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Quick Start

Just received your PCS? This guide walks you through everything you need to do to get up and running.

Step 1: Find Your Access URLs​

When your PCS is set up, you'll receive two main URLs:

  • CasaOS Dashboard: https://casaos-<yourdomain>.nsl.sh/
  • Admin Panel: https://admin-<yourdomain>.nsl.sh/

You'll also have a fallback URL based on your IP address: https://<your-ip>.sslip.io/

Step 2: Log In for the First Time​

CasaOS Dashboard​

  1. Open https://casaos-<yourdomain>.nsl.sh/ in your browser.
  2. You'll see the CasaOS login screen.
  3. Enter the default credentials provided during setup.
  4. You're now on the CasaOS dashboard.

Admin Panel​

  1. Open https://admin-<yourdomain>.nsl.sh/.
  2. You'll be redirected to the SSO (Single Sign-On) login page.
  3. Click Log in with CasaOS and enter the same credentials.
  4. You're now in the admin panel.

Step 3: Change Your Password​

This is the most important first step. Your default password should be changed immediately.

  1. On the CasaOS dashboard, click your profile icon (top-right corner).
  2. Go to Settings or Account.
  3. Change your password to something strong (at least 12 characters, mix of letters, numbers, and symbols).
  4. Click Save.
warning

Your CasaOS password is also your SSO password. Changing it here changes your login for the admin panel and all SSO-protected apps.

Step 4: Verify Your System​

Check System Information​

  1. Go to Admin Panel → System Information.
  2. Verify your:
    • Public IP — matches your actual internet connection
    • Domain — your .nsl.sh domain is correct
    • PCS version — shows the current software version

Run a Health Check​

  1. Go to Admin Panel → Health.
  2. Click Run now to trigger a self-check.
  3. Wait for it to complete and verify there are no errors in the log.

This confirms your PCS can reach the internet, certificates are valid, and all system services are running.

Step 5: Install Your First App​

  1. On the CasaOS dashboard, click the App Store icon (or the "+" button).
  2. Browse available apps or search for one you want.
  3. Some popular first apps:
    • Immich — Back up photos from your phone (like Google Photos)
    • Nextcloud — File sync and storage (like Google Drive)
    • Jellyfin — Media server for movies and music
    • Uptime Kuma — Monitor your services
  4. Click the app and then click Install.
  5. Wait for the installation to complete.
  6. The app will appear on your dashboard and be accessible at https://<app>-<yourdomain>.nsl.sh/.

Step 6: Set Up Your Domain​

Default Domain​

Your PCS comes with a .nsl.sh domain that works out of the box. Each app gets its own subdomain automatically:

  • https://casaos-demo.nsl.sh/ — CasaOS
  • https://immich-demo.nsl.sh/ — Immich
  • https://jellyfin-demo.nsl.sh/ — Jellyfin

Default Application​

You can choose which app opens when someone visits your root domain (<yourdomain>.nsl.sh):

  1. Go to Admin Panel → Domain.
  2. Find the Default Application dropdown.
  3. Select the container you want as the landing page.
  4. For example, selecting "Docusaurus" means demo.nsl.sh will open your documentation site instead of CasaOS.

Custom Domain (Optional)​

If you own a domain, you can point it to your PCS. See the Custom Domain guide for detailed setup.

Step 7: Create Your First Backup​

Before making any more changes, create a baseline backup:

  1. Go to Admin Panel → Apps.
  2. For each app you've installed, click Backup.
  3. This gives you a restore point in case anything goes wrong.

See Backup & Restore for more details.

Step 8: Explore the Admin Panel​

Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the admin panel sections:

SectionWhat to check
DashboardOverview of your PCS status
System InformationYour IP, domain, and system details
DomainDomain settings and default application
CertificatesSSL/TLS certificate status
AccessSSH access and login history
HealthNightly maintenance schedule and logs
ResourcesCPU, memory, disk, and network usage
AppsBackup and restore for all apps

For a complete walkthrough, see the Admin Panel guide.

What's Next?​

Now that your PCS is set up, explore these guides:

tip

Bookmark your admin panel URL and CasaOS URL for quick access. You'll use CasaOS daily for app management and the admin panel occasionally for system settings.