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Version: 5.0 🚧

Initial setup

Overview​

Use this page as a checklist after you log in to PowerManage. It links to the existing documentation instead of repeating procedures already described in the help.

Start with Introduction to PowerManage for links to the main operational workflows available after login.

info

The pages, settings, and actions available to you depend on your role, permissions, panel family, enabled features, and license limits.

Before you begin​

warning

Server settings affect panel enrollment, communications, notifications, mobile applications, and integrations.

Initial setup checklist​

Complete the applicable tasks in the following order.

1. Review your profile​

  • Verify your name, email address, Dealer ID, and assigned role.
  • Configure language, theme, session timeout, and event sound preferences.

2. Review license and version​

  • Check the PowerManage version and license information.

3. Configure groups​

  • Create or review groups.
  • Review group settings that control panel behavior and access.
  • Assign panels to the correct groups.

4. Configure roles and staff​

  • Review the available roles.
  • Create or update roles only if the predefined roles do not meet your access requirements.
  • Add staff who need access to PowerManage.
  • Assign each employee the appropriate role.
  • Use the minimum permissions required for each job function.
note

Staff, legacy installers, and end users are different account types. Use the account type that matches the person's responsibilities.

5. Configure panel auto-enrollment​

  • Decide whether panels connected through broadband and cellular communication can enroll automatically.
  • Enable Auto-Enroll if you want to use it.
  • Configure the system ID mask to restrict which panels can connect when this option is available.
  • Review the option that removes the server IP address from a panel when the panel is removed from PowerManage.
warning

Auto-enrollment can allow eligible panels to connect without being added manually. Configure the system ID mask and group assignment rules before enabling it.

6. Configure SMS message brokers​

  • Add a serial modem or third-party HTTP gateway as a message broker.
  • Configure the sender, credentials, host, port, request template, and TLS settings required by the provider.
  • Select the message broker used for cellular panel wake-up messages.
  • Configure wake-up retry count and retry interval.
  • Enable SMS wake-up for user-initiated discovery only when required.
  • Select an SMS broker for multi-factor authentication if SMS-based MFA is enabled.
  • Test message delivery before relying on SMS for panel wake-up, notifications, or authentication.
note

A Neo 5 panel can use MQTT-based wake-up instead of SMS when the feature is available and configured. Review PowerManage 5.0 updates before selecting the wake-up method.

7. Configure self-registration​

  • Decide whether self-registration must be disabled, approved automatically, or approved manually.
  • Select the default role assigned to newly registered users.
  • Use manual approval when new registrations must be reviewed before activation.
  • Verify the registration flow with a test account before making it available to users.
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Self-registration creates user access. Review the default role and approval mode before enabling it.

8. Configure receiver and event behavior​

  • Configure email and SMS notifications for panel connectivity events.
  • Review event routing to central stations, if needed.
  • Configure rotation settings for events, processes, reports, and action logs, if needed.

9. Configure interactive services and applications​

  • Configure the default availability of the end-user and installer applications for newly enrolled panels.
  • Configure installer access approval where required.

10. Configure remote inspections and automation behavior​

  • Configure event and email behavior for successful and failed remote inspections.
  • Configure whether automation devices can be controlled always, never, or after an alarm, when supported. When By Alarm is selected, configure the time window during which control is allowed after an alarm.

11. Add or enroll panels​

  • Add a panel manually from the Equipment page, or use auto-enrollment when it is enabled.
  • Assign each panel to the correct group.
  • Configure a billing plan for supported panels when billing is enabled and required.
  • Confirm the panel identifier, account, communication details, owner information, and supported panel type.
  • Confirm that the panel connects and completes discovery.

12. Validate the setup​

  • Sign in with a non-administrator test employee.
  • Confirm that the employee can access only the required groups, panels, pages, and actions.
  • Test panel communications and discovery.
  • Test email and SMS delivery when configured.
  • Confirm that events reach the intended operators, central stations, and integrations.
  • Confirm installer and end-user application access when these services are enabled.

What you can do in the PowerManage web UI​

After setup, use the web UI to perform the tasks available to your role and deployment.

Monitor operations​

  • Review dashboards and panel status.
  • View and handle security, maintenance, connectivity, and system events.
  • Search for panels, accounts, users, installers, and operational records.
  • Review current jobs and process history.

Manage panels and devices​

  • Add, enroll, group, view, and service panels.
  • Review faults, state, communications, logs, and panel information.
  • Run discovery, diagnostics, system tests, walk tests, and remote inspections.
  • View and manage devices, network maps, users, installers, outputs, and supported automation features.
  • Download, compare, edit, and upload supported panel configurations.
  • Use the Virtual Keypad (VK) for supported panels.

Manage users, installers, dealers, and access​

  • Manage employee access through roles and groups.
  • Enable, disable, suspend, or review installer access when supported.
  • Manage panel users and installer assignments.
  • Manage dealer and sub-dealer workflows in supported deployments.
  • Configure self-registration and approval behavior.

Run reports, inspections, and firmware updates​

  • Create one-time or scheduled reports.
  • Run or schedule remote inspections.
  • Review available firmware packages and start supported panel or communicator updates.
  • Monitor the resulting jobs and history.

Configure integrations and notifications​

  • Configure event forwarding to supported central stations and automation systems.
  • Configure message brokers, email and SMS notifications, and panel wake-up behavior.
  • Configure visual alarm verification when supported.
  • Configure mobile application access and notification behavior.

Review license and manage billing​

  • Review enabled licenses and services.
  • Review, activate, deactivate, or change supported panel billing plans.
  • Manage dealers and dealer-related panel access in supported deployments.
  • Review active staff, roles, groups, installers, and self-registration approvals.
  • Review panels that are offline, faulty, undiscovered, or marked for service.
  • Review failed jobs, reports, inspections, firmware updates, email delivery, and SMS delivery.
  • Review message broker credentials and TLS settings before they expire.
  • Review licenses, billing plans, rotation settings, and server diagnostic info.
  • Test a limited non-administrator account after changing roles or group access.
See also
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