2. Getting Started

2.1 Accessing the UI

Vantage is served directly from the realm over HTTPS; there is nothing to install. Point a browser at the realm’s address (an IP address or hostname), e.g.:

https://<realm-address>/

Certificate warning on first visit: VDURA realms ship with a self-signed TLS certificate by default. The first time any browser visits a given realm’s UI, it will show a certificate-trust warning. This is expected; click through it (or add a permanent exception) to proceed. You will not see this warning again on subsequent visits from the same browser.

2.2 Signing In

Visiting the realm address without a valid session redirects to a dedicated Login page.

Figure 2.1. The Login page: Vantage wordmark, centered Username/Password form, Sign in button, and footer links.

Vantage uses the same credentials as panctl and PanAPI: the username and password of a platform user, such as the admin account. The page shows the Vantage wordmark top-left and a centered card with Username and Password fields and a Sign in button. The Username field is selected when the page loads: its label moves up onto the field’s border and the prompt “Enter username” appears inside it.

Three links run along the bottom of the page, above the copyright line:

If an existing session expires, you’re returned to this same page.

Note: PanActive Manager, the legacy UI (see 11.5), maintains a separate session from Vantage. Signing in to one does not sign you in to the other.

2.3 Layout Overview

Every page in Vantage shares the same frame:

Links at the top right of each page provide basic realm and user information.

• Status icon: Displays overall realm health (a green checkmark or a warning/error icon). Click it to navigate to Status Center and view a full list of alerts and events. Its tooltip reads “All systems healthy · Click to view Status Center” when nothing is wrong.
• Realm name: Displays the name of the realm you are viewing (e.g. virtual-realm.local.com).
• User dropdown menu: Displays the username currently logged in (e.g. “AD” for the built-in admin user). Click the dropdown menu to access links to your account information (see 11.1) or to sign out.
• System time: Displays the current system time, shown in UTC.

Left sidebar: a collapsible icon rail. By default it shows icons only; clicking any icon (or the rail itself) expands it to show text labels. The items, top to bottom, are:

Navigating to a new top-level page collapses the sidebar back down to icons; expand it again as needed.

Figure 2.2. Full left sidebar expanded with text labels, including the greyed-out Hardware item and the open Identity & Access menu.