# The Admin panel

The Admin panel is used primarily to set up Pearl Nano and perform administrative tasks. Most tasks in this user guide are performed using the Admin panel.

### About the Admin panel

The Admin panel is a web-based user interface that's used primarily to set up your Pearl Nano and perform administrative tasks.

**Table 10 The Admin panel**

| **Label** | **Name** | **Description** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **1** | **Channel** menu | The Channel that are available for the current configuration of your Pearl Nano are listed. Select a channel to access the drop down list of options that are available to configure channel encoding, add video and audio sources, create a layout, perform confidence monitoring, record the channel, and more. The Pearl Nano has a single channel. |
| **3** | **Inputs menu** | The available video and audio input ports on your Pearl Nano are listed. Select a port to open the configuration and status page for that port. |
| **4** | **Output ports menu** | The output ports available on your Pearl Nano are listed. Select a port to open the configuration and status page for that port. |
| **5** | **Events menu** | Access the Content Management System (CMS) events list containing up to three months of scheduled CMS events, in progress events, and completed ad hoc and scheduled events. |
| **6** | **Configuration menu** | A list of all the available configuration options. |
| **7** | **Internal storage and system information menu** | System details are displayed in this area, such as the total amount of internal storage, how much space is currently used, and how much free space is available. |
| **8** | **Main panel** | The main panel is where the selected menu information displays. What's displayed depends on which menu item you select. |
| **10** | **Log out** | Click to log out of the Pearl Nano admin panel. Click icon again to display the log in window. The role of the currently logged in user displays beside the icon. |

You can access the Admin panel using these methods:

- Any web browser,

- Using a connected USB mouse, keyboard, and monitor,

- Remotely using Epiphan Edge.

### Connect to the Admin panel

You can access the Admin panel several ways. The most common way is using an internet browser on a computer or tablet that's connected to the same local Ethernet network as Pearl Nano. All you need is the IP address of the device, which you can get from the settings using the Pearl Nano's front screen.

Another way to access the Admin panel is to remotely login over the Internet. An Epiphan Edge premium plan is required for remote login.

**Get the IP address of Pearl Nano**

To get the IP address of Pearl Nano, press the **left arrow** key repeatedly on the control key interface until the **System status** screen displays.

You can also find the IP address of Pearl Nano from the front screen menu when you select **System > Network**.

**Access the Pearl Nano Admin panel**

- When you have the IP address of the Pearl Nano, enter the URL for your Pearl Nano into a web browser and include **/admin** to access the Admin panel.

http://<*IP Address of Pearl Nano*>/admin

If HTTPS is enabled on the Pearl Nano, replace *http* with *https* in the URL.

- When prompted, log in using the default user name **admin** and the administrator account password, then click **OK**. If you don't know the password, contact your Pearl Nano administrator.

For a first-time log in as an administrator-level user, you're prompted to assign passwords to the **admin**, **operator**, and **viewer** accounts. Record the passwords for future reference.

Optionally, you can connect to your Pearl Nano using the following methods:

-  For networks with DHCP, you can Connect using a DNS-based service discovery

-  For networks without DHCP, you can Connect using persistent static IP address

### Enable local console access to the Admin panel

Operators and administrators can access the Admin panel locally to reconfigure the Pearl Nano without needing a laptop. With the local console feature, you can connect a USB mouse, keyboard, and a monitor directly to Pearl Nano. Or you can connect a touch screen monitor. The Pearl Nano also supports connection of a USB wireless RF receiver for local console. Pearl Nano also supports the connection of a USB hub.

A built-in virtual keyboard is readily available, but you can also connect an external USB keyboard. When you enable local console, you must also enable the **External keyboard** option.

Use the Admin panel or the Pearl Nano screen to enable local console and the external USB keyboard. Once enabled, simply connect your USB mouse, USB keyboard, and an HDMI monitor to the HDMI OUT port that has local console enabled. You cannot use the HDMI pass-through port for local console.

Optionally, you can disable whether or not users must log in to the Admin panel when they access the local console. Login is enabled by default.

You can also change the layout of the built-in and external keyboards to any of the supported languages. If you select multiple languages, you can toggle between languages using Ctrl+Shift (or Ctrl+Alt).

- American English

- Dutch

- French

- German

- Italian

- Netherlands

- Portuguese (European)

- Spanish (Spain)

- Swiss

- Norwegian (Bokmal)

- Russian

**Important considerations**

- The live preview link is not accessible from the Channel Status page using the local console.

- Viewing recordings from the Recording section of a Channel is not possible.

- You cannot upload/download the following types of media using the local console:

- Images

- Channel recordings

- EDID files

- Configuration files

- Firmware update files

Use the web-based Admin panel from your administration computer for full access to all Admin panel functions.

