supply your own certificate at install time if you want browsers to trust the Dashboard without the warning.
Related help
- Dashboard — the pages and controls in the Dashboard.
- Installing & Uninstalling — running the installer, upgrade, and removal.
- SBN Service Manager — the v95-and-earlier tool, still documented for existing installations.