---
title: First login and next steps
description: Sign in to the admin console for the first time and complete the recommended configuration checklist.
url: https://nexcmp.com/docs/getting-started/first-login/
applies_to: NexCMP 1.6.1
updated: 2026-11-02
---

# First login and next steps

> **Where in the admin:** the login page is `/admin`; after sign-in the landing page is Overview › Dashboard.

## Addresses

| What | URL |
|---|---|
| Customer portal | `https://<domain>/` |
| Admin console | `https://<domain>/admin` |
| Setup / emergency by IP | `http://<server-IP>:3000/` (see [the panel port](https://nexcmp.com/docs/getting-started/installation/#the-panel-port-3000)) |
| Health check | `https://<domain>/healthz` |

## Sign in

1. Open `https://<domain>/admin`.
2. Enter the administrator e-mail and password you created in the wizard.
3. You land on the **Dashboard**. A banner at the top appears if the license is not valid or no source is connected.

![The admin login page](https://nexcmp.com/docs/images/getting-started/first-login-01-login.webp)

## Recommended checklist

Work through these in order — each links to its page.

| # | Task | Page |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turn on two-factor authentication for yourself | [Security](https://nexcmp.com/docs/administration/security/) |
| 2 | Connect an infrastructure source (if you chose "Connect later") | [CloudStack](https://nexcmp.com/docs/infrastructure/cloudstack/) or [Proxmox VE](https://nexcmp.com/docs/infrastructure/proxmox/) |
| 3 | Check zones and the machine templates / OS list | [Zones](https://nexcmp.com/docs/infrastructure/zones/), [Templates](https://nexcmp.com/docs/infrastructure/templates/) |
| 4 | Review plans and prices | [Plans](https://nexcmp.com/docs/catalog/plans/) |
| 5 | Set your logo, colours and legal pages | [Branding](https://nexcmp.com/docs/customers/branding/), [Legal](https://nexcmp.com/docs/customers/legal/) |
| 6 | Configure outgoing e-mail and send a test | [SMTP and emails](https://nexcmp.com/docs/administration/smtp-and-emails/) |
| 7 | Enable at least one payment channel and test a top-up | [Payment channels](https://nexcmp.com/docs/billing/payment-channels/) |
| 8 | Decide which modules you sell | [Modules](https://nexcmp.com/docs/infrastructure/modules/) |
| 9 | Place a test order as a customer and delete it | [Ordering](https://nexcmp.com/docs/portal/ordering/) |
| 10 | Make a first backup | [Backup and restore](https://nexcmp.com/docs/getting-started/backup-and-restore/) |

## Create your first order (smoke test)

1. Open the customer portal in a private window and register a test account.
2. Add credit (a voucher or a test payment).
3. Order the smallest plan in your zone.
4. Watch it appear in the admin under Services › Virtual Machines, open its console, then destroy it.

If the VM does not reach *running*, open **Infrastructure › Cloud provider › Sync & errors** and read the error.