---
title: Setup wizard
description: Walk through the first-run wizard at /setup — setup code, license, CloudStack or Connect later, administrator and brand.
url: https://nexcmp.com/docs/getting-started/setup-wizard/
applies_to: NexCMP 1.6.1
updated: 2026-11-02
---

# Setup wizard

> **Where in the admin:** the wizard is a standalone page at `/setup` shown only until the first administrator exists. Afterwards the same checks live under System › Admin › Start (`/setup`).

The wizard turns a fresh installation into a working panel in four short steps. It is served on port 3000 (`http://<server-IP>:3000/setup`) or, when TLS is already active, at `https://<domain>/setup`.

::: warning The wizard disappears after step 3
Once the administrator is created the wizard is closed and the setup code is deleted. To reach the panel afterwards use the admin console.
:::

## Step 0 — Setup code

The installer prints a **one-time setup code** at the end. You can read it again with:

```bash
sudo nexcmp status
```

Paste it into **Setup code** and click **Continue**. The code protects the wizard: nobody who finds the open port can create the administrator without it.

![Step 0 of the setup wizard asking for the one-time setup code](https://nexcmp.com/docs/images/getting-started/setup-wizard-00-code.webp)

## Step 1 — License

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| License key | `NXC-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX` — pre-activated by the installer, so this step normally shows "Activated for cloud.example.com" |
| Main domain | The domain registered on the license |

If the installer already activated the license, the wizard recognises it and moves on. Otherwise enter the key and domain and click **Activate**. Errors are shown in red — see [Installation errors](https://nexcmp.com/docs/troubleshooting/installation-errors/).

![Step 1 of the setup wizard showing the license already activated for the main domain](https://nexcmp.com/docs/images/getting-started/setup-wizard-01-license.webp)

## Step 2 — CloudStack (or Connect later)

You have two choices:

- **Connect now.** Enter the CloudStack **API URL** (`https://cloudstack.example.com/client/api`), **API key** and **Secret key**, click **Test connection**, then select the **Zone**, the **Guest network for customer VMs**, a **Zone display name** and the two-letter **Country**. Click **Save CloudStack**.
- **Connect later.** Click **Connect later**. Everything else works; you connect CloudStack or Proxmox VE afterwards under Infrastructure. Until then the health panel reminds you that no source is connected.

![Step 2 of the wizard with the CloudStack API URL, API key and secret key fields filled with example values](https://nexcmp.com/docs/images/getting-started/setup-wizard-02-cloudstack-form.webp)

::: important Use a dedicated CloudStack account
Do not use the ROOT administrator key. Create a dedicated domain and account for NexCMP and use its API key — see [CloudStack](https://nexcmp.com/docs/infrastructure/cloudstack/#create-a-dedicated-account-and-api-key). The wizard checks that the chosen network belongs to the zone and to the account of that key.
:::

![After Test connection: the zone and guest network lists, zone display name and country fields](https://nexcmp.com/docs/images/getting-started/setup-wizard-02b-cloudstack-picked.webp)

If you plan to use **Proxmox VE** only, choose **Connect later** and follow [Proxmox VE](https://nexcmp.com/docs/infrastructure/proxmox/).

## Step 3 — Administrator and brand

| Field | Rules |
|---|---|
| Admin email (login) | Valid e-mail address. This is your administrator user name. |
| Password | At least 12 characters, with letters and digits. |
| Brand name | Shown to your customers (default "Cloud"). Up to 60 characters. |
| Support email | Defaults to the admin e-mail. |

![Step 3 of the wizard with administrator e-mail, password, brand name and support e-mail](https://nexcmp.com/docs/images/getting-started/setup-wizard-03-admin.webp)

Click **Finish setup**. The panel restarts (about 1–2 seconds) and the page sends you to the admin login at `https://<domain>/admin/`. If that address does not answer yet (DNS or TLS pending), it sends you to `/` on the current address instead.

![The wizard after completion with the message that the panel is restarting](https://nexcmp.com/docs/images/getting-started/setup-wizard-03-done.webp)

## What the wizard sets up for you

- Brand name, site URL (`https://<domain>`), admin URL (`https://<domain>/admin`), console URL (`https://<domain>/console`), support e-mail and sender name.
- Default settings for the modules that ship with NexCMP: DDoS & BGP, AI and web SSH are **off**; bandwidth metering is **on**. See [Modules](https://nexcmp.com/docs/infrastructure/modules/).
- If you connected CloudStack: provider #1, its first zone, the guest network, and an operations key pair that is attached to customer VMs so you can support them.

Next: [First login](https://nexcmp.com/docs/getting-started/first-login/).