# User Interface

How to log in, how the user interface is laid out, and what the controls do.

PMM's user interface is a browser application based on [Grafana].

## Logging in

1. Start a web browser and in the address bar enter the server name or IP address of the PMM server host.

2. The page loads showing the PMM login screen.

   ![!](../_images/PMM_Login.png)

3. Enter the username and password given to you by your system administrator. The defaults are:

   - Username: `admin`

   - Password: `admin`

4. Click _Log in_.

5. If this is your first time logging in, you'll be asked to set a new password. (We recommend you do.)

   - Either enter a new password in both fields and click _Submit_, or,

   - click _Skip_ to use the default password.

6. The PMM Home dashboard loads.

   ![!PMM Home dashboard](../_images/PMM_Home_Dashboard.png)

## Dashboards

The interface is a collection of web pages called _dashboards_.

Dashboards are grouped into _folders_. You can customize these, by renaming them or creating new ones.

The area inside dashboards is populated by _panels_. Some are in collapsible panel groups. A panel can show a value, a graph, a chart, or a visual representation of a set.

## Controls

These menus and controls appear on all dashboards:

1. Main menu (also _Grafana menu_, _side menu_).

2. Navigation bar.

3. View controls.

4. View selectors (with dynamic contents).

5. Shortcut menu (with dynamic contents).

(For details see [UI Components](../details/interface.md).)

![!](../_images/PMM_Home_Dashboard_Numbered.png)

## Navigation

### Search for a dashboard by name

There are two ways to open the dashboard search page. (Each takes you to the same search screen.)

- Click the <i class="uil uil-search"></i> icon in the main menu.

- Click the dashboard name in the navigation bar (top row, to the right of the <i class="uil uil-apps"></i> icon). (To search within the current folder, click the folder name instead of the dashboard name.)

![!Search dashboards by name](../_images/PMM_Home_Dashboard_Search.png)

1. Click _Search dashboards by name_ and begin typing any part of the dashboard name (in this example, "_Instances_").

   ![!Search dashboards by name](../_images/PMM_Home_Dashboard_Search_String.png)

2. Click one of the search results to go to that dashboard. Change the search text to refine the list.

3. To abandon the search, click the <i class="uil uil-times"></i> icon at the end of the search bar.

### Open a dashboard with the menu

In the [main menu](../details/interface.md#main-menu), the {{icon.dashboards}} _PMM Dashboards_ icon reveals a submenu containing links to all PMM dashboards grouped by service type. (This menu will replace the [shortcut menu](../details/interface.md#shortcut-menu) which has links to commonly-used dashboards.)

## Panels

Charts, graphs and set-based panels reveal extra information when the mouse is moved over them.

Some panels have an information icon <i class="fa fa-info"></i> in the top left corner. Mouse over this to reveal panel information.

### Panel menu

At the top of each panel and to the right of the panel name is the _panel menu_.

![!image](../_images/PMM_Common_Panel_Menu.jpg)

!!! hint alert alert-success "Tip"
      The menu is hidden until you mouse over it. Look for the <i class="uil uil-angle-down"></i> symbol in the title bar of a panel.

| Item                                      | Description                                                                   |
| ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| <i class="uil uil-eye"></i> View          | Open the panel in full window mode.                                           |
| <i class="uil uil-share-alt"></i> Share   | [Share the panel's link or image](../how-to/share-dashboard.md). |
| <i class="uil uil-compass"></i> Explore   | Run [PromQL] queries.                                                         |
| <i class="fa fa-info-circle"></i> Inspect | See the panel's data or definition.                                           |
| <i class="uil uil-cube"></i> More         | (Only charts and graphs) Additional options.                                  |

### View

The _View_ menu items opens panels in full-window mode. This is useful for graphs with several metrics.

Exit a panel's full window mode by pressing _Escape_ or clicking the left arrow <i class="uil uil-arrow-left"></i> next to the dashboard name.

!!! info alert alert-info "See also"
- [How to render dashboard images](../how-to/render-dashboard-images.md)
- [How to annotate special events](../how-to/annotate.md)

[grafana]: https://grafana.com/docs/grafana/latest/
[promql]: https://prometheus.io/docs/prometheus/latest/querying/basics/

## Timezones

By default Grafana uses the timezone from your web browser. However, you can change this setting.

### Set user timezone

1. On the left menu, hover your cursor over your avatar and then click _Preferences_.
2. Click to select an option in the _Timezone list_.
3. Click _Save_.