**Enable local console and the external keyboard option using the Admin panel**

- Log in to the Admin panel as **admin**.
- From the Configuration menu, select **External keyboard**. The External keyboard configuration page opens.
- Select **Local console** as the Keyboard application and click **Apply**.
- (Optional) Check a different keyboard language layout or multiple language layout. The default layout is American English.
- (Optional) Choose the keyboard key combination to toggle between keyboard layout if multiple languages are selected: **Ctrl+Shift** or **Alt+Shift**.
- From the Output ports menu, select the output port (**HDMI**). The video output port configuration page opens.
- Under Settings, select **Local console** in the Source drop-down menu and click **Apply**.
- If you skipped the steps to configure the external keyboard for local console, an error message appears. Click the link to fix it.
- (Optional) Check **Disable authentication** if you don't want users to have to use their credentials to log in before using the local console to access the Admin panel on the Pearl Nano.
- Under Settings, select **Local console** in the Source drop-down menu.
- Click **Apply**.

**Enable local console using the front screen menu**

- Press the **left arrow** key repeatedly on the control interface until the Menu screen displays.
- Use the arrow and check mark keys to select **System**. Then from the System screen, select **Settings** to open the Settings screen.
- From the Settings screen, select **HDMI output** to open the HDMI output screen, then press the **check mark** key to select Video and display the available video sources.
- Highlight the video source you want, then press the **check mark** key to select and return to the previous screen. To return to the previous screen without making a selection, press the **left arrow** key.

**What's next?**

Connect your USB mouse, keyboard, and connect an HDMI monitor to the output port that has local console enabled to access the local console directly from the Pearl Nano.

#### Connect using a DNS-based service discovery

Pearl Nanos use DNS-based messages to advertise details about itself, including its host name. With a compatible utility installed on your computer, you can access the system simply by typing its serial number and the suffix ".local" into the address bar of your browser.

The following table lists the compatible systems and Bonjour Print Services software needed.

**Table 11 Install Bonjour Print Services**

| **System** | **Action Needed** |
| --- | --- |
| Microsoft Windows | You must install Bonjour Print Services: Use the following URL [http://support.apple.com/kb/DL999](http://support.apple.com/kb/DL999) Click Download. Follow the system prompts to download and install the application. |
| Mac OS X | The Bonjour software used for service discovery is built into the Mac OS. No special actions are needed. |
| Linux | The Avahi implementation used for DNS-based discovery is shipped with most Linux distributions. If necessary, check with your administrator to ensure you have the Avahi package installed. |

**Access the Admin panel of the Pearl Nano using DNS discovery**

- Find the system’s serial number that's printed on a label attached to the device. To find the system serial number using the device screen, do the following:

- **Pearl Nano**: Use the arrow keys and check mark to navigate the front screen menu and select **System > Device information**.

- Enter the following string into the address bar of your web browser on your admin computer, where *<**serial**>* is the serial number of your Pearl Nano:

http://*<**serial**>*.local/admin

**For example:** http://95dd40d5.local/admin

If HTTPS is enabled on the Pearl Nano, replace *http* with *https* in the URL.

- Log in as an administrator using the default user name **admin** and the administrator account password, then click **OK** to open the Admin panel. If you don't know the password, contact your Pearl Nano administrator.

For a first-time log in as an administrator-level user, you're prompted to assign passwords to the **admin**, **operator**, and **viewer** accounts. Record the passwords for future reference.

- (Optional) From the Configuration menu, click **Network **and note the **IP address** of the system from the network configuration page.

#### Connect using persistent static IP address

Your Pearl Nano has a default persistent static IP address, also known as the **recovery IP address**. To set up a Pearl Nano on a network that does not support DHCP, or to recover from a previous static IP address setting, use this procedure to connect directly to the device for configuration.

A workstation computer with access rights to modify your network settings is required.

Pearl Nano static IP address defaults are:

- I**P Address**: 192.168.255.250

- **Netmask**: 255.255.255.252

- **Username**: admin

- **Password**: your admin password (by default there is no password assigned)

**Access the Admin panel using the persistent static IP address**

- Establish an Ethernet connection between Pearl Nano and the workstation using one of the following methods:

- Connect the Pearl Nano to a local Ethernet network shared with the workstation.

- Connect the Pearl Nano directly to the workstation’s Ethernet port using either a regular or a crossover Ethernet cable.

- Record the network settings of the workstation that are used to connect to the Pearl Nano so that they can be restored later.

- Temporarily change the network configuration on the workstation to the following:

- Use Static IP assignment

- IP address: 192.168.255.249

- Subnet mask: 255.255.255.252

- Start a web browser on the workstation and go to: **http://192.168.255.250/admin/**

- From the Configuration menu, click **Networking**.

- Click ** use a static address** and enter a static IP address and network settings you want for the Pearl Nano.

- Restore the previously saved network configurations on the workstation.

> product: pearl-nano · topic: other · source: pearl-nano-userguide.md · updated: Oct 7, 2026